Arthur Heenan was a Post Office radio operator who was sent to the Pacific islands in 1940 as a coastwatcher, looking out for German raiders. The watchers remained after Pearl Harbour, reporting on Japanese movements, until their islands were occupied and they were rounded up and taken to the island of Betio in the Tarawa atoll.
MASSACRE AT TARAWA
17 New Zealanders Killed
MURDERED BY JAPANESE
(P A.) WELLINGTON, October 21. Twenty-two Europeans, including 17 New Zealanders, were massacred by the Japanese on Tarawa Island, where they had been removed as prisoners of war after the capture of the Gilbert Group, a little more than two years ago. This was announced to-day by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. F. Fraser).
“This outrage," said Mr Fraser, "occurred on the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert Group, on October 15, 1942, following a bombardment of the island on the afternoon of that day by a United States warship and United States aircraft.
“The fate of the men was not discovered until after the capture of the Gilberts by the United States forces in December last, and it was not until some time later that the facts were established beyond reasonable doubt.
"These circumstances, together with certain discussions which have been taking place with other Allied Governments, explain the long interval which has elapsed between the occurrence and the publication of the details.
“The next-of-kin of the men concerned were, however, acquainted with the position as soon as the fate of their relatives was definitely determined.
"Seven of the New Zealand personnel were officers of the Post and Telegraph Department, all young men, who, early in 1941, had volunteered for service in the Coast Watching Organisation in the Pacific islands.
“The remaining 10 New Zealanders were Army personnel who had volunteered to assist in coast watching duties and to keep the Post and Telegraph officers company in the remote islands in which they were situated, very few of which had any regular white inhabitants.
Occupation of Gilbert Group "The occupation of the Gilbert Group by the Japanese commenced in December, 1941, immediately following the outbreak of war in the Pacific. The three northern islands of the group, Little Makin, Butaritari, and Abaiang, were then seized by the Japanese and three Post and Telegraph officers and our soldiers who were serving there were taken prisoner and removed from the colony.
“According to reports received they are safe, but it is not known where they are detained — presumably in Japan.
"The remaining 17 personnel were serving in the lower islands of the Gilbert Group which were occupied by the Japanese in September, 1942.
"Following the recapture of the Gilberts by the United States forces investigations were made by the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Group. These disclose that immediately following their capture in September, 1942, the Europeans were all removed to Tarawa and that on arrival there they were kept outside the quarters occupied by the Japanese commandant with their hands tied and secured to coconut trees for a period of up to three or even four days awaiting examination by the Japanese commandant.
“They were then confined at the Tarawa Central Hospital in the enclosure which was previously used for the detention of native lunatics. During the period that they were treated as prisoners the men were required to work on the construction of the wharf at Betio.
Prisoners Killed "On the afternoon of October 15, 1942, the island was bombarded by a United States warship and United States aircraft, and on the evening of that day the 22 Europeans were beheaded or otherwise killed by the Japanese.
"I am sure that every citizen of this Dominion will join with the Government in expressing sincere sympathy to the relatives of those men who were so foully murdered by the Japanese.
"No tribute to their courage and their devotion to duty is too high. Notwithstanding the danger to which they were exposed following the outbreak of war with Japan they all remained their posts and continued to send reports of enemy movements up till the time that they were captured.
"The information which they gave of enemy activities in the group was of the utmost value, since it enabled the service authorities to dispose to best advantage the naval and air forces available in the Pacific in 1942 to arrest the progress of the Japanese who were then moving south.
“The evidence of the natives and others gathered since the re-occupation of the group pays eloquent tribute to the bravery of all of the coast watchers. Particular mention is made of Lieutenant A. L. Taylor and Corporal T. C. Murray, who at the time of the Japanese occupation were serving on Beru. These two men abandoned their intention of escaping on learning that the Japanese had threatened the natives with reprisals if they should leave the island.
Tribute To Men’s Courage "These men all discharged their duties with courage and met an untimely death with fortitude.
“Their example of duty and the knowledge of their fate should inspire all New Zealanders to do everything they can to end this war as quickly as possible and to ensure that in this area of the world the Japanese shall not again be permitted to practise their barbarities on peace-loving peoples.
“No effort will be spared to identify, if this is possible, the criminals who were responsible for this outrage and if they can be found they will be fully and suitably punished.
“This atrocity is but one more in the grim list of which Japan will be called to account.” Mr Fraser concluded.
A memorial tablet has been erected by the British and American officials on the site of the Tarawa massacre. The inscription on the tablet reads as follows:
In memory of twenty-two British subjects, murdered by the Japanese at Betio on October 15, 1942. Standing unarmed to their posts they matched brutality with gallantry, and met death with fortitude.
The tablet also records the names of the victims of the massacre.
New Zealanders’ Names The names of the New Zealand victims with those of their next-of-kin, are contained in an official casualty list issued to-day. They are as follows:
Taylor, Lieutenant Allan Leicester. Mr W. C. Taylor, Waimate (father).
Ellis, Private Raymond Arthur. Mrs J. A. Ellis, 10 Arthur street. Ponsonby (wife).
Hearn, Corporal Henry Renton Cropper. Mrs A. S. Hearn, 208 Grays road. Hastings (mother).
Heenan, Corporal Arthur Clarence. Mr E. P. Heenan, Middlemarch (father).
Hitchon, Private Robert Irwin. Mrs S. Hitchon, No. 7 R.D. Waitoa (mother).
Howe, Private Dallas Hillman. Mrs S. A. Howe, Tararu road, Thames (mother).
Jones, Private Reginald. Mr L. Jones. 14 Tuakina street, Grey Lynn (brother).
Kilpin, Private Claude Andrew. Mr W. G. Kilpin, Te Aroha (brother).
McCarthy, Corporal John Joseph. Mr J. J. McCarthy. 19 Neola road. Point Chevalier (father).
McKenna, Corporal Arthur Ernest. Mrs H. Webb. Bristol street, Levin (aunt).
McKenzie, Private Roderick Murdoch. Mr R. H. McKenzie, Te Kuiti (father).
Murray, Corporal Thomas Colin. Mr T. Murray, Hari Hari, Hokitika (father).
Nichol, Private John Hugh. Mrs M. A. Nichol, Te Matai road, Te Puke (mother).
Owen, Private Charles James. Mr V. Owen, 50 Bell road, Woburn, Lower Hutt (brother).
Parker, Private Wilfred Athol Rolf. Mrs J. Parker, care Mr H. Schoore. Waharoa R.D. (mother).
Pearsall, Corporal Clifford Arnold. Mr L. Pearsall, Lawrence (father).
Speedy, Private Leslie Bruce. Mrs A. J. Speedy. 13 Albion road, Otahuhu (wife).
The officers of the Post and Telegraph Department referred to in the statement by the Prime Minister were Lieutenant Taylor. Corporals Hearn, Heenan. McCarthy, McKenna, Murray, and Pearsall.
The five other Europeans massacred at Tarawa were K. G. Morgan, A. L. Sadd, B. Cleary. I. R. Handley, and A. M. McArthur. Messrs Morgan. Cleary, and McArthur and Captain Handley, and the Rev. A. L. Sadd were all well known in the Gilbert Islands.
Messrs Morgan and Cleary were administration officials. Mr McArthur was a trader. Captain Handley was a well-known retired master mariner and Mr Sadd was one of the bestknown and most loved missionaries in the Central Pacific. -Press, 23/10/1944.
JAPANESE BARBARITY
PRISONERS SHOT IN COLD BLOOD
During the fighting on the Gilbert Islands in September, 1942, a party of 21 Allied soldiers and civilians was captured by the Japanese and transferred to Tamana Island. Here the men were held until October 15, 1942. On the approach of an Allied force the Japanese shot the members of the party, which consisted of 10 soldiers, 7 radio officials, 1 missionary, 1 trader, and 3 employees of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.
Among the party was Corporal Clifford Arnold Pearsall, the only son of Mrs Pearsall, of Lawrence. He was born at Lawrence on November 3, 1921, and was educated at the Lawrence District High School. At the age of 14 he joined the staff of the Lawrence Post Office, and later served at the Roxburgh, Arrowtown, Athol, Kaitangata, and Queenstown offices. He was selected to take a course at the Telegraph School, Christchurch, and later entered the radio location school in Wellington. In July, 1941, he left to go overseas as a radio operator, and on December 9, 1941, he was transferred to the armed forces. It was while serving on the Gilbert Islands that he was taken prisoner, and news of his fate was received only recently by his mother. -Otago Daily Times, 11/5/1944.
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