THE MONUMENT
Future plans
The ‘Pride of Our Nation’ memorial monument
was unveiled on 7 August 2011, 69 years after the
Americans landed on the island of Guadalcanal,
Solomon Islands. Plaques listing the names of all
known Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers were
unveiled on 7 August 2012.
The final plinth for the monument will honour
the Royal Australian Navy who created the
Coastwatchers network which was so ably
supported by the Solomon Scouts. The plinth
will feature a ship’s anchor of the period with
description detailing the connection. Plans for the
dedication on 7 August 2013 will bring together all
participants in the project.
PRIDE OF OUR NATION
Monument service to the community
Solomon Islands Artist
Renowned Solomon Islands
carver and sculptor, Frank
Haikiu, created the design for
the Monument - depicting the
Coastwatchers standing tall
looking northward supported by
the Solomon Scouts. It is made
from steel rods, overlaid with
chicken wire and then layered
with cement. The figures were
then painted with bronze paint and fibre glass
– creating a real life image. Frank’s concept was
to create a sculpture that any Solomon Islander
could look at and say ‘that could be me’.
The Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers monument
has enabled visiting dignitaries to pay their respects
to the wonderful services of the Solomon Scouts. A
growing recognition of this is seen by wreath laying
events occurring more frequently. This is really a
heartening outcome, as through this process the
Solomon Islanders of present and future generations
will develop pride in their forebears for the service
they provided to their nation – the Solomon Islands.
It is truly “THE PRIDE OF THE NATION”
Support and further information
Please contact Coastwatchers and Solomon Scouts
Trust Board via email [email protected] Donations
to support the project are gratefully received.
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Scouts & Coastwatchers
The Memorial Trust
World War II Coastwatchers in Solomon
Islands were the Royal Australian Navy’s ‘eyes
and ears’, reporting on Japanese activities in
the region. The Coastwatchers were mostly
European volunteers who had been living in
Solomon Islands when the Japanese occupied
the country in 1942.
Solomon Islands is made up of nearly 1000
islands over nine provinces, with a total
population today of around 600,000 people.
Many Solomon Islanders have not been aware
of the important roles their ancestors, from
many different parts of the country, played
helping the Allied forces during World War II.
Scouts were Solomon Islanders who assisted
the Coastwatchers. Some of the Scouts were
trustworthy volunteers, while others had been
police officers or worked for the British Solomon
Islands Government of the day.
The aims of the Memorial Monument in
Commonwealth St, Honiara, are to:
• Honour the bravery and self-sacrifice of the
Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers.
•
•
Recognise the important contribution of
the many people who helped the Scouts
and Coastwatchers with information, food,
shelter and rescues, and by not betraying
their hiding places to the Japanese, and
Help instill a sense of national pride in
Solomon Islands.
The Memorial Trust, which raised funds for the
Monument and managed its development, is
headed by former Prime Minister of Solomon
Islands, Sir Peter Kenilorea. The other members
are Michael Ben and Michael Liliau, both sons of
Solomon Scouts, and long-term Solomon Islands
resident Sir Bruce Saunders.
The Coastwatchers base radio station dugout, Lunga,
Guadalcanal, 1943. Photos courtesy AWM 106678.
“The Coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal and
Guadalcanal saved the South Pacific.”
William F Halsey, US Admiral of the Fleet
“Without local help I don’t know what we would
have done, we would not have lasted ten minutes.”
John Keenan, Australian Coastwatcher
Cover Photo: BJS staff with sculptor Frank Haikiu
Solomon Scouts
stand guard at
Seghe Coastwatchers
station, New
Georgia, 1943.
Photo courtesy
Australian War
Memorial (AWM)
306811.
Scouts set out on a US intelligence
patrol from Seghe Coastwatchers station, New Georgia,
1943. Photos courtesy AWM 306814.
Tours of the Battlefield
An informative two-hour
DVD of historian John Innes’
Battlefield Tour has been
G U A D A Guide to
developed as part of the
LCA
BATT by John Innes N A L
project. Included with
LEFIE
LDS
the DVD are 10 booklets
containing John’s stories
on the various battles
of Guadalcanal. There
is a great amount of
wonderful material for
only $150 USD including postage,
available from the Memorial Trust.
Education Element
Annie Kwai is a Solomon Islander studying the
roles that Solomon Islanders played as Scouts in
the Pacific during World War II at the University
of Canberra and her thesis will provide the
information to the Solomon Islands’ Ministry
of Education curriculum division to be able to
educate future generations of Solomon Islanders
about the history of their ancestors.