Lae remembers war on Independence Day

On the day Papua New Guinea marked 51 years as an independent nation, Lae also paused to remember a defining moment in its wartime history – the liberation of the city from Japanese occupation 83 years ago.

The 83rd anniversary of the Liberation of Lae was commemorated on Wednesday at the 7th Australian Division Memorial Primary School at Situm, bringing together Papua New Guinean and Australian representatives, defence personnel, students and members of the community.

Australian Consul-General Brenton Kanowski said holding the commemoration on Independence Day was a reminder of the shared history between Papua New Guinea and Australia and the relationship that has developed since the Second World War.

The liberation of Lae on 16 September 1943 followed a major Allied offensive, with Australian forces advancing on the city from several directions.

Kanowski paid tribute to the Australian, Papua New Guinean, American and other Allied forces who fought in the campaign, as well as local people whose support and resilience contributed to the liberation.

He also remembered those who were killed, wounded or whose lives were permanently changed by the war. But 83 years after the fighting ended, Kanowski said the significance of the anniversary extends beyond the battlefield.

“It is also a story of partnership between Australians and Papua New Guineans, forged in difficult circumstances and strengthened over generations,” he said.

That relationship has continued through decades of cooperation in defence, education, health, economic development and people-to-people links.

Kanowski said it was particularly meaningful to remember the liberation on the same day Papua New Guinea celebrates its Independence. In 1943, the people involved in the liberation could not have known that three decades later Papua New Guinea would become an independent nation.

Today, Papua New Guinea and Australia stand as sovereign neighbours and partners, with their relationship shaped in part by the shared experiences of the war.

Speaking to students at the commemoration, Kanowski said remembering the past was also about looking towards the future.

“History is not simply about looking back,” he said. “It is about understanding the sacrifices of those who came before us and drawing inspiration from them as we build a better future.”

The ceremony brought together two important dates in Papua New Guinea’s history – the liberation of Lae in 1943 and the country’s independence in 1975.

For those gathered at Situm, the anniversary was a reminder of the lives lost during the war and the generations that followed to build a free and independent Papua New Guinea.

Lest we forget. Happy 51st Independence Day, Papua New Guinea.