Diary of Avon Reah Smith-Ryan, 1942-1945, Part 4

Ref Map SINGAPORE & JOHORE 1"
'B' Coy - H Coy H.Q. Movements.  Fri 30 Jan - Mon 15 Feb. '42
Fri 30 Jan. Coy HQ moved from NAVAL BASE camp to CAUSEWAY GULLY. 758279
coming into occupation at 1400 hrs..  Coy task with 4 PL 'A' Coy
comd by Lieut. McCaffery attached to cover withdrawal of Scottish
(Argylls) Bn over causeway.  Arty were also in position for this task.
7 & 9 PLs had done some work on their positions over the past two days.
8 PL & 4 PL (attached) had to start from scratch.  8 PL had spent their time
in KRANJI area on posts for their next role under 27 Inf Bde.
Coy was allotted 4 Sigs and 2 S.b. for this particular operation.
C.O. brought inf. that the causeway would probably be demolished
on Sat morning 30 Jan NOT as previously advised on night 31 Jan/1 Feb.
Ammn ordered was 40 belts per gun to be apart from normal ammn.
carried in first line.  This was delivered by Bn Q.M. about
2359 hrs & personnel of H.Q. & PLs commenced filling belts.  By dawn
Sat 31 Jan this was almost completed, but in any case each gun had
the number of belts ordered at the post.  Q.M. also brought a
very meagre number of lock springs and firing pins. It happened
that for the first time, the Coy, by [[miles?]] of the spare parts luckily
obtained at Naval Base on the Fri providing [[?]] an ample supply
of spare parts.
[*Ammn mainly Winchester in
boxes marked 'RAF' NOT for use
in aircraft*]
Soon after daylight I went to fwd H.Q. at 756282.  The C.O.
& I/O were in the vicinity & advised that demolition would occur
soon.  Argylle Regt marched over the causeway in good order
with pipes playing.  Arty O.P. close to fwd H.Q. received inf
that withdrawal was complete and at approx 0800 hrs. the
Causeway was blown..  The first charge caused a breech about
1000x from Southern end.  A second charge was then exploded
apparently in the same place and a definite breech was caused -
water seeming to flow through.  We awaited the blowing of
the railway bridge at 754278. but this did not occur and to my
knowledge it was NOT blown.
Sun. 1 Feb.  On landing the Coy came under comd 27 Inf Bde. and
4 PL (attached) returned to 'A' Coy this Bn.  Sigs and Stretcher
bearers were also returned to Bn H.Q.  At this stage Bn H.Q
with H.Q. Coy & reinforcements & 'A' Coy, the latter last forming Div.
reserve were in bivouac at 706169. in off JURONG Rd..
Coy H.Q. remained at CAUSEWAY GULLY until Tues. morning 3 Feb
& continued to administer for the Coy during their preparations of
positions under orders 27 Bde Bns.  Difficulty was experienced
in towing our water trailer.  The Coy Cpt was limited to 5 18cwt
vans & some of those had towing fittings & after breaking the spare
tyre carrier on 2 vans we were forced to use a private vehicle.
Water Point at this time was at 741221.
xxxxx On the evening of 2 Feb O/c Coy brought orders that as
from the following morning PLs would come directly under the
Inf. Bns for rations and ammn & that Coy 'B' Ech. was to join
Bde 'B' Ech. at JURONG BRICKWORKS 685164. next day.  I and my

(2)
C.QMl. (S/Sgt Campbell) drove that evening to locate the area and
deliver one days rations to 29 Bn QM. on account 7 PL.
Tues 3 Feb.  Coy 'B' Ech moved as ordered at 0800 hrs this day
and occupied area allotted by Bn T.O. (Capt Yule).  To move all
the stores (including 3 tons ammn) on available tpt - 3 vans.
necessitated a return trip and the picquets left to guard
remaining stores state that the area was machine gunned after
our departure.  As our Arty. was operating from a nearby
gully it is thought that our bivouac site had been brought
to notice while air craft were searching for Bty positions.
The area allotted by Bde T.O. was NOT good and lacked
overhead cover and we were eventually able to move to a better
site and had a good bivouac area.  Water at this stage was
drawn from a hydrant at BUKIT TIMAH VILLAGE.  There were
two good wells in Bde site passed by M.O. as fit for use after boiling.
Another advantage here was that our Bn H.Q. was only
1 mile away.  Coy Clerk was provided with a bicycle for daily
contact
There was little that could be done for PLs over the next few
days; 9 PL remained fairly stable under comd 30 Bn. at CAUSEWAY area
& 7 PL also were settled with 29 Bn in Bde reserve role at 729217
8 PL under comd 26 Bn were finally moved to position in area 'C' Coy
30 Bn from where they could best cover 26 Bn front.  At this time
30 Bn took over rationing of 8 PL.  For this task 8 PL were allotted
Mach VIII ammn by Bde but reversible backsight leafs ordered
by Bde to be handed to 8 PL by 26 Bn were NOT received. x
7 & 9 PLs were provided with 1 van each as soon as all
stores were moved from CAUSEWAY.
xx A fitter (Pte Thaxter) was attached to us from Bn.
for servicing the 5 Coy vehicles.  Throughout he did good work
remaining with us until the conclusion of the campaign
Sig. Officer sent a D.R. (Pte Kennedy) who also
remained attached throughout.
O/c Coy with his driver, batman & the D/R took up
position with Bde H.Q. then located at 755181 (off main road @ SINGAPORE DAIRY Co.
We had brought a number of tents from NAVAL
BASE camp but they were NOT camauflaged.  A Fd Coy of 2/6 Eng.

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had the task of spraying tents for the DIV. but on contacting
them I was told that they could not do our job for 3 days.
I arranged to take over the paint and my men did 10 tents.
Only 7 PL could make use of them.
During my absence on Tuesday Capt Thompson 'C' Coy
our Bn came with a memo from Bn H.Q. and took away about
100 belts of ammn..  A small quantity of ammn and refilled
belts xxx were also requisitioned by 30 Bn.
Each Bn. having rationing responsibilities for our
PLs was offered the use of the respective PL cook but only
29 Bn availed themselves of the offer.. Pte Zeib therefor went
to 29 Bn returning to us after cessation of hostilities.  Hot boxes
were passed over to 30 Bn. & our own tea containers were given
to the PLs.  After the first withdrawal these were lost.
Pay was made available by Bn. on Thursday 5 Feb
Thur 5 Feb  and was effected on 5-7 Feb., acquittance rolls being
finally cleared up & returned to Bn on Sunday 8 Feb..  Delay
was caused in paying as 8 & 9 PLs had posts on exposed ground
& could only be relieved at night
A stretcher bearer was obtained from R.M.O. to
attach to 8 PL in COCONUT GROVE ^747223 owing to their isolation from
their Bn.  The PL had meantime moved to within area 'C' Coy
30 Bn.  S.B., however was retained to keep records of 8 & 9 PL
evacuations from R.M.O. records.  It was unfortunate that the
S.B (Pte Baker) was the first man wounded of these PLs
Following the activity on CAUSEWAY area night. Fri/Sat
Fri/Sat 6/7 Feb.  A continuous and heavy barrage was heard to
commence on Sat night continuing all day
Sunday 8 Feb.  During Sunday I asked Capt. Yule (Bde T.O) for
inf. regarding his plan for defence of Bde 'B' Ech.  He asked me to
assist him by preparing such a plan & together with his assistant
Lieut Haines. I made dispositions for occupation in case of
necessity.
While visiting 8 & 9 PLs about 0300 hrs on the morning
Monday 9 Feb.  I was at H.Q 8 PL when a runner came from 'C' Coy
30 Bn with a message that enemy. that had forced a landing on
N.W. coast at.
On return I called at our Bn H.Q. and found that
they had received the inf. and were disposing for a defensive
line running from BUKIT PANJANG road to BUKIT TIMAH Jurong road
North to South on line TANK TRAP.
I returned to BRICKWORKS and ordered defensive
positions to be manned.  Our portion of the perimeter was
covering the gully 400 yards West of Coy. area..  Until this
time we had only manned our 2 L.M.G. covering closely on Coy
area from dusk to dawn.

4
Towards midday I heard that approx 10 men
had arrived in bad condition at 26 Bn area.  I went across
and found that the party included men of 18 Bn and our 'D' Coy.
'D' Coy men were Ptes H. Attenborough, B Evans, R Whitford. and
G. Shelton.  I brought them to our H.Q. fed and
reclothed them and took their story of the landing (which was
handed to Bde L.A.I. (Capt Wimpole)) and allowed them to rest.
Bde T.O. sent a warning order about midday
that Bde 'B' Ech would move to an area off DURIEN DUNBARN road ref.
789142  that evening, and at about
1600 hrs. we were ordered to move at 1830 hrs.  2/26 Bn had asked
me to provide drivers for 2 carriers.  The benefit of the short
school for carrier drivers at BACHELOR was obvious.  I
was fortunate in being able to have the use of 3 carriers to
shift any ammn and all stores on one convoy.  The party
was having a meal at 1715 hrs when D.R. arrived from O/C Coy.
with instructions to send all tpt to withdraw all heavy
unnecessary gear and packs from 8 & 9 PLs.  I replied that
all vehicles were loaded and standing by to move to new
area & that upon arrival I would unload immediately and
carry out the order.  As I was writing the reply. C.S.M came
up & stated that enemy rifle fire was audible. and that an
odd shot had passed close to Pte Miller.  Bde movement
was put forward and I ordered my convoy to leave immediately
and with C.S.M.  CQMl. and 2 ammn [[ns?]], Ptes Morris & Lonsdale.
I went in search of a possible sniper.  It was a futile
effort and we thus proceeded on foot to new area.  The road
was at most times completely blocked and vehicles were head
to tail the whole distance.  I contacted Capt Thompson ('C' Coy)
who was leading his H.Q. to vicinity 707165.  as 44 Indian Bde.
was falling back.  Owing to the confusion on the road I lost
track of CSM & CQ.M.l. (who managed a ride on a vehicle) but
I with Morris, Lonsdale and Cpl G. Smith & Doodson who slighted
from their carrier at our Bn H.Q and were left behind,
proceeded on our way taking short lifts as opportunity offered.
On the way I heard voices in the dark mention
2/4 MG. Bn and on investigation found them to be 8 men of
'D Coy lost and riding on a gun carriage.  I persuaded
them to come with me, that being the easiest way to rejoin
their own Coy.
We arrived at the DURIEN Rd site at 0300 hrs
Tuesday 10 Feb. to find that our M.T. had arrived at the correct
place and been turned away as officer at the gate was NOT aware
that a 2/4 MG Coy was attached to 27 Bde.

5.
At dawn I located C.S.M & CQMl. and the
C.S.M. then proceeded to search the vicinity for Coy Cpt.  By 100 hrs
party all reported in.  Dr Colbey's vehicle had been moved on
several times by officers on the road & came to GBD.  He was
certain that he had originally gone to the place described to
him and he returned & camped near by.  This was just another
case of his sure sense of direction.
The carrier party had had trouble with
breakdowns and were resourceful in towing and repairs and did
good work to handle strange vehicles on such crowded roads.
I received word that 7 PL was at G.B.D and
passed inf to O/c Coy. & then drove to see O/c 7 PL taking the 8 'D' Coy
men with me.  These men had been partially reclothed by us and
were handed to G.B.D. for issues and return to Unit.  7 PL reported
that they had become detached from 29 Bn at BULIM area and
were eventually directed to G.B.D. as a means of re-directing themselves.
They had been reissued as necessary.  Casualties reported were
Pte Stubbs believed killed, Ptes Murtagh & Nicholas wounded and
Cpls Breed & Halligan L/Cpl Foch & Ptes Cameron and White missing
but known to have got out with 2 guns and a borrowed van.
It was finally ascertained that this party had contacted our
'A' Coy and fought with them until the surrender.
I then went to Bde H.Q and gave full inf
to O/c Coy.  He told me that Bde H.Q. was moving to ADAMS Rd
814417 and asked me to contact him there later.
Upon return to my H.Q. I found that G.S.M.
had had orders to move with Bde 'B' Ech to THOMPSON Rd. 83861426.
He had ^issued necessary orders and was standing by awaiting my
return.  I instructed him to carry on & proceeded to ADAMS Rd.
There O/c Coy instructed me to take an order to 7 PL as follows.
'Tpt would be at G.BD H.Q at 2000 hrs and PL to R.V. with O/c
Coy at 2100 hrs at BEND IN ROAD 812208.  I did this and then
moved to THOMPSON Rd H.Q to find that the 26 Bn NCO. loading
the carrier convoy had NOT brought his convoy in and we did
NOT receive inf of them again until final day.  It transpired
that the carrier N.CO had left them and after many enquiries
they contacted our Bn H.Q.. Gibbs was employed by them as a
driver and Miller had been evacuated beyond R.A.P. & did
NOT rejoin us until 21 Feb.
Thur 12 Feb.
Wed 11. Feb.
Enemy activity was greater today.  I visited
the G.M.s. of the Bns. confirming arrangements already standing
regarding our troops.
Sgt Harris (9 PL) had come in during the previous
evening.  He had been evacuated sick from his PL while at

6
CAUSEWAY. and was discharged from Hospital to G.B.D. on
route to a 'rest home'.  G.BD sent him on foot to the rest
home which he was unable to locate but
in searching he came upon our area and remained with us
until rejoining his PL at BOTANICAL GARDENS.
One carrier was brought in during the day by
a 'C' Coy driver.  The 26 Bn NC.O. driver of this carrier had left
it on the roadside temporarily and the 'C' Coy men thinking
it abandoned drove it along THOMPSON Rd and at our area
entrance was intercepted by the 26 Bn.  We were glad
particularly to have recovered the ammn on the carrier. &
were gratified to learn later that the ammn and stores
on the carriers driven by Ptes Gibbs and Miller had been put
to use by our Bn H.Q.
As we were now under Comd 11 DIV. I and
my C.QMS went to their ration dump, drew a days rations
and made arrangements for future drawings.
During the afternoon I ascertained that
26 Bn had 7 Vickers Guns in the area and Capt Wimpole
authorised me to take over their disposal in the area.  I made
dispositions and arranged that 26 Bn men would man them
during the night and that 12 of my men ^under Pte VG Barnett would take them over
at first light.  I had a Section on either flank of the area
covering the road and the sports ground opposite as far as the
residential area and one Sec. back in the area for penetration
task.
Before dusk I with Capt Pride (QM 2/30 Bn)
& my C.Q.M.S and storemen returned to the 11 DIV A.SC dump
as we had received inf that it had been abandoned.  This was
so and we obtained a good supply of stores mainly by a selection
from natives trucks etc.. They had been very quickly on the spot.
On the return we called at Bde H.Q.  O/c.
Coy ordered tea for 8 & 9 PLs and on hearing of the M.MG. I had @
'B' Ech. he immediately arranged with the B.M. to take over 6
of the guns and available ammn and 2/20 Cwt vans to replace
stores and tpt lost by 8 & 9 PLs.  I returned immediately,
sent a meal forward and was able to deliver by 0300 hrs

7
the guns, some equipment and about 30 belts per gun
Thur 12 Feb.
O/C Coy had been anxious regarding 7 PL as no
inf had been received since D/R had returned on Tuesday
or night after PL had made contact with 8 Bde. in accordance
with instructions rec'd @ R.V. with O/C Coy.  I was asked
to try and obtain some news. but despite some five hours
of enquiry and searching was unsuccessful.  My movements
were to G.B.D., Fort Canning, Tanglin Barracks, and general
enquiries.  Enemy air and arty. action was gaining in
intensity all day.
Fri 13 Feb.  During the day most of Bde H.Q had moved
back to 'B' Ech. including the Protection PL.  We redoubled our
own local protection.
Fri 13 Feb
This morning ^almost all Bde 'B' Ech. moved out and
only 30 Bn & ourselves remained and we were eventually ordered
by O/C Coy to move to vicinity TANGLIN BARRACKS and to leave
word with AIF admin HQ. of our actual position.  Owing to
constant enemy action on THOMPSON Rd we used our own
track made to BALLISTER Rd leaving about 1100 hrs.
I selected the rear of a house at corner
of CLUNEY Rd and HOLLAND rd opposite the main gate into
BOTANICAL GARDENS. ^814112 for any H.Q and though it proved close to
the Eastern Boundary of A.IF perimeter it proved a good &
convenient site with ample reserve of water.  As the mains
had failed this was important.
8 & 9 PLs arrived at BOTANICAL GARDENS
mid afternoon and were given a meal and directed to an
Ordnance dump in our house grounds where they reclothed
& obtained some equipment.  The PLs were anxious to send
word to Australia & I accepted 87 cables all told, tho' at but it
was found that cable facilities had ceased.
Sgt Harris rejoined his PL and 8 PL
was reinforced by Ptes V.G. Barnett, T.J. Barnett, Lonsdale,
Ridgwell and 6 other Coy men who had joined during the
afternoon.
After dusk 8 & 9 PLs moved to positions near
TYERSALL Palace.
These other 3/4 men joined us and as one
was a Stretcher Bearer I instructed him to set up a RAP.. &
next day sent him to a hospital and he obtained fair equipment.
Sat 14 Feb  Coy Clerk (L/Cpl McGregor) set out to find a field
Post Office said to be in vicinity TANGLIN BARRACKS and had
no success so went to SINGAPORE G.P.O. to find that cable service

8
had been suspended.  On his return H he (& his driver) passed
a vehicle occupied by two 7 PL men, Powell and Newling and
enquired re 7 PL.  They had driven
Sgt Holen, L/Cpl Hill and Pte Collins Nicholas to hospital and they
[*This is incorrect. Wounded went
in carriers.  These men were virtually
A.W.L.. Control in PL was weak with 3 NCOI [[?]]*]
understood that PL was at the rear of the General Hospital,
but the only men located were Lawer, Barry and Noble.
L/Cpl McGregor brought these three men back
to Coy H.Q. and by then Ptes. Hancock, Carruiges, and
Leahy had also arrived having been told at BOTANICAL GARDENS
of our position.  Leahy came direct from Hosp N/o Dyllie (C Coy) from Caphay Hosp to
Bot. Gardens. Hancock & Carruige were left in [[?]] during movement - [[Provost?]] drove them to Bot Gardens
I sent my driver (Colbey) to try and locate
balance of 7 PL and he found ^some of them as stated at rear of
General Hospital and guided them back. remainder (18)[[?]] O/c 2 PL
who had been carrier team were @ Robertson Rd Docks & came in Sunday evening guarded by Japp.
During the day C.Q.Ml. with Cpl G. Smith,
Ptes Biggs, Vaughan and Japp made two trips to SINGAPORE
and the docks and obtained rations etc.
O/C Coy requested tools for 8 & 9 PLs and I
located a small dump near Farrar Road bringing back 
a good supply to my H.Q.  I had my orderly Hagben &
Colbey with me and for quite a time we were forced to
take shelter as the area here occupied by an English Unit
was subjected to shelling.
I also contacted the 18 Bn at top of
BOTANICAL GARDENS in an endeavour to obtain Vickers Guns
for 8 PL.  In the absence of their C.O. they would NOT let
them go but I eventually obtained 2 guns from a Signal
Unit also in the gardens.  Pte Brooksbank overhauled these
and prepared them for firing.
O/C Coy returned and informed us that our
position would be rather exposed from the North and we
pushed two posts out on the hill at the rear of the house
manned by our own and 7 PL men.
All this day and the next we had rationed
70 men convalescent resting in the grounds of the next house.
An A.D.S. moved in during the day and
established themselves in the house and an Indian A.A Bty.
personnel without arms of any sort established their
H.Q in the house next up CLUNEY Road. and bivouaced

9
some 50 native O/Rs in the grounds.
Sunday 15 Feb.
O/C Coy came in during the morning and advised
me NOT to permit parties to proceed to SINGAPORE that day
as the city was being subjected to heavy bombardment by
arty and aircraft.
He then took 7 PL and directed them to 29 Bn.
About mid afternoon Capt Bunning told me of
negotiations for armistice and we continued manning our
area until 19002030 hrs when O/C brought orders for laying down
of arms.
I took detailed instructions to 9 PL about 2100 hrs
Monday 15 Feb.  at 1700 hrs we
7 PL came in and bivouaced in house grounds and
Monday 16 Feb at 0700 hrs we moved to Bn area.  CHINESE CEMETERY
980115  where our arms were handed over.
A Smith Ryan
Capt
2 I/c 'B' Coy 2/4 MG Bn.