Unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell - Wallet 1 - Part 4

As a result of information obtained from this source, and also from the KERMAMAN
agent previously, it was evident that a considerable infiltration from the
North through the jungle was taking place. They were probably Japanese who had
landed near KOTA BHARU, and, coming by motor transports had moved Southward
through TRENGANNU STATE, or there may have been landings further down the Coast.
After the withdrawal of the 8 Indian Infantry Bde from KELANTAN, some of the officers
in TRENGANNU had made themselves scarce, but a Mr de Mowbray, the Resident, remained
behind to keep in touch with the situation. The Sultan of TRENGANNU was loyal,
but was naturally getting rather perturbed.Realising that trouble was ahead
Mr de Mowbray and the Sultan left the Capital and proceeded up the Trengannu River
so that the Sultan would still be in a position to issue orders to his people.
For some years past, the Japanese had been working a mine at DUNGUN some 80 miles 
North or KUANTAN. When war broke out, a number or arrests were made, but, it was 
understood that the Japanese had now been released, and everything pointed to the
fact that DUNGUN was being used as  rallying point for infiltration-parties.
A motor road from the North terminated at KUALA TRENGANNU but motor tracks with 
ferries went on to DUNGAN and from there to KUANTAN. This road existed but when
the tide was very high, it was impossible to motor along the edge of the beach right
down to PENGORAK and KUANTAN. Otherwise it was easy.
Seeing that an attack was now imminent, it had already been decided to backload
all unessential stores to railhead at JERANTUT. Most unlts had originally arrived
on a peace basis, and the idea was that units should now cut themselves down to a 
minimum to increase their mobility. As far as the Regiment was concerned, all
heavy baggage and kit bags were sent back under Bdr Ritchings, to 2nd Echelon in 
SINGAPORE, so it turned out. All surplus ordnance stores were also sent.
Regarding ammunition, the size of the dump in the Wagon lines was greatly reduced.
The brunt of this back-loading fell on 43 (Reserve) MT Coy who had previously
done such good work.
GAMP was now in a very exposed position, as information had been obtained that
there were Japanese in the JABBAR VALLEY ESTATE, only a few miles to the North.
On Dec 24th, GAMP was therefore withdrawn to a position on the TELOK SISEK road, 
near ALOR. Their place was taken by a troop of 25 pdrs, who moved HILL to a
position near a Manager's bungalow about 4 miles up the AVERPALEH ROAD, on the way
to GAMP, but which could be evacuated easily if necessary. This position was
known as JELA, and had an OP well forward on the BALOK RIVER, and another down on 
the coast at DARAT, where a section was put into action. In addition, arrangements
were made to get in touch with an observation post, 1 Sgt and 2 Signallers,
who had gone forward to PENGORAK with a standing patrol of the 2/18 Royal Charwal 
Rifles.
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In spite of all this, arrangements had been made to spend Xmas in as traditional
style as possible. A large abandoned duck farm near GAMP had produced lts victims,
the local shops had been visited, and delicacies remaining In the ex-NAAFI stores
were issued out to make a ration of two bottles of beer a man and some cigarettes.
The daily visits or Sgt Thorburn and Bdr Blankney with rations for 63/81 and RHQ
were looked forward to even more than usual!
In the afternoon of Xmas Eve, the Colonel asked Taffy Davies, the Orderly Officer,
what arrangements he had made for getting extra delicacies for Headquarter Section.
"None Sir", replied Taffy, puffing at his pipe - a weapon which he rarely laid
aside except when he was asleep! "Then", said the  Colonel,  "You will go out at
once and not come back till you have finished the job, and will report to me
personally, what you have done."
Off he went. At 1930 hrs, no signs of Taffy. 2030 hrs Ditto, 2230 still no signs.
Had he (a) Drowned himself in KUANTAN harbour?
             (b) Been stabbed by a Chinese Shopkeeper?
             (c) Been smashed to a pulp by a Malay driven lorry?
Search parties were about to be sent out, when someone suggested tha his tent be
visited, and there he was fast asleep like a little child - but he had done his
shopping!
The wagon lines had visitors staying for Xmas. At 3 am on the morning of the 23rd,
2 Coys of the 2/12 Frontier Force Regt arrived from JERANTUT under Capt Hawkins.
When he was first met, he was  taking rather a sour view of life, as his advance
party had gone astray and it was only by the purest chance that he ever reached
VICTORY CAMP at all! All the men were given tea from our cookhouse, and two bottles
of beer and a meal put a much rosier complexion on his life, and the Wagon Lines
breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of being in a snug perimeter for Xmas Day
at any rate!
Xmas Day
Xmas Day, on the whole , proved a day of peace and goodwill. Not even George and
Margaret paid their usual visit! At first light, Col Jephson sent his Xmas
Greetings over the wires to all Ranks, and this was repeated at midday by a similar
message from the CO2 and the Staff of "the Cooperative Stores". In all sub units
the Christmas Dinner was held at midday, and the only noticeable absentee was a
real Xmas Pudding. The meat course however was very varied.  In the evening
Capt Houghton of 464 Bty produced a very good feast for the gunners and Frontier
force officers In VICTORY CAMP, finishing up with a bottle of Drambuie, during the
drinking of which various healths were drunk. The Quartermaster had produced an
Xmas present earlier in the day for the officers in VICTORY CAMP consisting of
a packet or Lux Soap and a bottle of sweets and was given a fat Cigar in return!
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At SETO the only officer who had a real grouse on Xmas Day was Capt Hunt. lt had
been noticed that George, on his daily visits, used to fly very low about a mile on
right of the gun position. BSM Scotland became very suspicious, and finding a few
moments to spare, he walked off in the direction of the spot. Presently he came
upon a small clearing with a Malay hut in it with a large white board nailed on the
front of it. There were rolls or bedding lying on the ground in the shape or an
arrow. Without having been seen, BSM Scotland followed the direction of the arrow
through the woods and eventually turned up at No 1 gun!
It was a pretty good example of 5th Columny, and this was duly reported to Capt Hunt
when he returned in the afternoon. They went back with an armed party and found
one Malay and two Tamils in the hut and arrested them. They were brought back and
handed over to the local police, who took them to Brigade Heodquarters. An
interpreter had to be found, and by the time that things had been put on a firm
basis, the time for the official Xmas dinner was past, and when Capt Hunt got back,
his dinner was rather cold. He was delighted to hear that these monkeys were
eventually shot!
Preparations for Evacuation
After Xmas, the visits of George and Margaret became more frequent, and occasionally
they were joined by others, who on one occasion machine -gunned up the KUANTAN main
street without however doing much damage. They also dropped a few bombs on the aero­drome
and set an empty hangar on fire. Actually, the aerodrome had been rather a danger
to the public. The order had gone forth that it should be destroyed completely, and
occasionally earth shattering detonations took place - not too pleasant for Bde Headquarters
next door! In fact, one day, a large piece of metal sailed into the office
of the Staff Captain, and offered its services as a paperweight!
On Boxing Day, the 2/12 Frontier Force left for GAMBANG, a large village 10 miles
from VICTORY CAMP on the main road. They stayed one night in the village and moved
into a hide next morning early. Just as well, as the bombers visited the place
on Dec 27th, and laid part of it flat, having been told probably by 5th Columnists
that the place was occupied.
On   December 27th Col Jephson held a BCs conference at RHQ, and told them that orders
had been received that the Forward Sector was to be evacuated on the evening of the
29th, and treated as an outpost only. The reason was the importance of keeping the
22nd Inf Bde and its equipment intact, owing to severe casualties in the West. The
Brigadier and the Corps Commander, Sir Lewis Heath both protested as did also General
Barstow, the Divisional Commander, but were overruled by Malaya Command. For obvious
reasons it had to be kept very secret.
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The first part of the scheme was that all guns and ammunition were to be taken
across the river during the afternoon, and at dusk, and would then be in a
position to cover the retirement of 2/18 Royal Gharwal Rifles, in case of
trouble. The thinning out of the Beach Defences was to be done gradually. The
move of the guns was to be done a few vehicles at a time, and everything was to
be done to prevent George and Margaret from getting any inkling as to what was
happening. In order that there should be no delay, when actual orders were
received, reconnaissance parties were to be sent back that day to see the new
positions, which had been chosen.
These positions were as follows:
JELA 25 pdrs   Gun position on WOODCUTTERS TRACK about a mile West of Bn HQ
5/11 Sikhs OP Ferry OP on the river bank.
RT Sec B Tp  (Capt Hunt) to share SETO position with the 25 pdrs already
63/81  there. The remainder of B Troop to remin at AIR on the aero­drome.
Bty HQ &  to new position in rubber estate near 12th milestone and be prepared
A Troop  to fire North and also West along the line of the road, and also
63/81  on the open space near the Wagon Lines.
Sec 21 Mtn  to position alongside the main road near GAMMON ROAD corner.
Bty  Arrangements were made for the collection of dumped ammunition.
It was also disclosed that KUANTAN was to be held at all costs for another 5 days,
and the aerodrome denied to the enemy, as en extremely important convoy was
expected in SINGAPORE.
On Dec 28th, Lt Bladen and Sgt "Happy" Brighton, the OPA of A Troop, saw enemy
transport near  PENGORAK, borrowed the 25  pdrs and shelled them, knocking some
vehicles out. An attempt was made to remove these vehicles later in the day, but
It failed. It was evident that something was going on behind PENGORAK headland but
no messages were received from the observation post there so, presumably, they had
been captured . There were of course no aircraft available. (Our signaller turned
up later from KUALA LUMPUR where they had been interned)
About midday on Dec 30th, a start was made to clear the dumped amounition in TOWN
position on the TELOK SISEK road, and JELA was to have been cleared second. There
had however been a certain amount or rifle and MG fire in that direction, and it
was decided to clear ALOR Next. A small party had gone back to the ferry with
the CO2 to collect some lorries. Suddenly 3 bombers appeared with the evident
intention of bombing the Ferry. The party took shelter in the slit trenches
belonging to the Sikh Ferry party, and were promptly given a mug of tea by the
aforementioned cheerful Jemedar. They then were treated to a Dress Circle view
of the attempt to destroy the Ferry.
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First or all, the bombers flew over it in formation about 1000 ft up, and tried
to deal with it by pattern bombing. All the bombs fell into the River to the
North of the ferry or burst with a terrific report among the trees on the bank.
Then they came round again to see what had happened and, finding the ferry
intact, they repeated the dose with much the same result. They then tried a
different method. They came one at a time from the flank, and each plane very
deliberately dropped a bomb from about 500 ft. Here, they had slightly better
luck, as one of the bombs fell on the road way and set a 30 cwt belonging to the
Sappers and Miners on fire. The remainder fell harmlessly into the trees.
This was tried twice more without any better result, except that in this case the
river received the bomb without much comment. After one more look at the Ferry,
without dropping anything, the planes flew off.
The Ferry was moored against the bank furthest from KUANTAN, so something had to be
done to find out what the damage was, if any. Major Fennell and Gunner Wersby
and the chief man in the Posts and Telegraphs got into a small boat and, with the
aid of a small paddle, manned by Wersby, and pulling along the suspended cable,
they got across. They found that a lucky splinter had cut the cable passing over
the windlasses, and the ferry was temporarily out of action.
Fortunately, a Sapper officer and some men turned up just then in a truck, and a
party was organised to fish for the broken cable which was somewhere in the river.
The boaters returned by the same method, and were very thankful to get to the
other side, as the current was fairly strong and the strain or hanging onto a
very greasy cable very considerable!
Fortunately, it was found that when the slack cable on the Kuantan side had been
pulled across to the Ferry by boat, there was sufficient to make a good join by
means of "Bulldog Clips", with the other loose end, which was pulled in, and
within 1½ hours the ferry was in action again, to the great relief of everybody.
The Ferry had that previous night been split into its two parts, and so afforded a
smaller target. Had both been destroyed, an alternative route would have been
down a small tributary of the KUANTAN river, landing on the far side at KNIGHTS
WAY, but the landing stage had not been completed.
JAPANESE APPROACH
In the meantime, much had been going on up the JABBER VALLEY road. Col Jephson
ordered Capt Hunt and one gun to accompany a fighting patrol, who had gone up the
road to find out what was happening. The Column consisted of 3 Carriers under 2 Lt
Hawkes from the Gharwali Carrier Platoon, and a detachment or the Frontier Force
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Regt under 2Lt Ishar Singh, the Gharwalis and the gun being under command of
the Frontier Force. Capt Hunt went off In G.B. followed by the gun and spider,
followed later by R.B. full of ammunition.
The object of the expedition was to rescue two planters, and to round up some
enemy, thought to be about 50 in number. The party formed up at the Rendezvous
and, after moving about ½ a mile, 2 Japs sniped the column and were suitably
dealt with. There were several low flying aircraft about, which caused the
column to  take cover a lot, and wasted time. They arrived at the place where the
enmy were supposed to be, but found no-one there. Coolies reported that the
enemy had headed South and there were signs, nailed to posts, showing the direction,
in which they had gone.
About 1200 hrs, 2 Lt Taffy Davies took forward a 15 cwt loaded with amunition and
2 DRs, Howe and Cartwrlght, from TOWN CAMP, to find Capt Hunt's party. He
found the gun in the column, halted on the JABBAR VALLEY road as there was a plane
overhead. He went to see 2Lt McKenzie, told him that the ammunition had arrived,
and decided to remain until the plane had gone. He then went off with Signaller
Cartwright and left Howe with Capt Hunt. At about 1300 hrs the column started to
return, as the Japanese had moved on elsewhere.
They reached the junction of the JABBAR VALLEY and GAMP roads, where there should
have been a section post of the Gharwalis. The post was desertted and showed signs
of battle and a quick evacuation. Not knowing what had happened, Capt Hunt ordered
L/Bdr Mathews, the AI , to tap into several telephone lines passing through the
position, and see if he could get in touch with anyone. The wires were badly cut
somewhere, and he was unsuccessful. After a short discussion, they decided to
return to KUANTAN. Later, another attempt was made to tap in, and contact was
made with Capt Nugent 2/18 RGR who was in command of the KACH line. The situation
was explained and he ordered the Column to return and not to stay and support him.
After going back about 2 miles, they ran into an ambush. First, a bomb was thrown
at the leading carrier, the driver was killed and it ran off the road into the
ditch. Then some machine guns opened up, apparently from a Hill about 500 yards
away. The Infantry got out of their lorries, and started to try and outflank it.
The Machine guns were still firing, so Capt Hunt brought his gun into action,
layed the gun himself as the gun had to fire through the trees, and let drive at
the hill. The MGs stopped firing, and Japs were seen scurrying up the hill, those
who could. The infantry then went forward, and the gun was limbered up.
The driver of the 2nd Carrier had also ditched his vehicle, and when the gun reached
it, it was unlimbered, and the Spider pulled the carrier out of the ditch. The
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leading Carrier was also pulled out but the steering gear was damaged and it had
to be abandoned. Also, its petrol tank had been punctured.
Howe had been sent forward with a messsge. He came upon 2Lt Davies dead on the road,
with his motor-cycle and favourite pipe beside him. He had been machine gunned in
the chest, and his death must have been instantaneous. The Japanese had bayonetted
him, and taken away his boots, puttees and equipment. Cartwright was nowhere to
be seen, but his m/c was by the side or the road. Further down was a 15 cwt and
a civilian 3 tonner which had also been ambushed. About 30 Gharwalis from a
platoon of E Coy were lying dead in and out of the lorries. They had been machine
gunned, and bayonetted.
Capt Hunt got into a Carrier and led his gun back along the road in advance of the
main body, as it had been decided to take a position on some high ground further
back. The gun went into action there, and put down some gunfire in the area of
the Rubber Factory, to cover the withdrawal of the main body. 2Lt McKenzie had been
sent back to Camp with a report, and came back with orders to return to TOWN CAMP.
This was done. The value of even a single on an operation of this kind was well brought
out as  it produced great moral effect, both on our own troops, and even more so on
the enemy in this case.
Meanwhile the evacuation of ammunition was continuing at ALOR, and later at PARK
and, in turn, the guns started to come out of action. During the time the Ferry
was being repaired, traffic started to pile up on the road. The bombers were
certainly missing a remarkable target. Stretching back for nearly a mile were a
marvellous collection of vehicles, Ammunition, lorries, for the Artillery, Sappers
and Miners, the Brigade Signal Section civlilian cars, officers going back for
Reconnaissances, RAMC, two lorries full or Malay policemen, and a host or others.
Finally the guns and trailers started to  arrive.
The officer in charge went forward very wisely to find out how the land lay, and
found a Controlling Officer of the Regiment at the Ferry, who ordered them to come
right forward, and park ready to cross on some flat ground near the Ferry itself
and await their turn. One Section, under BSM Scotland, had already gone on,
before the ferry was bombed. Slowly the remainder were got over. Owing to the Ferry
being cut In two, a Spider and trailer and gun constituted one load. To quicken
things up, the Garrison Engineer, Capt Beavan, went over to make the ferry one way
traffic.
The proper crew were nowhere to be found so a scratch crew of Gunners was formed
under Capt Francis and BSM Cooper, the idea being to take detachments from guns
further down the line so that each crew made about two trips.
When  the guns had all passed, a few men were kept behind, and were augmented by  the
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drivers or other lorries. On and on they went very slowly. It must have been
absolute torture to the people in the long trail of waiting vehicles, not
knowing whether the Japanese would do the unexpected and take to night-bombing.
But General Wakeley's advice held good. They were certainly suffering from
night blindness that night!
Many were the excuses given for preferential treatment. "I am from Singapore
Cold Storage and am carrying butter and cheese for Army" was one of the few
treated as genuine. The ammunition lorries were now all over. Some lorries
had returned early on, and had found it difficult to get along as, beyond the
entrance to the ferry, traffic had double and treble-banked, but they forced
their way through.
At about 2100 hrs there was a tremendous explosion and sheet of flame in the
direction of KUANTAN. Some said it was the Socony Oil Company's dump, others
a heap of overdrafts In the Mercantile Bank of India being destroyed! It was
actually caused by the Wharf being blown up. This was followed by various
smaller explosions as demolitions were carried out during the night, also
occasional rifle fire. At 2200 hrs, Brigadier Painter and the Brigade Major
arrived, on their way to the HQ on the aerodrome. Shortly afterwards BSM
Cooper and two lorries came over in the reverse direction to collect the
remainder of the ammunition from PARK.
While this was going on, the plan had been for the Gharwalis to hold a line
from 1900 hrs, with the Companies spread out to cover possible enemy lines
ofr advance with Bn HQ about 400 yds North of the Ferry on the Main road. One
problem was how to get the 25 pdrs away from HILL position, the inland route
being blocked. The only way was by a very rickety bridge, which had been
reported unsafe by the Sappers. An attempt was made and luck was on their side,
the rickety bridge was crossed and guns got away by the sea route, but
unfortunately about 600 rounds had to be left at JELA. It was getting dark
and the line held by the Company at BUKIT UBI was 400 yards on the wrong side
of HILL position.
Capt Denahaye, an Australian, was in command of the Company. (He was eventually
killed). Major Kelly and his men, in every conceivable type of lorry and bus,
did very good work in getting the ammunition away. The infantry was ready to
shoot at anyone appearing in front. At one time, one of the loading party
opened fire with a rifle on an imaginary enemy. In the dark, it was all that
Capt Denahaye and Col Jephson, who was present, could do to stop the infantry
firing as well. Col Jephson had to call the loading party back and then went
to see Col Hartigan, who ordered Capt Denahaye's Company to push forward.
Major Kelly and his men then got the remainder of the ammunition away.
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There was a slight delay at the Ferry, while the District Officer and his party,
with lorries of civil prisoners under police escort, were given preferential
treatment, but by 0300 hrs most of the traffic had been dealt with, much to the
relief of the Ferry Control Party. It was reported later that Japanese appeared
near the Ferry about 0500 hrs at dawn so that the efforts of the scratch crews
were well rewarded. Had not they taken charge, the delay in running the Ferry
might well have been disastrous.
ln addition, George and Margaret never appeared until their usual  flap round
after breakfast quite unconscious of the marvellous targets they had  missed
during the night. One felt that Jerry the German would have been much more
wideawake.
FINAL EVACUATION OF FORWARD SECTOR
The guns had gone into their previously reconnoitred positions, and preparations
were made to put down harassing fire on likely spots, and also to put down
a curtain of fire round the Ferry area, to assist the Gharwalis in their crossing.
Regimental Headquarters had been allotted huts just outside the Perimeter of the
Aerodrome Camp. This was found to be a very difficult place to get in and out of,
owing to trees and mud and the huts were only half completed.
Owing to the presence of Japs, threatening front and rear, a further adjustment of
the line held by the Gharwalis had to be made. A distinctly original shoot was
carried out by Col Hartigan, who shouted across the river the locations on which
he wanted fire brought down. These instructions were cheerfully complied with
until the Civil Authorities put a spoke in the wheel and begged us not to fire
for fear of destroying Chinese and Malay property, and this although the Japanese
were swarming all over the place!
"The Brightest Jewel of the Navy's Crown" was still lying at anchor in the river
near the Ferry. 2Lt McKenzie, in the ferry OP, was detailed to destroy it by
shellfire with one gun from SETO. he got a short bracket at once, verified it,
and then went to gun fire. The Devil must have then got to work! Shells scraped
the paint off the boat, and fell just short into the river or just plus into the
jungle. A direct hit was obtained after 40 rounds but the coup-de-grace had not
been given until the 74th round, an interesting problem in 100% zones and
probability!
The Gharwalis had been told to make for the main road during the late afternoon,
and, to assist them, a corridor or fire was put down on either side of the road.
This was most effective. A Captain in the Gharwalis described his feelings of
intense relief when he stepped out of the woods and found our shells falling on
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the flanks and rear and keeping the Japanese away. For some time, there was some
doubt how many Gharwalis crossed the river. Some, in more exposed positions, went
along the coast, crossed over the boom, got boats and turned up along the PEKAN road
from the PAHANG River.
The following night, the town was full of Japanese, and it was decided to give
them a pleasant surprise. They were reported to be having a good rest and meals
and to be "hanging up their washing on the KUANTAN LINE". Just as it became dark
the guns opened up, and shells poured into the town. The Colonel and the Adjutant
had great fun selecting likely spots off the map such as the Wanyang Hotel, the
Club, the Rest House, all of which were reported to be full of Japs. In accordance
with modern practice, the H in HOSPITAL was selected as a target. It was just as
well that this was so, as the Japs had put a mixed bag of Gharwalis, Sappers and
Miners, and I.M.S. there under a guard. When the shelling started, their guard
ran off and everybody escaped.
The Gharwalis were very pleased with the support that had been given them during
all these operations and 63/81, 469 and the Mountains all had reason to be
pleased with themselves. 469 Fd Battery RA left for JERANTUT the following day.
FUN AND GAMES IN THE WAGON LINES
The New Year actually started with the completion of a large ammunition fatigue,
but on the morning of January 1st the Wagon Lines became Front Page News. Before
describing what happened, some record should be made of the defences of the Wagon
Lines. It has been mentioned before that the Wagon Lines were made responsible
by Brigadier Painter for guarding the large open space beyond VICTORY CAMP against
possible attack by parachutists. The arms available at first were 10 rifles only,
but, thanks to the evacuation of the aerodrome, 3 Lewis guns and 2 Bren guns had
been "borrowed" from the RAF together with a large quantity of ammunition. Three
of these guns were sent forward, but the remaining two, together with one already
in possession, were taken into use. In addition, extra rifles were obtained from
the 5/11 Sikhs making 57 in all. An issue was made of Dannert Wire by the Sappers
and Miners.
QM Horner was appointed Chief Engineer, and the scheme of defence was to have a
permanent post of 2 NCOs and 3 men at the far end of the Camp, overlooking the
open space. Their job was to take immediate action against any parachute landing
by occupying holes previously dug to hold 2 men each, and quite close to the Main
Guard Room. These men under Bdrs Clarke and Venables were not taken for any other
duties, and were known as "The Gallant Ten'' in all official correspondence. The
number of men in addition, depended entirely on how·many vehicles happened to be
out. Each man carried hls rifle wlth him, and a small dump of Rifles and bayonets
was kept in the Office Area.
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