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| Location Lat 4° 22' 58S Long 152° 9' 48E Toma village is located on the Gazelle Peninsula on New Britain. Connected by the Toma Road that runs roughly east to west. Beyond to the north is Karavia Bay and beyond Simpson Harbor and Rabaul. To the east east is Bitapaka (Bita Paka). Between 1884 until September 1914 part of Deutsch Neu Guinea (German New Guinea). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the New Britain District in the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Prewar Toma Plantation planted with coconut palms harvesting copra was established at this location. The Toma Hostel was a sanatorium built on a hilltop at Toma. World War I On August 6, 1914 during World War I the German Governor Eduard Haber and the German administration relocated from Rabaul inland Toma in hopes the German East Asia Squadron would rescue them. On September 11, 1914 after German forces were defeated at Bitapaka they withdrew to Toma. Meanwhile, the Australian Army surrounded Toma. During September 14-17 the Australians conducted the siege of Toma, bombarding the area a 12 pound field gun while HMAS Encounter shelled a nearby ridge. Governor Haber realized their situation was futile. On September 17, 1914 governor Haber officially surrendered German New Guinea to the Allies. On September 21, 194 the last 40 German soldiers with with 110 natives surrendered ending organized resistance. Wartime History Occupied by the Japanese during late January 1942. The Japanese referred to this location as Dōmā or Toma. At this location, the Japanese had a wireless station, radar and hospital. On January 5, 1943 at 11:44 hrs (Tokyo Time) reported enemy aircraft at 348°, 72 km and 330°, 120 km. Reference: Field Diary and Battle Reports No. 3 Bty, 50th Field A/A Gun Bn, Nov '42 - Jan 43 / Allied Translator and Interpreter Section South West Pacific Area - Enemy Publications No. 22 Part One, 29 June '43. Page 5, 5 Jan 43. On March 6, 1943 At 0258 hrs (Tokyo Time) received report from Toma that signals were received and calibrated to be 310° 160km, but conditions since have become obscured. At 0319 hrs it changed to 120° - 221 km. At 1239 hrs a large enemy airplane appeared South of No. 1 base, flying towards Rabaul at a height of 4000m. At 1315 hrs a large enemy airplane appeared south of Ulamona, flying in an easterly direction, at a height of 3000m. At 1530 hrs a large enemy airplane appeared in a northeasterly direction, at the height of 4000m. Reference: Field Diary of 15 Field Machine Cannon Battery 27 Nov 42 to 30 Jun 43 / Allied Translator and Interpreter Section South West Pacific Area - Enemy Publications No. 175 Part One, 31 Aug 1944. Page 5, 5 Jan 1943. The Japanese occupied Toma until the official surrender of Japanese forces on New Britain in September 1945. References AWM - Toma by Chas Bryant 1923 (artwork) AWM - Hospital ward, Toma (artwork) Contribute
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