20 June 1942

Padre ‘Nobby’ Earl of 39^th Battalion boards the wrecked of the MV Macdhui to identify those killed in the earlier Japanese bombing raids. He buries Capt Ross MacLeod by the light of truck headlights as his comrades give a final salute.

Around 30 battle-experienced AIF officers, back from the Middle East, arrive in Moresby to take positions with the three militia battalions there. The 39^th Bn receives 15 of them.