PAPUA New Guinea has pledged to honour the sacred site where the Australian submarine, HMAS AE1, was discovered in East New Britain waters, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rimbink Pato said.
He attended a commemoration session recently in Australia flanked by Minister for Police Jelta Wong, who is Gazelle MP, and others.
He extended his condolences to the descendants of the 35 who perished aboard HMAS AE1 in September, 1914.
HMAS AE1 was the first Allied and Royal Australian Navy submarine lost in World War I. It was found last December after a 103-year search off the coast of the Duke of York Islands.
“And may I also convey the condolences of Papua New Guinea to the nation of Australia, our neighbour, our long-time partner, and constant friend – and to our dear Commonwealth cousins, Great Britain and New Zealand,” Mr Pato said.
He said the deaths of these men symbolised the tragedy of war.
“What grief must their families have endured as they realised their energetic, lively and loving young men would never return to them?
“A nation rightfully mourns the loss of its young in war. What contributions could these young men have made to their societies?
“Had they lived what might they have done in the sciences, in the arts, in agriculture – and perhaps even in shaping policies that would bring an end to the curse of war.
“It is proper that we remember with respect these servicemen, those who left their homeland in the firm belief they were doing what was right.
“It takes courage to go to war in a submarine – but even more so in those days when underwater technology was in its infancy,” he said.
Mr Pato said that for those who died for their countries aboard HMAS AE1 perished in a place of great significance to him because his “wife comes from this general area, and we have a home nearby.”