New information relating to people mentioned in "Journey to the End of Night"

Following the recent screening of "JOURNEY TO THE END OF NIGHT " I received this email from Julie Jolliffe via Bill Mousoulis:

Hi Peter,

I was given your email address by Bill Mousoulis as I am interested in seeing your 1982 film "Journey to the End of Night".

My interest stems from the people pictured below pre 1942. L-r Lance Howlett (lost on Montevideo Maru, was my great uncle), Bill Neave, Russell Howlett (my grandpa, joined up but was badly injured in Melbourne, hospitalised for 10 months, discharged, was friends with Bill post war) and we believe George Coates - died in jungle escaping with Bill.

All 4 were from Dergholm/Casterton Vic. and joined up together, same day mostly. They were mates from working together.

I discovered your film about 6 yrs ago when my daughter had to do a school assign on a POW and I suggested she look into my great uncle Lance, only knowing that he was lost after being bombed on an unmarked POW ship, the Montevideo Maru….I haven’t worked out how to watch the film in all this time. Then I fluked seeing that it was shown in Melbourne in April this year. The timing was around the discovery of the wreck of the Montevideo Maru.

Could you please let me know if it is possible to see this? I know a bit about Bill’s life post war but want to see if he mentions Lance in the film.

I’ve been lucky, meeting Marian, the daughter of the chaplain of the 2/22nd (Padre/Canon John May). Marian has shared with me letters & photos of her dad’s time in Rabaul - many showing Lance as he was the Batman/driver for the Padre. Marian would put a poppy on Lance’s name at the Australian war memorial each time she visited as she never knew if he had family to do so and she grew up knowing how much Lance meant to her father. I’ve heard through family legend that Lance chose to stay and be loyal to the Padre rather than escape with Bill & George, (apparently told to grandpa by Bill Neave)….hence my further interest in your film.

In 2016, we had 15 of Lance’s family go to the 75th commemoration of the sinking, from 4 states of Australia after my learning so much of his time in Rabaul and subsequent death. A few family have then made their way to Rabaul to pay respects - including the eldest of Lance’s nephews now in his 80s who we have in a picture as a baby on Lance’s knee, with Lance in uniform.

Many stories come from this - apologies for the rambling! Hope you are happy to help.

kind regards

Julie Jolliffe

Julie mentioned that Bill Neave was second from left, and she thought George Coates was the person on the right of frame.

As you read on you will find that more information has come to us which changes all that.

After receiving the email from Julie I responded:

Bill, what a great outcome from the screening at Thornbury leading to Julie’s personal historical connection with Bill Neave, and the others!

About the actual photograph…

Bill is almost unrecognisable as the man he eventually became as shown in the film. He is the second from left, a strong young man full of confidence and ready to take on the world. And if it is George Coates on the right of frame, an even bigger, stronger young man, possibly a farming hand?  Not so far away from his early horrible death by malaria and dysentery in a foreign jungle hut.

In the images I sent you and Adrian, there are two shots of Bill in uniform. In one he is preparing an improvised explosive device, a hand grenade trap. 

The other shot is a formal one of the young Bill Neave in uniform,

probably taken before he departed for New Guinea:

He is a confident young military man in these shots who has no idea of what's in store for him.

I'm so glad Julie responded to your Facebook entries Bill!

pt

Then I sent Julie a copy of the film from my Drive and she responded:

Hi Peter,

Thank you. I was able to watch your film last night (yes, on a big telly).

Think I cried a river.

It was extremely meaningful to me - having known much of Bill’s story and how it was entwined with my great uncle Lance who he mentions a couple of times, and their mate George Coates. 

To hear him describe events that did happen exactly as he recounts, 40 yrs prior, was harrowing, his recall shows that he really couldn’t forget. Yet, also humbling to hear the good things - that George was buried with flowers and PNG people sang ‘Abide with me’ over his grave…I recognised most of the names he mentions and the places he had to travel….I felt touched by the kindness shown by the father at the missionary, who I believe was killed by the Japanese later for helping them.

So thank you for capturing this story. 

On another note - am I able to forward the film to my Aunty in Mt. Gambier, SA? She grew up knowing Bill (post war) as he was still friends with my Grandpa Russell Howlett who signed up with Bill & the others (but didn’t leave Oz due to injury)? If you say no, I won’t. 

I know there are others interested in viewing your film as I originally mentioned my knowledge of it’s existence on a Facebook page (Rabaul & Montevideo Maru Society) which many of the 1000+ families of the MM descendants are on and have interest in this area. Do you show it/sell it for viewing?

Thank you again!!

Julie

Julie attached these images to her second email:

Dergholm Recreation Reserve 

I think you should be able to read this plaque:

                                                           Coates G

                                                           Howlett L W

LANCE HOWLETT

Then I received this email from Mr. Barry M. Kent, President of the Casterton RSL

Peter,

Let me introduce myself, l'm the President of the Casterton RSL Sub-Branch. 

Peter there's been some posts etc on FB with regards to your 1982 film, "Journey to the End of Night" on the exploits of the late Bill Neave of Casterton. 

Peter what I am asking, is there any chance that the Sub-Branch can obtain a copy of the film. We would like to show it to our members, school groups, and maybe a showing to the Casterton community at the Town Hall? 

Peter we are happy to purchase a copy from you. We think that it's appropriate for the Sub-Branch to have a copy of the film within its collection at the Sub-Branch for future education. 

I myself have a personal connection, as my uncle Michael Kent served in New Guinea as a signaller during WWll.

Peter if you could help us out or point me in the right direction, that would be great.

Cheers

Barry M. Kent

President Casterton RSL Sub-Branch 

Because DVD copies have become a thing of the past I sent Barry a link to the film, just as I had done with Julie and he responded:

Peter,

Peter thanks very much for allowing the Sub-Branch to obtain a copy of this piece of history. 

FYI, in the opening scenes, those superphosphate train bins are what my father used to have bought in by rail for his super spreading business. They are long gone now.

In time I will let you know how the viewings of the film go.

Thanks

Barry 

Later, another email from Barry:

Thanks again Peter for honouring my request, we had our monthly meeting today and I informed the members of what I'd been up to. One of the ladies present said that the Neave's used to live next door to her and others could remember going to the drive-in to see the film in the early 80's, so there you go, interest in it already. 

Cheers,

Barry.

I MENTIONED TO BOTH JULIE AND BARRY THE IDEA OF CREATING A BLOG POST TO INCLUDE ALL THIS NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE THE SCREENING IN APRIL.

From Julie

Hi Peter,

Yes, I’m happy to be put in contact with Barry Kent regarding this and for you to do a blog post. Use any photos that you like as I believe in sharing the past. May I suggest involving my Aunty Erica & Uncle Peter Smith, they live in Mt. Gambier.  Erica is originally from Dergholm, Peter is originally from Casterton. I live in NSW and am a generation younger than them.

Erica is one of Lance Howlett’s nieces (there were approx 12 nieces/nephews) and she grew up knowing Bill Neave, her father Russell Howlett is in that pic with Bill and Lance.

But I was wrong about the 4th man on the right, it is not George Coates, it is Jock Wood who joined up with them. Bill mentions Jock in the film as escaping with them, but recalls him not acknowledging Bill and others upon his return to Casterton, without saying his name.

Peter Smith shared my Facebook pic about the 4 men (Erica has the original) and Jock’s niece contacted me to say that it is Jock…..I had tried to match the photo to their enlistment pics on Australian archives but didn’t know Jock’s real name (Herbert) and I thought it looked like George’s enlistment pic.

So, no pic of George that I know of but surely someone in Casterton would have one?

Ron McFarlane Lance Howlett

with baby Ron on his knee

The split pic on the right is Lance Howlett at home in Dergholm with his eldest nephew Ron McFarlane on his lap as a baby & wearing Lance’s uniform hat.

Ron McFarlane is now in his early 80s and the photo on the left, shows him holding the photo of himself as a baby on Lance’s knee, whilst standing in front of Lance’s name on the wall at the Australian War Memorial. This was taken on the 75th commemoration of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru in 2017 when many family members went for the first time in memory of Lance. Ron would also have known Bill Neave.

My other error was the name of the Dergholm sports ground. It is actually ‘Dergholm Recreation Reserve’ that the gates are on, next to the Dergholm & District Soldiers Memorial Hall. Like many small country towns there isn’t much left in Dergholm - only the ‘Pub in the Scrub’, that includes the post office/general store. 

Thanks again for your interest & sharing with us,

Julie

……………………………………………………………….

Now a month since the screening, the film continues to bring back stories of the past, new connections are being made between descendants of the boys who went to war, bright eyed and bushy tailed, with no idea of what horror was in store for them!

14/5/23

Then Julie sent a newly discovered photograph of George Coates.

GEORGE COATES

Because she is really good at researching things I asked Julie if she could get us any further details of these young men. Here’s what she has come up with:

Hi Peter,

Here’s extra info for you - I just heard back from Australian archives, Bill’s records should be digitised by September this year. Not sure if Jock Woods came back on the boat I’ve mentioned….am sure you will be able to shorten this to suit your blog:

Casterton boys of the 2/22 Battalion

On 8 June 1940, the five mates George Coates, Lance Howlett, Russell Howlett, Bill Neave and Jock Woods enlisted in the AIF together. All of them hailed from Casterton and Dergholm and reputedly worked together around Dergholm in Victoria’s Western Districts. 

The men became part of the 2/22 Battalion known as Lark Force. Part of their training included a 235 km march from Trawool to Bonegilla near Wodonga Vic. The battalion embarked from Sydney on 17 April 1941 aboard the Zealandia arriving into the Rabaul Harbour on 25 April 1941, disembarking the next day into Rabaul, New Britain (now Papua New Guinea). 

The role of the force was to protect the aerodromes of Lakunai and Vunakanau and the seaplane base at Rabaul and provide early warning of Japanese forces movements to the north of Australia.

For nine months, Lark Force protected Rabaul - until 23 January 1942 when 5000 Japanese soldiers invaded, the under provisioned Lark Force were given the order to evacuate and escape: ‘Every man for himself’! 

VX24162 George Duncan Coates of Casterton was 25 at the time of enlistment. 

George escaped from Rabaul into the jungle after the Japanese invasion of 23 January 1942. He and Bill Neave were almost captured at Gasmata. Weak from malaria at the village of Tui, George and Bill were already skeleton-like with long beards and wearing lap laps. The villagers allowed them to rest for two to three weeks. Sadly George died 26 March 1942 with his mate Bill holding his hand to the last. The local villagers buried George and sang ‘Abide with Me’ in their own language.

VX24188 William James Neave (Bill) from Casterton was the oldest in the group at 27 years of age upon enlistment. 

After escaping into the jungle with George and holding his hand as George died 26 March 1942, Bill himself was saved by another soldier who gave him quinine. A message from the missionary Father ‘Ted’ Harris told them that a boat they could escape on would leave Jacquinot Bay, a 48 km walk away that took Bill and his group 4 days. Unfortunately, by the time the group arrived the boat had left and would not return.

Luckily NGVR (New Guinea Volunteer Rifles) member Dave Laws found a 5 metre boat but its engine had seized. Dave was clever with mechanics and for the following weeks, Laws, Neave and others worked to get the boat going. They finally left with 17 people on board. At one stage, Bill was comatose with malaria and as he was thought to be dead was almost thrown overboard!  

After 6 nights and being off course by 322 km the boat finally beached at Sio on the Huon Peninsula. Local villagers rescued the group from the coral reef.

They were able to find food at an abandoned homestead and some aviation fuel was dropped to them, which caused ongoing problems for the boat. They set off again in the boat for Bogadjim south of Madang where they rested for some weeks at another missionary. 

Bill’s group of thirteen men were told that if they wanted to get to Port Moresby from Bogadjim, they had a 322 km walk to Wau ahead of them. This involved 3 weeks of walking - over the Finisterre Ranges through inland Ramu Valley to Bena Bena central New Guinea. Upon arrival in Wau, they were flown to Port Moresby.  

After spending 183 days since the fall of Rabaul, now back safely in Australia Bill was hospitalized for malaria. Upon his recovery he fought again in New Guinea with the 2/4 Battalion.

VX24179 Wilfred Lancelot Howlett (Lance) of Dergholm turned 21 two weeks after enlistment, his birthday landing only one day after his older brother Russell’s.

Lance enjoyed his time in Rabaul as the batman/driver for Lark Force’s chaplain (TX6004 Padre John Lovatt May). The Padre was an excellent photographer and letter writer, regularly sending home to his Tasmanian family very detailed photo albums and letters with many pictures and references to Lance - he is pictured climbing the active volcano, handling coconuts, viewing crocodiles and sea turtles when driving staff around seated in the back of his army truck in deckchairs whilst mixing with missionaries and locals. (note: the week after the Montevideo Maru departed. Padre May, with several officers, was sent aboard the hellship Naruto Maru to be held POW in Japan until 1945).

Lance initially escaped but was captured at Warangoi River and held POW on Rabaul for five months. When the Japanese were unable to cope with feeding both Japanese soldiers and Australian POW due to shipping lane supplies not getting through, they made a decision to send the POWs to the island of Hainan.

On 22 June 1942 (Lance’s 23rd birthday), he was marched down Malaguna Road with 1052 other Rabaul POW, some being carried on old doors due to their weakness. They were marched past the Padre who wrote to Lance’s parents after the war saying that he saw Lance that day and reported that he was in good spirits and Lance gave a cheerio as he passed.  The Australian soldiers were marched into the hull of the hellship Montevideo Maru and its hatches were nailed down. 

Lance died 1 July 1942 in the unmarked Japanese POW ship when it was torpedoed by the United States submarine USS Sturgeon. Of the 1053 POW on board, 845 were military and 208 civilians. There were also 88 Japanese crew. Only 17 Japanese survived the sinking. Not a single POW survived.

VX24212 John Frederick Clarence Woods (Jock Woods) from Casterton turned 23 just after enlistment.

Jock did escape the Japanese through the jungle to join Bill and George, and was assumed to be at Father Ted Harris’ Mal Mal mission in time to escape aboard the boat Laurabada, overloaded with 156 people on board. It left on 9 April, arriving 12 April in Port Moresby. The men were put on the Macdhui from there. Jock was a Lance Sergeant and was discharged from 107 Convalescent Depot, 30th November 1943.

VX24163 Russell Mervyn Howlett of Dergholm turned 23 two weeks after enlistment.

Russell was injured whilst on leave in Melbourne shattering his right fibula in July 1940 and spent the next 10 months in an army hospital. He was discharged from service on 11 August 1941, not having served overseas.  

Conclusions:

You can see from all the information Julie has dug up how different a film would have been made if it was a standard format documentary or a typical Aussie feature film.

As a postscript for friends who have seen my film, it never entered my mind to make such a “standard format” film, I was only concerned to make a film which would allow Bill to tell his story in his own words. 

I would like to say another thing about some people’s reaction to my film.

A number of people have said to me it was the most powerful anti-war film they had seen. But I never intended that it be seen as an “anti-war” film. It takes place in a theatre of war, which is always horrific as we know, but it really is about a man trying to come to terms with events he has experienced in his life which have transformed him from a normal sort of young person into a monster. A monster he can never forgive himself for becoming. And that can happen in many other situations of human life where people are tested beyond their capacity.

I recall talking about this to Adrian Rawlins shortly after him seeing the film in 1982. I had mentioned to Adrian that some people thought it was an anti-war film. He agreed with my view of it saying in the way only Adrian could do:

“Well, they’re wrong… it's a deeply humanist document!”

That statement struck a chord with me.

But now we have come to another reckoning since the screening at Thornbury in April.

Forty years after it was made it was shown to some people who had seen it previously and others who had never seen it. I was struck by the fact that people from each of these groups were deeply moved by the film.

I want to thank Julie Jolliffe for her wonderful commitment to fact-finding the stories of these young men who sacrificed themselves for our country.

Julie's work has shown me that the film serves another purpose, entirely different from what I had in mind when making the film. The film speaks to a generation of people whose family members were caught up in the same set of circumstances which engulfed Bill Neave and changed his life forever.

Peter Tammer

21.05.2023