The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels - Our Forgotten Friends

Christmas Day, 1942;
Australian soldier, George "Dick" Whittington, 
and the Papuan Fuzzy Wuzzy Raphael Oimbari.

1942 was a terrible time when an invasion of Australia by the Japanese Imperial Forces looked almost inevitable. Diggers were fighting and dying on lonely jungle tracks in almost impenetrable jungle in mountain ranges so high that it was very cold at night time. It was then that they found a new set of friends. The men of the tribes of Papua and later of New Guinea flocked to help the Aussies.

We, Australians owe them a Debt of Gratitude that is Immense!

Many a mother in Australia, When the busy day is done, Sends a prayer to the Almighty For the keeping of her son, Asking that an Angel guide him And bring him safely back Now we see those prayers are answered On the Owen Stanley track, For they haven’t any halos, Only holes slashed in the ears, And with faces worked by tattoos, With scratch pins in their hair, Bringing back the wounded, Just as steady as a hearse, Using leaves to keep the rain off And as gentle as a nurse. Slow and careful in bad places, On the awful mountain track, And the look upon their faces, Makes us think that Christ was black. Not a move to hurt the carried, As they treat him like a Saint, It’s a picture worth recording, That an Artist’s yet to paint. Many a lad will see his Mother, And the Husbands, Weans and Wives, Just because the Fuzzy Wuzzy Carried them to save their lives. From mortar or machine gun fire, Or a chance surprise attack, To safety and the care of Doctors, At the bottom of the track. May the Mothers in Australia, When they offer up a prayer, Mention those impromptu Angels, With the Fuzzy Wuzzy hair. By: Sapper H "Bert" Beros NX 6925, 7th Div., RAE, AIF

A MOTHER' S REPLY   We, the Mother's of Australia As we kneel each night in prayer Will be sure to ask God's blessings On the men with fuzzy hair. And may the Great Creator Who made us both black and white Help us to remember how they Helped us to win the fight . For surely He, has used these Men with fuzzy wuzzy hair To guard and watch our wounded With tender and loving care. And perhaps when they are tired With blistered and aching back He'll take the Yoke On himself And help them down the track. And God will be the Artist And this picture He will paint Of a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel With the Halo of a Saint. And His presence shall go with them In tropic heat and rain And he'll help them to tend our wounded In sickness and in pain. So we thank you Fuzzy Wuzzies For all that you have done Not only for Australians But for Every Mother's Son. And we are glad to call you friends Though your faces may be black For we know that Christ walked With you - on the Owen Stanley track.

Source: The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angelsand Other Verses 

(Published in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of ANZAC)

Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels

The Papuan carriers