Diary of Avon Reah Smith-Ryan, 1942-1945

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No. [[?]] Platoon - B. Coy 2/4 M.G.Bn
Date
Feb 2  [[?]] from [[?]] Causeway to Area 723212 in Reserve attached
to 29th INF BN Reported to Col [[?]] C.O.
The next [[?]] days were spent in Patrols through [[?]]
River Basin, [[?]] Village areas, and in training No.4 Platoon
of 29th who had 10 M.G's 4 in Carriers. These men had no 

or little knowledge of the [[venture?]]. Our guns were manned on 

edge of camp perimeter.
9^TH Received orders at 0400 to assemble my platoon, and to move to
[*Cha Cha Kiang?*] Rd., for transport to [[?]] Village. Gave 

[?] a map reference [[1½?]] [[??]] Village to proceed to
and await remainder of Bn. We debussed at [[?]] Village
marched to map reference given, accompanied by our train,
waited, at point of reference for Bn; after a half hour
had elapsed and no signs of troops we moved back ¼ [[?]] 

and made contact with Bn in its revised position. Col. [[?]]
directed me to attach one [[?]] of my guns to C.Coy & [[?]] to
B Coy under command of [[?]] I was to sight same, and then
the 27th Bn [[?]] which were [[?]] in [[?]] Echelon, but had been
sent for. I moved forward with an orderly and contacted
C. Coy Commander who had forward Coy. We [[were?]] away and

sighted positions. Coy withdrew to new positions before
my [[?]] Came forward so again I sighted positions
[[no. 1??]] Sect moved into position & dug in no 2 Sect. moved
forward to advance Coy and commenced digging, unfortunately
time did not allow much to be done before [[??]] fire,
native troops had been drifting through all morning, [[?]]
[[?]] troops [[???]] ordered no.4 [[?]] sect to open fire
on right flank of position. Enemy located [[?]] and brought
mortar fire down wounding Pte. Murtagh. Pte Stubbs & Lecky.
Stubbs was very badly wounded and presumed dead later.
Col Pond called me to conference and issued orders for attack.
Preparations were put in hand but just prior to time of
attack, enemy heavily attacked our position. I then
received orders for withdrawal to positions [[?]] in rear
near [[?]] Village (time approx 1600 hrs). Unfortunately by
time orders went to enemys infantry had moved and we had
difficulty moving everything out on one truck, truck was
sent down road to R.V. I then proceeded down Rd to new
position. Arrived to find area deserted for [[?]] small
clump of Rubber in Centre of very open cemetery ([[?]])
 

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moved across open timber to positions on edge of timber near A Coy 2/4, 3/20^TH 
[[2/74th?]]
10th heavily strafed 0200 - 0400 by own artillery, Mortar & M.G. fire from Enemy.
Received orders withdraw, 1 mile, and to leave 1 Sect in [[?]]
move of Bn. Another 1 [[tiny?]] truck was provided for this sect to with-

draw. I [[?]] through bush by compass to R.V. met our
transport. R.V. area came under fire from right of Rd and down
Rd from [[?]] Village area. All troops moved back down Rd.
unable in confusion to contact 2/29^th as troops of several units

on Rd & also indian troops. Met Col of [[?]] Cay. Reg. [[?]]
sent me further back, where 29^th were supposed to be, but could
make no contact. Tried to locate brigade, but unsuccessful, so
moved H. straight to G.B.D. for information and contact. Contact
with Captain Smith-Ryan; received order to meet Captain [[?]] at once.
[[813208?]] at 2100 hrs (contact with [[Cpls Breed & Halligan]] Gen Jock [[??]]
White & Cameron had been lost during move to G.B.D.) received orders
to contact 12 Bde. H.Q. at [[??]] Village area. proceeded there
with H. [[2 DR?]] left H. at R.V. near [[??]] went forward and
contacted Col Pond & I.O. of 12 Bde. Sent D.R. back to Captain [[??]]
went forward with Col. Pond to Bde. Major. Col Pond had no contact
with his Bn and did not know their whereabouts nor did Bde.
Major. Enemy moved down right flank of our position, and
11^th troops that were assembling on Rd., were disorganised and sent back
behind [[??]] to assemble. Col. Pond could not use me, and

[[?]] show was moving back as he instructed me to move back
thus use my own initiative. I moved back [[?]] and decided to
move further back to secure food and equipment, secured

a lantern and a more [[wicke?]] and ammunition, during this

time I was forward in [[Bu?sit]] Tivak area trying to make

contact with Bde was unable to do this so proceeded to Fort

Canning but we [[informialing]] was unavailble so we proceeded to

the weB Coast Pofying Rd when fighting could be heard to

find ourselves a job I made contact with 1 Col. Andre of 1st

Reg delays who immediately took me forward to Relax my

ankle on Praying ridge above Paren Pahyong village. Brought

Pf into action at dusk, positions were commenced and [[?]]

attacked S.D.F went up and were fired on fixed knives for time

laid down [[liltach]] not repulsed (area was 756096) again at

12th 0200 they attacked but repulsed again, whole area was

heavily shelled and maintained Position into very favourable for

M.G.J we got overhead and flanking protection to our troops

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12th Interviewed Col Andre at his ll Q of the Gnt on Tanyang ridge when he told

me that any move made would be to vicinity of Buena Vista. Lt Peanen

had been sent back to Botanical Gardens to replenish Ammunition & Stores

Contacted Maj. Saggers and advised him of our positions during morning

BR [[engine]] with Bde order to withdraw was countermanded by Col. [[Centive.]]

Heavy shelling and mortar, all afternoon and each evening further

S.D.F at night at 2230 two evening attacks failed.

13th Loyaly on our right Flank broke about midday [[Chriony]] streamed

through break, Malays decided to withdraw to new line. we withdrew

to carriers under heavy fire without casualties , moved back and

established H.Q at 780074 near Bn H.Q. carriers were used to [[?]]

roads on Coast and Buena Vista Rd, received order to meet Col Andre

with Carriers at Rd Gamet Buena Vista village proceeded back

to Pasor Panyang Village picked up 3 M6's left there by loyals

as moved out were fired on by Machine guns. Village had

been in possession of enemy for about 8 hours. Moved carriers

back to Bv HQ at Brickworks area, dropped ours off and 

they moved up to our own H.Q, carriers proceeded on patrol

of Rds during night

14th Early dawn moved H H.Q back golf links area near Bv H.Q

Col [[Guke]] decided to use our carriers to help protect flanks so

no 1 Sect under Sgt Holm with Pte Finlay & Nicholas and L/CPL Hill

moved to Buena Vista Rd where from there position engaged

enemy penetrating on right flank fired failly consistantly through

out morning and early afternoon. No 2 Carrier was stationed

at Posir Panyang Coast rd near Pell Boze.