During World War Two, Papua New Guineans became famous for the invaluable role they played supporting Australian troops in the fight against Japanese forces. No fighting force can function without supplies, so the muscle power that Papuans used as bearers to transport supplies through, up and over the brutal terrain of New Guinea was all-important.
It is however, as stretcher bearers who assisted and transported wounded Australians that these men are better remembered. They were affectionately known as the 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels' by Australian soldiers whom they carried from the battlefield back to first-aid posts and transported to field hospitals.
Less well-known are the troops of the Papuan Infantry Battalions, six battalions of which had been raised and trained by war's end. They scouted Japanese positions and set up ambushes, but also guarded rear-areas and landing strips.
28mm WW2 Papuans 100WWT075 PNG Rifle with rifle 100WWT076 PNG Rifle with Owen gun 100WWT077 PNG Rifle and No.2 with Bren Gun prone 100WWT078 PNG stretcher bearers and casualty 100WWT079 PNG bearers and load – 2 figures and load