Notes
Mention in Despatches. Born 4 December 1910 Reg No 27243 as SILBERMANN Fitzroy, Victoria. Son of Harold Joshua SILVERMAN born 1885 Palestine, died 1940 & Janet née LUCKS born 1889 Hungary, died 1936. Married 1908 Reg No 2319 Victoria as SILVERMANN. “There is a lot about the Battle of Rabaul that will never be known because of the way it was conducted. 1500 troops up against an overwhelming 20,000 Japanese troops. How the hell could that small number of troops be able to hold back the Japanese advance on Rabaul, New Britain? TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE! You cannot blame the Australian Commander for giving the order - "Every man for himself" - the Japanese were that fast. No sooner was one gap in the Australian line closed when the Japanese were outflanking them somewhere else and because of the fear that the Australians would be cut off, the order was given to GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!” The following soldiers of LARK FORCE are known to have DIED whilst escaping OR as Prisoners of War in RABAUL - 1942. SILVERMAN, Herbert Nathan; VX129333; Capt; 'L' Heavy Battery, Rabaul; PRESUMED DEAD, New Britain en route to Port Moresby; Friday, 30 Jan 1942; aged 31.