Notebook of Avon Reah Smith-Ryan, 1942-1945

This M.O. had attended Col. Anketell on his

admission to hospital, had noted the serious

nature of his wound and next day had seen his

body being taken down stairs to be buried. He did 

not know at what time he had died. I was glad 

to be able to obtain satisfactory proof that our C.O.

was gone before the terrible happenings there later.

Capt OS McEwin O/c. H.Q. Coy }

Lieut l. Curnow O/c     Sig PL     } Killed 12 Feb 42 Hill 200 

Lieut D. Royce  O/c    A.A PL      }  

During the afternoon Capt Thomas arrived

with two Pts of A Coy. to assist H.Q Capt. in holding Hill 200

Capt McEwin had only Sig & A.A PLs with him remainder

of HQ Coy was near Rly line under comd Capt. Phelps

A Coy PLs were to relieve HQ but before relief took place

the C.O called Coy Comds to Bn HQ and the Japanese

attacked during the relief. As said to me later troops

streamed cleared out back to Ulu Pandan Road. Adj. (Capt Nill) 

contacted the Sig PL who said H.Q Coy had been pushed

off.  There seems some confusion about this and Major

Saggers told me that from Lieut Branson_x he understood

that Capt Thompson of "C" Coy on the left gave the order to

with draw from Hill 200 vicinity

[*Lt Branson
confirms this.*] 

The C.O. ordered an immediate counter-attack to regain Hill 200

Adj passed this order on to Capt. McEwin. Capts McEwin

Cameron & Hill discussed it and McEwin was to wait 30 mins.

& Cameron with "C" Coy would attack simultaneously in a NE.

direction (If "D" Coy had known of the plan they could have

supported by fire). However as Cameron reached the saddle

between Hills K & L he heard firing from Hill 200. This

assumed that the CO. had ordered that 6 min to counterattack 

immediately & NOT wait for "C" Coy.

Capt McEwin reformed his Sig. & A.A. PLs out the

back near the road and led them up the track to a point

opposite Hill 200 and attacked with both PLs.  The Japanese

were holding the N.E Slope of the hill, the attack pushed them

back to the top of the hill.  We had some killed and a lot 

wounded. These were sent back and McEwin pushed on again

to take the crest with about 20 odd men, as near as can be

found out. At the most they tried to consolidate in their old

pits but the Japanese came back again very strongly and only

4-5 of our men came out

Capt McEwin was found at the crest with a bullet wound in 

his skull.

Lieut. Curnow was killed out right during the advance.

Lieut. Royce was wounded at the crest and crawled back a little

way.  Others wanted to take him back but he said not to as

he was done for.  They cut his equipment off. 

Sgs Phillips & Hanson & Cpl Innes and Pell (McEwins batman) 

were also killed. Maj. Cough buried 16 of them on Monday

7 Dec 42 - some still missing - in a common grave at the

foot of the Hill - He erected a cross showing their names.

Lieut Manning - Received a shrapnel wound and
believe died in hospital soon afterwards

Lieut J Till Missing believed killed.  back of tank trap took

out a patrol. They had several notches and then ran into

L A. fire. Lieut Green was killed at close range and Till rushed

out with a Tommy Gun and killed the Jap, now was wounded

came back, & bandaged. Later ran into more Japs and has not

been seen since.

Lieut Green: See above

Lieut Mazza  Withdrawing with Major Saggers composed Bn & after passing

the atop huts he bore right (apparently losing direction) towards 752148 and

struck heavy trouble - not seen since - there are 56 graves there on 100' square

Lieut Warhurst - O/c E Coy Pte Kierancy who was missing for 2 months stated at

     "     de Moullin - 2 I/c E Coy Changi that a shell landed among 7 men & wounded

5. The other 2 attacked them until enemy arrived then left. Kierancy and Math hid

in the grass & saw enemy bayonet remains.  Lt Warhurst was one of them.

Kierancy & Mc - escaped and were killed after basically Mc died 

Lieut Odgers  Was Adj. to Maj. Saggers - He was with Maj. Saggers approaching

the huts but has not been seen since.

Lieut Meiklejohn - Last seen with Sgt Sebly with bayonet trying to fight way out

of West Coast position. 

Copy of Order to Sign Promise NOT to Escape

Order by Lieut. Col. Oakes to all P.O.W. A.I.F in

No 1 Camp

By an order issued from the Japanese Command

you are required to sign a printed form promising not 

to escape. I have personally seen this order.

In addition I have personally satisfied

myself that A.I.F. Command at Changi has ordered

this Japanese instruction to be obeyed

I therefore order you all to sign this form

in the required manner and I accept full responsibility

for your action.

Sgd R. F. Oakes

Lt Col. A.I.F. 

To Comds. 3 INA Corps.,  AIF. Seatham Area. 

I attach a copy of an order I received from the C in C of

South Western Pacific Comd., Gen Sir Archibald P Wavell. G.C.B, MG. MC

The gist of this order will be conveyed to all ranks

through the medium of all commanding officers.

In some units troops have not shown the fighting spirit

which is to be expected of men of the British Empire.

It will be a lasting disgrace if we are defeated by

an army of sloven gangsters many times our inferior in numbers

to our own. The spirit of aggression and determination to stick

it out must be inculcated in all ranks. There will be no

further withdrawals without orders.

There are too many fighting men moving about in 

back areas.  Every available man who is not doing other

associated work must be used to stop the invader.

A.D.V. H.Q M.C.

11/2/42 

It is certain that the troops in Singapore Island hereby

outnumber any Japanese who have crossed the strait. We must 

destroy them.

Our whole fighting reputation is at stake and the honour

of the British Empire. The Americans have held out on

the Bataan peninsular against far heavier odds. The russians 

are turning back the picked strength of the Germans, the

Chinese with an almost complete lack of modern equipment

have held the Japanese for four and a half years. It will

be disgraceful if we yield our boasted fortress of Singapore

to inferior enemy forces.

There must be no thought of sparing the troops or

civil population and no mercy must be shown to weakness in

any form.  Commanders and senior officers must lead their

troops and if necessary die with them.

There must be no thought or question of thought of

surrender. Every unit must fight it out to the end & in

close contact with the enemy.

Please see that the above is brought to the notice of

all senior comds officers and through by them to the troops.

I look to you to fight to the end to prove that the

fighting spirit that won our Empire still exists to defend it.

Singapore 19/2/42.

Signed. A P Wavell, General 

From Adel. - usual suburban country but prettier.  [[M?]] [[L?]] [[w?]] [[men?]]
Parafields 'dreams - area 12/13 miles - mags - Islington to South [[?]]
First stop Tusemi - meals & quarters, pub opposite. Show gunners. Entrained
next morning, returned vehicles and rations for remainder of train journey.
Land @ [[Oman?]] by GNQ  Gradual changes from wheat to sheep.

Some meals
eaten on train & others at huts where Rly staff had taken water ready
Mountainous scenery, ranges & hills in distance - certain affect.

Rambalara means babies breast extraordinary formation - [[?]] and [[?]]
Police Comms was @ sea level rising quickly to 2000 ft. drop down to 500
@ Lake Eyre district till reach 2000 ft again @ Alice Springs.
A.S. a surprise - place to go when war started? Really a big town ¾ mile sq.
Pre-war population of 1000 comprising mostly Civ. Service and all of defense.  Public
works Board - carrying out back stations, maintenance of homes, [[water?]] service &
roads - also rations natives. Big Eng. w'shops - nothing goes [[?ac?]]. Some mech.
transport etc. Armies Dept. Up to [[?]] hosp & gaol  Centre of Flying Doctor
Med-Service
Topography. Set in McDonnell ranges these which one passes to reach A.S. only our
entry - Heavitree Gap on South just wide enough to take rly, road & Todd River
Todd R a joke.  Andrew was similar. Water supply - [[a?]]. [[?]] Todd R. @
Safe Govt but one really supplies reticulation system.
National Defense Area. Seasons affect oval and [[movement?]]. Adequate [[A?]] form could hold.
[[Adjacent?]] A.S. 2 miles away. Lunch was poor. Roast good.
Anzac Hill has War Memorial. Over boards staying onight But not [[?]]
(had tennis, games, meals. Aim for 12 soldiers & wives.
2 [[?Rates?]] -[[C?]] [[?]] [[?]]
R.S. in HQ of C A L of C area. Got Len hit. Control staging example and was
had various [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] D O M now C A M T C. [[C?]] were
Army building it in Gedys. Actually by HIO [[?]] [[?]]  ss  ([[?mtv?]])

[[?]] by east in 80 days from Tennants on 300 men assists - general handy.
Finish day 199 weeks - Convoy 49 vehicles.  200 men. V.T.M small - [[?]]
lead mines - V.T.ing 1 pm and in bad conditioning
120 [[?]] [[?]] likes well. Cellar & [[?]] Cellar & xxx xxx
199 [[?]] staging & [[?]] [[?]]
Surrounding 200 miles. [[?]] unable times balance heat

85. having Wells. final track, well & bugger all
Mlevern. [[?]] - [[?]].
50. Tennants Creek - alternatives. cold every man. Only of [[?]]

Joe Kilgenr's [[?]] [[?]] to [[?]] [[?]] - bagged - one land into back. While
away. [[?]] [[?]]. They [[?]] water 12 miles. Gone in direction
60. Beaker [[B?]] staging camp. Hot here - [[?]] [[?]] that

Total now 378
Thursday longest 270 miles
Early lunch.  [[?]] staging camp [[?]] [[?]] of [[?]] Friday start.
Lancewood 60 miles  2 miles connects causeway open

had a few const waiting for ammo & [[?]] - patrol etc
[[?]] Laurimal had [[?]] planning [[?]] -[[?]] Birdman
now [[?]] - ytrat and better night.

Whole last firing 650 [[?]] [[?]] - now 500-1000 ft. [[?]]
creating [[?]] spinifex & sent plants . Light [[?]] killing staff
S many [[?]] hurt and [[?]] has made a [[pad?]]
now not [[?]] - call back, 25 hours like nearly saw and is

that mates become or [[?]] Leg arms and [[?]]
[[?]] of are from Darwin's.

Detailed Accounts of Movements of "D" Coy [[?]] [[?]]

Coy. H.Q.  Ref Map. SINGAPORE & [[?]] Is

From Fri 30 Jan to Mon 15 Feb 42.

Fri 30 Jan. Coy H.Q moved from NAVAL BASE camp to CAUSEWAY

GULLY - 758279. coming into occupation at 1400hrs.  Coy each

with 4 PL  A Coy, comd by Lieut W Caffrey, attached to canoe

withdrawal of Scottish (Argylle) Bn over the Causeway.

Arty were also in position for this task.  The Argylle's were

holding the inner bridgehead, a narrow semi-circle [[?sing]] 

Johore Bahru.

7 29 PLs had done some work on their position

over the first two days.  8 PL & 24 PL attached had to start

from scratch.  8 PL had spent their time in the KRANSY

area on posts for their next role under 29 Bde.

The Coy was allotted 4 Sigs and 2 S.b.s for

this particular operation.

The C.O. brought inf. that the CAUSEWAY

would be blown 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 at about 2359 hrs and 

personnel of H.Q & PLs commenced filling belts.  By dawn 

Copy of Recom. for Promotions submitted to RM.

by Coy. Comd 14 Mar 43.

Promotion to Cpl.
Pte Barnett T.J. as from 1 Feb 42

"    Green                  do           do

"    MacClean           do          do                                  

L/Cpl W Masters     do   11^th Feb 42

Pte Gray                    do   14      "    42

Cameron                   do   15      "    42

Promotion to Sgt

Cpl Gorringe             do   11      "    42

"     Breed                   do   14     "    42

"     Sandersan          do   15      "    42