Series 601 - Report on coastwatching activity on Bougainville Island 1941 - 1943

Jack Read joined the Australian administration of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea as a cadet in 1929. He worked as a Patrol Officer in most parts of the Territory, having covered New Britain and the mainland from the Sepik River to the Morobe Goldfields, but had not been located in Bougainville until his appointment in November 1941 as Assistant District Officer in charge of the Buka Passage Sub-District, under District Officer Merrylees. Following the Japanese entry into the war on 8 December 1941, Read helped evacuate most European residents from Buka, established inland dumps of emergency provisions and shifted his administration to Bougainville Island just before a Japanese attack on the Sub-District Headquarters on 24 January 1942. Following the winding up of civil administration in February 1942, Read, the only remaining government representative was appointed Lieutenant in the Australian Navy under Lieutenant Commander Feldt with instructions to remain in Bougainville as a coastwatcher.