Woodlands - St. Vincent's Mission Seminary

"WOODLANDS" ST. VINCENT'S MISSION SEMINARY
AT MARBURG, QLD
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

"Woodlands", an historic home near Marburg in south east Queensland, was sold in about May 1944 to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane along with 130 acres of the Woodlands Estate. Archbishop James Duhig purchased "Woodlands" to encourage missionaries of the Society of the Divine Word to stay in Queensland after their rescue from Japanese captivity and evacuation from New Guinea to Brisbane arriving there on 5 June 1944.

Photo:- NAA Item ID 6680122

"Woodlands" at Marburg

The landing of the American Marines and the 6th Army in Hollandia on 22 April 1944 was a complete surprise to the Japanese. The Japanese retreated and tried to take the missionaries with them. They eventually left the missionaries behind as they could not keep up with the Japanese. Two American missionaries went down from the village of Goya and met up with the Americans who had arrived. When the soldiers heard of the missionaries situation they sent 200 troops to take them from Goya to the beach and then to Pan Hill, where they were given medical aid for three days before being taken on American landing ships to Finschafen. 33 of the missionaries had to be carried aboard on stretchers.

They spent a number of days at Finschafen and were then transported via Milne Bay on a United States ship to Australia. A few cases were so bad that they were unable to travel, and were left at Hollandia and Finschafen. Archbishop James Duhig met with General Douglas MacArthur in his GHQ SWPA office in the AMP building in Brisbane at 1100 hours on 8 May 1944 "to discuss missionary problems". A few weeks later Archbishop Panico, the Apostolic Delegate met with General Douglas MacArthur in his office at 1700 hours on Monday 22 May 1944 "to discuss missionary affairs". It is interesting to note that Archbishops Duhig and Panico and their secretaries had also met together on a previous occasion with General Douglas MacArthur at 1700 hours on 5 June 1943.

When the Apostolic Delegate, the Most Rev. John Panico, heard of the impending arrival of the missionaries rescued from the Japanese, he immediately travelled from Sydney to Brisbane to visit them. The missionaries arrived in Brisbane on Monday 5 June 1944. One nun was taken from the ship on a stretcher for hospital treatment. Despite being emaciated the rest of the missionaries managed to go to the ship's rails on arrival in Brisbane when they saw the Apostolic Delegate, the Most Rev. John Panico and other church dignitaries.

There were 23 priests, 22 Brothers and 18 Sisters along with a number of young girls and children all being cared for by the doctors in charge and the wardsmen and nurses in the American hospital attached to a U.S. Camp. The Priests, Brothers and Sisters all belonged to the Society of the Divine Word and they were attached to the Alexishafen, Kariru and Wewak Missions.

The Melbourne Age of 15 June 1944 reported that a further 15 more missionaries from Hollandia had arrived in Brisbane. 67 years old, Sister Christofera, the oldest of eight Lutheran Sisters had remained under US Medical care in New Guinea for four weeks but was now in a hospital 40 miles out of Brisbane. I would assume that this was either the US Station Hospital at Gatton or at Southport.

By early August 1944 most of the missionaries were safely in Australia being cared for at the US Hospital. As the Missionaries and Sisters would be at the Hospital for at least two to three weeks before they were strong enough to undertake any duties, they were supplied with vestments, missals and altar stones, so that the priests were able to celebrate daily Masses.

By 14 June 1944, a total of 83 rescued missionaries had arrived in Brisbane as follows:-

Rev Fr Carl Boehm
Rev Fr Fuchs
Rev Fr Hempelmann
Rev Fr R. Jischke
Rev Fr Peter Ladener
Rev Fr Leo Meiser
Rev Fr L. Mey
Rev Fr Jacob Noss
Rev Fr Richard Nowak
Rev Fr W. Schorr
Rev Fr R. Stefanski
Rev Fr W. Trooper
Rev Fr J. Tschauder
Rev Fr E. Van Baar
Rev Fr Wiesenthal
Rev Fr August Becker
Rev Fr M. Clerkin
Rev Fr J. Donkers
Rev Fr B. Fastenrath
Rev Fr A. Gerstner
Rev Fr William Hagan
Rev Fr E. Kunisch
Rev Fr R. Kunze
Rev Fr J. Blas
Rev Fr Ivo Schaefer
Rev Fr Joseph Schmidt

Rev Br Sylvester
Rev Br Otgerus
Rev Br Beda
Rev Br Nyssenus
Rev Br Modestus
Rev Br Silvetser
Rev Br Gerhoch
Rev Br Heribert
Rev Br Aventinus
Rev Br Venantius
Rev Br Bodo
Rev Br Emil
Rev Br Emmerich
Rev Br Gregort
Rev Br Wenceslaus
Rev Br Edelfried
Rev Br Bonfilius
Rev Br Serenus
Rev Br Chrysostom
Rev Br Wendalin
Rev Br Augustine
Rev Br Berchmans
Rev Br Ambrose
Rev Br Beatus
Rev Br Leonard
Rev Br Isidore
Rev Br Cletus
Rev Br Otto
Rev Br Bogumil
Rev Br Januarius

Sr Eurista
Sr Naltildis
Sr Milreda
Sr Siglinda
Sr Alexis
Sr Francis
Sr Arsenia
Sr Lisa
Sr Nomitia
Sr Ottonia
Sr Elreda
Sr Billetrude
Sr Hadwina
Sr Christiana
Sr Monulfa
Sr Mathilda
Sr Christophore
Sr Alma
Sr Zaverine
Sr Nicola
Sr Vincentiana
Sr Hierona
Sr Rigoberta
Sr Irmengardis
Sr Petrosa
Sr Nazaria

Sixty five missionaries had been killed or had died in New Guinea prior to these recent rescues. A further 52 were still missing and another 34 had escaped the Japanese earlier and were already in Australia.

After 8 to 9 weeks of medical care and treatment they showed a marked improvement in their condition. The Catholic Weekly (Sydney) of 10 August 1944 reported as follows:-

"In referring to the rescue of these missionaries by the United States Forces, General Douglas MacArthur said that, after Providence, he was privileged to have been instrumental in liberating them from the hands of the enemy."

The rescued missionaries were housed at "Woodlands" at Marburg after leaving the Military Hospital and stayed there until it became St. Vincent's Mission Seminary.

The large house at "Woodlands" was renovated and two timber buildings were erected in the grounds which became classrooms and dormitories. The official blessing and inauguration of St. Vincent's Mission Seminary under the care of the Divine Word Fathers occurred on 1 July 1945. Twenty one buses and over 100 cars had arrived at "Woodlands" for the ceremony. It was estimated that 1500 - 2000 people were in attendance. Included in the guest list were:-

Chaplain O'Leary USNR
Chaplain Hiss USNR
Commander W. Barwood USNR
Mr. Ragland US Consul

The Queensland Times (Ipswich) of Monday 2 July 1945 reported that Archbishop Panico commented as follows:-

Tribute to MacArthur
"I would like to pay tribute to a great man who is not able to be with us to-day, but who would have been here had he been in Brisbane - that is General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in the South-west Pacific." he proceeded. "It was General MacArthur who made it possible for our priests, sisters and brothers, to be transported from the islands."

The Melbourne Advocate newspaper dated 11 July 1945 commented:-

His Grace Archbishop Duhig contrasted this day with that of a year ago when so many of the missionaries present had arrived in Brisbane as physical wrecks, as a "new company of martyrs." He remarked how his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate had visited the missionaries in the hospital, consoled them and promised them his help - and that seminary was a tribute to the sincerity of those promises, since it had provided not only a home for the missionaries themselves, but also the source of recruits for the mission field. His Grace made the appeal for funds for the seminary.

........

........ A special word of thanks was given to General MacArthur, who by his wonderful co-operation and interest, made it possible for the 20 American priests to come from the States to re-man the New Guinea missions and staff the new seminary. The proceedings closed with Solemn Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The Very Rev. Daniel Driscoll, S.V.D was the Director of the new Seminary. The formal inauguration of the Mission House of the Society of the Fathers of the Divine Word at "Woodlands" took place on Monday 6 November 1944. The Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev. James Duhig, D.D., was present at the special ceremonies which included Solemn Mass celebrated by the Rector of the new House, the Very Rev. Daniel Driscoll, S.V.D.

St. Vincent's Mission Seminary eventually closed in 1986 and the property was sold to the Ipswich Grammar School. It was sold to a private family on 2002. After significant renovations it was turned into a Function Centre and holiday accommodation.

Some unsubstantiated claims have been made that General Douglas MacArthur had stayed at "Woodlands" during WWII for a period of time. General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Brisbane from Melbourne by train at 0800 hours on Thursday 23 July 1942 and took up residence in Suite 44 on the 4th floor of Lennons Hotel in George Street. He lived in Suite 44 until he left Brisbane at 0800 hours on 9 September 1944 to relocated his GHQ SWPA to Hollandia. General Douglas MacArthur did not stay at "Woodlands" during WWII and most likely never visited "Woodlands". There are also some other claims that General MacArthur visited "Woodlands" to interrogate the rescued missionaries. This also did not and would not have occurred.

There is another unsubstantiated claim that General Douglas Macarthur painted a large mural on one of the walls at "Woodlands", but it had been painted over at some point and as yet not rediscovered. Another story that is beyond belief!

An article in the Queensland Times on 9 October 2019 made the following ridiculous claims about the Marburg Hotel, Woodlands and General Douglas MacArthur:-

- General MacArthur seconded the Marburg Hotel and used it as his Officer's Club for accommodation and recreational purposes

- General Douglas MacArthur had his intelligence headquarters at the Woodlands of Marburg

If there ever was an American Officers Club at the Marburg Hotel, it would not have been established for General Douglas MacArthur and he would never have visited the Marburg Hotel. He never even frequented Officer's Clubs in Brisbane. Regarding the second item, it is possible that some intelligence personnel from MacArthur's Headquarters in Brisbane may have visited "Woodlands" for a day or two to interview (not interrogate) the rescued Missionaries. General MacArthur's Intelligence Headquarters was never at "Woodlands". His Intelligence Headquarters was always located in Brisbane.

REFERENCES

Woodlands Marburg - About

"New Guinea Missions and the Japanese", Advocate (Melbourne), Wednesday 31 May 1944

"Appeal for Rescued N.G. Missionaries", Catholic Weekly (Sydney), Thursday 10 August 1944

"Impressive Ceremony Marks the Inauguration and Blessing of St. Vincent's Mission Seminary", Queensland Times (Ipswich), Monday 2 July 1945

"Mission Seminary Opened in Queensland Australia's Share in Repairing Ravages of War", Advocate (Melbourne), Wednesday 11 July 1945

"Brisbane Mission Seminary Opened", Catholic Weekly (Sydney, Thursday 12 July 1945

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Tony Brady for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

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