BOMBING OF THE MACDUI

For many years, I lived in Victoria as  neighbour to the Mahney family.

The grandfather was Pte Bill Mahney of the 39^th battalion. He did not

speak much of the war on Kokoda.

He told the story of the bombing of the Macdhui, a coastal ship owned

by Burns Philp. Bill reported that in 1942, the war was building up in

New Guinea and the town of Port Moresby had run out of matches.

He was on a boat unloading the Macdhui when the Japanese fighters

struck. The sinking of the Macdhui was once recorded in photos in 

the Managing Director’s office at the old Burns Philp building in

downtown Port Moresby.

The ship was ablaze and drifted for about a kilometer before sinking

in the harbour in the shallow water off Konedobu village. There it still

remains for eternity slowing rusting and sinking below the surface.

I trekked Kokoda last year. In the museum at Kokoda was a photo
of Bill Mahney and story probably placed by a family member. I
lost contact with the family. Bill was a gentleman's gentleman.