Diary relating to service of Hector Alexander McIntyre - Part 1

Diary of Don Coy
9. 1. 42 
FRIDAY. 

Just completed digging trenches &

Communication Trenches to Latrines,
Showers also wiring Concertina & Apron
Styles & now have orders to pack & move to
our Battle Station. Expected to move that
night & had nets & everything else packed.
10. 1. 42 SATURDAY  At 10.0.AM the Indians [[(?)]] arrived to take over

our position & about mid-day we were on
board of the Troop Carriers. On the trip we
passed dozens of trucks stranded on the side
of the roads with Engines pulled to pieces also,
an A.I.F. M.T Driver bogged but he wasn't worrying
as he was sitting on a stretcher with a bottle of
Beer & looked pretty merry on it. Just as we were
passing Young Peng we passed a Chinese Wedding
also noticed a truck run into an empty Rickshaw
& it just collapsed. Luckily enough the Rickshaw Boy
suffered nothing only the loss of the Rickshaw.
That night we camped just about 8 miles from
Young Peng on the Pelso Road in a Rubber
Plantation & the owners seemed pretty wealthy &
loaned our Battalion a truck as one of our trucks
had broken down.
11. 1. 42 Travelling next day we arrived at Boo^ukit Seamur
[*Memo 11/1/42 Felt pretty tired in our new position on a side of a hill.
After being there about 3 hours we moved down to near some Tamil
Quarters then they found out a section could do the job they
moved us up to a very hilly slope where we had to dig a trench &
build our home. Wal Raeburn was my bunk mate & he would try*]
12. 1. 42 MONDAY Patrolled the area & had a look inside an

Tamil Temple but this was the filthiest & had
never been cleaned since it was built. Also went
around the Tamils quarters. A quiet day & nothing
eventuated. Has been raining all day & the
Hillslopes are getting pretty slimy. Orders to move.

[*& get out of digging the trench but I also refused to dig & after
a bit of mucking about & throwing off we finally finished
the job. Sentry duty that night we never got out of Bed. &
said blow the sentry duty*]
Diary of Don Coy 

9. 1. 42 FRIDAY. Just completed digging trenches &

Communication Trenches to Latrines,
Showers also wiring Concertina & Apron
Styles & now have orders to pack & move to
our Battle Station. Expected to move that
night & had nets & everything else packed.
10. 1. 42 SATURDAY At 10.0.AM the Indians [[?]] arrived to take over

our position & about mid-day we were on
board of the Troop Carriers. On the trip we
passed dozens of trucks stranded on the side
of the roads with Engines pulled to pieces also.
an A.I.F. M.T Driver bogged but he wasn't worrying
as he was sitting on a stretcher with a bottle of
Beer & looked pretty merry on it. Just as we were
passing Young Peng we passed a Chinese Wedding
also noticed a truck run into an empty Rickshaw
& it just collapsed. Luckily enough the Rickshaw Boy
suffered nothing only the loss of the Rickshaw.
That night we camped just about 8 miles from
Young Peng on the Pelso Road in a Rubber
Plantation & the owners seemed pretty wealthy &
loaned our Battalion a truck as one of our trucks
had broken down.
11. 1. 42 SUNDAY Travelling next day we arrived at Boo^ukit Seamur 
at midday & after a lot of messing about of
the Platoons we finished up on a hill about a
½ mile from Coy. H.Q. & to carry tucker along
those Hilly slopes was heavy work. Started
to rain that evening
12. 1. 42 MONDAY Patrolled the area & had a look inside an

Tamil Temple but this was the filthiest & had
never been cleaned since it was built. Also went
around the Tamils quarters. A quiet day & nothing
eventuated. Has been raining all day & the
Hillslopes are getting pretty slimy. Orders to move.

[*MEMO. 13. 1. 42 As soon as we arrived at this new position on the farm
where we pulled up there was 2 Horses in dray which belonged to an old Temple
& SGT W Sullivan (Now LIEUT) & PTE GRAY (Driver) raced to the horses & jumped on there
backs to have a race. Pte. Peter Tait rejoined the Coy after being with the Guerillas
& was very Bomb Happy.*]
13. 1. 42 TUESDAY Up at 5.0 AM Packed & on the road & had to

leave our Blanket, Mosquito net & gear we couldn't
carry & managed to pack my writing cabinet in
my pack & get it away with me. Still raining &
never stopped all day & we were wet all day with
no clothes to change into. Lieut Eales & 4 of us
walked to the Tamil Quarters with one of the heads
to confiscate & bring back all the Bicycles & only
got about a dozen as the Tamils had heard about it
& had hidden most of them. The Japs main movement
was on Bicycles & we thought they may come in handy for
us to patrol the roads also. The Jap Forward Patrol
were always on bicycles well deployed as the road was
their main way of movement contacting you & then
outflanking you. That night while on guard my
mate had the Jitters & I had to quieten him & lucky for
him he wasn't killed as he started to pull me down
& then squealed & my Bayonet just grazed his forehead
& then I realised it was he before I was going to get
into him. It was a pitch Black night & you couldn't
see the tree you leant against. ([[?PLACE]] GOMALI.)
14. 1. 42  WEDNESDAY  That morning we moved through the Tamils

Quarters & marched about 4 miles altogether to one
[*14. 1. 42 MEMO. Patrolling that day we noticed Tamils
pinching furniture out of Homes that had been
evacuated & as soon as we would draw near to them
they would drop the furniture & go for their lives. Pte AB
(Snow) Theodore & myself (ON BIKES) had to go to our old position
& contact D. Coy but lucky enough we met Capt
Gus Ferguson who was 2 I/C & saved us a fair ride.*]
12. 1. 42  THURSDAY 2/30 BN contacted the Japs & held the Japs & then drove

them (THE JAPS) back 3 mile but owing to no Air Support
they couldn't carry on. We moved by trucks across open
road to thick rubber to contact the Battalian & had
15. 1. 42 THURSDAY (CONT) a meal ^while resting & on the way out of the rubber one 

of the trucks were Machine Gunned by Jap Aircraft
& the lads dived on the side of the road in the mud.
No Casualities. Had a quiet night & nothing happened
16. 1. 42 FRIDAY. Patrolled roads & rubber all day & nothing happened.

2/30 BN had trouble with the Jap tank which
where caused them to withdraw behind the Gemas
River. One 2/30 BN lad fired 52 shots out of a Boyes

Anti-Tank Rifle from the shoulder. He is now OK again.
[*(Movd to where
our BHQ moved
out of)*]
17. 1. 42 SATURDAY Saw first of our Air Force & thought they were Japs &
they sure gave us a scare swooping over the Tree Tops.
One of the jokes of the Section was [[?]]
[*17.1.42 Memo. While in this Pannick caused from the
rifle Shot a tamil jumped over a 6 ft Wire Netting fence &
Quite a few of them run into it. In the Carpenters hut
there were 3 Chinese & were taking their time about going &
Joe Pusch in charge of our Section was cursing & calling them
everything he could in English in fact doing his block & they
couldn't understand a word of it & we were more or less
laughing at Joe as he was better than a [[?]]*]
at a standstill until Eric Sutton fired a shot above
their heads & they all pannicked leaving everything
they had, but they gradually came back & got their
gear & moved out without any bother at all.
18. 1. 42 SUNDAY. Early in the morning we moved out of our
position, our packs on the road for the truck to pick up &
moved up & took over from the 2/30 BN who were
pretty tired on it & lost nearly all their gear having
Webbing, Pack, Bayonet & Rifle & some with only
Bayonet & Rifle & Ammunition. That evening a
few snipers were about while on patrol. That night we
closed the Perimeter for the Night, getting a bit of
shellfire from their 4" Mortars. About 10.P.M small Arms
fire started up on our right & appeared to be at the Indians
No Tea as saving it for morning. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[*18. 1. 42. Going into the position one of C Coy was hit with a [[?]] bullet & we were handed
sandwiches & sweet biscuits & later on found Jam sweets & more
biscuits which we were told nothing about. The boys were in high
spirits*]

[*MEMO. 13. 1. 42 As soon as we arrived at this new position on the [[?corner]]
where we pulled up there was 2 Horses in dray which belonged to an old Temple
& SGT W Sullivan (Now LIEUT) & PTE GRAY (Driver) raced to the horses & jumped on there
backs to have a race. Pte. Peter Tait rejoined the Coy after being with the Guerillas
& was very Bomb Happy.*]
13. 1. 42 TUESDAY Up at 5.0 AM Packed & on the road & had to
leave our Blanket, Mosquito net & gear we couldn't
carry & managed to pack my writing cabinet in
my pack & get it away with me. Still raining &
never stopped all day & we were wet all day with
no clothes to change into. Lieut Eales & 4 of us
walked to the Tamil Quarters with one of the heads
to confiscate & bring back all the Bicycles & only
got about a dozen as the Tamils had heard about it
& had hidden most of them. The Japs main movement
was on Bicycles & we thought they may come in handy for
us to patrol the roads also. The Jap Forward Patrol
were always 
their main 
outflanki
mate had th
him he wa
& then sque
& then I real
into him. 
see the tree you leant against. ([[?PLACE]] GOMALI.)
14. 1. 42 WEDNESDAY That morning we moved through the Tamils
Quarters & marched about 4 miles altogether to one
of the Managers Residence of the Dunlop Perdrin
Rubber Estate & after just settling down were there about
6 Hours we had orders to move on our Company.
Met our Company at a Crossroad & One Section of our
Platoon (17) went & Camped the night at the Frontier Rifles

& one of their Sections camped with 16 Platoon. That Night
our Section received a fair amount of shellfire while
with the Indians & lucky enough there were no Casualities
12. 1. 42 THURSDAY 2/30 BN contacted the Japs & held the Japs & then drove
them (THE JAPS) back 3 mile but owing to no Air Support
they couldn't carry on. We moved by trucks across open
road to thick rubber to contact the Battalion & had
15. 1. 42 THURSDAY (CONT)
a meal ^while resting & on the way out of the rubber one
of the trucks were Machine Gunned by Jap Aircraft
& the lads dived on the side of the road in the mud.
No Casualities. Had a quiet night & nothing happened
16. 1. 42 FRIDAY. Patrolled roads & rubber all day & nothing happened.
2/30 BN had trouble with the Jap tank which
caused them to withdraw behind the Gemas
River. One 2/30 BN lad fired 52 shots out of a Boys
Anti-Tank Rifle from the shoulder. He is now OK again

[*(Moved to where

our BHQ moved
out of)*]
17. 1. 42 SATURDAY
Saw first of our Air Force & thought they were Japs &
they sure gave us a scare swooping over the Tree Tops.
One of the Jokes of the Section was "Their Probably Ours".
The Tamils had to be hunted from the villiage in case
it was shelled & we had the job. Some of them went
out without a hitch & others went to the rubber & we
had to drive them out & send them to the jungle
out of the way of the shells. We moved this mob
with fixed Bayonets. One chow had to leave a sack
of Rice as he couldnt carry it & ^we weren't waiting for
him. The mob got in a bunch & appeared to be
at a standstill until Eric Sutton fired a shot above
their heads & they all pannicked leaving everything
they had, but they gradually came back & got their
gear & moved out without any bother at all.
18. 1. 42 SUNDAY. Early in the morning we moved out of our
position, our packs on the road for the truck to pick up &
moved up & took over from the 2/30 BN who were
pretty tired on it & lost nearly all their gear having
Webbing, Pack, Bayonet & Rifle & some with only
Bayonet & Rifle & Ammunition. That evening a
few snipers were about while on patrol. That night we
closed the Perimeter for the Night, getting a bit of
shellfire from their 4" Mortars. About 10.P.M small Arms
fire started up on our right & appeared to be at the Indian
No Tea as saving it for morning. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[*18. 1. 42 Going into the position one of C Coy was hit with a [[?]] bullet & we were handed
sandwiches & sweet biscuits & later on found Jam sweets & more
biscuits which we were told nothing about. The boys were in high
spirits*]

19. 1. 42 MONDAY
3.A.M. Orders came out to say to move as the Jap 
had broken through the Indian Line & were surrounding
us. Don Coy were last out leaving about 4.30AM leaving
19s Bully Beef & 1 Tin Biscuits from 17 Platoon meaning we
had no breakfast either. Destroyed the 3" Mortar & Sights
[*19. 1. 42 Memo Pulling up at B. Echelon Shorty Doyle BHQ
^was accidently killed as the bullet from his rifle blew the back of
his skull out. Here we were greeted with Cigarettes galore & were
Knocking them back. Had a bath from an old well. I 
Brig Maxwell on road controling the traffic.*]
carriers suddenly come along the road & sure

made us [[?]]
ours. All along the road the Jap aircraft [[?]]
worried us but lucky enough it couldn't get on our
trail. We marched for about 15 Miles all told &
then we were picked up by the 2/3^rd M.I. who took
us to the "B" Echelon about 3 miles over the Segamut
Bridge. We had a meal of Curried Chicken but the
trouble was, there wasn't enough 3 men to a tin. As we
moved out to take up a position near the Segamut
Bridge we noticed tins of food bayoneted. We were
still hungry & weren't told about the extra food.
Streams of cars crossed the Segamut Bridge
till midnight.
20. 1. 42 TUESDAY. At 2 AM. there were 3 explosions & they were the
Segamut Bridge ^being blown up. All night the Artillery
consistently shelled Segamut & left it a mass of ruins.
Stayed there all day & some of the lads raked a
Chinese Shop & had a feed of Biscuits & we of course
missed out. That day the Indians across the Railway
Line on our left, spotted a patrol of 25 Jap Cyclists
coming along the road & fired over 1,000 Rounds out of
Vickers & Bren Guns & reported back to us that
they think they got 2. That night we moved out as
the Jap was supposed to cut the road between the
20. 1. 42 TUESDAY (CONTINUED) 
2/30^th BN & us & we were likely to run into ambush. out.
Don Coy 2/26 BN & Don Coy 2/29 Bn & 1 Coy Indians were last
out. We were supposed to march on our side of the road
& the Indians on the other, but when it was time to
move, the Indians were missing, so we took up both
sides of the road with instructions that if we ran
into ambush, to go to ground & fix bayonets. Coming
into a dark patch we heard running between us
& were the Indians coming between us in the dark
patches & in the open patches they would thin out again,
as they were very jittery. We picked up the 2/3^rd MI.
after 10 miles Marching who gave us a feed of tinned
Pineapples, Pears & Peaches & also a box of sweets which
was very nice, & taking us back for a rest. Some of
the lads got a drop of rum.
21. 1. 42 WEDNESDAY Dug in our new Position ^YOUNG PENG & received mail. Received bombing from Jap Aircraft most of the day but soon got
used to it. News came through that the 2/29^th BN (VIC) had
run into ambush while going to Clean up 200 Paratroops
& when they got there found out that there were 200,000. The
2/19^th BN went up with an English Battalian to pull
them out & both Aussie BNS. suffered heavy casualties.
Very quiet that night & nothing happened.
22. 1. 42 THURSDAY. Next morning were bombed again & early in the evening we moved up about 2 miles past High Ayer Hetham along
the Young Peng-Muir road. Moving up on this position
we were warned of snipers, sniping at convoys
going along the road, but being prepared we hit no-one.
Embussed & moved into rubber we noticed movements
of someone & fired shots at him as he was running away
but found out he was a Malay with $40 on him which
of course became our Platoon fund. That evening
10 Reinforcements came for our Company. Hec Hannam
being one of them. Ground was pretty damp
& a few mosquito's about.

19. 1. 42 MONDAY 3.A.M. Orders came out to say to move as the Jap 
had broken through the Indian Line & were surrounding
us. Don Coy were last out leaving about 4.30AM leaving
19s Bully Beef & 1 Tin Biscuits from 17 Platoon meaning we
had no breakfast either. Destroyed the 3" Mortar & Sights
before leaving. After marching 1 1/2 miles toward the Gemas
Railway Line & only 500 yds off we were forced to go
about as the Jap had Tanks, Machine Guns & Troops
on the other side of the line waiting for us. After we had 

[*Coming out of the Ambush all of a sudden
a Japanese soldier appeared & led us out of the Blue safely.*]
gone about 2 mile along another road & had just rested we 
heard Carriers suddenly come along the road & sure
made us scatter but lucky enough they were our
own. All along the road the Jap aircraft consistently 
worried us but lucky enough it couldn't get on our
trail. We marched for about 15 Miles all told &
then we were picked up by the 2/3^rd M.I. who took
us to the "B" Echelon about 3 miles over the Segamut
Bridge. We had a meal of Curried Chicken but the
trouble was, there wasn't enough 3 men to a tin. As we
moved out to take up a position near the Segamut
Bridge we noticed tins of food bayoneted. We were
still hungry & weren't told about the extra food.
Streams of cars crossed the Segamut Bridge
till midnight.
20. 1. 42 TUESDAY. At 2 AM. there were 3 explosions & they were the
Segamut Bridge ^being blown up. All night the Artillery
consistently shelled Segamut & left it a mass of ruins.
Stayed there all day & some of the lads raked a
Chinese Shop & had a feed of Biscuits & we of course
missed out. That day the Indians across the Railway
Line on our left, spotted a patrol of 25 Jap Cyclists
coming along the road & fired over 1,000 Rounds out of
Vickers & Bren Guns & reported back to us that
they think they got 2. That night we moved out as
the Jap was supposed to cut the road between the
Bridge we noticed tins of food bayoneted. We were
still hungry & weren't told about the extra food.
Streams of us crossed the Segamut Bridge
till midnight.
20. 1. 42 At 2 AM. there were 3 explosions & they were the
TUESDAY. Segamut Bridge ^being blown up. All night the Artillery
consistently shelled Segamut & left it a mass of ruins.
Stayed there all day & some of the lads raked a
Chinese Shop & had a feed of Biscuits & we of course
missed out. That day the Indians across the Railway
Line on our left, spotted a patrol of 25 Jap Cyclists
coming along the road & fired over 1,000 Rounds out of
Vickers & Bren Guns & reported back to us that
they think they got 2. That night we moved out as
the Jap was supposed to cut the road between the
20. 1. 42 TUESDAY (CONTINUED)
2/30^th BN & us & we were likely to run into ambush.
Don Coy 2/26 BN & Don Coy 2/29 Bn & 1 Coy Indians were last
out. We were supposed to march on our side of the road
& the Indians on the other, but when it was time to
move, the Indians were missing, so we took up both
sides of the road with instructions that if we ran
into ambush, to go to ground & fix bayonets. Coming
into a dark patch we heard running between us
& were the Indians coming between us in the dark
patches & in the open patches they would thin out again,
as they were very jittery. We picked up the 2/3^rd MT.
after 10 miles Marching who gave us a feed of tinned
Pineapples, Pears & Peaches & also a box of sweets which
was very nice, & taking us back for a rest. Some of
the lads got a drop of rum.
21. 1. 42 WEDNESDAY Dug in our new Position ^YOUNG PENG & received mail. Received
bombing from Jap Aircraft most of the day but soon got
used to it. News came through that the 2/29^th BN (VIC) had
run into ambush while going to Clean up 200 Para troops
& when they got there found out that there were 200,000. The
2/19^th BN went up with an English Battalian to pull
them out & both Aussie BNS. suffered heavy casualties.
Very quiet that night & nothing happened.
22. 1. 42 THURSDAY. Next morning were bombed again & early in the evening
we moved up about 2 miles past High Ayer Hetham along
the Young Peng-Muir road. Moving up on this position
we were warned of snipers, sniping at convoys
going along the road, but being prepared we hit no-one.
Embussed & moved into rubber we noticed movements
of someone & fired shots at him as he was running away
but found out he was a Malay with $40 on him which
of course became our Platoon fund. That evening
10 Reinforcements came for our Company. Hec Hannam
being one of them. Ground was pretty damp
& a few mosquito's about.

23. 1. 42 FRIDAY Patrolling went on as usual but struck nothing.
One of the Mortar Personal was sniped by a Jap in
Malay clothes. Went on a patrol after the Sniper in
long grass but couldn't find him. Orders came
through to shoot every dog you saw as the dogs were
going through our position & then going back & bringing
the Japs to our position & in the distance you could
hear the dogs barking. xxxxxxx
24. 1. 42 SATURDAY Nothing happened during the day. I volunteered
for an Allnight Standing Patrol. 5 of us with
Rifles went to sit in 2 canoes & wait for Jap Boat
Patrols to come down the river & we were to give them
Rifle fire & clear for our lives back. We went down
to get the canoes & they were gone for just as well
as the Colonel sent word for us to come back as the
Jungle fighters were going to do the job. Picked up
3 Indians who drifted in that Night & also an Air
Force Pilot came through with others. That Night
Don McCall was shot in the arm by one of our own
mob bill Riddle (while on patrol) but lucky enough
it was a flesh wound. (Val Raeburn just urinated & mortars opened up
& he fell down in his own water)

[*when called for Volunteers Val Raeburn
said he wanted to go home &
wasnt taking chances*]
25. 1. 42 SUNDAY Received a lot of mortar shelling all that
day & later found out that the Jap Observation
Post was behind our Battalian Head Quarters.
Moved out that night & went back to the
561 mile peg. Jap shelled the crossroads but
as we go bush & miss open targets the only
target would be trucks etc. SEMPANG RINGHAM.
26. 1. 42 MONDAY Patrolled all day up 3 miles to behind the
Gordons & Indians & were heavily bombed &
gunned all day. A fairly Quiet night. 

[*I was forward scout.*]
27. 1. 42 TUESDAY Heavily bombed & Machine Gunned all day
& the Jap started to use a Pop Pop Gun something
like a small Howitzer & can sure send the
rounds out. Pte VAUGHN was Killed & Pte DAVE -
27. 1. 42 TUESDAY (CONTINUED) CUMMINGS WAS WOUNDED. The Japs struck 18 Platoon
& appeared to be using a lot of tracers Bullets
 A lot of anziety was caused of Cpl C. WEBSTER
& his patrol who were still out & came in without
a scratch. CPL. JOE PUSCH, CEDRIC FIELDS, ALEX GRAHAM ^SNOW THEODORE & MYSELF
went out to try & locate the Jap movement & also a
Machine Gun Post without success. 18 Platoon moved
back ^W.G.L MILES leaving his Haversack (with Pay Book, Wallet & Watch) behind
as they thought they were going back to get them. Marched
back to the 41 Mile Peg with Don Coy last out again
& were heavily shelled.
28. 1. 42 WEDNESDAY Jap attacked in the morning A Coy to C Coy & then to D Coy &
then 2/30 BN & then to D Coy - C Coy (26 BN). Les Orchard was
wounded & later lost his leg below the knee. A Coy 2/26 BN &
12/30BN made an attack to get some of C Coy 2/26 BN out &
the Armoured Cars played an important part in the
assault. No trenches used in this fray as we had
no time to dig in. Moved back that night to the 31 MILE
peg being ferried parts of the way. [*MILTON Summerfield wounded
& SGT. KIETH HORSLEY. KILLED
also noticed a 2/30th Chap laying dead*]
29. 1. 42. THURSDAY. Struck Japs before we had got into position & settled down
behind rubber trees using the trees as all protection
from Air & Bullets. Bombed & shelled a fair bit that
day but suffered very few casualities. The Jap drove
one of our Sections off a ridge & Cpl CHAS WEBSTER took his
section up in a Bayonet Assault & PTE. FRANK. BEATON
won a RECOMMENDED MILITARY MEDAL bringing back a Jap Machine
Gun. 16 PLATOON went over later led by LIEUT. R. MAGARRY &
HE Y Pt. TERRY PARKER attacked a machine Post,
capturing 3 Jap Machine guns. LIEUT R. MAGARRY won
a MILITARY CROSS. & PTE. TERRY PARKER won a MILITARY. MEDAL. D.C.M.
making a total of 4 Machine Guns for the day. The
2/15^th ARTILLERY done good work that day knocking out
about 2,000 Japs between our Battalian & the
Artillery. In the evening our Artillery was
using damp ammunition & falling short
into C Coy line wounding a few of them. Early

[*MEMO 51 MILE PEG C Coy reported movement in the valley - Ivan Hueston
noticed something move & had a shot at it & after the shot
found out he was firing at fowls. We all started to laugh
in spite of the Machine Guns shells & Bombs flying about)*]
29. 1. 42 THURSDAY (CONTINUED) that morning an Artillery Truck went
down to the Bridge which was blown up
that night to view the land & was ambushed
as they had repaired the last of the Bridge.
Orders came through that the Gordons were
coming across our front to hold our fire.
Down comes a patrol with rifles slung anyhow
& we thought they were gordons until we
heard a squabble & half had gone to ground
before we opened up & they didn't last long. Capt.
GUS FERGUSON had field glasses on them at 150 yds &
couldn't tell the difference. A Chinese & his
wife had a lucky break for as they came
up a re-entrance between our fire & the Japs
we held our fire & they both got through
without a scratch. Moved out that night
to the 20 mile peg. Don Coy last out.
[*Lt Nisbet Killed
coming out of
position*]
30. 1. 42 FRIDAY The position we took up in front of a
Pineapple patch & had a feed of half Green
fruit & they weren't bad. 2/30 BN were in a
position 5 Mile forward at this stage & later
on they came back through us & took up a
position on our left flank. All they struck was
a small patrol of Japs & had a quiet day. The
first plane of our own we saw since we had
been in action was an old Gypsy Moth which
brought a message for the Indians. We had
struck a fair few Thailand Planes which
caught us napping & we thought it was another
of them. Moved out that night & marched
about 9-12 Miles & picked up the 2/3^rd M.T.
who gave the lads a bottle of Rum & we were
taken to Singapore Island & found a hot
meal waiting for us.
31. 1. 42. SATURDAY. A B & C Coys forward & D & H.Q in the rear near
the ROYAL ARMY ORDANANCE CORPS. Camp & found their
Canteen still open selling Beer & Cigarettes. The lads
put in & bought Beer & Cordials. Received a
comfort parcel from the AC.F through our Padre
consisting of Tobacco Soap Tooth Paste etc MAJ. TRACEY
wanted to cash a cheque he had just received &
was informed that the Pommey Major had taken
his dog for a walk & that he would have to wait.
Another Incident was the planes appeared to us
to be flying about 20 miles up & the pommies
went for their holes & one of the lads sang out
for them to run to their holes. The pommy
finished up telling them they we had tons of Air
support throughout the Campaign. One
of the Pommy Officers asked our lads
where the Jap was & he told him just across
the stretch of water & the pommy said "Oh! My
God" as he hadn't seen any action up
till that time. A pommy Major growled at
his boy because his boots weren't polished.
1. 2. 42 SUNDAY At 2 A.M the Causeway was blown up but
only the 2ND Link. That day we had a rest
laying about under the building & more Beer
was bought. Dug Weapon Pits & moaned about it
2. 2. 42 MONDAY Nothing on that day. Had the Jap Machine Gun
on demonstration & caused quite a gathering. The
RAOC personal went to the clocks to guard them
so we cleaned up their huts & made ourselves
comfortable. The a/c a/c Kept the Jap Planes
rather high & received no bombing at all.

 [*ARTHUR SMITH
& ERM joined
us as reinforcements*]
3. 2. 42 TUESDAY. Our C.Q.M.S. S/SGT HOPKINSON hot on to the Pineapple
Factory & got a few loads of Tinned Pineapples
which were very nice having 3 or 4 tins per day. Nothing
eventuated that day. Guard at Night.
[*LIEUT. J D. GALES & SGT (NOW LIEUT) SULLIVAN went to the
Hospital & G/M FRANK LOWRY took over 17 platoon*]

4. 2. 42 WEDNESDAY Early that morning the Jap dropped Incendiary
Bombs on & around our buildings lighting one of
them. CpL GEORGE MILES lost the rest of the gear he owned
including Rifle & Webbing. We naturally cleared
out of them & went & camped near our pits. Dug
our pits deeper & camoflaged the top of them to use
as a shade also. 

[*Parcels arrived for ERM & Val Raeburn.*]
5. 2. 42. THURSDAY. Made a humpy outside our trench a roof
of grass on top. Started a night patrol through
the 2/10^th ARTILLERY to the Pipe Line. Met SGT. FRANK
TRENFIELD & more Queenslanders I knew. They
were telling me of their Observation Post noticing
someone in the top of the Sultans Palace
drawing a Panorama of the field also numerous
other targets, but the palace couldn't be fired
on as the Sultan & Sultana were still in
residence. Got my hair clipped off. now bally
6. 2. 42. FRIDAY Noticed behind the Sultans Palace an Observation
Balloon in the Air & never had any Aircraft to
knock it down. We're in a pretty hot position
Artillery on both sides of us & a/c a/c in
the front & rear. Pretty heavy shelling during
the night & had to sleep in our trenches
7. 2. 42. SATURDAY Pretty heavy shelling during the day time
& 26 Jap Bombers came over & dropped their
load on BN H.Q & Don Coy KILLING NED. BAGLEY, MAL. STARK,
& STICKLEY & WOUNDING 16. They also knocked
out 2 armoured cars & 1 truck full of
Ammunition. CPL TREVETHAN (H.Q Coy) was very
lucky as 1 of the Bombs took off the top of his
trench & he never got a scratch. Dummy shells came over
8. 2. 42 SUNDAY Lieut Col OAKES took over the Battalian from
LT COL BOYES & LT COL BOYES went to Division. LT. COL
OAKES left the administration to the Coy Commdas.
till he got a grasp of the situation. More dummy
shells came over.
9. 2. 42 MONDAY Shelled all day & done patrol of the area at 7.0.PM
orders to move behind the Oil Fire. Unable to get around
as oil was spreading down the drains & the rubber was
catching which would mean no way of getting back.
Word went back to Battn & we dug in opposite the fire on
a hill.
10. 2. 42 TUESDAY At 2 AM had just got to sleep & we had to move & get around
the Match Factory. Got into position 4 AM & had 2 hours
sleep & went on guard from 6 AM till 10. AM. Clothes
were all oil & we were black from the smoke.
10. AM we had to move again to the 114 mile peg where
on the way crossed a Naval Engineer Camp & found
Tinned food, Tobacco, Cocoa Blocks (More like chocolate).
Had a feed of Pineapple (fresh) & went & picked up
the rest of the Company. Noticed Grenades &
Equiptment left behind also a new Generator.
Stayed on the hill that night & nothing happened
only a bit of shelling. 

[*S/M. F Lowery landed in Pig Refuse
up to his waist & wasn't too pleased
as the lads threw off at him & his smell*]
11. 2. 42. WEDNESDAY 10.AM Moved out for Bucketuma & saw Japs on
a hill. Went around the hill to the Jungle &
evaded them. 12.0 AM we had lunch & had ½ hour
spell. Then moved on & run into an ambush. Don
Coy made the attack with Bayonets while the Battn
got through. Going into the attack a few snipers
had a go at us & then coming up the slope with
a Bren at his hip was a Jap who I thought was
one of 16 Platoon moving up to us & all of a
sudden he let a burst go from the Bren at us &
we hit the ground. He then threw a grenade
which landed 3 feet away from CPL. ERN MADDISON
& myself wounding him in the forehead. We
gave him one of ours & he never done any more
argueing. KILLED PTE VAL. RAEBURN. PTE BILL RIDDLE &
MISSING PTE BILL KENT. We had to make a bush
stretcher for PTE. HARRY BOSTON who was wounded

11. 2. 42 WEDNESDAY (CONTINUED) in the shoulder & Leg & was in terrible pain. Carried
Harry for about 4 mile till we could get him
to a doctor. While resting before going to the
Golf Links they called back for the Colonel &
one of the Lads remark "Wheres the "B_ Colonel"
He answered I'm the "B_" Colonel although I
don't look like one" & neither he did. As we
were crossing the Golf Links we run into an
Indian party with a stretcher & asked them
for it & the B_ wouldn't give us a lend
of it. The Doctor arrived & moved Harry
to the Hospital. Resting near the links
near an Indian Camp the Jap started to
shell the place & we moved over to a
Chinese Cemetry & MAJOR. TRACEY went on
a scrounging party for Food & Cigarettes
for the Company & we had a light meal
with of plenty of Tobacco.
12. 2. 42. THURSDAY Pulled out before daybreak & marched about
2 Mile & picked up the 4^th M.I. who took us to
a Pommey Hospital where we were supposed
to have 24 hrs rest. The lads pinched
Tobacco & Rum from the Hospital Stores
& Pommy Canteen & had the Pommy
Officers nearly mad. Some of the Lads
got pretty full. 1. PM. Had just finished
a big Lunch & orders were to go & take up a
position 1,000 yds forward which meant
only having 4 hrs rest. Forward of us were
the Pommeys/Gordons who at night came &
withdrew making a line with us.
13. 2. 42. FRIDAY. Now forward line again & getting
shelled & machine Gunned & bombed & also
shelled with Indian Artillery who appeared
to be using a/c a/c. Position right in Sun &
very hot.
14. 2. 42 SATURDAY. A few snipers about & received a fair bit of
heavy shelling & Bombing. One of the best mates
anyone could have was killed CPL. GEORGE MILES
from Townsville. He saw a bunch of men down
in the valley & went to investergate & was sniped
through the side & passed away on the way
to the Ambulance. He was buried the best way
was possible under those conditions. All he
had on him was a tobacco tin with a few dollars
in it. 

[*TED CORNELL, LIEUT. MAGARRY. PTE SHEPHERD were wounded 8 FOR DAY.
& CAPT GUS FERGUSON (CAPT FOX took over Camp)*]
15. 2. 42. SUNDAY. Jap landed behind us closer to Singapore &
bombed & shelled the place. Heavy shelling again
& quietened down before dusk. Hit small patrols
& snipers during the day. About dusk we
could hear dogs barking & singing & Cheering
across the hills & we naturally knew something
was on. at 8.30. PM. S/M. FRANK LOWREY told us that
the Pommeys & Indians had already laid down arms
& at daybreak we were doing the same.
16. 2. 42. MONDAY 8. 30AM picked up rifle & Brens & Tommy Guns,
Picks, shovels etc. & marched down to the Battn
& made a Battalian Dump of all the equiptment
& then went & had breakfast. Pinched a tin of
Fruit Salad. which made the meal taste much
better. We all then marched to a football
ground, loaded with all the tucker over &
stayed there the night. The Indians seemed
pretty merry on it, singing all night as if their
fighting days were over & were happy about it.
17. 2. 42 TUESDAY The Pommeys moved out early in the
morning & had to leave most of the tucker they
had in their trucks as they wouldn't let them
take the trucks with them & the 2/26 Bn Benefited
by it by taking all the extra food with us.
It really hurt the Pommy to give the tucker away.