Saturday, 9 May 2015

Sergeant Leonard George Siffleet Memorial Unvailing Ceremony of Plaque

New Memorial at Aitape Town Centre



This is the new Memorial that was built on the weekend prior to the ceremony on Tuesday 5th May. Sgn. Leonard G. Siffleet, and Australian Soldier, was executed by the Japanese on 24th October, 1943.


We MFIC had a special part in the ceremony as being an Australian I was asked to say something on behalf of the MFIC Sisters who arrived soon after the end of the war.


The Australian Flag was raised by the two young, Australians girls that you see walking back to their seats.


The unveiling to the plaque by the District Administrator and Daryl McCombe, last Australian Government Official at the time of Independence in 1975.


Pauline mfic, giving my speech re: 2 uncles who served here in PNG during the war; Deputy Premier, Jackie Trad, who was born in Aitape; coming of MFIC Sisters in 1949 soon after the end of the war.



Group of School Students from various schools in the area, Aitape School, St Ignatius High School, and AOG School.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Pauline,
    There will be a story on Channel 10s The Project this week about Len Siffleet, including the Aitape memorial service.
    Regards,
    Travis McCombe

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  2. Dear Pauline,

    is there a photo of the plaquette available. Mr Siffleet was executed together with 2 Ambonese soldiers, one of the was mr. Pattiwael. There´s a mr. Pattiwael living near to me, probably family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I do have 3 photos could you send me your email address please

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