- £350.00
British Solomon Islands. 1942. Stampless envelope written and endorsed from 'Sister Merle Farland, Batuna, Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia, British Solomon Islands' dated '12th Dec 42', addressed to her mother 'Mrs E.H. Marriner, Gisbourne, New Zealand' with circular 'Passed By Naval Censor' hand-stamp on face and signed by the censor.
A this time Merle Farland was at SEGI Naval Station, New Georgia aiding 'Coastwatches' Jack Keenen and Henry Josselyn. She had made the journey from Vella Lavella by canoe, avoiding Japanese occupied MUNDA, through Hawthorne Sound, East Bukobuko Island. When her presence came to the notice of Major General A.A. Vandegift, U.S.M.C. (the allied commander on Guadalcanal) he ordered her removed as "white women were not permitted to remain in the 'War Zone'.
On Dec 21, 1942 Sister Merle Farland was taken by a PBY aircraft, which landed off Segi Point, to TULAGI, then to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal and after staying one night was flown to NOUMEA.
Ex Stan Jersey and Tony Eastgate.
