Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, paid tribute to fallen Second World War diggers who were laid to rest at Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea earlier today. The families of Lance Sergeant James Garrard Wheeler and Lieutenant Talbot Logan were present as the remains of their loved ones and two unknown Australian soldiers were buried with full military honours.

“This is a time to remember the courage of these men, and recognise the considerable grief their loss has caused their families – both then and now,” said Mr Combet. The men were laid to rest at Bomana alongside more than 3300 of their comrades who also died during the Pacific campaigns of the Second World War.”

“Australia owes a debt of gratitude to all 39,000 servicemen and women who died during the Second World War, and today’s military funeral is an appropriate way to commemorate the service and sacrifice of these diggers, and provide some comfort to the loved ones they left behind.”

The identified men were killed in separate incidents that occurred exactly one month apart – the first on 1 December 1942.

“Lance Sergeant Wheeler was killed 67 years ago today while attempting to reach an injured comrade during the US Army 126th Regiment’s fight around Huggins Road Block on the Soputa/Sanananda Track,” Mr Combet said. “Lieutenant Logan was in command of 9 Platoon when he was killed on 1 January 1943 by a Japanese sniper during the 2/12th Battalion’s attack on Giropa Point at Buna.”

The Australian Army provided an honour guard at the ceremony which was also attended by the Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Paul Symon. Members of the Australian Federation Guard fired volleys over the graves and a lone bugler played the Last Post. The soldier’s remains were recovered from battlefields around Buna, Sanananda and Popondetta. An Army investigation team positively identified two sets of remains, and those unidentified have been buried under a headstone marked ‘Known Unto God’.