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 F Curnow O/c     Sig P^l     } Killed 12 Feb 42  

Lieut D. Royce  O/c    A.A P^l      }  Hill 200

During the afternoon Capt Thomas arrived

with two P^ls of A Coy. to assist H.Q Coy in holding Hill 200

Capt McEwin had only Sig & A.A P^ls with him remainder

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

A Coy P^ls 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 'our troops

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

contacted the Sig P^l 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. It is

assumed that the CO. had ordered McEwin to counter-

attack immediately & NOT wait for "C" Coy.

Capt McEwin reformed his Sig. & A.A. P^ls on the

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

opposite Hill 200 and attacked with both P^ls.  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 crest 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 Pete (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

top 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.  Lack 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 Crew, 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 composite Bn & after passing

the atap 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 Kierney 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 attended them until enemy arrived then left. Kierney and Math hid

(both of wounded 5)

in the grass & saw enemy bayonet remaining 3.  Lt Warhurst was one of them.

Kierney & Mc - escaped and were looked after locally - 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 Lally with bayonets 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 IND Corps.,  AIF. Southern 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 clever 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 must 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

essential 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 heavily

outnumber any Japanese who have crossed the Straits. 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 10/2/42.

Signed. A P Wavell, General 

From Adel. - usual suburban country but prettier.  Munition works near
Parafield 'drome - area 12/13 miles - mags.- Islington to Smithfield
First stop Terowie - meals & quarters, pub opposite. Show grounds. Entrained
next morning, reloaded vehicles and rations for remainder of train journey.
Lunch @ Quorn by CWA  Gradual change from wheat to sheep. Some meals
eaten on train & others at halts where Rly staff had boiling water ready
Mountainous scenery, ranges & hills in distance - calm effect.

Rumbalara means 'babies breast' - extraordinary formations & conical knob
Ochre. Commence @ 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 bores, water service &
roads - also rations natives. Big Eng. w'shops - nothing goes [[?ac?]]. Some mech.
transport etc. Armies Dept. Up to date hosp & gaol Centre of Flying Doctor
Med-Service
Topography. Set in McDonnell ranges this 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.  [[?Northern was?]] similar. Water supply - soakage from Todd R. @
20 ft.  Govt bore on Billygoat Hill supplies reticulation system.
National Defense Area. Seasons affect overland movement. Adequate Air
force could hold.
Original A.S. 2 miles away. Lunch was poor. Roast good.
Anzac Hill has War Memorial. Overlooks staging camp Entertainments
Good tennis, games, meals. Acm for 12 soldiers & wives.
2 Pubs - Coopers Beer 2/- apot
A.S. is  HQ of CA. L of C area. Col Lantit. Controls staging camps and over-
head Services to Darwin. Original DOM^y & now C.A.MTC. Controversy over
Army building rd in 90 days. Actually by WSW (Saab to Denver) S A Q (overland)

& S.A. by rail in 90 days from Tennants on. 300 odd miles - gravel handy.
First day 177 mile - Convoy 47 vehicles.  200 men. V.T.M small - dust.
head winds - V.T.M. 1 per mile in bad conditions
120 m. -Lunch Titree Wells Cellar & cold foods Cellar & cold lunch
177 m  staging @ Barrow Creek
Second day 200 miles. Devil's Marbles [[?tons?]] balance heat

85. Bonny Wells -lunch - tank, well & bugger all
[[?]] pub - racecourse
50. Tennants Creek - afternoon tea CWA every man. Orig of townsite

Joe Kilgaris [[?trained?]] to build pub - bogged - one laid - went back. While
away. gold rush. Iron cart water 12 miles. Good production
65. Banka Banka staging camp. Hot beer - shower desolate spot

Total now 378
Third day longest. 270 miles
Early lunch.  Elliot's staging camp. Orig of name. Pretty spot 
Lancewood 60 miles  2 mile concrete causeway over

bed of Newcastle Waters  for summer rains - perch etc
Arrived Larrimah hist terminus of Darwin rly. - orig Birdum
new camp - tents - anthills 10 ft

Whole road Journey 650 miles - 5 days - now 500-1000 ft level
Country mainly Spinifex & scrub plains . Light [[?]] hilly stuff
to more heavily [[?]] nr Larrimah - pandanus
Next morning. - cattle truck, 25 hour trip nearly 300 [[?miles]]

Hot work is service en route. Veg now sub tropical
Winnellie 7 m from Darwin.

Detailed Accounts of Movements of "B" Coy [[?MG]] Units

Coy. H.Q.  Ref Map. SINGAPORE & JOHORE 1"

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 task

with 4 P^l  A Coy, comd by Lieut McCaffrey, attached to cover

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 enclosing

Johore Bahru.

7 & 9 P^ls had done some work on their position

over the past two days.  8 P^l & 4 P^l attached had to start

from scratch.  8 P^l had spent their time in the KRANJI

area on posts for their next role under 27 Bde.

The Coy was allotted 4 Sigs and 2 L.B.s for

this particular operation.

The C.O. brought inf. that the CAUSEWAY

would be blown on Sat morning 31 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. at about 2359 hrs and 

personnel of H.Q & P^ls commenced filling belts.  By dawn 

Copy of Recom. for Promotions submitted to Adj

by Coy. Comd 14 Mar 43.

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

"    Green                  do           do

"    [[?Matthew]]    do          do                                  

L/Cpl McMasters     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

"     Sanderson          do   15      "    42