Unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell - Wallet 1 - Part 7

Our friends in 464 Fd Bty suffered the loss of Major Kelly. His carrier went over

the side of a bank with him in it. He and his driver were pulled out, and the
carrier was hoisted up with the L.A.D. crane. He went underneath it to see what
damage was done and suddenly the chain broke, the carrier fell on him, and he was killed instantly.  A great loss to 464 Fd Bty, as he had commanded them for
some time.  His place was taken by Capt Houghton.

It had been hoped that at least the retirement would cease, and that we and the

Australians would stay and fight it out. The Japanese, however, made a further

landing South, threatening SINGAPORE, and some orders came for a further withdrawal.
Extra ammunition had been drawn from BUKIT SIPUT, and had been dumped on the gun
positions. Some were collected and delivered back to the Ammunition Dump at BUKIT
SIPUT, where it was backloaded. The rest was taken to the Wagon Lines. From now
onwards, ammunition above the normal echelon was always carried. This entailed extra
trips on the part of the ammunition lorries and Capts Pearson and Firth, the
Battery Captains at each position, but none was ever left behind.

It was about this time that the Padre and the Doctor got badly caught out. They

had gone on a foraging expedition and had spotted some chickens. The Padre fixed
them with an appraising eye, but they refused to come to hand! Off they ran with
the Ecclesiastical and Medical Pack in full cry after them! They were just going
to make a kill, when an old Malay popped his head out of a window! The hounds,
seeing that they had been caught red-handed, stopped short, and pretended they
were collecting buttercups! The old Malay must have had a sense of humour, as he
promptly gave the naughty boys some chickens as a present!

Moving again

On the afternoon of January 19th, the Regiment was ordered to go into a hide on
the SOCFIN ESTATE, and reconnaissance parties were given a RV to meet Captain
Howard. The party took a little time to collect, and by the time the RV was reached,
it was quite dark. Capt Howard was not there. They waited for some time, and
then the senior present decided to look for him. SOCFIN (PALM OIL) ESTATE consisted
of one enormous chessboard of parallel roads. These roads were all numbered and
divided into four blocks A, B, C and D. In daylight it was all deliciously simple,
but by night, the chances of meeting Capt Howard appeared far from rosy. Fortune
was again kind, and he was run to earth at the junction of blocks 14C and 15C!
63/81 and 73 Fd Batteries were allotted blocks 15B and 15C whereas RHQ had 15D
and the Manager's bungalow. Guides were put out, and the Regiment were all in by
midnight, the former occupants fortunately having moved out. January 20th should
be put on record as being the only day on which the guns were out of action during
the whole operations!

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On January 21st, the Regiment was ordered to move by night to a hide on the AYER
HITAM-KLUANG road, and the usual reconnaissance parties went forward from 5 and
88 Fd Regts, and from a 4.5 How Bty from another Regt, which was attached to our
group. The road proved most unpromising, as the first 4 miles were plumb in the
open, and the last 2 were already occupied by units in KLUANG. To speed up the
Reconnaissance, units drew for areas, 2 miles for each Field Regt, and 1 for the
How Bty. The Regiment drew the middle area, and found many nests already occupied.

However, a small copse was pinched for 63/81 Fd Bty, an enclosure with a few Malay
houses for RHQ, and, going a little further on, we saw a sign post NANYO ESTATE
(Incorporated in JAPAN). This proved a gold mine as it fitted 73 Fd Bty very
nicely, and later, RHQ, 63/81 Fd Bty and the How Bty found excellent air cover
further up the estate road among the rubber trees. RHQ was in a house in the
Japanese style - rather a come-down after the Planters' Bungalows previously
encountered. The men were all in wooden buildings.

All good things have a snag, and the snag to the gold-mine was the front entrance!
Rather a rickety bridge, over a drain, led off the main road. Some logs were put
under it to help matters, but it had hardly been built to compete with a Regiment
of Artillery, and a Battery besides! 9 Indian Divisional traffic proved very
heavy that night. As each sub-unit left its position near SEGAMAT, it became
wedged in an enormous column stretching for many miles, and moving very slowly.
A Regimental Control Post was placed at the turn off, and sub-unit guides were
ready further up the Estate road. The How Battery was the first to arrive, but
their guides had gone astray, and they badly overshot the mark by about 12 vehicles.
There appeared to be none of their officers present so the Regimental Control
Officer told the drivers to go about 1 mile up the road and then turn round.
As 73 Bty were next, he did this to get them out of the way, rather than to
solve the traffic problem!  A veil can be drawn over their efforts to turn round
on the crowded road further up, and the screams of rage from other vehicle drivers!

Meanwhile, 73 Field Battery were going into the hide slowly but surely, and the
bridge was behaving very nicely. It was rather a slow business as, owing to the
density of the rubber trees, each vehicle had to be guided to its final resting
place separately. When the Battery was almost through, a request came for a truck,
with some sick me in it, to come out. A way was made.
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Before traffic was resumed, a WO came up and said he wanted to get about 121 lorries
through to KLUANG, could he be let through. The Regimental Control Officer was
feeling indulgent at the moment, and said "Yes". He beckoned the lorries forward,
after they had double-banked out of the Main column, and off they went. Suddenly
he saw the sign on the fourth lorry. Blast me! If it wasn't the Howitzer Battery,
which had again lost its way! The leading lorry was stopped, but not before it had
met the other party of the same Battery head to head, having duly turned round
further up the road! There was a lovely wedge of 2 rows of vehicles opposite the
entrance!

At last the jumble was sorted out. 63/81 Fd Bty, less 1 Section, got safely over 
the Bridge, and then it was the turn of the How Bty to get its vehicles in. You 
could almost hear the leading vehicle say "Well! we have been a blasted nuisance
up to now, so let's continue the good work." Anyway, the leading lorry, a heavy
ammunition one, through sheer bad driving, took the bridge at an angle, smashed a
hole in it, and then fell partly into the ditch! The Control Officer was speechless
for a moment, and then ordered 73 Fd Bty to produce a Spider, which did the necessary.
The Bridge was repaired as well as possible, and the rest of the Regiment got over
safely with the exception of the very last vehicle, belonging to the Signal Section,
which broke it again, but being only a 15 cwt, it was quickly pushed out of the
ditch.

At breakfast next morning, Col Jephson came in, his eyes glistening! "I've scrounged
a brand new lorry" he said. We looked outside, and there it was, all gleaming with
paint. It was noticed that the Red, White and Blue circles of the RAF were on the
mudguards, but these were speedily obliterated with camouflage paint, as we knew
there were no RAF in KLUANG, although there had been an aerodrome. Breakfast then
proceeded. Suddenly there was an awful row outside. We looked out of the window,
and saw Sgt Chase with two Orientals hissing at him in sibilant Malay! Sherlock
Holmes or Inspector Hornleigh would have immediately deduced that they had come for 
the vehicle. The Colonel had them brought before him, and said in slow measured
English "If you come into my area, I will have you shot - do you understand - shot!"
They melted away, and the Mess got on with its bacon and eggs.

Came the whirr of a powerful car and screaming of brakes. Out jumped an Englishman
in spotless white and a towering rage "You can't do this sort of thing" he shouted.
"This lorry is required by the Air Ministry to carry coolies, who are filling in
holes on the landing-ground at the Aerodrome." "Can't I", said the Colonel "I want
the lorry to carry ammunition for my guns, and anyhow, the aerodrome will probably
be evacuated soon". "You must come and see the Squadron Leader" yelled the white-clad
man. The Colonel did so, eventually, and finally handed over the lorry - but it had
been a good try! The white-clad man, greatly mollified, gave the Mess a bottle of
Whisky!

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On arrival at the Japanese Estate, Sgt O'Mahoney and L/Bdr Deebanks were found to be
missing. The had been driving in a small, newish saloon car, which had been picked
up on the side of the road.  Now civilian cars were a snare and a delusion.  You
never knew whether the previous owner had been a car lover or not.  He may have
lovingly greased every part himself, or, more likely, jumped into the car at the
shop, driven it flat out during the running-in period, given it a drink of petrol now
and then, and left the rest to the Almighty Allah, Kali or the Granthi Sahib,
according to his religious convictions!

The RSM had given them permission to drive the car (he usually went in it himself)
When the Colonel heard this, he told the RSM to go back on a push-bike and find them.
Now RSM Bishop is a man with a presence, and is very nearly as broad as he is long,
and the thought of him riding solemnly along the main road was too much for the
Reverend Thomas Pugh, who burst into helpless laughter! Let us hope he then put up
a prayer that they would be found! They were!
Kluang

A day was spent in this hide, and on January 23rd we moved through KLUANG and took
up positions, near the main road, to support 8 Ind Inf Bde, and later 22 Ind Inf Bde.
"A" Troop were on the edge of a wood near RMQ, which was in a small plantation,
which contained a few huts. "B" Troop were in an old RAF camp near the aerodrome,
and 73 Fd Bty RA were on an Independent mission with the 5/11 Sikhs. 22 Ind Inf Bde
HQ were in a Rubber Factory across the railway, and not far from RHQ. The Wagon
Lines were in the SEMBROWG Rubber Estate about 12 miles away, a very difficult
place to find in the dark, as there were innumerable tracks leading off the main
road, which itself dissolved into many small branches before the Wagon Lines were
reached. The last portion of the track was very slippery, and full of holes, and
several ammunition lorries had to be pulled out of the ditch in the dark and pouring
rain.

Some 10 miles North of KLUANG was a prominent feature called MYOR. It had been
intended to occupy it on the night of the 23rd, but for some reason this was not
done. Col Parkin, with the 5/11 Sikhs and 73 Fd Bty RA under command, was ordered
to go out by a circuitous route through the jungle, and occupy MYOR. They set off
about 1500 hrs on the 24th and it was arranged that they should keep in touch with
RHQ by Wireless, and so a Signal Section truck went with them. Major Don, with
Capt Archer and E Troop, were with the leading infantry, then came all the transport
and Capt MacEwen and D Troop brought up the rear.

No enemy were met until 1700 hrs. A Coy formed the Advanced Guard, spotted a road
block some 3 miles SW of MYOR, and deployed. E Troop came into action in some
coolie lines, with Major Don at the OP and Capt Archer with Col Parkin. The small 

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arms fire went on for about 20 minutes and the road block, and the area round it,
was shelled. During the next half hour, there were occasional bursts of fire, and
four perimetes were formed for the night. During the night nothing happened
except that, at 0400 hrs, 3 Japs got into the Infantry perimeter and reached the
Officers' Mess. They were not asked in for a drink!

At dawn, Jan 25th, a section of D Troop joined E Troop, making a 6 gun Battery.
The Japanese put in a small attack, supported by mortars. Major Don thought that
he could spot them and tried to neutralise them. He was going forward with Sgt
Blackham and Bdr Lown, the telephonist when they were shot at and severely wounded 

by a Jap sniper with a Tommy gun up a tree. They were carried back, and Capt
MacEwen came up to take his place. About 0800 hrs, the firing slackened off, the
mortars having been silenced, and several areas, pointed out by Col Parkin, were
engaged. At 1000 hrs, the gun position was attacked by 9 Japanese who were
chased off and killed by a mixed party of Gunners and Sikhs.
Col Parkin decided to clear up the situation by putting in a counter attack, timed
for 1230. There was a short barrage for 10 minutes and then A Coy charged down
the road with fixed bayonets. The Japanese fled, throwing away rifles and machine
guns. Many were caught and bayoneted. One platoon captured a small field gun,
but were prevented from dragging it away by MG fire. Owing to a new situation
developing in the KLUANG area, a wireless message was received from Bde HQ
telling Col Parkin to withdraw. This was done, though not before another charge
had been made, and the enemy were finally put to flight. It had been proved once
again, that the Japanese hate the bayonet and cannot face it.
During the afternoon of Jan 24th, the enemy turned up near the Aerodrome about 2
miles away from KLUANG, and there was some firing. For the night it was decided
that local perimeters were to be formed, and HQ 22 Ind Inf Bde and HQ 8 Ind Inf
Bde decided to make the RHQ plantation a perimeter area for the Regiments of
Artillery and an Anti tank Battery. The plantation was not very big, and some
jugglery was required to get everybody in. Matters were not made any easier by
the new Brigadier of 8 Ind Inf Bde who continually rushed out into the road, and
gave unintelligible orders, in English, to the Indian Drivers. They could not
have understood a word he was saying, judging by results.
A "Duke of York's" March
B Troop 63/81 Fd Bty had been put under command of Major Ford, with D Troop of
352 Fd Bty. They were to move at 2200 hrs into an Infantry Perimeter in KLUANG.
B Troop had been given a zone with one section to fire due East, and the other
due West, and were to come into action on the side of the Main road. 352 Fd Bty
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were to fire NE and NW. On arrival at KLUANG, a miniature battle appeared to
be raging with rifle and light automatic fire going off in all directions.
B Troop had gone into action where directed, and Hogshaw and BSM Scotland had a
council of war in a house in the main street. Sgt Langley, a No. 1, came in and
told them that the guns of D Troop, 352 Fd Bty, had just whistled by in a
Southerly direction!
Hogshaw rushed out and ran into a DR who brought a message fro Major Ford,
telling him to get his guns out of KLUANG as soon as possible. This order was
being complied with when RB, the troop commander's truck, was seen coming down
the road at a smart pace, also in a Southerly direction. Hogshaw asked where
Capt Hunt was, and was informed that at the North end of KLUANG, the enemy had
made an attack and Capt Hunt, who was standing on the running board, had been
knocked off and lost in the dark. The driver had been told by some unknown
officer to get out of KLUANG. This he was doing. Hogshaw told BSM Scotland to
take the troop back and connect up with D Troop, 352 Fd Bty, while he himself
stayed behind to see what had happened to Capt Hunt.
The firing was dying down and just then the GPO of D Troop 352 Fd Bty arrived in
an armoured OP saying that he had lost Major Ford. The GPOs Union decided to
wait for their respective bosses. A company of 4/17 Dogras then emerged from a
side street with two wounded men whom Hogshaw put into his truck. They said they
had been rushed, and had been told to join their Battalion. By this time, all
firing had died down, and a deathly stillness descended on the city.
Major Ford and the Commnder of D Troop then appeared out of the night in a
small civilian car (a Standard Ten). On being asked where Capt Hunt was he said
that Hunt was sitting comfortably with the Infantry, and was probably fast asleep
by now. He thoughtfully produced a bottle of Whisky, gave the GPOs Union a tot
apiece, and set off, telling them to follow him. Hogshaw stopped at the Dogras
Bn HQ and was asked to take a third wounded man to a Field Ambulance down the road.
B an D Troop were found some way down the road waiting to get into the Gunner
Perimeter Camp mentioned before, Major Ford having gone on ahead to report their
arrival. He went up to Brigadier Painter, saluted smartly at 0200 hrs and said
"A Bad Show Sir!" "What's a Bad Show?" said the Brigadier. Just then Col Jephson
turned up and said "What are you doing here?" Major Ford could not give any clear
idea of what had happened except that he had been ordered out of KLUANG By the
Infantry Commander immedately. "Then"  said Col Jephson" get the guns in KLUANG
again immediately!"
Major Ford reversed the Standard Ten and disappeared, followed by D and B Troops,
who by this time must have been slightly mystified. Half way to KLUANG, the
column stopped. Hogshaw walked up the columna nd found that the Standard Ten was
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no longer up to Standard and had refused to move. Major Forc changed into an
Army vehicle and both troops arrived back at KLUANG, which they found covered by
a deathly hush. Capt Hunt was found with the Infantry Commander, wrapped in a
blanket and profound slumber. On being woken up by the GPO and told that his
Troop had arrived, his comments blistered the air! He then suggested that the
Troop should go into action where it was, and a line should be run up to him.
Hogshaw went back, and contacted O/C Dogras, who, on being informed that a gunner
officer and 4 guns had arrived in his area, consigned the whole lot to perdition,
being under the impression that no field gun could shoot under 3000 yards. On this
small error being pointed out to him, he went to the other extreme, and the guns
were invited into the front garden of Bn HQ! It was by now 0430 hrs and everyone
went to sleep on the ground. At 0630 hrs, Hogshaw and BSM Scotland started to
look for a better position under cover, and had just selected it when they got
orders to occupy the original gun position, which they had been ordered to vacate
the night before for safety's sake. The Wheel had now turned round a full circle!
Off to Singapore
At dawn on Jan 25th, the carrier platoon of the Gharwalis poked its nose out of the
perimeter, and, after a short cruise up and down the road, declared "All Clear",
and the perimeter gradually emptied itself. As things were getting too congested,
22 Ind Inf Bde moved on to RENGAM, and 8 Ind Inf Bde got ready to make their front
line near RHQ plantation, Bde HQ moving to a road 1½ miles North of RENGAM, close
by a large bungalow, which had already been annexed by the Padre and the Doctor.
Two Infantry Bde HQs in the same house was rather a strain. In fact when the
battle round the aerodrome developed the afternoon before Brigadier Painter got out
his artillery requirements first to Col Jephson, who was met by a wail of "You
can't shoot my shells" from the Brigadier of 8 Ind Inf Bde!
Brigadier Goodman, CRA 9 Ind Div, had gone away on special duty, so Col Jephson
went to Div HQ at the SEDENAK rubber estate. Major Fennell took over the 8 Ind
Inf Bde Group consisting of 5 Fd Regt, and Major Ford's Battery of 25 pdrs,
Lt Col D'Aubuz and the remainder of 88 Fd Regt being with 22 Ind Inf Bde in the
RENGAM area. As a result of a conference held on the roadside between Major-General
Barstow and Brigadiers Painter and Lay, 8 Ind Inf Bde were to retire through 22 Ind
Inf Bde the following night. Lt Col D'Aubuz and Major Fennell had completed the
Artillery plan to cover this withdrawal when an order was received about 1600 hrs
that the Regiment was to march to SINGAPORE ISLAND immediately, and go into a hide.
Major Fennell was to report for orders to HQ Malaya Command at Fort Canning the
following morning.
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This caused a rapid alteration of the Artillery Plan, and Major Ford came up to
Bde HQ to take over. RHQ and 63/81 Fd Bty RA, who were quite close, were to move
at 1930 hrs and use the road from RENGAM to SIMPANG RENGAM, where the main road to
SINGAPORE should be reached. 73 Fd Bty RA, being already near RENGAM, were to
reach the main road by a previously reconnoitred estate track through the LAYANG
LAYANG rubber estate, moving at the same time. A DR was sent to "B" Echelon,
telling them to move at once, at any rate not later than 1730 hrs, and use the
same route as RHQ and 63/81. A rendezvous was given at the 30 M.S. on the main
SINGAPORE road, where further instructions would be given.
All went well until the last vehicles of the 6/81 Fd Bty were passing Bde HQ, where
Major Fennell was having a final talk with Major Ford. Enemy artillery started
to shell the road close by, near where the 25 pdrs were in action. If they
were shooting off the map, then spotting was bad, as the first rounds fell about
600 yards short of Bde HQ, and the remainder whistled over and fell harmlessly
into the road beyond it and over to the left. One solitary round fell near the
gun position but caused no damage. One did not like leaving the Infantry with
trouble impending, but the orders to get to SINGAPORE were "Immediate".
After going about 5 miles, Major Fennell found Capt Hunt and two lorries halted
by a bridge. Capt Hunt came up and said "The Sappers want us to hurry as they
are to blow up the bridge at 2130 hrs". It was then 2127 - a narrow shave!
There had been no news about this demolition, and a blown up bridge would have
been a confounded nuisance had the column left RENGAM later than it did. On
approaching the cross-roads at SIMPANG RENGAM, shells were seen to be bursting
near. An Australian officer came up and asked them to hurry, adding that the
Gordons had retired 2 hours early, through some mistake, and there was only his
platoon between them and the Japs, who were about a mile down the road. On
hearing this news, the engine of Q5 lorry decided to stop, and it seemed an
eternity before the engine sprang to life again, although actually it must have
been only about 5 minutes.
The entrance to the JOHORE CAUSEWAY Had been given as a further rendezvous, and
RHQ and 63/81 Fd Bty with B Echelon arrived there about 0100 hrs. 2Lt Hogshaw
had been sent on to see if he could get any help about finding a hide, and was
not to be seen. As Major Bland had been in SINGAPORE in hospital and knew a
little of the country, he and Capt Ratcliffe were sent forward to try to find
a hide. Major Fennell remained waiting for Hogshaw. The rest slept the sleep of
the just.
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Presently Hogshaw turned up, and said that he had found 3 Indian Corps HQ in
JOHORE BARU with some difficulty, and had been unable to get any sense out of anyone.
Major Fennell and he went off together to try again, and this time found a
very helpful Captain, who said there was a certain amount of cover on the MANDAI
road, which was the second road on the left after crossing the Causeway. When
they got back, they found that 73 Fd Bty had arrived, the short cut through the
estate having proved more tricky than had been expected. Major Bland and Capt
Ratcliffe also turned up with news that they had found a hide of sorts on the
MARSLING ROAD, first turn on the left.
There was some delay in starting, as a tidy minded military policeman had insisted
that the vehicles of RHQ should be parked and hidden round a corner, with the
result that they could not be found when wanted. Led by Major Bland we crossed
the Causeway, and then turned left up a steep hill. Up and up we went. Was the
hide in heaven? Apparently not, as the road levelled up and led through the
Indian General Hospital instead! There were plenty of trees about, and the
vehicles were parked underneath them, 63/81 Fd Bty being led on further up the
road by Major Bland. Major Fennell got ready to go to sleep under a tree,
before tackling Malaya Command later in the morning.
He had just gone to slepp, after thinking it was a pretty good effort
finding such a place at all in the dark, when up came the Adjutant, Capt Forbes,
having woken up after his 60 miles truck ride, his eyes gleaming behind his
powerful spectacles, "Oh!  Sir", he said, "I view with the greatest anxiety,
the scarcity of Air cover. I feel that the vehicles of RHQ should be put in a
wood before tomorrow morning." "Then find one and put them there" growled the
Major, and went to sleep again. As a matter of fact, Capt Forbes did find one,
as the place occupied by 63/81 would have held an Army Corps!
SINGAPORE
Early next morning, Major Fennell set off for HQ Malaya Command, and arrived at
a quarter to seven. Fort Canning is an invaluable land-mark to a stranger in
SINGAPORE as, just by it, there is an enormous erection like the Main-mast and
halliards of an old Man-o-War (Perhaps it is!) That modern palace of Babylon,
the Cathay Cinema, complete with flats over it, fulfills a similar useful
purpose. On approaching the entrance up a steel hill, the road forks at a notice
DEAD SLOW, both branches leading to large buildings. Fate and a Military Policeman
dircted the Traveller up the Right Fork.The Duty Officer was found on the
first floor, having an early cup of tea. He produced another. Here his usefulness
ceased, for, try as he would, assisted by many telephones, he could find no-one
who had ever heard of 5 Field Regt! Major Fennell in the meantime had a much
needed bath, shave and change of clothes.
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About 0900 hrs, things began to get busy; clerks and officers, all spick and span,
with carefully dhobied clothes and laden in gas masks and tin hats, began to
arrive. Up Country, the order had been given out that gas masks were not to be
carried, owing to the sweat of the body deteriorating the chemicals in the gas
masks. In Command HQ no doubt, sweat was unknown. The Office began to fill up
but none of the newcomers could give any assistance. Suddenly there was a cry of
"Conference!" All except the new duty officer went into the next room."Better
listen to this, it's the News Bulletin", he said. The visitor edged his chair
nearer and heard:
"There has been an attack on an enemy convoy in the STRAITS OF MACASSAR."(This
news was also in the morning paper on the desk!) The visitor's chair squeaked and
the Headmaster was out in a flash. "What are you doing here" he shouted.
"I have been trying for two hours to find anyone, who took the slightest interest
in orders for 5 Field Regt RA" replied Major Fennell. This had no effect on the
Headmaster. He turned to the shrinking Duty Officer and screamed "Your office
must be cleared during Conference" and slumped back to the Schoolroom.
After spending a short time next door in the company of the Assistant Judge Advocate
and a young officer sharpening pencils, Major Fennell decided to try the other
building, in which the offices of the Fortress were situated. Having failed in a
Q department, he thought he would give G branch a chance, and marched into an
office next the Operations Room. "I want some orders for 5 Field Regiment" he
said. Had he asked for orders for a mixed Regiment of Cherubims and Seraphims, the
result could not have been less! Again, no one had ever heard of 5 Field Regt,
except one Major, who said he thought they were still at KUANTAN!
It was now nearly half past eleven. At last a small bespectacled clerk came up
and said "Beg pardon, Sir! If I were you, I would go and see Brigadier Paris, who
is organising the Defence of Singapore I believe. His office is in the other
building next to the large lavatory by the entrance." This certainly sounded more
hopeful, though why problems arising from the Defence of SINGAPORE should be
discussed in such an insanitary neighbourhood was not so apparent! Major Fennell
found Brigadier Paris, also his Staff Officer Col Patterson, received his orders,
and was put into the picture immediately - a very pleasant change to the peace-time
methods evidently in use elsewhere. On his way across the Air Raid Warning
had gone, and he was thrown (by a large military policeman) into an underground
cellar with two female typists, but there were about 10 other officers there as
well!
The orders involved a visit to the Naval Base to collect a trace and a guide from
Lt Col Dyson, O/C 122 Field Regt, and that afternoon reconnaissance parties went
to the MATILDA ESTATE, about 12 miles away in the NE part of the island, to