Scotch College

The battle

Words: Ian Gould (‘76)

Bill Coutie’s great-nephew, Ian Gould (’76) has provided the following information:

These were dark times. Rabaul had just come under intense attack and a week following Bill’s disappearance, Darwin would be bombed.

Bill Coutie was serving in 23 Squadron, commanded by another Old Scotch Collegian, Squadron Leader John Lerew (‘30) who asked RAAF command to use his only serviceable aircraft to evacuate wounded. He was ordered instead to strike back at the enemy with ‘all available aircraft’. Lerew famously signalled back RAAF HQ with what he remembered of the Latin motto ‘nos morituri te salutamus’ (‘we who are about to die salute you’).

On 11 February 1942, Lerew led a formation of three bombers that made a mast-height attack on Japanese shipping at Gasmata harbour, New Britain. It is thought that Lerew asked for volunteers from single men to fly in the operation. Bill and the others would have known they were flying against overwhelming odds and it was unlikely they would return. They succeeded in sinking Japanese shipping, but over the target they were intercepted by Japanese fighters which had scrambled from Gasmata airfield. One bomber crashed into the sea. Another, in which Bill Coutie was flying, a Lockheed Hudson bomber A16-126, vanished inland.

Sadly, like so many other Australians who have uncles and great-uncles they never knew, I never had a chance to know my Uncle Bill. But I do know that he is remembered with fondness and sadness by many. Bill’s Scotch Family includes his brother Robert Coutie (’24), brother-in-law Keith Ballantyne (‘22), nephew Doug Ballantyne (‘52), great-nephews Doug Gould (‘74) and Andrew Gould (‘78), and great-great-nephew James Gould (Year 11 student). GS