The attached photographs were supplied by Geoffrey Turner NX10445 a member of the 2/4 Pioneer Battalion, who served in the Northern Territory during the Second World War. Geoff’s hand written notes are attached. "Injured during aerial bombing at sea on 16-2-1942 he was on the Mauna Loa and got a piece of a bomb fragment in the belly and passed away 25th February 1942 aged 22. He was in the same platoon 2nd Don Company as myself but I had transferred to H.Q. Coy. And was on the Meiggs. He was 3 years older than I. I had my 90th this year and hope to be in Darwin again 2013-02-10 I Stephen Geoffrey Turner HQ Coy. 2/4th Pioneer Btn. AIF NX 10445 trust these can be of assistance to create the history of the past."
The photographs are of Albert Stanley Ticker, known as "Tex". He was born on 4 Jan 1920 at Cootamundra, NSW. He enlisted as Private NX10382 in the 2/4 Pioneer Battalion on 16 May 1941. The battalion was embarked on the Mauna Loa, part of a convoy bound to reinforce Timor. The convoy was attacked by Japanese aircraft on the 16th February, and forced to return to Darwin. In the attack Tex was one of 18 pioneers to be wounded. Tex died of his wounds at Berrimah Hospital on 25th February, and ids now buried at Adelaide River.
See Thomson, A.K. This is an account by A.K. Thomson through his memory of his experiences as a member of the 2/4 Pioneer Battalion, in Australia and overseas during the years 1941-1946. [Mittagong, N.S.W. : A.K. Thomson, 1991]
Manuel de Silva, a crewman of Mauna Loa was also wounded in the attack. Manuel died aboard the USS Houston, and was buried in Gardens Road cemetery.
See Enright, Francis James, To Leave This Port, Enright Publishing Company PO Box 158, Orick, California 95555: 1990 p65-110
The only allied aircraft available to defend the Convoy was that flown by Lt. Robert Buel. He died after being shot down by a Kawanashi flying boat, which he in turn shot down. See Powell, Alan. The Shadow’s edge. Darwin: CDU Press, 2007. p. 72
Tickner, de Silva and Buel are not included in the Northern Territory Library Roll of Honour, of those who died from the bombing on the 19th February 1942.,