Dutch New Guinea is now called Irian Jaya and is a province of the country of Indonesia and is the largest and easternmost province of that country. The Dutch began serious exploration of that region around 1898. After the Indonesians defeated the Dutch in 1949 and 1950, the Dutch insisted on keeping Irian Jaya. They finally gave up the colony in 1963, under a combination of military and diplomatic pressure. In 1969, a UN-sponsored referendum led to Irian Jaya becoming a province of Indonesia.

The Royal Netherlands Navy used Decca to assist with sea-depth charting around the coast of New Guinea in the late 1950's possibly 1957. Brian Kenny of Burnley, Lancashire, UK, recalls some experiences while he served there.

"When I first arrived at the small airport in Merauke, I was picked up by a rather dour looking Dutchman in an old, open top ancient military jeep, with what was obviously a newly-shot deer slung in the back. As the passenger seat was full of gear including the rifle, it was clear I was meant to sit along side the deer in the back. This turned out to be the only taxi service in Merauke!

During my time at the Green slave, a path  (100 yards or so long by about a yard wide) running from our accommodation to the diesel generator hut, was constructed from upturned, half litre Heineken beer bottles driven into the sand. A civil engineering feat taken very seriously and necessary because of the incessant mud caused by torrential rain. Consuming the beer prior insertion into the ground by the way, allowed the sand to penetrate the bottles, thereby increasing the stability of the path. At the end of  transmissions each day, we supplied electrical power to the adjoining native village. This provided lighting and radio power for the local mission and the police station.

Tanah Merah means red earth in the Malay language hence it was an appropriate name for this slave".

The Dutch New Guinea chain.  Does anyone know its ID? (Map graphic provided by United States Geological Service)