Diary of Robert Russell Walker, 1941-1945 - Part 2

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Documents and letters
Prisoner of War

Status:

Open for review

Accession number:

AWM2019.22.196

Difficulty:

First thing at daylight we improved our perimeter

and commenced to dig in with what tools we now had. We

had hardly begun to dig when the first planes came over

and then they really started on us both sides of the road. The

divebombers would come first drop a few then go away for a

few minutes, and guide in the big bombers. Everytime before

the bombs dropped they would machine gun us but we did

not have any casualties from bullets although they went very

close at times, no more than a few yards away.

This went on all morning and we decided

to move after two men Pte Bidstrup and Morley were wounded

badly just in front of where I was lying on top of the ground.
Just at this time I was called to Bn and given orders by

the Brig who had come down to proceed to Singapore to

do a recce of the Bn position as we were finally going

back to the Island. I was to go immediately and I just

had time to leave a message for Capt Fox to take over and

I hopped in the Brigs car with orders to pick up Maj Ramsey

of the 2/30 Bn and proceed to Div HQ's and look up the G2

who would give us our Bn disposition,
* After leaving the message for Capt Fox I moved across

the road to where the Brig's car was with all my gear loaded it on

then when there was a lull in the air we raced out and went

for our lives down the road towards Singapore and to where we had

to pick up Major Ramsey. The road was pitted with bomb craters of

all sizes up to 20 - 30' across but very few blocked the road. We

picked up Maj Ramsey O.K and I forgot to mention we had to

pack two ambulances for some wounded which I managed to do

We then raced on to the 14¼ M.P. where the 'B' Echelous were and

there we had a rest, food, bath, change of clothes and a shave and

to have that was marvellous. I felt a new man to get the dirt of

See story by Capt Fox form time I ~~was~~ left to rejoining at KRANJI

battle off me.
We stayed here really longer than we should but we

managed to get a truck, I didn't have one and we set off for our

destination Div HQ's not having a map only a description it was

a hard job. During our search we stumbled in on the 11 Amd Div

HQ's and what a HQ's they had everything they wanted beds

foods, whisky, books, etc and life looked normal although the

battle was raging not far away. We left them, slightly disgusted

and continued on our way. We eventually discovered our HQ's and

found someone who could tell us what we wanted to know and

believe me that was something at this Stage They told us

that we would find the G2 of Malayan Comd.

Setting off again we had to find [[Malay]] on [[land]]

but this was simpler when we reached Singapore we picked up

some Chinese who travelled in with us and guided us there.
We then went straight in to see the A.I. F. Liaison Offr and he

was very helpful. Whilst we were waiting I got through

to Capt White of our Unit and I had a good yarn to him

arranging to meet him after I had finished. We finally contacted

the G2 (Maj Dawkins) who arranged to meet us at Jurong Village

where he would give us our orders and dispositions, this suited us. So

I arranged with Maj Ramsey to meet at M.C. next morning and we

would get our about 1000 hrs as the appointment was for 1030 hrs. We

bade farewell to each other and I went up to see Athol.

As soon as he knocked off we went down to

the "Cathay" and saw some pictures but before the pictures he shouted

me a "TIGER" and it was delicious. I enjoyed the pictures although

it was a por programme but it made one realise that there was still

some civilisation left. When the session was over we trooped out and

started to walk home, we had come down in a Staff Car which had to

leave and of course taxis were as scarce as "hen's teeth". However, it

Bomb damage etc in the city

wasn't far and we reached home in good time for dinner, First

I had another wash and noticed my bed which I was looking

forward to then we went down for dinner. Athol got me a

bottle of Tiger which was good and I really had a good

dinner the only thing spoiling it was the rationed butter.

After dinner we went and listened to the news which wasn't

much then went out into the cool for a yarn. Then the next

thing we knew was an air raid warning so we ran up for

our 'Tin Hats' and came down to watch and walked up on

to a full to see if we could see better. Nothing very much

happened, but I was excited to see my first Air Raid on a city.

When the raid was over we went back to the house and

yarned for awhile in the cool, then as I was very tired we went

upstairs to bed, after I had had a beautiful hot shower and I slept

like a log. We were up first thing in the morning dressed

had an excellent breakfast after which we set out for Malayan

Command where I was to meet Maj Ramsay.

I met the Major alright and we set out to meet Maj

Dawkins, but first as we had some time left the Major wanted

to do some shopping so we went down to the city and parked near

the G.P.O. Whilst I was here watching the city life all of which

appeared to be normal, the Sirens suddenly sounded the Air

Raid and everyone dashed for safety, I never before realised how quickly

people would disappear in less than 3 minutes there wasn't a soul

to be seen except a few A R Warden's. Trolley buses, cars, etc

were all just left as they were.

That alarm went passed and by this time it

was time to move out to our R.V. and we set off but we

didn't go far before there was another alarm so we pulled in to

the side of the street and waited a while, whilst we we waiting

the driver went and bought some Orange drink & biscuits which

were excellent. It was here to where I noticed alot of natives diving

into shelters built in the deep gutters which are common in Singapore

and no doubt made impressionable shelters. Major Ramsey and I

scanned the sky for planes and high - very high we saw them

27 Silver specks floating over with their loads of death. We

soon became tired waiting here so we set out for the R.V.

for the second time and we said no more stops as we did not

have much time left, the planes must have been about for

sometime too because all the way out the natives were still

hiding and the streets, except for some military traffic were

deserted.
We arrived on time, after we turned in from B.T. we

first began to notice the number of units which we making themselves

at home on the Island, nearly every Rubber Estate had someone in it

and there were 100's of trucks everywhere and the roads were cluttered

up with traffic. We went straight over and met Major Dawkins and

he gave us our disposition to recce he gave Major Ramsey the choice

of East of Causeway or West and Ramsey chode East so I had no

option but take west as it turned out we we slightly better off so it

didn't matter. Whilst we were her several other Senior Officers

arrived for instructions or information and it was quite interesting all

this went on under the balcony of an old shop.

I saw saw here some of the bomb disposal

squad digging out an unexploded bomb and it was nearly unbelievable

the size and depth of the hole they had to dig, no doubt these

men take their lives in their hands.
After receiving our orders which were recce of the

area and an estimate of wire & labour required to dig and wire

the area ready for the troops to move into, we set out for the

Causeway and for the fist time I saw HRANTI village which

is about 1 mile West of the Causeway. It was here they dropped me

disposition of other forces.

at midday and we arranged a R.V. for the afternoon at 1600 hrs, I

had an orange drink and took a tin of fruit for something to eat

and began my recce.
First I sat down and studied my map the

area was huge, 9,000,000 Sq yds for one Bn the country was half

swamp which was nearly all under water at high tide and at low

tide was dry to a certain extent and could quite easily be traversed

by our enemy. Where I got our was right on the water's edge at

the end of Rd KRANJI and here they had built a small stone causeway

getting out into the straits and it roughly divided our Sector in half

in the water front. Here I met an officer from the Water Trans. who

told me that the arrangements were in case the enemy put the

Causeway out of action by bombing the water [[trains]] would assist

by ferrying men & equipment [[....]] the Straits. He was very good to

me and gave me all the assistance he could and offered me a Sampan

which offer I accepted and after giving me a drink of "Tiger" I set out

in this heat to make a recce of the coast along the straits and

down the S KRANJI as far as we could go. My only companion

was the native driver who couldn't speak English and who couldn't

understand my poor command of a few Malay words nevertheless

he did good Service for me and I put in 1½ hours having a very

good look round which was very valuable information.

We returned to the KRANJI Causeway where I disembarked

I offered the driver a $ tip but he would not take it so I hopped out

and walked on to dry land and ate my tin of fruit which by

this time was very welcome indeed. I had a short rest and then

tried to systematically have a look at the lay of the land, I

was terribly handicapped by having no transport, but I managed

to get short lifts and that helped me considerably.

I first had another good look at the water front then

had a look back along the Rd, inspected an old Pineapple factory

which was being used as an ASC dump, had a look at another

Pineapple factory on the S.PAN SUA a [[branh]] from the S.KRANJI

this was and R.I.A.S.C. dump and there was a bakery here too dozens

of trucks littered the place as they were endevouring to move out

as much food as possible, and this was many 100's of tons and

look a big job to me.

On the river bank men Sailors mostly were busy

working and I learnt they were making a boom to place across

the S. KRANJI and also they were preparing wires which

were to be spaced on the bed of the river and fixed from an

observation post by electricity when best suited. There too were

dozens of boats from [[....]] to huge cruiser launches and even

outboard motors, also lots of assault boats. I didn't like this

concentration much and when questioned about it, they said

there were moving them further up the river where they

would be ready for instant demolition. Also being built

here was a positive for 25 Pdrs which were to cover the withdrawal

should something go amiss.

Time was flying so I grabbed a lift on the first

truck I saw and went out to the main Rd again, here a

battery of 37 A.A. guns were being prepared and further back

another position for 25/pdrs this time also A.I.F. and until

two were for covering the withdrawal. This huge concentration

of guns in our area frightened me. I thought well if there is

trouble and the troops have to come into this area they

would be in a very dangerous position from enemy shelling

and bombing. However I could do nothing about it only to

get all the information I could and this told me that there

weapons were not to be used unless absolutely necessary and

once the withdrawall was complete they would be moving

away from this area so that in my eyes was good.

Continuing I made back along the road to the X roads

recce a position for the Reserve Coy & B.HQ's which offered to be

O.K. and I came to the main Singapore rd and the traffic at this time was exceptionally heavy, there being dozens of civilian cars

mingled with military traffic and as I had a long walk for the

next leg of my recce I decided to get a lift and had no trouble in

getting one though the cars seemed to be travelling at top speed.

By this time I was getting tired of walking but had alot further to

go this time I had to walk right through alot of country which

was the West side of our secotr. The natives were all still

here and did not appear to be very worried at the sudden influx

of army personnel.

After walking, along tracks for sometime we I came

across alot of newly arrived English troops who were busy

cutting down trees & undergrowth on the crown of a hill

which appeared to be one that the High Command said the

enemy went more or less take. goodness know why, and our

job was to counter attack on to it, after having a food look

at it I though how suicidal it would be with the enemy

in command of the air and I did not like the look of it at all.

My walking continued as I could not get a lift in here and I

came back on to the main road and got another lift back

to the X roads which was the R.V.

Fortunately I had not long to wait for Maj Ramsey he

came along in good time and we had a slight discussion on the

areas and his did not appear to be any more favourable than

mine and it appeared he had not yet completed his recce so

when I had munched a few biscuits and had another drink

he drove around into his area so he could have another look.

When he had finished we debated on the best plan

of procedure so we decided to contact Div Maj Dawkins whom we

Huge building - food dump

thought would still be at MS so we raced in but when we got

there it was late and he had disappeared, but left Gelgarde A.I.F.L.O.

told us he thought he went to hear Div HQ;s so we decided then to

try and find it after Geldarde had given us some general directions. K

also left a message with him for Athol that I would not be staying

with him that night as after contacting Dawkins we had decided to

go up and see out respective C.O's.

Rear Div HQs happened to be situated in J.B. and

after alot of difficult searching and being guided we located it in a

big house on a hill near a reservoir. There we were welcomed

and asked in for tea and this I may say was very welcome, we

had an excellent meal on a table cloth accompanied by "Stengals:"

and as we finished Col Durham came in and before we left he bought

us a Carton of cigarettes each which also were very welcome.

We were now in a quandry as Maj Dawkins was

not here and we had news of the Bys having moved back so out next

job was to locate them and also Brigade HQ's. We were guided to

Div Sigs who had everything going and after a long time they

located Brigade for us but the Bus were doubtful so we decided

to set out and find the Brigade first who should know exactly

where the Bus would be.

It was now getting late (around 2100hrs) and we

had 40 miles to go so we set out again, by this time as you

can imagine I was tired of riding about in the bakc of a truck

on my own so I tried to "Cat nap" a bit on the trip up. We

eventually found Bde HQs but they could five no very little

information but we decided to push on and try to find then

where they thought they were. We had travelled 20 odd miles to

Bde and still had quite a way to go. We eventually fortunately

too, struck the two Cols & the Brig having just finished a conference

and the Brig seemed very surprised and told us he had expectations

Trip out to GBD in mistake for Div HQs.

to remain in Singapore. We explained the position to him and then

as our CO's had gone back to their positions I borrowed the

truck and drove in to find Lt Col Boyes and have a yarn to him

not knowing then how tired he was. Unfortunately I had

arrived at the wrong time because the Bn had to move into a

new position and it was along time before I had a chance to

interview him, still I saw how done in everyone was and I saw

Maurie who lent me $20. Eventually I saw the C.O. but

it was useless he was cone in and could hardly listen to me

and when I had finished he merely said "I know nothing, I can't

help you, and I am leaving no doubt a little bewildered.
This had taken 2 - 3 hrs and by the time

I got back to Maj Ramsey he was fed up with waiting and

he could not be blamed for fuming a bit. However we set out

again for Singapore but decided to stop at "B" Echelon for the

remaining couple of hour of night and continue in the morning.

We woke up early had a good breakfast

of grilled steak and in the meantime I had secured my own

truck and driver (Pte A Rowntree).

We set out for the Causeway again having

decided to make a further recce of the areas allotted us and now

having my truck I felt much more up to having a good look

at it an much more time. We first drove into the 2/30 area

where I had a shave & clean up then let for my recce arranging

a R.V. with Major R.
I proceeded down to LRSNJI first and had

another good look around, noticing also they were building [[Boprs]]

A.A. Gun positions and just as I was leaving I noticed two

A.I.F. Officers whom I contacted and they turned out to be

Capt Bunning & Lt M^cKinnon of the 2/4 MG Bn as the M.G's

in my reckoning would play an important part in this defence

I discussed the matter fully with them and then as Lt M^cKinnon to be

the officer attached to our Bn he stayed with me whilst Capt B

went away with information from me to find Maj R. I took

Lt M^cK around the area and looked at it from his angle as well

as my own having in mind a counter attack role.

On completing the recce it was nearly time for

the R.V. so I went back and Lt M^cKinnon went to his R.V. for Capt

Banning I went on to mine which was on the NE SOON Rd. I

hadn't long to wait when Maj R's truck came up and told

me we had to meet him at the actual Causeway. so we

went up and waited there for him whilst he was finishing

his recce. Whilst waiting I had a good look at the preparation

for the defence even were working still on the causeway putting

in charges and also charging a big concrete bridge, and other

men were busy on the water front erecting wire and obstacles.

When Maj R arrived he informed me he had

contacted Capt Bunning and we had been asked around to their

place (2/4MG's) for lunch, they were established in the Naval

Base area and we had not far to go. We arrived OK and met

our hat met the CO also Lt Col Ankatel had a good was and

clean up and then went into a bunch first having a beautiful

beer and our lunch too was good. Capt Bunning also gave

us some very valuable maps of our area which proved to be

useful.

We left them with good wishes etc they were

only new arrivals and of course very interested in the stores we

28 Dutch offr

had to tell of the fighting up North & what the country was like

Never having had the opportunity of sewing the N.B. before we

decided to have a look at it and drove around it occupies

a huge area and had one huge bank of oil tanks. One

of which had been set on fire by enemy bombing. The floating

dock was still there at this stage and looked huge there were

huge cranes, buildings, wharves and the residential area was

like a small town. Also in here there were railway lines

crowded with 100's of rolling stock brought down from the North.

It was all bery interesting but of course time was flying and we

had a job to finish.
We decided to push on back to M.C. and

contact the G2 but after waiting a long long rime and he

actually was within reach once we missed him so we decided

to forget it and we then arranged to stay the night in Singapore

again so I contacted Athol and arranged to go home with him

and I also arranged to park the truck fix up my driver

and to meet Majr R in the morning at 0830hrs. Athol

knocked off work and I met him downstairs and he was with

another officer who gave us a lift home which was very welcome.
I then had a yarn to Athol telling him the

Scheme, etc an we proceeded to have another good meal and after

listening to the news went up for bed just before going to bed

Athol gave me some 38 Ammo which at this time was very scarce.

We then settled down to rest but apparently it wasn't to be for

long because about 2300hrs the Air Raid sirens started to go off

I didn't hear then but Athol dragged me out and we grabbed some

clothes & rushed downstairs to have a look we were no sooner

out than we heard SWOOSH! several times and that was

the noise of bombs falling only a few 100x away fires started

and on big on not far away we decided to go and have a

bomb damage in area

at, so some of the other men there decided to [[reline]] and we went

down towards the planes we were a few of the first there and

the sight was very gruesome there were some children's bodies on

the ground also adults dead & wounded and the sound of

groanings etc was not very pleasant. We stayed for a little while

but only long enough to watch some bodies pulled out of

buildings and to watch the fireman working and to me it

appeared the organisation of both ARP, Amb's & firemen was

fairly good.
We then began to wander about the other

areas and saw some were bomb damage one truck of fibrous

baled substance must have received a direct hit because there

wasn't a sound bale left and the truck had also disintegrated

We then headed for home feeling helpless but it was very

impressive to me to hear the AA guns watch search lights

searching and to see the sights i fad seen.
The second raid came not long after

and we had to rush down again but it must have

been a fage alarm nothing happened so we went back up

to bed to finish our broken nights sleep,

Up bright and early again bath etc

good breakfast then up to the barracks to meet Maj R, Met

him and he decided he wanted to go to G.B.D. to get some

assistance in his recce wo we found base after some trouble there

he picked up Capt Booth or 2/30 and he were out to have another

look at his area whilst I had arranged to meet him at M.C. at

1600hrs and noting the time now I just have time to catch

Athol for lunch, unfortunately on thew way back they were

towing a damaged bomber along the road at snails pace and the

blasted thing caused a huge traffic jams and it was sometime

before I managed to get passed but I made it in time and

met Dutch officer and said goodbye to him

dropping my driver at Anzac CLun for lunch I went back with

Athol to his boarding house and had a good lunch there. After

lunch we went straight back to M.C. and now I didn't know

what to do, I had my recce complete, as I then thought and

so I decided I should endeavour to contact the G2 again. After

procuring what [[infration]] I could from the L.O. I set out to find

it and now it was particularly noticeable the number of tricks on

the Island there appeared to be 1000's blocking the roads everywhere

After a fair bit of searching we found Div HQs it was situated

N.W. of B.TIMAH and was out on a nice little bare hill with

no cover at all.

However I went in and contacted. Capt Greener

first then I.O. and then the G2 who did not welcome me

very well, but rather [[roused]] and wanted to know where R&4

had been and didn't know we had been searching high &

low for him. He then gave me orders to sleep at the 2/29 Bn

and to get in a req for tools & labour for my job of wiring

& digging and would not hear of me going back to M.G. to

get R for him, so I had told Athol I would be back in for the

night, but I knew he would understand something had

turned up.

I then found the 2/29 at Y.T. Village and

arranged with Lt Col Pond to sleep there that night and if he saw

Maj R to tell him what had happened. The 2/20 were at this

time very busy as they were reorganising after the MUAR Show.

Then I proceeded first borrowing an F.S.P.B filling up the truck

and having a drink of pineapple juice to make my details for

the area and make up tools & men required. Thus I did and

took it back to the G2 then proceeded to the 2/29 where I

had some tea and a rest for awhil. Major R was still on

He also told me to meet him at Div at 0830 and told me where to pull

up the work party and where to draw tools etc.

my concience so I decided to run into to M.C. to see him if

I could find him, I arrived but no sign of him anywhere so

I went up to Athol's to see if he had heard anything and as

luck would have it he knew alot. Maj T was coming back

to the house at 9 o'clock with Capt Ulyati and if he didn't come

he knew where he was staying.

We waited sometime but he turned up less Capt

Wyatt and during this time we went through a couple of

Air Raids and as I was anxious to get Maj R to Div before it

was too late we set off in the middle of a warning, first we left

instructions with Athol to tell Wyatt we would be at the 2/29/

When we reached Div the G2 had again

flown but the I.O. was there so we gave him particulars of

our dispositions etc and then set out for the 2/29 where we

slept the sleep of the dead on Runner tree roots.
Next morning we were up bright and early I first

had to meet a working party 0700 this I set out to do after a hurried breakfast

I went to the rendezvous but after waiting searching no party turned up

so I then went for the meeting of G2 at Div and was a little late

explaining what had happened I went back myself to the Party RV

still with no success so I contacted the CRE and was told my party

had gone somewhere the Prior to this I had spent much valuable

time searching and was caught in traffic jams etc and I was glad

when it was over.

I went back to the 2/29 for lunch and tried after

lunch to contact Maj R but when I went into to see Lt Col

Pond Capt Wyatt was there so we went off to meet Maj R at a RV

arranged by Wyatt & R. First he raced around I was in his

staff car with him, to locate a Bde HQs and chase an awful

position in past the Y.Y. oil tanks and the road also led to

the Amm Dump and the road was narrow and always jammed

with trucks and one was very fortunate to ever get in or out

with our striking trouble. However we went to the R.V. and

we drove up a little rise and had dinner. Major R came along

soon after we had finished lunch and I travelled with Wyatt

he had a quick look at the areas, and out next job was to

arrange for guides, this we did by drawing never from the

"B" Echelons who were now on the Island. When we went up

there Capt Pryde of the 2/30 gave us a good nip of "ski" and

a cup of tea when we had this we took our guides back

placed them in position. In the meantime I had been driven

back to 2/29 to get my truck and when we were sure our

guides were right my driver & I settled down on the X roads

to wait for the Bn which was due anytime before morning.
My wait was interesting watching the traffic

which was tremendous in volume and early we [[frowned]] some

beer and in the meantime Maj Stringer arrived and I explained

the positions to him as I knew it I managed to snatch a bit

of sleep and Maj Stringer gave me a nip of "Drambuie" liquer

which was good too.
At this stage of the battle the area we were

taking up was littered with guns and no doubt they would

have been of great assistance to the withdrawing troops had

anything gone wrong with the plans.

Many convoys passed us, 100's of guns, both A.A

& 25pdrs etc and I was a bit anxious because the Bn did not know

where to meet me and I thought the convoy may race past me

but fortunately I managed to spot the leading car with the CO

in it and after a lot of shouting and running about I managed

to get them all into position. When all this was finished I went

down to the Coy, first arranging, to meet the CO with a conference

of Coy [[...]] in the morning. I went down to the Coy who had

gone into the Pineapple Factory area on S.SANG PUA and after

hearty greetings, as hearty as they could be as they were all done in

we had a short yarn and settled down to sleep for the remaining

few hours.

Arrangements had been made with the QM to

send up rations and the CQ arrived and brought clean clothes

& sox with him and it was no time before we had bathed,

shaved, dressed and we felt a 100%. The boys did not take

long to find the bakery and scrounged several loaves of

bread and there with heaps of butter were marvellous.

After breakfast and a rest M & I left for Bn

and on the way I gave him "C" Coy dispositions as I saw

them and told him to have a detailed look around later on

after the conference. At the conference I gave out my story

Coy dispositions, cometry etc and it was decided we would drive

around the whole area and have a good look around. This

we dud starting at the KRANJI Causeway, doing the whole

rounds and as we went I showed everyone the prepared

positions. I had feared the CO would criticise my positions

but strangely enough he didn't and he even complemented me

on the job I had done and this coming from the C.O.

was something he very rarely did.

When the Coy lines had had a good

look around, they were about as happy as anyone else about

the lay of the land and it was mainly due to having tired

men, a huge area to defend and manageable swamps which

were definite danger to our area.
The CO kept me with him that

night but I went down to see MN and he had been lucky

enough to get the Coy HQ's into a position being evacuated by

the with "Support Arty" and this was a break became it saved

a hell of a lot of digging. That night I slept at B.HQ's.

Next day I remained with the CO arranged for

working parties and gave any information which I had and

we too, paid a visit to Bde where the CO met Lt Col Ankatel

they had not seen each other for years, had been in the same Regt

together & strangely enough killed within a day of each other. It

was here we tried to tee up the supporting fire but it appeared that

Div had the matter in hand and were coordinating the fire plans. As

I had now more or less completed my job with the Bn I asked the CO

if I would rejoin my Coy and on being given permission I went down

to them at once.
I found the Coy were or less in positions and everyone

was busy digging & building shelters because by this time, all ranks

knew the value if a giid shelter and no doubt in this area they

made some good ones and they proved to be very valuable when

the battle broke later on. 13 Pl were at the R.F. on S.PANG SUA

14 Pl on the right flank right of Rd KRANJI Coy HQs & 15 Pl were

just behind the Railway line and in more or less a reserve position.
Life during the next few days was routine work and

only a few incidents happened I spent many happy hours on

the boats at 13 Pl and went for several recce trios in them and

also took the CO and Capt Tracey out one morning and showed

them around. Capt Tracey was reserve [[....]] Coy and his tasks

included the counter attack on the hill previously mentioned

and of course je was not very happy about it.
Food here was good our CQ's were able to move

fairly freely although during the whole of the time dove bombers

were flying around the whole time and must have had an

excellent view of everything. In our area there was the huge

GP Devon as mentioned and from there were were able to

scrounge heaps of Pineapple products and condensed milk in

bountiful supplies and we always managed to have plenty to eat.
One of our difficulties here was our Arms supply

on the move back even right from the GEMAS area huge

quantities of Arms, Ammo & Equipment had to be left behind

as we could not possibly carry it all consequently we had

a shortage on arriving on the Island however we managed

after a lot of [[.....]] and chasing to replenish practically

all our wants and it wwas only a couple of days and we were

fully armed & equiped again and this made everyone breathe

easier. It was during this search for arm etc I saw for the

first time some Japanese L.A's which had been captured by

"D" Coy and no doubt they are a dandy little weapon.

Our Coy HQ's was in an old bouse and one

room had had the floor dug our 3'6" and this made an

admirable office where we could use teh phone at all times

and still be safe to a degree. The boys when things began

to warm up sticked their dugouts with P.Juice & Milk so

the wouldn't have to be running about too much.
Sleeping here was not very pleasant M & I

slept together and the mosquitoes nearly ate us alive so we had

to scrounge an old net. The ground was uncomfortable too

having plenty of roots & sticks to sleep on and even when one

did get to sleep there was never any peace because Bn could

always think of a message to sent any old tick of the clock.

There was alot or work going on around the area

which included moving gear from bits and the erection from

camouflage nets to screen the road from direct observation from

J.B. we had nothing to do with this work. There didn't

appear to be a shortage of anything the could get plenty of

everything except Surall Arms ie LA's.

Our position in this area was interesting. There

were two Coys (A & B) in front of us then the water's edge and

across the Straits which were about 2000 X wide then right

on the J.B. side was grass on the banks, the road and the

country then ran up fairly steeply behind with lots of bld'gs

including the huge Gov't bldg with a very high tower, and

also many other buildings also had towers and these were

being used by the enemy as 1st class observation towers with

direct veiw on to all our positions. For some reasons our Arty

was not allowed to fire on to them but eventually permission

was granted and a few, not many, shells were sent across an

this made the enemy vacate them for a short time, To

the right of our position was the Causeway will to 2/30 and

from the water's edge one could see where it had been blown

in one place, which really didn't make much of an obstacle.

Every day sometimes tow or three times a day

the usual flights of bombers, 27 at a tome were over the island

and were doing quite alot of damage with their bombing.

Practically all the remaining aerodromes were put out of action

by bombing and because of this we never had one "ounce"

by aerial support.

One raid was made near our area and one

stick of bombs fell right in the midst of our Car Park did

much damage killing and wounding many. Lt Lake was badly

wounded and some men were burnt to death in an armoured

car which received practically a direct hit.

The enemy Arty did not take long to get into

action and "D" Coy suffered one sever shelling which caused

them to move their position. On might some dive bombers

came in very low our dropped incendiaries on some buts

in "D" Coy area and also on the rd setting fire to the

nets and also to some huts but actually very little damage

was don

The night before the landing about 2200 hrs we

we wakened by heavy M.G. fire and it appears the enemy

had lived up dozens of guns in towers, [[...]] along the water

front and were blazing away at us 2-3000 X away our guns

opened up too and our Mortars which were with Coy HQs

opened up as we thought the Signal had gone up and for

sometime there was a hell of a raw but they calmed down

and all was soon quiet again.

Some efforts were made to move some of the

food from the Go Down I mentioned by train and two or

three nights a train would sneak in load as quickly as

possible and sneak out again but eventually enemy shelling

put the line out of action and it had to be cancelled.

This night we were awakened by very low flying

aircraft and these we followed as far as possible and we lost sight

but it was no time before they were back again hedge-hopping

still but as we could not see any fire we presumed they must have

missed their target. Not to be out done they returned again the next

night and this time they did not miss as they hit the YT oil

tanks and started a huge five so now we had the NB fire on

our right and the YT tanks and the moonlight so we had plenty

of light in fact too much for our liking.

About this time too we were observing alot of

aerial activity on the 22Bde front both big bombers & dive

bombers were working hard on that area and as we learnt later

the enemy first landed in that area and later on ours.

The Padre had been a busy man all this time he

had alot of comforts to issue and we gave him some vicinity and

be bought us some beer for the men and in this way we were

able to live fairly well we had food, smokes, beer and more

or less safety for a short time so what more could we ask for

Last edited by:

Jen Revelly

Last edited on:

31 July 2025, 2:55 pm

Last updated: 31 July 2025