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War memorial · Kokopo, East New Britain
Bita Paka War Cemetery
Commonwealth war cemetery south of Kokopo, on a lawn ringed by forest, with more than a thousand graves of Allied soldiers who died in New Britain and New Ireland.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Bita Paka War Cemetery
The Bita Paka War Cemetery is south of Kokopo, in a well-kept field within the forest. It was established in 1945 by the Australian Army Graves Service, which gathered the dead buried in temporary cemeteries, prisoner‑of‑war camps and isolated graves from New Britain and New Ireland.
Rows of headstones mark more than a thousand Allied soldiers, many of whom died defending Rabaul in 1942 or as prisoners of war. Panels list those of the Second World War whose graves are unknown.
The site also commemorates the First World War: nearby, in 1914, the Battle of Bita Paka took place when Australian troops captured the German radio station. A memorial remembers the Australian submarine AE1, lost that year off the coast of New Britain.
There is a visitors’ book and a register for anyone looking for a relative’s name.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon, when it’s cooler.
How to get there
It’s south of Kokopo, reachable by road. Half‑day tours often combine the cemetery with the Kokopo museum.
Tip
Those searching for a relative can consult the cemetery register or, before travel, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bita Paka War Cemetery
How many people are buried at Bita Paka?
More than a thousand Allied soldiers who died in New Britain and New Ireland, many defending Rabaul in 1942 or while prisoners of war.
Where is the Bita Paka Cemetery?
South of Kokopo, in East New Britain, on a field surrounded by forest.
What was the Battle of Bita Paka?
It was the 1914 engagement at the start of the First World War in which Australian troops captured the German radio station at Bita Paka.