Long Way Home

This is a factual account of the author's experiences endured when the WW2 conflict with the Japanese occurred in Rabaul, New Britain in January 1942. The author was a sixteen-year-old Australian boy who took the amazing opportunity to visit his long-time pen-friend in a village near Rabaul. Tal was supposed to return home to Australia on the same ship he arrived at Rabaul on-this did not happen. Unbeknownst to Tal and his friend's family, the Japanese were preparing an invasion of Rabaul. The Australian army was unable to help Tal return to Australia and he was enlisted into the 2/22nd Battalion. His story from that point is all about survival His story graphically describes the horrific encounters witnessed and decisions made during his overwhelming need to stay alive. Tal was unable to tell his story to his family for fifty years due to feelings of guilt and emotion. The story is written in the third person so it may be seen through the eyes of the reader. His story is incredible and leaves the reader bewildered and sad that such happenings occurred