31. Caught in the Crossfire

The inhabitants of Papua New Guinea generally lived peaceful lives until foreigners came to the island. Then, when the Second World War broke out, they were caught in the crossfire because of their island’s strategic location in the Pacific, between Japan and Australian. These people didn’t fight for either side, but they did play their part in the war effort.

The Papuans acted as service bearers, completing tasks like carrying supplies and wounded soldiers across the dangerous mountainous and treacherous rainforests. Their lovely country soon became a graveyard for foreign soldiers. It became such a key memorial for WWII that visitors soon began streaming in from around the world.