PNG World War II veteran dies

BEN Moide, one of the country’s surviving World War II veterans, has died.

He died at the St John’s Clinic in Gerehu, Port Moresby, at 11am yesterday.

Son, John Ben Moide, said his father had been suffering from respiratory problems and was rushed to the clinic early yesterday.

“Father was admitted but I think old age took the better of him,” John said.

“The medical staff at Gerehu were friendly and did everything they could, but we lost the old man.

“He was always lively and lived his life to the fullest.”

Moide was a member of the Pacific Island Battalion who braved the rain, mud, hunger and despair alongside Australian soldiers to stop the advancement of the Japanese at Kokoda, Northern.

His parents were from Pari in Central, and Seduame in Western. 

John said his father would be greatly missed by everyone.

“My father has left behind a legacy that we all Papua New Guineans can be proud of. 

“He is a great man and I am humbled to be his son,” he said.

The book Nameless Warrior – The Ben Moide Story told of how he ran away from home to join the Papuan Infantry Battalion at the age of 16 in 1940. 

In July 1942, he was part of the PIB platoon that ambushed the Japanese at Awala in Northern. 

A line from the book tells of the hardship that Moide and his platoon had to undergo:  “From Awala to Kokoda and Deniki, to the Ope and Waria Rivers and the Scarlet Beach landings of Oro, Moide beat a busy track with his comrades before returning home in 1944 to act as a PIB instructor until its demobilisation in 1945.” 

Moide was a member of the Hanuabada Rugby League build-up in the 1950s, and part of the Magani outfit in 1961 and 1962, as well.

He was employed with San Miguel and South Pacific Brewery Ltd before retiring in 1991.

John said funeral arrangements would be announced later. PNG Today / The National