After World War I, Australia was awarded a League of Nations mandate over the former German colonies of Neu Pommern (New Britain), Neu Mecklenburg (New Ireland), Kaiser Wilhelm's Land (New Guinea) and Bougainville. In the inter-war period, Australia adhered to the League's rules and built no defences in the mandated territories. At the start of World War II, the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, a militia unit drawn from the European male population, was raised for defence purposes. German merchant raider forays in the Pacific and Japanese activity in Indo-China saw Australia send a battalion group, with coastal guns, to Rabaul in 1941. Codenamed "Lark Force", it was drawn from the Australian Imperial Force, that part of the Australian army that had volunteered and trained for service in Europe or the Middle East. But as Rabaul was officially classified as Australian territory, the home defence or militia part of the army, the Australian Military Forces, also sent troops there. Below is a list of the forces despatched to Rabaul from the outbreak of World War II until the Japanese invasion on 23 January 1942.

Lark Force Headquarters - the commander, Colonel J.J. Scanlan plus 2 officers and 8 other ranks (ORs) arrived in Rabaul on 8 October 1941.

Arrived in Rabaul during March-April 1941:

2/22nd Battalion from the 23rd Brigade of the 8th Division. This battalion, with 40 officers and 906 ORs, was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. Carr. It's equipment was 12 Vickers medium machine guns, 12 x 3 inch mortars, 26 Lewis light machine guns, 68 Thompson sub machine guns, 1630 x .303 inch rifles, 1 to 12 number15 rifle bombers*, 10 Chevrolet 15 cwt vans, 29 x 1 ton Chevrolet trucks, 1 x 1 ton Chevrolet "office" truck, 2 Chevrolet cars, 2 x 30 cwt water trucks, 11 x 30 cwt trucks, 5 x 30 cwt kitchen trucks and 6 Royal Enfield motorcycles. It comprised four infantry companies and two support companies:-

'A' infantry company - led by Major William T. Owen.

'B' infantry company - led by Captain C.L. McInnes.

'C' infantry company - led by Captain E.S. Appel.

'D' infantry company - led by Major R.E. Travers.

'R' support company - led by Captain Lannan or McCallum?

* This was a modified rifle/grenade launcher with a rate of fire of 15 grenades a minute at a range from 50 to 300 yards. The 15 bomber was designed by E.S. Appel.

'L' coastal defence battery of 6 officers and 133 ORs, led by Major J.P.R. Clark, equipped with two 6 inch Mk. VII naval guns, two H.C.D. 90 cm Mk VI searchlights, a Ford 15 cwt van and a Ford 30 cwt truck. Photo of 6 inch gun at Praed Point, Rabaul - July 1993.

Fortress Company, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) of 4 officers and 48 ORs, led by Major H.R. Dickson, equipped with 600 anti-tank mines, barbed wire, a 15 cwt van, a 30 cwt truck and access to a civilian road-grader.

Fortress Signals of 2 officers and 34 ORs, led by Captain K.H.N. Denny, equipped with 4 Royal Enfield motorcycles, 3 Ford 15 cwt vans, a Ford 30 cwt truck and 2 Ford 1 ton trucks .

2/10th Field Ambulance detachment with 2 officers and 20 ORs, including 6 female nurses. This unit, led by Major (Dr.) Palmer, was equipped with a Chevrolet ambulance. Nurses arrived 25 April 1941.

19th Field Dental Unit detachment with 1 officer and 4 ORs.

Australian Army Supply Corps (AASC) detachment with 1 officer and 23 ORs.

Australian Army Ordnance Corps (AAOC) detachment with Lieutenant T.H. Brown and 12 ORs.

Canteen Services detachment with 3 ORs.

Australian Army Postal Corps (AAPC) detachment with 1 officer and 1 OR.

Australian Army Chaplaincy Department detachment of 3 officers

Works Services detachment with 1 officer.

Reserve transport: 6 motor cycles, 7 x 15 cwt vans, 2 x 1 ton trucks, 1 x 30 cwt kitchen truck, 1 x 30 cwt water truck.

Members of most of these detachments, together with the AA gunners mentioned below, were formed into 'Y' support company led by Captain F.E. Shier on 22 January 1942.

17th Anti-Tank Battery (less C Troop) with 5 officers and 94 ORs, led by Captain G. Matheson, equipped with eight 2 pounder anti-tank guns and 12 bren gun carriers arrived at Rabaul on 29 September 1941. Photo of 2 pounder anti-tank gun at Malmaluan Lookout, Rabaul - July 1993.

New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) company - unit created in 1940, with call-up on 8 December 1941. It comprised 2 officers and 288 ORs equipped with 2 Vickers medium machine guns, 3 Lewis light machine guns and 2 x 3 inch mortars, requisitioned civilian trucks, commanded of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Walstab.

New Guinea Native Constabulary comprising18 European officers/warrant officers, 410 Papuan NCOs and constables, led by Acting Superintendent W. B. Ball, spread across New Britain. They had .303 rifles and 2 Maxim medium machine guns.

Anti-aircraft (AA) and Anti-motor landing craft (A/MLC) section (detached from 1st AA Brigade) comprising two officers and 52 ORs, equipped with two 3 inch AA guns (without predictors and height finders), one .303 inch medium machine gun, a .55 inch Boys anti-tank rifle, 3 x .455 inch pistols, 51 x .303 inch rifles. Transport comprised a motorcycle, 15 cwt van, 3 ton truck and two trailers. The battery, led by Lieutenant David Shelby disembarked at Rabaul on 16 August 1941.

Airfields at Lakunai (Lower Drome), Vunakanau (Upper Drome) and Gasmata (western New Britain). Seaplane moorings in Simpson Harbour.

Number 24 Squadron, commanded by Wing Commander J.M. Lerew, comprising:-

4 Lockheed Hudson light bombers - serial numbers A16-13, A16-39, A16-47, A16-91.

10 Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Wirraway trainer/fighters - serial numbers A20-71, A20-156, A20-177, A20-178, A20-179, A20-303, A20-304, A20-319, A20-436, A20-437.

130 aircrew and 6 ground staff arriving in Rabaul from 5 January 1942.

1 Catalina PBY-5 flying boat from Number 11 or 20 Squadrons, based at Port Moresby, would fly a daily reconnaissance mission from Rabaul

Rabaul Naval Base staff comprising 10 ORs led by Lieutenant Mackenzie.

New Guinea administration (later HMAS) yacht Laurabada (150 tons) skipper -Lieutenant Ivor Champion (Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve).

New Guinea administration motor vessels Thetis, Leander (60 tons).

Coastwatchers:- A.G. Allen at Duke of York Islands,

J.Keith McCarthy at Talasea (north coast) with pinnaces (5 tons) Aussi, Lolobau.

J.E. Daymond, E.A. Mitchell and R.T. Squires at Gasmata (south coast).

boom defences delivered by Malaita (3,310 tons) on 6 January 1942 were not unloaded.

Norwegian steamer Herstein (5,100 tons), under Captain Guntherson, at Rabaul

W.R. Carpenter & Co. stores/coaling hulk Westralia (2,884 tons) at Rabaul

inter-island trade vessels Matafele (330 tons), Mako (300 tons), Duranbah.

Burns Philp motor schooner Lakatoi (341 tons) at Kapepa Island

schooner Malahuka, Dufaur at Pondo

launches Bavaria (60 tons), Totol, mission schooner Umboi (23 tons), on north coast.

mission launch Poseidon at Put Put plantation.

launch Iboki (12 tons) at Waterfall Bay.

lugger Bambi at Ravalien plantation.

launch Veilomani at Sum Sum.

launch Eleanora at Cutarp plantation.

launch Mateo at Tol plantation.

launch Bomba at Brown Island plantation.

21 foot pinnace Dulcy at Stockholm plantation.

launch Langu (5.5 tons) at Witu.

plantation launch Eleandra.

20 foot pinnace Maria at Awul mission.

pinnaces Lottie Don, Quong Wha,

schooner Cecil Wilson at Kumbun Island mission.

schooner Kabakaul,

Nereus, Winnon, Matoma, Elevala,

1st Independent Company (less three sections), comprising 12 officers and 166 Ors (normally 17 officers and 256 ORs), commanded by Major J. Edmonds Wilson. The unit was equipped with standard issue small arms but included 23 Thompson sub machine guns plus 450 lbs of gelignite, detonators and fuzes with which to demolish Kavieng's airfield. Unit transport was drawn from the 35 lorries and 45 cars belonging to Kavieng's civilian population. The missing three sections wee garrisoning Villa in the New Hebrides, Tulagai in the Solomons and Lorengau in the Admiralty Islands. This AIF commando-style unit passed through Rabaul and reached Kavieng in July 1941.

motor vessel Induna Starr (81 tons)

New Guinea Airways launch G'nair (15 tons) at Namatanai

Coastwatchers:-Major J.H. McDonald at Kavieng, C.L. Page at Tabar Island, A.F. Bill Kyle and Greg W. Benham at Namatanai (south coast), J.L. Woodrofe at Anir Island.

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