Diary of A1 [Harrisson], 15 July to 11 October 1945 - Part 1

WEEK XV 1945 BLAUWB
JULY. 15. SUNDAY.
God, cold here tonight - ? after
lowlands, but also def. colder.
Not feel well - tired, jaded, over work
Present score Japs: 404
Present dispo personnel.
HQ: Self, Wesley, Long, Dawson.
L Lemadoe: Richter
Pa Broyon: [Onslow?]] Thomas, Wigzell

Pa Tengoa: Mills, xxxxx
I Miow: Hayes, Griffiths II, Bowen
L Pasia: Thornton, Rippon, Federicks, Edmonds
Bola area: Mayheuson
Sipitang: Griffiths I
Lowas: Pinkerton, Edlan  
Truson: Gibbs
Batu Alpor: Butt, del Rosa
Tang Selulu: [[Leckie/Lachie?]] & 2 men.
Mid Tursan: Wheelhouse
Ukong: Henry
Upper Limbang: Sanderson

Jul 15   WEEK XV
(Cont)
B L. Berang - Cusack, Hardy
Labang - Lesbosquet
L. Boelok - Hirst
Semoloemoeng - Tredrea
Malinau - Blondel, Sterchine
36
[Lloyd evac. by Auster yesterday]

x  x  x 
Pleasant to be back here after
nearly 3 weeks down behind (& near Div).
But situation very tricky.
Japs on mid Trusan, mid Padas, &
reported covering south to Pa Aloo
& to Loembis? Concerted drive - 

? { 1 [[ve??]] [[vs/Us?]]

{ 2 to victory?

{ 3 to colonise interior

{ 4 [[a/as??]] general panic & [[then?]] out?

Will recall B2 & T6 from [[?]]

& C3 from L Beray (C3 up only real

dissapointment), to reinforce, send

Ajong & WI to Kena break gaps

XV July 15 (cont)

Kodir [[hardest?]] ever :

Diagram - refer to original document

[*(later

+ Buhan

Sintaya)*]

[but no MALINAU; set us. (Blundell)]

Sig. rec 0900 that: "Own aircraft

[[shafted/straffed?]] us & nativs at Long Kayis &

Kuda Long Keyis. At 0600. 30 miles

from Ulu Tangoa & enemy. Bearing

from Ulu Tangoa is 128° RPT 128° "

My God! Re TAF RAAF

x

July 15 (cont) WEEK XV (107)

Cleaned up Long Bruan case

reported by H5. Keei went

mid hit over from other villages

for not attending LB meeting

Sent Keei a rocket - becoming

obstreberous

x

Staggering sig fav in saying WT

Corstins charging ATRs MCRs

rifles medical comfits etc all

awaiting drop, plse "iddle" at

Innatri [[Moratai?]]

x

Sat BRUANG for 1^st time.

x

Ajong to Wypagong on way to close

Kemaloch gap, W3 to follow 24 weapons

Big depot air CMiat is leaving

a bit for atms. Whole area will

fight. Ajong showing excellent spirit.

x

Confirmation Pa Brayen blitzed by

RAAF 10^th (1This [[?]] 2 HQ blitzed!!

x

Ordered C3 H6 B2 T7 to return.

XV (107) July 16 (Monday) (PA K.

Still enjoying rice - & hating cold.

1000 drops 9 strips, all o.k. med, food,

Tradegoods, clothing, RICE!

W2 off to L Miat re Paloo threat,

behind Ajong 36 rifles (20 were to

follow) & 2 [[Coys?]]

K Miow HQ RAAF strike Killed 1 dog, 1 pig.

Left with Tomasi, 1400 Air

Pa kalolen 1700: (L7 & 1) 8 at HQ).

Slept [[farm?]] house.

Discussed Batu Lami climb

possibs & possib of track direct

to Pa Trap. (Latter made 27/7)

after Malays at Lowas, odd to

Squat among Guns again. More

trying, as less "manners" (or [[?]])

more assume equality. But after short

shock of reassem station from Abong

Haji, a relief - clean, genuine,

& on the surface (even with

weakness & [[?]])

108) July 17 Tuesday [WEEK XVI)

Left Pa Kalda 0545 [Long SEMADOE]

Arr. Pa LIPAN 0745. Met Nels Sigaeson

who I had dropped at Lawas & had fire

with Qualong.

Arr. L BLIOW, after 24 crossings river Bliow

12.15.

Arr. L Semadre 1400. Met R3 & Griffiths II

Beanfreighter No2 on shuttle to

Blouwit dropping rifles.

Unintelligible signals from P2. Makes

whole difference being able to wire to

signal stations so easily - control.

Jap score now mounting rapidly.

Sgt Gibbs (met!) doing extra good job

in Batu Apoi area - got whole patrol

of 37, he slightly wounded hand.

Biga & conf on rice at LS.

Bullocked natives for not feeding

police - but send police off

to do spot of work with K1 on

Padas - where many rifles, too few

soldiers.

XVI] 109) July 18. Wednesday
LA BONG
Left L.S. 0645. Arr Poonan Trusan 0800
- esp warm reception ("The Hot Box")
Hence track over flat 1 m, then cross
Trusan & N.W. up [[stonall?]] stream, then
long long climb up into mass forest
climbing 3 hrs. Met SINOW with note from D.I
Then switch [[back?]] along ridge & then
down to PALURAN river; arr. 1^st

village (LABONG) 1330. Meet T2, E1 & M3

there - made full Padas plan. 07 to base

Miow. W/T to move to [[?]] ex LSemadre,

& Bowen from Miow return to Blauwit.

Orgned 30^th recce till 10th.

Valleys deserted due RAAF strike. Got them

bad

(110 July 19 Thursday. PA LOPING)

Left Timasi to get life restarted after RAAF

mess (both [[?]] bolted). Left 0615.

½m → W from Peluran. Ridge → SSW to

PA MACALOID stream (flow E → W), then → S

& climbing till 0800, with occ. SW.

Then West to top range, & down other side SSW.

[[?]] BĔRIBONGAN R, on left of → SSW

ridge, with TRUSAN coming in on R, to junction

1½m. from P. Trusan. SNAKE & FROG (vist)

Arr P. Trusan 11.00. Put R3 in new WT plan.

Rec sig W/O George accidentally shot Pa Tengoa

lost from Hill 7 days after Crash.

Slept PA LOPING - 1745 Nice people. River SW.

111) July 20 Friday. (WEEK XV)

Left Pa Loping 0600. PA BRAYON)

0600 - flat, NW & NNW along watery

Loping R, 20 x wide

0700 - 2½m, TRUSAN in [[?]]

175°, 50 x wide. After ½ m, flows → 5°

0730. R. MERINGOW, rocky, 15 x, from 60°

in to Trusan, which lies ¼ m. to left.

Track 345

0800. 355.  ) Trusan on left, Valley wide.

0830    5     ) Track over stone gulleys.

0900 355    ) Rise 30 - 50 x, very rocky

0930 340    ) (large rocks) & rapids.

0935 turn E for ½m, to L. Merarap,

on side stream 15 x wide ¼ m above Trusan.

(Trusan  turns away to start great arc -

& meet big main [[?]] from B Lauwt line)

1030 left L Merarap, nice house, not so nice 5²

1100 Up steep hill, 360. Merarap rise 6 m. valley

up into [[?ches]] - 25°.

1200 - lost here. up & down hill, 360°
13.0 - follow ridge 3350. (½ way, 12.50)

1315 R. Metalan - 35 x, crossed; just below
junction. TAMABONG R. Metalan from 355.

1330. Up ridge 350 steep & steeper.

1400 Top v. high hill - ? 3500. 360°.

1500 ^355 down hill steadily to [[Trusan?]] valley,

along ridge, then steep down left to PA

BRAYOW, where met Lechie, N7 & Smith

Good milap. Jap prisoner (to [[?]])

XV] 112) July 21 Saturday

RUAN SERAKOI

0700 left Pa Brayon.

0730 met Sondesa on track

- figure him all [[?]] at pleasure old mate!

He got to Pakalan to [[?]] Merant Track

Dd. Japs on track - BAVH BETUL.

9 0915 arr. Pa Teagoa. NORTH all way,

up winding Brayon R 1 hr, then over

range, then down steeply to Pa T. valley.

1000 Auster over - & I [[burn?]] myself

with phosperous bomb. Pa T. filthy result

straft & Japs. Ordered cleanup

Met Wigzell & WT, Onslow Butt - Ripper

& Federicks came in from 2½ day trek from 

Pa Matong as I was leaving

South W to Gerge grove, & accident spot lost

HQ. 2 LBliow ∂ (IKeyola plot:  akchin

Shin, & he nearly blind. Lieut Candidin Tragi

1915 left Pa T. (Tergoa R. in from 112; 40x)

1130 down Tergoa R 330°, fr 1 hr.

1230 Up & down hillocks, gullys; 355

No sharp as [[?]], but up & down gradient
1445 to sulap Ruan Sepakoi - 355.

COLOSSAL rain for 2 hrs NEVER known

harder.

With 6 old hard Trusan guerillas. Feast

of sweet toadstools (Skolit) in good [[?]]

buggered by Japs. lots of dd Japs about

Slept perfectly. Feet all this trip 100%

113) July 22 Sunday

LAWAS [WEEK XV - XVI -]
0530 left R. Sepakoi - 345

0600 - 320 ) to top ^2500 range [ actually a low

pass]

0630 - 350 ) hills, steadily down

0700 - 20  )

0730 - 20  )

0800 - 10  )

0830 - 350 cross river from W → E

0900 - 20 - following river. On to Lawas Damit

0930 - 40 & beside xxx to Lawas R [[?]]

1000 - Lawas R, fles 1^st village Munit,

gross & scinty flat : 8 45°,

1030 - thick 2^nd gross,

1045 - Perybuks house - cereamid

1100 "have coffee". Canoe from

sleeping old [[?]]

Further river twists asleep under

Sanit with 19 [[?]]

1300 arr Lawas soon after meeting

main Lawas R. (Tame monkeys)

Met P2 & Edlan.

Met Maj. Stewart (Jing, ginger, clevly,

Keen, Listerable); very amiable

cooperation talk, a fine type of young

AIF man.

(But Lawas needs civil admin. after

we leave - if Laseryne - July 26

114) July 23 Monday 

LAWAS 

- LAB

At LAWAS.

Cleared up civil admin. pts prior

& mcrae in favour AIF. (M

1100 left in workboat for Lakre

1130 called Tajai (Lt Sharpe RE getting

into order)

1400 xxx Arr. Labran.

Confernce Jomto.

Bitl So Chen there, session.

Also Fish (Off with Semut III

next dsi; [[?]] - 

1^st now between as ever)

[* 4 Mons is late & 51 co [[?]]

& 3 wks [[?]]*]

Bill S just litre July - Royal

complex, no ears for any other

operation. This with Jateitis is

certainly ALL COMPULSIVE.

[* "Jexple [[?]]"

? as did myself

(10/47)*]

→[5/10/47: ? me asked: little more

background?]

Consider this 6 days walking quietly ok

after my sedantry. Not a footsore or tumble,

x x Black rubber [[?]]

Japs ex Tengoa now app. this Bole

1 woman prisoner.

115) July 24 Tuesday

LABUAN [WEEK XVI]

TAF Raaf.

Capt Ford Officer Lt re rice supplies

Write various memoranda.

RAAF re special local drops, &

re airstrikes.

Strs requirements.

Jock Campbell new D/V.

Played poker - this & next 2 nights lost.

£50 ?

(116 July 25 Wednesday [LABUAN

Pigen day { Lt Col Lenbeil

                 { Lt Donben

Bill Jenkin conf. on Semut IV

Major Evans GIII Corps.

Reedford Ellery Queen - [[?]]

(117 July 26 Thursday [LABUAN

Brig Mackashie of BBCAV. Lt Col Gascoine - 

BBCAV's Charge [[lrge?]] PROTSM Lawas?

Last of Beaufreighter rifle drops to Blauwt

Over 200 strips were dropped Xxxxxx 

to Semut II since March 23, Nearly

100 packages also.

XVI] (118) July 27. Thurs (BLAUWT 

FRIDAY

Left Labuan 1000 by Auster

(Dense) & 2^nd load of med. Dropped

nets PI Lawas & LI Tengoa. Landed

OK. (My 7th Auster trip central B)

Things under control at HQ. Casswell

here - send him to contact W3 on

main muddle (Pa Celor false alarm, W bit

tween teeth → Loeventis)

Hardie sent to Pudas for R3. E1

Tredrea on med. patrol Ulu Keragon

inc. Bahan preparation

Good news of Pudas Hills - 71 Bole

area. (Tengoa escapees)

Tongs & Dawson at base, & Smith

in from Tengoa = 3

57 rifles on local issue & 15 Barsang.

140 left in stock. Bolong (in from 

Martinau) & training men.

Ajong still away. Most pleasant

& fit back into centre (of things

& country)
Traps say S3 track Pa Bonay - Pa Trap ½
 complete & S3 at Trap. [45 from long Peluan

- note from DOC

(119) July 28 Friday ^Saturday [WEEK XVI]

[[?]] & [[?]] BLOUWT]

Toma Bula & Loyals Mein, Trap here

Ask for guns, bring fowls, morning conference

dd [[?]] talk.

Kesi of Long Pvenjingen Bahan - briefed

will prepare HQ, WT & strip [[?]] L. Toea,

will clean paths, sent 30 parties &

corporal men. Sent 15 Bahkve

men with Kesi as bodyguard & to

Kesi instruct Kenyas. (For 1 month)

Kesi of Sembabing to restart natural

fort as Sembabing now clean - nearly

200 Japs killed in area by us,

& more by RAAF. Lack in money,

& send W7 sigs for aid to Tarakan.

Same litigation & problems of Kalabit friends

weather very odd - clouded over 1000, slight

rain 1100 clear p.m. (nearly same yesterday)

Killed 104 Japs Padas for 1 casualty

- Mount slightly wounded.

Palong Rin turns up at night - old faithful

(Fengshifter ex?) Discuss rice for Ric - ?703

Discuss rice [[?]] Paul, Sengit, Palong - Wadd

Pudas

Flat out all day on admin & arrears. Pigen

good

XVI - XVV  (120) July 29. Sunday. [BLOWIT

Plane over {0645 !? ^0945 Dense mist ! Beauf

15 Balikve men, Keei LPoenjengan, & 2 valleys

ex Malenian left as advance party alu Bahan

Quite a sight, in greens.

Keei if mens along back for time; goodwill

Supplied WT result recy Padas:

[*One letter code for all*]

hand drawn diagram - refer to original document

Y7 shd soon be able relieved Edla & work M7 Mobile

B7 when free will return to BAHAU Station, LToea.

                          [Sheds) SF      BADAS

Semut I A Lawas        [    0930   0830 { Strength

                                   [                1100  {

now scrapped            [    1400   1330  { V all

                                   [     KON   1700  { ways

                                   [    1930

Mile from Thornton awaiting wire Long Nuat. Wsterly

over he "pushed on" [[?]] in Pa Aloo.

Note from C2, 17/9, on way to Pensiongen - all roads

lead to P. Truist C3 will catch to liase & meeting

JAP SCORE 682

Note from Biga - 1100 for temp rice LSemadoe.

Good work

Blended in evening; feel bad; v. [[?]]

report Malinau. Has been to Tarakan

& ok with Mica. Stereline ok.

Note S2 22/7 [[?]] Japs ok.

(120 July 30. Monday. [BLOWIT [ WEEK XVII]

The Aris called 0800 [[?]]

Muasi back from Padas via L Nhat.

Shooting practice Pa Bawry & Blowit 6, Fair

one ole at 40 x, for 100 x some food

scores.

E1 sigs both Jap (symbol - refer to original document)  prisoners 7 inj & helpful!

Fitted B2's 5 Rejang Ibans with Kit. [[?]]

S3 reports Trap track nearly complete

Getting on top of admin. arrears. Feeling things

well under control - for moment!!

SEMUT I NEW motto:

"WE LEARN AND LIVE"

[*later - 

Thomson

Fire: Burned 

50% [[?]]*]

E1 notified [[?]] Beauf. days ok to do, but

stop not open chute, list all sugar, salt

meat M L1 not if 4 strips [on the river?]], 1000 hrs.

[[?]]  hrs with Blendeel M Bukar -  

(also 4 Berang 8 to go

Stores list - 

Sensational Gossip from Salvar!

- Bartram to help me !!!

- Sig Bennet [[may?]] be

available shortly? !!!

Un Mengalang engagement 4 Japs

Killed. (George to be stationed there)

XVII] (121 July 31^st Tues. (BLOWIT)

Disposition all personnel:

Batu Apoi - Gibbs, Rawlings

Lawas (junction) - Henry - (for Tegoa) - Edlon

  " (for Enemy Chinese Blowit) - Wheelhouse.

Trusan (Tengoa) - Lechie, Bult Nolerichs, Rippin,

                                        (dal Rosa, Wigzell.)

  " (Bronym)  in obs

  " (Ulu T. patel → Bole) Butt. [L Semdve - Biga

Padas (K Miow) - Hardie Onstow

  "  (Ilrin) - Onstow, Richter, (Sualong)

  " (Vu minphis) _________ ^Griffiths II

  " (Bole) - Macpherson, Griffiths I, Gilroy

  " (Tomani) - Hayes

  " (Recce [[?]]) - Edwards, Bower.

Pa Aloo area - Wesley, Thornton,^(aseman) Ajong.

Loembis - Lebosfiset } - (Pa Sikangam)

Labong - Hirst }

L Nyat → Loembis (Contact liaison) - Cusack

Semgabiong - Keli

Malinan - S. Ferehui

L Berong - Keei

Pa Kalalan (M Pads rice country) - Sanderson

Ulu Kerayan - Balikoe

(med & goodwill patrol) - Tradrea

At HQ - H Dawson, Long, Smith, Blundeel

Div. Bolong, (track Keyas [[?]])

Lebuan (for Trusan) - Pinkerton

Ulu Bahan - Keei & IS Bulitive S; B2

leaves tomorrow.

JAP SCORE: 761 [[?]] 728 Kill.

33 prisoner.

218 AUX) Our casualties: + MURUTS 13

[[?]] 1 WHITES - 0

JAP
	K.	P	T
E.	264	17	281
Limb.	86	4	90
Trus.	275	9	284
Pudas	103	3	106
T.	728	33	761

(122) Aug 1. (Wed.) BLAUWT

[WEEK XVII]

Adopted title:

"BORNEO FORCES OF INTERIOR"

= BIF (= Punch!) - C/ AIF

Motto "We learn & live" - @ SUSAH!

SELALU SUSAH

Blundeel to Bahan (due there Aug 8)

with 3 Ibans, 4 Berangs, 2 Bobilivs soldiers

- & 7 Kolud porters. Full written orders.

Fires : 1) Estatbasa 2) Airl. org will [[?]] int.

crisis, food supply etc. 3) Tracks & canoes

4) Train guerillas, 5) Mat. intell → L Nawang.

To be [[?]] : ? Wigzell ? Fredericks (direct)

{ S3 ira ^ Welpin value T6 via Maliman R. Both arr.

July 25

{ Ceesoy Bulang. (Myself c July 30)

{ Sterchi later found Mal. direct to Barkan

junction c. Sept HQ?

[[?]] has got villages real soldiers, like Ba [[?]]

Berang, others no idea ([[?]], Blowit, ^Bliow, Lembedret)

Chief & 45 Bati Patong, Ulu Baran

Semut II Most panic [[?]] need help

C/ [[?]] sig. "Quite confident & can clean

out enemy" if "completely moralised

& starving" Recalled S3 (with rice convoy

- fastest.)

News LUKAS moved to L Newry Brd SOS to SII.

Beauf[[?]] drop 1030 - 4 stops (25 % [[?]]) - MEET x

for loembis - ALAS

[[?]] back at [[?]]

XVII] (123 Aug 2 Thurs. [BLAWIT

TuToh panic accentuated. July Kenya

away up Aleah spreading alain & [[?]]

- & hells all heads to BARAM. [[?]] Bolong

& 10 rifles on recce & Lomass.

Kenya dry & Chinese mate back from Padas,

for Baram.

S3 back re TuToh panic. Went with 20 rifles

1 [[?]], 12 [[?]]. John Pern & relo's

son, to Lintary via LBliow route. Limit

L. only down to K. Madalam.

- Slept Park.

News Beauf drop II at Ibuin-ford.

Stores, other: {Newer [[?]] with batteries

                       {    "       oil    "  rifles

                       {    "  blades that fit supplied razors.

Sit rep. fr [[?]] (124) Aug 3. Fri (BLAUWIT)

Bolang to Tutoh, with 15 [[?]] volunteers

(returned as us. by E1) !LMG. 2 Benam

boys. Pa Padi parties. Slept Trap.

Doc. China to send for (symbol - refer to original document) skids Trusan. Only bring (he says)

bare essentials - "15 porters " only!

Started hen house for eagerly expected Paul Bartram

Hospital nearly completed. W/T house inlayed

T6. back from Ulu Kerayan patrol wed. ante & track improvement

News Bennet due by Auster

W/T started own cooking at sulap there.

No rain since I arrived on 27^th. Padi just feeling

this? [[The/Re??]] dried off Sowaks. Fishjakre - pools