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Photographs and news clippings courtesy of Sgt. Jim (Bill) Semple
This page, dedicated to the memory of Sgt. Donnan, highlights in photos the journey of three of his mates to place a plaque on Mt. Wilhelm at the place where Sgt. Donnan was last seen. It includes news clippings of the day, mud maps prepared by Sgt. Greg Powell (who was on the hiking trip when Sgt. Donnan died), followed by both black and white and coloured photographs.
Mud maps of the journey from the Kegl Sugl airfield to the Saddle Camp on Mt. Wilhelm where Sgt. Donnan was last seen. The mud maps were drawn by Sgt. Greg Powell who was on the hiking trip when Sgt. Christopher Donnan disappeared.
Sign advertising carrier & accommodation rates at Kegl Sugl Airstrip. The airstrip is approximately 8,000 feet above sea level.
Pointing the directions at Kegl Sugl Airstrip
Prisoners (striped lap laps) constructing a hut near Kegl Sugl Airstrip
Sgt. Bob Strachan at the end of the vehicle track near Kegl Sugl Airstrip
Getting into the ‘Deep J’. Our guide (and carrier of someone’s pack) in front on the ascent of Mt. Wilhem
Looking back at Kegl Sugl Airstrip from approximately 10,200 ft on the ascent
Rest huts on the terminal moraine at 10,800 ft
Rest huts, our guide & Sgt. Doug Rathbone at 10,800 ft
Rest hut area. Looking up a glacial valley
Waterfall at the head of the valley shown in previous photo. Sgt. Bob Strachan in view.
Lower glacial lake – just above the waterfall in the previous photo at the Australian National University Hut at 11,400 ft
Our aim is to go just to the right of the (apparently) higher peak. Taken from the ANU hut at 11,400 ft
Another view. (We didn’t have to climb this bit!)
Dawn 14 June 1972. Looking back at the area from which we had come. Taken from the ANU hut.
Climb from the second (higher) glacial lake at approximately 12,000 ft
Having one of the many ‘spells’. Sgt. Bob Strachan & our guide
Sgt. Doug Rathbone examining a remnant of the 1943 wreck of a WW2 Liberator at approximately 13,000 ft
The ‘bright spot’ is the grassy end of the valley in sunlight
Cloud closing in on the valley we have been following
Observatory Peak (13800 ft), Brass Tarn and valley leading into the lakes below. Taken from approximately 13,300 ft
A good example of a glacial valley taken from 13,300 ft
The two lakes (Pindaunde) from above at 13,300 ft
The cloud has nearly caught up with us. Sgt. Bob Strachan in view.
Our destination, ‘Saddle Camp’, at last at 14,200 ft. Doug Rathbone in view.
The terrain above Saddle Camp during a break in the clouds
Looking towards the (obscured) summit of Mt. Wilhelm
Sgt. Bob Strachan levelling the rock face for installation of the plaque.
The plaque that we left behind at Saddle Camp
Waiting for our aircraft back at Kegl Sugl Airstrip
A dusty visitor during our wait
Our Pilatus Porter arrives at 1600, approximately 4 hours late
‘Checking the oil/fuel’ before take-off
A view on our way back to Lae
Sgt Strachan
Some Kegl Sugl characters
The easy-going officer-in-charge of the prisoners working near Kegl Sugl
Guide and his family at their new house above Kegl Sugl airstrip
View of the summit area from the ANU hut
Brass Tarn and Observatory Peak
On the way to Saddle Camp
Guide sampling an army biscuit
Having a break near Ridge Camp
Looking down the glacial valley towards the terminal moraine – ANU hut is approximately half mile back
Resting
Return journey – having another spell – rest hut on terminal moraine
They are amazing memories of adventure for the three of us chosen to commemorate the disappearance and untimely death of a mate, Sgt Chris Donnan.
I was with Greg Powell at Goldie River from Oct ’71 until I was transferred to Murray Bks in mid 1972. It is sad that Greg Powell was not with us, although he helped us with the mud map. I think he took the reduced 18 months Nasho and was therefore due back in Oz by June ’72.
Over the years I have met many people connected to Chris but strangely I have not heard from Greg (whom I’m sure was traumatised by the events of Dec-Jan 1971).
Hi Bob,
Mark and Frank’s trip to New Guinea, and some of Mark’s writing, captures some classic descriptions. Kerry writes above about Mark’s death in December 2017 but it was a memorable trip that he recounted with verve and warm memories. As Chris’s older brother, I too, took an early six-week early exit from National Service but I still have a copy of the wonderful letter that Greg wrote to our family in 1972 and he did everything possible in the circumstances.
Chris’s brothers Mark and Frank did the climb a few years ago not quite making it to the summit.
Sadly Mark passed on 15 December of this year, 2017.
See the article Chris Donnan’s brothers’ tribute trip to Mt. Wilhelm
They are amazing memories of adventure for the three of us chosen to commemorate the disappearance and untimely death of a mate, Sgt Chris Donnan.
I was with Greg Powell at Goldie River from Oct ’71 until I was transferred to Murray Bks in mid 1972. It is sad that Greg Powell was not with us, although he helped us with the mud map. I think he took the reduced 18 months Nasho and was therefore due back in Oz by June ’72.
Over the years I have met many people connected to Chris but strangely I have not heard from Greg (whom I’m sure was traumatised by the events of Dec-Jan 1971).
Hi Bob,
Mark and Frank’s trip to New Guinea, and some of Mark’s writing, captures some classic descriptions. Kerry writes above about Mark’s death in December 2017 but it was a memorable trip that he recounted with verve and warm memories. As Chris’s older brother, I too, took an early six-week early exit from National Service but I still have a copy of the wonderful letter that Greg wrote to our family in 1972 and he did everything possible in the circumstances.