During the Masonic Role of Honour project a couple of years ago I examined our roll book and minutes since 1915 to see if any of our serving members had died during their active service.
I found no one in WW1 but did discover that in WW2 one of our Master Masons, Bro James Hosier, was killed in New Guinea at the start of January 1943. I wrote about that then on FB and on our website.
Last weekend the MW Grand Master travelled to Papua New Guinea to visit New Guinea Lodge in Port Moresby. As the Grand Secretary mentioned they would be visiting the Bomana War Cemetery I asked if they could visit Bro James' grave.
They not only visited his grave as a group but the MW Grand Master laid a wreath. A wonderful gesture.
James Oliver Hosier was born in Richmond Qld in 1914 and was initiated into Yeronga Lodge (as St George was then named) as a 26 year old tram conductor in 1940. A few months later he enlisted in the AIF and then took his Third Degree. He served in the 2/12 Battalion. He rose to the rank of sergeant and was killed in action in New Guinea on 9 January 1943.
The 2/12 Battalion was at Milne Bay in mid 1942 and returned to fight in the bitter battles at Buna and Sanananda. Between 9 and 21 January 1943 it cleared the Japanese from the torturous swamp country around Sanananda and lost 61 lives in the process. James was one these brave men.
Vale Bro James Hosier.
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