When The Garamut Beats: A Memoir of Fifty Years in Bougainville
Christine Leonard
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Franz Miltrup’s life was long and eventful. Born in Germany and ordained a Catholic priest during the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, the young Franz Miltrup SM left his homeland in late 1937, destined for the island of Bougainville.
The Second World War brought catastrophic hardship to the islands and their people. Some missionaries remained after nearly all the European civilians fled. Narrowly avoiding execution twice, Franz Miltrup made a dramatic escape in 1945. With the aid of Coast Watcher Paul Mason and his Bougainvillean commandos, Franz Miltrup walked barefoot across the mountains to the Allied forces based at Torokina.
This memoir also deals with the tumultuous change that followed the war, as an emerging nation embraced self-determination in the closing years of Australia’s colonial administration. Tales of adventure, faith, and peril, of other missionaries in Franz Miltrup’s Marist community are included.
When The Garamuts Beat will interest anyone captivated by Pacific history, the impacts of the Second World War on our closest neighbour, and the social change that ensued. Franz Miltrup’s life was one of total commitment and love for the people he chose to spend his life with.
Product Details:
Pg Count: 388
Size: 156mm x 236mm
Perfect Bound
Customer Reviews
written by Franz Miltrup SM
Edited by Christine Leonard
Franz Miltrup, was a Marist Priest born in Germany, he writes about his life serving the people of Bougainville. He arrived in Bougainville in 1937 and left almost 50 years later. He tells of his difficult personal experiences during the turbulent times of the Japanese invasions during the Second World War. Also after the war he writes of some very painful, sad, funny and rewarding personal experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the adventurous and real life difficult times experienced by Franz Miltrup, as well as the other, priests and sisters who worked with him during these difficult times in Bougainville, before, during and after the war until he left in 1986. I would highly recommend this informative and very interesting book. Adele
What a fabulous read and story.
I don't come from a religious background but I found this a most enlightening and interesting book about missionary life.
Throughly good read. What a truely good man and devoted Priest. Our Lady, St. Peter Chanel and the entire Marist Order would be so proud of Fr Miltrup’s life of devotion and love of his faith.
Thank you Christine fir your work on this book.
Throughly good read. What a truely good man and priest. Our Lady, St. Peter Chanel, Fr Jean Claude Colin and the entire Marist Order would be so proud of Fr. Miltrup’s life of devotion. Thank you Christine, for your work on producing this book.