New Georgia - History

History

Central part of New Georgia is cradle of Roviana culture. The large complex of Bao megalithic shrines and other structures was developed in 13th century AD. Later, in 15th - 17th centuries Roviana people moved over to smaller barrier islands at New Georgia with a hub in Nusa Roviana. Through trade and head hunting expeditions, Nusa Roviana turned into the regional centre of power and trade. In the late 19th century the rule of the last chief of head hunters Ingova was overpowered by the British colonial army.

The Methodist Mission in New Georgia was established by Rev. John Frances Goldie in 1902. He dominated the mission and gained the loyalty of Solomon Islander members of his church. The relationship with the colonial administrators of the British Solomon lsland Protectorate were also fraught with difficulty, at this time due to Goldie’s effective control over the Western Solomon Islands. From 1927 to 1934 Dr Edward Sayers worked at the Methodist mission where he established a hospital at Munda and carried out fieldwork in the treatment of malaria.

During World War II, the United States' New Georgia Campaign opened with landings on New Georgia and nearby islands on 30 June 1943. New Georgia was secured by American forces on 23 August, after weeks of difficult and bloody jungle fighting, although fighting continued on some nearby islands until October 1943. Rodger Wilton Young, an Army soldier who was originally a Sergeant, and had requested a demotion to the rank of Private due to his deteriorating sight and hearing, destroyed a machine gun nest in combat on New Georgia, allowing his comrades to reach safety. For this action in combat, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Also, several significant naval battles between warships of the U.S. Navy and its allies, and the Imperial Japanese Navy occurred in the waters near New Georgia Island, such as the Battle of Kula Gulf, in 1943

Munda, the Japanese base on New Georgia Island, was the main objective of the assault on the island. This base was not overrun until 5 August 1943. The Japanese port at Bairoko Harbor, 13 km (eight miles) north of Munda, were not taken until 25 August.