Photo Gallery of a Taurama Barracks Chalkie

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Holmes Tamarua - I think he was in radiology. I trained him to be the first local treasurer of the Sergeants Mess
Sgt. Holmes Tamarua – I think he was in radiology. I trained him to be the first local treasurer of the Sergeants Mess
John Mudi - transport driver
Pte. John Mudi – transport driver
This gallery shows black and white photos taken by Sgt. Peter Chard during his time as a chalkie at Taurama Barracks in 1968-69.
Some chalkies including some of their educational activities

Sgt Ross Bailey at Taurama Beach
Sgt Ross Bailey at Taurama Beach

Sgt. Peter Chard spearfishing at Taurama Bay
Sgt. Peter Chard spearfishing at Taurama Bay

Chalkies at Brown River - Sgt. Steve Roxborough is sitting on the left.
Chalkies at Brown River – Sgt. Steve Roxborough is sitting on the left.

Chalkies working on one of their cars outside the Sgts Mess
Chalkies working on one of their cars outside the Sgts Mess

Science class at Taurama
Science class at Taurama

Sgt Peter Karake and Cpl Atisi during a science class
Sgt Peter Karake and Cpl Atisi during a science class

Science excursion to Taurama Beach
Science excursion to Taurama Beach

A python caught whilst on a science excursion near Sogeri
A python caught whilst on a science excursion near Sogeri

First science class, 3 pupils. Further classes 29, 25 & 45 pupils
First science class, 3 pupils. Further classes 29, 25 & 45 pupils

Sgt Peter Chard, taken on the day of the royal visit, I was BOS that day. C Coy in background
Sgt Peter Chard, taken on the day of the royal visit, I was BOS that day. C Coy in background

Sports day at the barracks
Sports day at the barracks

Top floor of sgts accommodation looking towards the mess
Top floor of sgts accommodation looking towards the mess

Top floor of sgts accommodation with Sgt Peter Chard
Top floor of sgts accommodation with Sgt Peter Chard

Bukan who took care of my laundry
Bukan who took care of Sgt Peter Chard’s laundry
Scenes in Taurama Barracks

Entrance to 1 PIR - Pte Driwa, C Company on duty
Entrance to 1 PIR – Pte Driwa, C Company on duty

Battalion parade ground - C Company barracks in the background
Battalion parade ground – C Company barracks in the background

Duke of Kent arriving outside C Company
Duke of Kent arriving outside C Company

Duke of Kent preparing to inspect the barracks
Duke of Kent preparing to inspect the barracks

Duke of Kent returning to car after inspection with Col Pears
Duke of Kent returning to car after inspection with Col Pears

Taurama Sergeants Mess
Taurama Sergeants Mess

Sgts Mess Menu
Sgts Mess Menu
Civic Actions Patrols including one from Buin to Kieta in 1969

Peter Chard on patrol!
Peter Chard on patrol!

Peter Chard helping himself to a pawpaw whilst on patrol in Bougainville.
Peter Chard helping himself to a pawpaw whilst on patrol in Bougainville.

8 Pl members on an Admin truck. Used to transport the patoon from Conga to Moratania
8 Pl members on an Admin truck. Used to transport the patoon from Conga to Moratania

Changing from an Admin truck to PWD truck about 6 miles from Moratana.
Changing from an Admin truck to PWD truck about 6 miles from Moratania.

Conga to Moratania
Conga to Moratania

Haus saksak belonging to a PWD road contractor at Moratana.
Haus saksak belonging to a PWD road contractor at Moratana.

Moratania looking towards the foothills which we eventually had to go over.
Moratania looking towards the foothills which we eventually had to go over.

A village we passed through.
A village we passed through.

Aloyisius Noga - President of Buin Council
Aloyisius Noga – President of Buin Council

Civic Action this was the culvert we built Near Boku approx 6 miles from Paul Lapuns village. Who was Paul Lapun!
Civic Action this was the culvert we built Near Boku approx 6 miles from Paul Lapuns village. Who was Paul Lapun!

Another view of the culvert
Another view of the culvert

Civic works on Buin to Kieta patrol
Civic works on Buin to Kieta patrol

Getting into good kai on Sogeri excursion
Getting into good kai on Sogeri excursion

Pte Bonobono entering a 7th Day Adventist village
Pte Bonobono entering a 7th Day Adventist village

Some of the soldiers on the Sogeri excursion
Some of the soldiers on the Sogeri excursion

Typical villagers encountered.
Typical villagers

Typical villagers
Typical villagers
Soldiers of 1PIR during 1968-69

August Bolai - Sergeants Mess barman - Tolai
Pte. August Bolai – Sergeants Mess barman – Tolai

Battalion singsing
Battalion singsing

Battalion singsing
Battalion singsing

Cpl. Joe Ango - C Company
Cpl. Joe Ango – C Company

Kissik - Sergeants Mess cleaner
Kissik – Sergeants Mess cleaner

One of the Taurama sergeants, a pommy regular, I think his first name was Roger
One of the Taurama sergeants, a pommy regular, his name was Roger Snuggs

Sgt. Otto Pandiku - cook sergeant
Sgt. Otto Pandiku – cook sergeant

Pancho Evans at Xmas Party, 21 Dec 68
Pancho Evans at Xmas Party, 21 Dec 68

Peter Driwa - Manus
Peter Driwa – Manus

Pte. Driwa - C Companyfrom Manus
Pte. Driwa – C Company from Manus

Pte. Gabriel Par - barman at Xmas Party
Pte. Gabriel Par – barman at Xmas Party

Sgt. Sam Pasan - medical sergeant
Sgt. Sam Pasen – medical sergeant

Sgt. Jack Ako - 8 Platoon on Buin Kieta patrol
Sgt. Jack Ako – 8 Platoon on Buin Kieta patrol

Sgt. Jack Ako on his wedding day
Sgt. Jack Ako on his wedding day

Sgt. Jim Kamong and WO 2 Pat Hopley
Sgt. Jim Kamong and WO 2 Pat Hopley

Sgt. Jim Kamong with his family
Sgt. Jim Kamong with his family

Sgt. John Tebera
Sgt. John Tebera

Sgt. Otto Pandiku
Sgt. Otto Pandiku

Sgt. Peter Karake from New Ireland
Sgt. Peter Karake from New Ireland

Sgt. Rawasi
Sgt. Rawasi

Sgt. Rawasi - the sheriffe
Sgt. Rawasi – the sheriffe

Sgt. Tomi from Buka
Sgt. Tomi from Buka

B J Smith RQMS
B J Smith RQMS

Sgt Jim Kamong and WO 2 Pat Hopley
Sgt Jim Kamong and WO 2 Pat Hopley

Sergeants at the Xmas Party 21 Dec 68
Sergeants at the Xmas Party 21 Dec 68

St. Sgt. Willi Kana - Sp Company from Manus
St. Sgt. Willi Kana – Sp Company from Manus

Stewards at Xmas Party 68 clockwise from top - Morican, Yaki, Famudi, Gandi
Stewards at Xmas Party 68
clockwise from top – Morican, Yaki, Famudi, Gandi

Sgt.Togalua Pioneer - Tolai
Pioneer Sgt. Togalua – Tolai

Tommy Gill - Sergeants Mess cook
Tommy Gill – Sergeants Mess cook

WO 2 Herman Komeng - . CSM C Company from Sepik
WO 2 Herman Komeng – CSM C Company from Sepik

WO 2 John Tsioni - CSM D Company from Buka
WO 2 John Tsioni – CSM D Company from Buka

WO 2 Samuga - CSM Admin Company
WO 2 Samuga – CSM Admin Company

Yuyugao, Lcpl Minaba, Willi Maut from C Company
Yuyugao, Lcpl Minaba, Willi Maut from C Company

Bandmaster Jamie Whitecross & Jock Peni, '68 Xmas Party
Bandmaster Jamie Whitecross & Jock Peni, ’68 Xmas Party

Sgt John Sameso from Bougainville
Sgt John Sameso from Bougainville

Sgts Peter Karake & Max Hambo at a formal function
Sgts Peter Karake & Max Hambo at a formal function

Xmas Party '68
Xmas Party ’68
In and around Port Moresby

Port Moresby from Paga Hill
Port Moresby from Paga Hill

Port Moresby from Paga Hill
Port Moresby from Paga Hill

Port Moresby with Paga Hill in the background
Port Moresby with Paga Hill in the background

Idlers Bay
Idlers Bay

Idlers Bay
Idlers Bay

Police Band at the South Pacific Games
Police Band at the South Pacific Games

Port Moresby and the well known policeman
Port Moresby and the well known policeman

Taurama Beach
Taurama Beach

The Macdui in Port Moreby Harbour - a victim of Japanese bombing in World War II
The Macdui in Port Moreby Harbour – a victim of Japanese bombing in World War II

The wreck of the Macdui in Port Moresby Harbour
The wreck of the Macdui in Port Moresby Harbour

The Rigo Country Club
The Rigo Country Club

Wirraway at Jacksons Airport
Wirraway at Jacksons Airport

Port Moresby Show
Port Moresby Show

Participant at a singsing, Kila Kila
Participant at a singsing, Kila Kila

Pikinini at Sogeri Market
Pikinini at Sogeri Market

A discriminating PNG smoker smoking the South Pacific Post or Niugini Toktok.
A discriminating PNG smoker smoking the South Pacific Post or Niugini Toktok.

From Trig Hill behind the camp. Houses to the right are the PI married quarters.
From Trig Hill behind the camp. Houses to the right are the PI married quarters.

From Trig Hill, Bootless Bay looking up the coast to the east
From Trig Hill, Bootless Bay looking up the coast to the east

From Trig Hill, the road from Boroko to the camp
From Trig Hill, the road from Boroko to the camp

From Trig Hill, transport compound in the middle, mound on the left is the rifle range
From Trig Hill, transport compound in the middle, mound on the left is the rifle range

Hanuabada Village
Hanuabada Village

Marine Base Port Moresby waterfront
Marine Base Port Moresby waterfront

Mekeo Dancers
Mekeo Dancers

Native hut at the end of the Sogeri Road, 4 wheel drive from this point on
Native hut at the end of the Sogeri Road, 4 wheel drive from this point on

Sgt Holmes Tamarua
Sgt Holmes Tamarua
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7 Comments

  1. It has been emotional time for me and found a pic of my biological father( Sgt Holmes Tamarua) after 60 years.
    Thank you,
    Dorothy

  2. Great photos. They brought back many memories. I particularly liked seeing my close friends John Tebera and John Same so.
    Peter Porteous PIR 1970 to 1971.

  3. I was so emotional when i saw my late dad’s photo (Medical Sgt Sam Pasen)

    Much appreciated.

    Thank you,

  4. Peter
    Amazing to see these photos and some of the faces again. Not only do they bring back my memories but have been helpful in adding to stories I have told the family about the time spent in PNG. Still have fond memories of diving in PNG and still have the cowrie collection I made up there. Seeing these has prompted me to start looking for my photo collection which I have not seen for some years now. Hopefully I will be able to find a few more of the “chalkies” we worked with at Taurama.

  5. Peter,
    The photos bought back so many happy memories! I did indeed know many of those pictured here, friends and colleagues from a distant past. Under the section entitled ‘Soldiers of 1PIR during 1968-69’ the ‘pommie’ soldier was in fact Roger Snuggs from Signals. For those who were not at Taurama Barracks at this time, you may well recognise many of the soldiers pictured as they, unlike us, were transferred to other battalions over their many years of service and may well have found themselves posted to your battalion or section during the period, 1966-73. Peter, a truly remarkable snapshot from 1PIR. Well done!

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