George Maiet & Michael Sumari
George runs a small guest house on the island. He and his uncle shared recollections about the Japanese occupation and war years on Muschu Island. His uncle, Michael Sumari was a teenager, about 14 when the war began. John Douglas and I spoke to them both about their war experiences. Although over a half century ago, the legacy of the war is remembered well.

Tell us about the war and what you remember
My name is Michael Sumari I was about 14 when the war began. There was no education when the war started. We lived in the bush with the Japanese for two years [ 1944-45] when the war came to Muschu.

What did you do during that time?
They rescued us to Cape Wom where they would be safe from the air attacks, then took them back to Muschu. We carried boxes

Did the Japanese teach you anything?
There was a Japanese teacher at the mission station [on Muschu] I did not talk with the Japanese men. Some of the older [islanders] were friends with them and remember them better.

Was it hard times during the war?
During the war the Japanese man Mr. Kase (sp) was ruling all the people in Wewak. One time, a Japanese soldier killed a village person, but their Commander and Rob Captain told their soldiers that they were there to rescue the Papuan people. Japanese should kill Americans and Australian soldiers.

Talk about the Japanese occupation
The government made a small road here, the Japanese expanded it with dozers to make it wider and longer. Then they brought trucks to dive on the road. If a car overturned, they would just leave it. Even thought the truck was brand new, they did not want to waste their time and just left them. The Japanese had light brown uniforms and had bicycles and made tunnels and built traps that would destroy the Australians if they attacked.

Do you remember air raids?
We would hid under big trees, rocks to hide from them. All the Japanese were staying on the island near the big guns. None were in our village, only us local people. One time, a bomber was looking for Japanese on the beach. It didn't know the Japanese were hiding there and shot it. It fell down and burned. Maybe the pilot got shot between the eyes?

Tetsuo Watanabe's book tells about Australian Commandos landing
Yes, Australians landed at Som Point, right over there. They had a Bren Gun and .303 rifles and went around the island shooting Japanese on the island. The Japanese were eating lunch and they caught them by surprise. Word spread that they were there and they tracked them down. When the Australians saw us islanders, they would say "We have come here to save you" but we did not know what to do. The Japanese found them and killed three and one swam back to Cape Wom and he was safe.

What happened on Muschu at the end of the war?
All the Japanese from the area, Wewak, But and Karuri were put here on the island. They stayed here for one year, then went back to Japan on a big ship in 1946. It took three days to load them all.

Return to Wewak | Main Page