Henry James Isaac Topal: a soldier's fatal fascination with New Guinea

Russell Stern has undertaken detailed archival research of the tragic story of Henry James Isaac Topal. He fought for the Australian Imperial Force in World War I, when he served first in Egypt before being discharged as medically unfit, then re-enlisted and served in New Guinea. After the war he travelled between Britain, Australia and the Pacific and eventually returned to New Guinea with his son David. They were still there when the Japanese forces invaded in 1942, and were executed by them