Redlich (Vivian)

Autograph letter signed ('Vivian') to his father, Rev. Can. E.B. Redlich, reading "Yes, I am still alive, and all goes well. The country is now under a military administration, and the only civilians left are missionaries. We are all carrying on - tho' at times we feel the people are a bit jittery - or have been. We had a good day on Good Friday on the whole - quite a fair crowd for the 3 hours- but Easter day was definitely poor. Buna and Kokoda have each had a raid (this came over the air so it won't be censored). At Buna they tried to shoot up the Bishop, who was out in a launch - but only spoilt the launch and the Bishop Office book. He had just been in to see us and brought us fair stores - so we are not worried espec. as I gather the administration will see we don't starve. I'm on my way home now from Kokoda now - I've been up there for Easter Communions for Pr Holland who has not been too fit - it's 2 days walk each day. We can do quite a lot of thinking on the track- I've designed some new switchh gear for my engine and planned out some translation work! I am hoping to open a new outstation soon - the snag now is that the promised teacher can't come as his wife is hill. He was a nice boy and a former head teacher who had been in trouble and gaol but the Bishop took him back. We seem from the news to have held the Japs in these parts - tho at the present things don't look overgood around Burma and towards India. There really isn't much news beyond telling you I'm Ok. I had a letter from you a while back and more may come stray in by degrees. I do hope all is well with all of you - My love to Patrick especially. The Basic NT's have not shown up. Pr Holland at Isivita has one. I've tried to steal it but he watches it too closely", two pages, some yellowing and staining, 4to, Sangara, Port Moresby, Papua, 14 April 1942; with original mailing envelope and a letter from Vivian's father, Rev. E. Basil Redlich, to "My dear Gillian", sending the recipient the letter from Vivian as Gillian was keen to have his autograph (3)

***Vivian Frederick Barnes Redlich, the son of a priest, grew up in Leicestershire and studied for the priesthood at Chichester Theological College and was ordained in 1932 in Wakefield Cathedral. He received a call to missionary work, joining the Bush Brotherhood in Australia. After five years he moved to Papua New Guinea and in 1941 was appointed priest in charge of the Sangara district. Hard work and tiredness led his Bishop to suggest he have a break in Dogura, New Guinea in early 1942. During the break he became engaged to Sr May Hayman, a missionary nursing sister in a mission station about 30 miles away. He travelled back through the chaos and turmoil of the Japanese invasion, and went ashore, slipping through the Japanese lines. He established himself in a bush hide-out. From here he wrote a letter to his father which is now in St Paul’s Cathedral in London. I’m trying to stick whatever happens. If I don’t come out of it just rest content that I’ve tried to do my job faithfully. On the Sunday morning, as he prepared for Mass he was told that a villager had gone to report him to the Japanese but he calmly replied that it was the Lord’s day and he would celebrate Mass for the people as planned. After Mass he set off to rescue his fiancee. On the way he was ambushed by local tribesmen and beheaded.