This is the story, as close as we can tell, of Herbert Edward Free VX43963. I have searched through many battalion records, memoirs and books written by members of the 2/22nd battalion for its members. Also from the recollections of his wife.
We know that Bert was a driver, 19th Platoon R Company and we know that he enlisted on 20th July, 1940 at the age of 29. There are many things I have learned along the way that surprised me. Perhaps one of the main reasons that he survived was his age, the young ones while being able to do great things in short bursts did not seem to have the stamina and determination to keep going. Also we know that he witnessed the Tol Massacre and was lucky to be one of those that melted into the jungle. This would have given him no second thoughts about surrendering, even if they had crossed his mind which I greatly doubt.
There are other reasons why he survived. He was a bushman, used to hard physical work and this would no doubt have helped him a great deal. He suffered for many years with recurrent bouts of Malaria and we know that when he arrived home he weighed only 7 stone. So we must conclude that while there were solid reasons for his survival perhaps the greatest was luck.
There were three routes out of Rabaul, the north coast and south coast, both full of swamps, crocodiles and sharks and Japs but the third was the toughest, up over the mountains and this is the way that he went. Small groups merged and broke up along the way, he had one special mate Ken Watt who he kept for life. 

 We know that Bert was one of the survivors on the Laurabada from the hand written list of excapees. The Laurabada left New Britain from Pal Mal Mal Plantation on Jacquinot Bay on 9th April, 1942.

 

 HMAS LAURABADA

  AWM069379 - Herbert Edward Free, Left - Onboard HMAS LAURABADA

The first Australians to arrive back on New Britain landed at Jacquinot Bay were the 14/32nd, November, 1944. Amongst them was Arthur George Free VX138189. Bert’s youngest brother. Many was the joke between them that Bert had been forced out of New Britain but Art had gone in to take it back.
Both knew this wasn’t the truth. The Americans were the ones who had a red hot go at taking New Britain back. By the end of the war two thirds of New Britain was in Allied hands but they never made it to Rabaul where 80,000 Japanese troops were entrenched. The end of the war beat them to it.
Art always had the upmost respect for Bert and as a small child I often remember him saying, “Bert had a hard war.” Now we know why and would all have to agree.

Seventy years ago Australian forces had entered the war against Japan in earnest. The RAAF had fought from the first hours of the Japanese invasion of Malaya. From 14th January two brigades of the 8th Division had just entered action in Johore.  The divisions other three infantry battalions were distributed in an arc across Australia’s north, at Ambon, Timor and on New Britain. They protected the northern- most Australian territory of New Guinea and the airfields linking Australia with Allied territory in south-east Asia. These small forces were named after various species of birds. From west to east the main forces were: Sparrow Force on Timor, Gull Force on Ambon, Lark Force on New Britain. There will always be debate over the wisdom of the strategy of garrisoning what was grandly called the ‘Malay Barrier’ with such small forces.

In 1939 the Australian Army was still based on a conscript Militia force that could not be required to serve outside Australia. A Second AIF was raised, but the training of the Militia could not be ignored, due to the still latent threat from Japan. Militia Army numbers had a prefix indicating the state of enlistment (Q for Queensland, V for Victoria etc.).  In the AIF an X to indicate AIF was added to the number, thus QX1234 etc, AIF units that had corresponding units in the Militia were give a 2/ prefix, eg 2/31st Bn to avoid confusion with 31st Bn in the Militia.
When the Pacific War broke out the Australian Government was faced with a direct threat to her Northern Shores. Accordingly, the ALP, then in power, modified its opposition to conscripts serving overseas and permitted service in a defined area that included Papua New Guinea, some of the islands north and north west of PNG and a small part of the Netherlands East Indies around Merauke. The zone was later extended to include parts of the Netherlands East Indies, but in practice usually only AIF formations were committed outside the area of what had been the Australian Territory of Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea.

The 2/22 Infantry Battalion, part of the 23rd Brigade of the 8th Division, was raised on 1st July 1940, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Howard Carr. The battalion was initially headquartered at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne but on 11th July, 1940 moved to Trawool in central Victoria for training.

Camp site No 26, Trawool overlooked the Goulbourn River. It was one of those flat boggy corners of ground that always seem colder and more miserable than anywhere else nearby. It was at the base of a large, steep, treeless hill 8.4km from Tallarook on the Yea Road. The camp site consisted of 109 tents, 4 marquees, 2 store tents, 5 mess tents, 1 HQ tent, 1 PO tent, 1 CWA tent and 1 YMCA marquee. The only real building on the site housed the kitchen in one end and the shower block in the other. The camp had been left in good order by the previous occupiers, the 46th Militia.

Through to mid-September life at Trawool consisted of basic training both day and night, physical training, and route marches interspersed with the odd concert in the YMCA tent.

It was a wet camp site. It rained, on average, one day in three for the first month. At night you could hear men coughing in their tents, young men made ill by the lack of hot bathing water, blankets and a warm dry place to sleep. A few died.
One of the least popular forms of PT was running flat out, with a full pack and wearing a gas mask, up the steep hill behind the camp. In all this the men found time to rearrange some large light coloured stones high on the hill to form in giant characters ‘2/22’. The land is now home to the Trawool Valley Vineyard.
On 24th September the 2/22nd began to move to Bonegilla, near Wodonga on the New South Wales-Victorian border. The battalion made the 235 km journey on foot and arrived on 4th October.  Training soon resumed, occupying the battalion until it entrained for Sydney leaving in three main groups. It was at Bonegilla that the battalion finally received all of the vehicles and machinery it was to take overseas.
The advance party led by Capt L H Lannan OC left camp 28th February, 1941 and entrained at Albury for Melbourne where they proceeded to Victoria Dock and embarked on MV Neptuna a small ship of the Burns Philp Group . The vessel sailed for Sydney and all troops travelled as first class passengers and they were very comfortably accommodated. A few troops were slightly affected by seasickness. PT on the deck in the mornings and deck games in the afternoon. On arrival in Sydney leave was granted while Capt Lannan and Lieut Figgis proceeded to HQ 8 Australian Division – Roseberry.
The Neptuna continued her journey on 5th March with smooth seas. The swimming pool on board was used practically all day, every day. The troop’s health was first class with plenty of PT and deck games and excellent food. Discipline and behaviour of the troops was first class at all times. Leave was granted upon arrival at Salamaua for the day. All ranks were entertained at the Salamaua Hotel by members of the NGVR (New Guinea Volunteer Rifles).
On leaving Salamaua the next port was Rabaul.  Capt Lannan and Lieut Figgis called on the Administration, Brig-Gen Sir Walter McNicol and also inspected the camp site. All ranks spent the night aboard the “Neptuna”. Next day the ship was unloaded and the commencement of erecting the camp began. The troops moved into the first two sleeping huts to be completed. In all 158 tents were erected. Messes were arranged temporarily under rain catchments,  fortunately intermittent rain fell and filled nearly all of the 30 tanks erected. The camp was completed in seven days. The next day the main body of troops arrived.
The main body of troops being 452 in all left Sydney on 10th March aboard HMAT Katoomba  a large cruise liner for a rough voyage to Brisbane where seven days’ pay was distributed. All troops were granted leave for the day and there was some difficulty experienced in getting all of the troops back aboard which was achieved three hours later than expected.
A further 246 troops were embarked for Port Moresby. The Katoomba along with the Zealandia were escorted by HMAT Manoora. A heavy downpour off Thursday Island was encountered and the troops stripped and stood in the rain to get the full benefit of a fresh water shower. Upon arrival at Port Moresby there was a great deal of fuss caused by the troops unloading the ship as they were seen to be “scabs” on native labour and crew, this resulted in troops refusing to load the ship or obey orders. Tactful handling eventually overcame an ugly situation. Many troops broke out of the ship and got drunk in town.
There were continual problems aboard the ship with regard to discipline and cleanliness. The Katoomba arrived at Rabaul 26th March.

The final contingent of troops embarked on 16th April, 1941 and sailed on 18th aboard the HMAT Zealandia or Z as she was affectionately known. Major W T Owen commanded this group of 2/22 Bn drivers and others, detachment of RAA (Royal Australian Artillery), detachment of RAE (Royal Australian Engineers)and detachment of Frt Sigs: AANS (Australian Army Nursing Service) and one officer 2/4 Pioneer Bn.   Considering the varying conditions under which these different units were at present serving, the co-operation of all ranks was excellent. According to Major Owen’s “Voyage Report” it was a pleasant journey. No calls were made at intermediate ports.  Disembarked  26th April at Rabaul. Disembarkation was satisfactory in every way. The health en route fortunately was satisfactory as if any set back had occurred the medical arrangements would have, I fear, proved inadequate.  Training was reduced to an absolute minimum owing to lack of deck space. No physical training being possible with the exception of some deck games. Lectures were provided; but the limited number of troops that could be congregated in one area was a big handicap.
Discipline was easy to maintain and conduct was a credit to officers, NCO’s and men. Messing facilities provided made the feeding of the troops a herculean task. Two sittings of men eating in the hold where 140 men slept was most undesirable. However, when personnel became accustomed to the routine the messing was satisfactory. Food provided was of good quality and of ample proportions.
An inspection of the ship disclosed no losses or deficiencies of stores. The ship’s officers assured Major Owen that this is the first occasion that this desirable position had been obtained on this transport. Fresh water supply was adequate and water economy was practised.  Accommodation was not fully taxed enabling the less desirable portion to be left vacant ie No 4 hold. Sanitary arrangements and general hygiene were excellent.

HMAS LAURABADA - Hand written list of excapees.

Co-operation with the Master of the vessel was a pleasure and contributed largely to the satisfactory voyage from the point of view of all personnel. Weather conditions were excellent, very slight percentage of seasickness early on voyage. The receipt of an issue of soap in a parcel of comforts circumvented an unfortunate position which would otherwise have arisen. The provision of soap as ships stores is most desirable. Comforts provided by the Sydney Lord Mayors Patriotic Fund were greatly appreciated by all ranks.
As the preceding paras indicate, this journey was satisfactory. The present facilities available however would be strained to the utmost on a longer trip or in the event of inclement weather. In regard to the latter, if No 2 hold had to be battened down the necessary washing following two sittings each of 230 men at Mess, would make living conditions therein detrimental to the health of 140 troops accommodated there.
The Zealandia fell foul of the Japanese bombing of Darwin Harbour in February, 1942. She had moved many troops of the bird forces by this time.
The 2/22nd combined with the local unit of the NGVR (New Guinea Volunteer Rifles), a coastal defence battery, an anti-aircraft battery, and elements of the 2/10th Field Ambulance and 17th Anti-tank Battery to form Lark Force. The force would later be supported by 24 squadron RAAF. Its role was to protect the airfields at Lakunai and Vunakanau, and the seaplane base at Rabaul, as well as provide early warning of Japanese movements through the islands to Australia’s north.
All groups carried out exercises and found many shortfalls now that the chance of danger was ever present. September 18th troops of “C” Coy and the Mortar Pl reported the following:

1. Trucks 

a. When no moon the darkness is exceptional
b. Drivers had difficulty keeping to tracks and even roads without lights
c. Easily stranded when driving off tracks without lights, when the crust of the ground broke the surface became porous and dusty
d. To escape being bogged the drivers had to rev their engines thus disclosing their positions
e. Troops able to distinguish the difference in sounds of engines between 30 cwt, 1 tonners and civilian trucks
f. Motor cycles when using no lights and not revving their engines were hard to localize

2. Troops

a. One good bushman was worth a complete section
b. The complete surprise and consequent easy capture of the enemy proved this
c. If it had been required to exterminate the enemy or break up a mortar or MMG post the one or two expert bushman could escape from remaining untouched troops in the vicinity attracted by the conflict
d. The flare of a match or the glow of a cigarette was visible for 500 yards from position
e. As night goes on the present tropical or physical condition of the men caused them to relax their precautions
f. Both sides made use of strange kanakas to determine the location of the opposition forces. Though efforts were made to deter them, the kanakas cheerfully acted as spies for both sides and pointed out “Soldier him stop belong there”

3. Mortars

(a) Obviously cannot be used without covering troops
(b) Characteristics of mortar limit its fire value

1. The length of time between the initial explosion when bomb dropped into barrel and explosion of bomb on reaching its objective allows troops to get cover, which on Gazelle Peninsula is always available
2. The flat trajectory of pieces of bomb when it bursts localizes its fire effects as there are undulations and ravines everywhere

(c) When man handled impossible to move through kunai areas quietly
(d) As most roads are a series of curves on knife ridges, mortars to get the maximum fire value should endeavour to be in a straight line with the roadway leading to the target. If registering from the side any mistake in the range would cause bombs to be wasted and the burst could not help observed fire

Like the other” bird forces” deployed to Australia’s north, Lark Force was ill-equipped and likely to be overwhelmed by enemy attack.  Most of the equipment of Lark Force was antiquated. There were for example no Bren guns, only Lewis guns as used in WW1, and WW1 3” A/A guns. Air cover for Lark Force troops was 6 Wirraways and 4 Hudsons. Prior to the Japanese invasion the Australian Government decided ‘they must be regarded as hostages to fortune; they will not be reinforced, withdrawn or re-equipped.’ The total number of troops of Lark Force was approximately 1,350 of which the 2/22nd numbered approximately 950.

The American forces had plans to turn Rabaul into a major land and sea base in April, 1942. This was not known by the members of Lark force.
 

Herbert Edward Free - Chapter 2