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Westralian Padre's Great Gallantry *Journalist Describes Father Cunningham as "Highest Inspiration"
But the Jap .then made a mistakefrom behind a jutting rock he showed himself. Although in great pain Frew fired and killed the sniper. Among the many brave deeds by members of this battalion was that of Sergeant P. S. Madigan, who, through a hail of h.er vv fire, went to the rescue of Lt. Reardon, who had been severe. ly wounded. On the following day the enemy registered a direct hit on one of the bat-
"Outstanding among many courageous men" .
.
Heroism in New Guinea Jungle In a bitter, bloody action in New Guinea, an Australian Padre, accompaning the Diggers, to whom he administered, behaved with great gallantry. By FRANK A. SYMES.
This "Saint of the Cloth" demonstrated a complete disregard of self and an utter lack of fear at a time when, in the Papuan campaign, the enemy was making things very tough for our troops. He is Father Charles W. J. Cunningham, Western Australian padre, who joined the battalion (it is still in action against the enemy) when it was holding a vital bridgehead. It was in October last year. Our troops, pushing on slowly and grimly towards Buna, were pinned down temporally at the bridgehead over a river. Every hour of the day and night the Japs poured a fusillade of mortar bombs and artillery shells into our positions. It literally rained lead and redmetal for days on end. Clinging to the slight cover of their foxholes, advancing every time opportunity presented itself, our men crept forward to blast the Japs with bombs and bullets. But it was hard going. In The enemy was well concealed. the dense greenery of the jungle it was forward. way a case of inching one's Our casualties were heavy. Veterans of Libya were up against something new in warfare. They fought like demons, but the Jap was a cunning, re-
doubtable opponent. Stretcher parties performed prodigies of valour, going out fearlessly to bring in our wounded. Their highest inspiration was Father Cunningham. Fearless himself, calm of demeanour, and with a confident leadership that could not be denied, the Padre moved about among the wounded, indifferent to the hail of bombs and shellfire that swept our forward positions.
For Value and Service
For seven days the battle raged, and for seven days-and nights-with only brief intervals for rest and food, Father Cunningham toiled and sweated, inspiring all around him. He moved among the wounded, comforting them with assurances of early aid; he ministered to the dying and
buried the dead. A hundred times a day he took his life the screaming bombs, shells and bullets that tore into the ground about him. He helped the stretcher parties carry many a stricken man across the swollen creek that was swept by enemy fire. Like the stretcher-bearers, he wallowed in mud, often up to his knees. Ile sweated and gasped with exhaustion, but Padre Cunningham stuck nobly to his job. He made many personal reconnaissances forward of our lines to look for wounded. For him no risk was too great if he could aid them. Ile particularly distinguished himself one night when eight inches of rain fell, causing the creek to rise several feet. The deluge washed away one of the bridges across the creek, thus threatenFortuning to cut off our rear force. ately, the bridge washed downstream, lodged between two rocks, and was useable. Moving about the job with calm courage, Father Cunningham again inspired everybody engaged in the heartbreaking job of getting the wounded to safety. The problem was finally solved by a line of men bracing themselves against the sunken bridge and passing the stretchers from hand to hand. All the time this was going on the enemy concentrated his fire on the area. Every man who endured the agonies of that night, and the nights that had preceded it, praised the Padre, who was
in his hands, defying
FATHER CUNNINGHAM. described as "outstanding among many courageous men." In spite of all the enemy could do, this battalion held on to its positions and consolidated to the north of two rivers. Gradually moving to the offensive, the battalian patrols nibbled at the enemy. Many times during the days that followed, attempts were made by our forces to scale the slopes leading to the ridge on the fringe of which the enemy was strongly entrenched. So steep was the ridge that it could be climbed only on hands and knees. An enemy rifleman who fired on Lt Frew as he attempted to pinpoint the Jap's exact position, shot him through the foot with a bullet obviously aimed at his head. Again, the sniper fired at Lt. Frrew, this time shooting him the other foot through -
talion's mortar pits, and, although casualties were heavy, Madigan imfediately went into action with the remnants of the crew and another mortar. He continued to lead what his mates called "a charmed life." He volunteered for many "carries" of ammunition during the night, and when a round prematurely exploded near him, Madigan escaped serious injury. The explosion caused him to bleed from the ears, and he suffered from concussion. But he remained at his post until he was evacuated on a stretcher. Back at the field -ambulance, arrangements were made for, Madigan to be flown to hospital at Port Moresby. But he asked to be allowed to go back to He pleaded so his mates in the line. earnestly and successfully that permission was granted. Cheerfully, he set out on a four days' march back to his unit in time to take part in the battle for Gorari, where he again distinguished himself by his fearless courage and leadership.
Wm. A. YOUNG FAMILY BUTCHER.
Corner JOHN & FITZGERALD
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