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The Coastwatchers Trivia Quiz

The Coastwatchers were the eyes of the Allies in the early days of WWII in the Solomons. Their service was invaluable.

A multiple-choice quiz by beterave. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
beterave

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
337,798

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
230

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Coastwatchers came from all walks of life. Approximately how many were operating in the Solomon Islands during WWII? Hint

100

400

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Question 2 of 10

2. The majority of the Coastwatchers were civilians. Which branch of service were they commissioned into in order to protect them if captured? Hint

the Royal Australian Navy

the Royal Navy

the US Navy

the Royal New Zealand Navy

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Question 3 of 10

3. Martin Clemens was a Coastwatcher on Guadalcanal before the arrival of the Marines. How was he able to avoid capture by the Japanese? Hint

the enemy was unaware of his presence

the native islanders helped him

he was a skilled jungle fighter

he was barely able to survive

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Question 4 of 10

4. The Japanese long suspected native islanders were aiding the coastwatchers. What did they do to them? Hint

exterminated whole villages

for the most part nothing

offered them bounties

tried to divide their sympathies

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Question 5 of 10

5. If a Coastwatcher was captured, what could he expect from the Japanese? Hint

pardon

prisoner of war camp

execution

prisoner exchange

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Question 6 of 10

6. Did the Japanese even make an effort to find the Coastwatchers?

Yes

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Question 7 of 10

7. What vital information did the Coastwatchers gather in the Solomons? Hint

Japanese prisoner information

Japanese radio codes and frequencies

Japanese shipping and aircraft movements

Japanese officer's names

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Question 8 of 10

8. Besides passing on vital intelligence, what other essential task did the Coastwatcher perform? Hint

ambushed Japanese patrols

rescued downed Allied fliers

encouraged the Melanesian to not cooperate

planted mines

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Question 9 of 10

9. When compromised and when escape was the only alternative, how did the Coastwatcher usually avoid capture? Hint

on foot

by flying boat

by submarine

by canoe

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is Coastwatcher Reg Evans famous for during WWII? Hint

rescuing the crew of a PT boat

conducting guerrilla operations on Pavuvu

being crowned king of Kolombanga

being able to speak several native dialects

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Coastwatchers came from all walks of life. Approximately how many were operating in the Solomon Islands during WWII?

Answer: 400

Approximately 400 Coastwatchers were operating in the 1,000 islands that made up the Solomon Islands. The majority were civilians who knew the islands and its inhabitants.

2. The majority of the Coastwatchers were civilians. Which branch of service were they commissioned into in order to protect them if captured?

Answer: the Royal Australian Navy

The Coastwatchers were given commissions in the Royal Australian Navy (Volunteer Reserve) in case they were captured by the Japanese. Of course, this fact meant absolutely nothing to the Japanese who summarily executed them as spies if they were captured.

3. Martin Clemens was a Coastwatcher on Guadalcanal before the arrival of the Marines. How was he able to avoid capture by the Japanese?

Answer: the native islanders helped him

Martin Clemens was able to avoid capture and survive because the native Melanesian islanders were willing to help him. Without their help, he would have surely been captured or succumbed to the jungle.

4. The Japanese long suspected native islanders were aiding the coastwatchers. What did they do to them?

Answer: for the most part nothing

The Japanese for the most part did nothing to the natives who they suspected of harboring and aiding the coastwatchers. Language and ignorance of their customs hampered them - not to mention the Japanese needed them as levies at times. For the most part, they tacitly ignored them and what they suspected them of.

5. If a Coastwatcher was captured, what could he expect from the Japanese?

Answer: execution

If a Coastwatcher was captured, and some were, they could expect to be tortured by the Kempetai and then summarily executed as a spy.

6. Did the Japanese even make an effort to find the Coastwatchers?

Answer: yes

There were concerted efforts made to find some of the Coastwatchers. This included using dogs to scour the jungle and the use of radio direction finding equipment. This caused some Coastwatchers to shut down and move deeper into the jungle or in the worst case scenario, evacuate.

7. What vital information did the Coastwatchers gather in the Solomons?

Answer: Japanese shipping and aircraft movements

The vital information that the Coastwatchers passed along was the movement of Japanese shipping and aircraft movements. This information was without question invaluable.

8. Besides passing on vital intelligence, what other essential task did the Coastwatcher perform?

Answer: rescued downed Allied fliers

Rescuing downed Allied fliers was the other vital task performed by the Coastwatchers. Without their help, they would have been captured by the Japanese.

9. When compromised and when escape was the only alternative, how did the Coastwatcher usually avoid capture?

Answer: by submarine

When escape was the only alternative, the Coastwatcher radioed for pickup by submarine.

10. What is Coastwatcher Reg Evans famous for during WWII?

Answer: rescuing the crew of a PT boat

Reg Evans is famous for rescuing the crew of PT 109. The skipper of the 109 boat later became president of the United States: John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Source: Author beterave

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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