Adjacent to the Botanic Gardens, the Lae War Cemetery is one of the most moving sites in Papua New Guinea. Established in 1944 and maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, it is the resting place of over 2,800 Allied soldiers who died during the fierce fighting in the Morobe Province during World War II. The Lae Memorial, a flat-topped colonnade rising from the forecourt, commemorates a further 300 Australian servicemen — including merchant navy and air force — who have no known grave.
The cemetery is immaculately kept, with rows of white headstones set against manicured lawns and tropical trees. A wide flight of steps leads up to the colonnade, which frames a view of the Cross of Sacrifice. It was dedicated by Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead in 1944. Even if you have no personal connection to the war, the scale and quietness of the place are striking. It is free to enter and open during daylight hours.