Growing up, we all hear of the sacrifices made by Allied forces in Europe during World War II, but there tends to be less focus on the rich war history closer to home.
In East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, there are reminders of the war in the Pacific everywhere, from the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces' tunnels and caves, to the explosive remnants of war scattered throughout the region.
Members of the Operation Render Safe contingent, who were there to remove those remnants, explored some of the museums and memorials in the region.
The contingent comprised personnel from Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, France, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, with observers from Japan and India.
20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron's (20 EOD) squadron sergeant major Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Luke Burden organised visits to the Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery, Kokopo War Museum and the New Guinea Club.
"It's really important to have the soldiers understand the history here instead of just Europe, which is where we focus on a lot, or focusing on just the Kokoda Trail in this area," WO1 Burden said.
"From all members that have partaken, it's been very positive. Everyone has taken a bit out of it, whether it's something they didn't understand or didn't know before.
"Talking to and educating people has been great, and it's been a very positive outlook from our soldiers."
East New Britain has a long and complex past, having been claimed as part of German New Guinea from 1885 through to 1914, when it was taken by Australian forces after the outbreak of World War I.
'It's really important to have the soldiers understand the history here instead of just Europe.'
It remained under colonial Australian rule until January 1942, when Japanese forces claimed the territory after a short campaign.
It was just before and during this conflict that the majority of the explosives and ammunition were transported to or dropped on East New Britain's shores and its dense jungle.
More than 1200 Australian soldiers were captured, hundreds of them then killed, with about 5000 Indian prisoners of war transported in to dig a series of complex tunnels that were used by the Japanese as shelters and field hospitals.
One of the most imposing structures that remains is the bunker of Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, from which he commanded the campaign. More than 80 years on, the maps he used remain sketched into the wall.
Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) members took an active part in the visits, even giving a presentation about the Japanese explosive remnants of war to help inform other members' actions when dealing with them.
JGSDF Captain Terutoshi Takayama said it was important to visit the sites and reflect on the past, in order to ensure a better future.
"We visited war cemeteries, former Japanese military tunnels, and the remains of aircraft and ships that still exist across the country," he said.
"Seeing these places reminded us of the terrible cost of war and the many lives that were lost. It also reinforced the importance of maintaining peace for future generations."
