Diary of Arthur William Hence, May - September 1942 - Part 1

Lt Col G. F. Ramsay

The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
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10 May 42.
 Details of working
party for overseas announced.
3000 required from A.I.F.
 Senior officers as
follows appointed
      Comd.      Brig. A. L Varley M.C.
      G.I             L/Col Anderson V.C.
      B.M.          Maj. Stringer
      L.C.           Capt. R.S. Giffin
      Supply
      Q               Capt. White
      T.O.                "     Hordern   
    Interpreter Maj. Grove

 Organisation
3 Bns of a total strength 
2510 all ranks.
 Bns. numbered
No1  Bn comd. 
L/Col G E Ramsay ED
No2  "      "         Maj. W. Kerr

No3 Bn comd. Maj. Green

Bns to be organised as follows.
H.Q.: C.O., 2 i/c, Adjt, Q.M., RSM,
 RQMS, O.R. Sgt, 2 Clerks, 2 Store

 smen, 5 batmen total 16
& 4 Corps of 4 pls of 4 secs.
comprising: Coy HQ, O.C., 2 i/c
 C.sen., CQms., storeman
  P&O Cpl, 2 Cooks, 2 batmen
  PC H.Q. O.C. Pl sgt
orderly, 1 Batman
may all he No 1 Bn to be
drawn from from 22 Bde, 27 Bde
& AA.O.C. as under
  22 Bde   310
  27  "        450
  AAOC     100
  Total       860
 

11 May 42
Lt. Col G E Ramsay ED
C.O. No1 Bn selected the officers
from 22, 17 Bdes & AAOC.
 

Bn. HQ
2 i/c Maj R O Merrett        ex 2/20 Bn
Adjt Capt A.W. Hence            2/18
QM      "               Pryde             2/30
 

A Coy
O.C. Maj. C B OBrien               2/18

2 i/c Capt JW Carey                 2/18
No1 Pl.  Lieut F. Farmer          2/18
      2         "       I  McDonald     2/19
      3      Capt   Blair                   AAOC
      4      Lieut.  Plunkett.          AAOC
 

B Coy
O.C.     Maj.       Cousins            2/29
2 i/c    Lieut      Phillips              2/29
No5 Pl   "          Badger              2/29
      6       "          Eaglestone       2/29
      7       "          Kensett              2/29
      8       "          Stanistreet        2/29

C Coy
O.C.     Maj.       L Lloyd       ex   2/29
2 i/c     Capt      Salies                 2/29
No9      "            Lovett                2/29
      10   Lieut     Bonney             2/29
      11       "          Staples              2/18
      12       "         Weller                2/26
 

D Coy
O.C.     Capt.     Ewart                2/20
2 i/c        "          Thompson       2/20
13          Lieut    Wagstaff          2/26
14             "         Ransome         2/26
15             "          Kreckler           2/30
16             "          Farr                   2/30

 

Corp are formed as under

		Offrs	OR	Offrs	OR
A Coy	2/18
Bn HQ		4	12	4	12
A Coy	2/18	4	104
	AAOC	2	98	6	202
B "	2/19	5	128
	2/20	1	51
	27 Bde Hse		6	6	192
C "	2/18	1
	2/26	1	57
	2/29	4	160	6	217
D "	2/20	2
	2/26	2	120
	2/30	2	89	6	209
				28	832

C.O & Adjt Attend Div Conference
notes as follows.
       1. Force to be known as
          FORCE A.

12 May 42
RMO appointed to No 1 Bn
Capt. GD(?Bessmoring)

Bn muster parade held on
Selerang Barracks par
ground. Coys & pls formed
C.O gives first address to
No 1 Bn. Bn marches off
deportment generally very
good.

C.O. addresses all officers at
1500 hrs. Speaking in
general terms outlines what
he requires from his officers
stressing Example, Loyalty
control.

13 May 42
Officers addressed by G.O.C.
Lt. Maj. Gen Callaghan

who farewelled the force per
medium of the officers

Advice received at o'c 2100 hrs
that time of departure now
daylight 14 May.

                                            

14 May 42.
Baggage party consisting of "B" Coy (O.C.
Maj. Cousins) departed by M/T from SELARANG
Bks Changi 0750 hours

Balance of No 1 Bn with other units total

personnel 1200 left Changi 1130 hrs by M/T 

 men 1230 hrs & placed in assembly area

in oval [ Conditions 

staying hot left there at 1700 hrs others

ordered to a new assembly  where

some  by personnel of 8/W.C.C.S.

The whole  (??) was organised

into groups of 50: each group in charge

of an office. Lt. Col Ramsay was placed in

charge of the group. The 20 sub groups were

divided into three main groups & Majs

O'Brien, Cousins & Lloyd placed up.

The Japanese ordered that all Engineers

 etc be collected & held by O.C. Groups

 the cargo consisted of petrol, 

 generally. Bn Coy etc organisation

was maintained as much as possible.

 

At 1730 hrs C.O, Adjt & Gp inspected the

 At 1800 hrs groups

of 10 commenced to 
embark into food hold.

Accommodation was very crowded & 

 cubic feet per man  made

 Lt. Col. Hamilton of 8/ C.C.S. All men

 up rope ladder.
15 May 42 (Fri)The 
balance of groups (11/20) embarked at

0330 hrs into aft. (and) so that some 500

No. 2 & 500 lost. When the last of the

men were on board a hot meal

was served consisting of rice & stew.

At 0730 hrs the ship was moved outside the

open water where were stationed on

board. The balance of "A" force men

embarked on the (Waco town)..

 

on deck consist of personnel was made by

the Japanese authorities. The commd was

another example the ] of  by.      

to 

  

16 May 42 (Sat).

At sea. Course WNW after 

well. Meals consisted of rice & a poor 

quality  (very little meat & some cucumber

stewed). Permission was given for band

to play.

17 May 42 (Sun).

At sea, course approx NW Land on first

thought to be SUMATRA. A warning

order issued by Jap. authorities for 200

to be prepared to ship to Aust

boat in 2 hrs time. A Coy ordered to be

ready to move and were brought on

deck with gear. These instructions

cancelled at 1000 hrs. A readjustment

of personnel was then ordered to make

accommodation for 350 Japanese soldiers who

were to come aboard at BELAWEN DELI. The

following moves took place 440 men from

2 hatch were moved to No. 4

in no. 4.                                

18 May 42 (Mon)

BELAWEN DELI. A further 230 were moved

to new quarters in No. 3 hold from No 2

hold. The  left complete still in

No 2 hold. Accommodation was very

cramped and No 3 hold very hot being

owing to the proximity of the engine

room. Representation from Col. Ramsay

were well received & sheets were filled

These alleviated conditions somewhat.

At 1400 hrs 150 Japanese soldiers moved

into No. 2 hold. Moved from the

wharf at 1400 hrs & out in the open

water took on other(?)again.

At 1700 hrs moved from BELAWEN DEKI

& headed NW. A condition of 

were very bad troops were allowed

on deck until 2130 hrs. Several

Japanese officers joined the ship at

B.C.

                                                            

19 May 42 (Tues)

At sea course NW. at daybreak two

ships were seen a long way off on 

the starboard bow. They crossed

our course. Our convoy now numbering

six. Noticed Japanese were smoking

& same priveleges were asked for AIF.

This ^It was argued that smoking would

be permitted below decks & in sleeping

quarters only. Blowing heavily raining

1200 hrs with rising seas. Some cases

of seasickness. Japanese troops

on board given cholera inspection.

                                                             

20 May 42 (Wed)

At Sea. Course WNW. Land to

island to port. Thought to be off

Victoria Point. Advised that a

working party of 130 men req'd.

Maj. Cevarts Coy detailed for task.

Anchored in large bay at 1600 hrs.

Commenced unloading stores (oi.

petrol etc). Working party received

extra rations at expense of the

remainder. Our Capt. White 

detailed to go ashore & remain

with a party of 1000 who were being

put ashore from 

                                                        

No medical orderlies 
were allowed

to go by Japanese order.

21 May 42 (Thur)

Anchored Victoria Pt. Shore party

returned at 0800 hrs.
 Further unloading

of gas & stores. Band played on

bridge for entertainment of Jap. officers.

heard from shore party No. 3 Bn under

Maj. Green ashore & satisfied with

conditions. Shore party 

ship at 1900 hrs.  Co reloaded

Remained at anchor all night

22 May 42 (Fri)

At 0100 hrs CO (Lt. Col. G. Ramsay) &

Capt. A. Hence) summond to

Japanese (Capt. Nogrectu) & from 

where an informal officers mess

was in progress. C.O & Adjt were

guests of honour.  the

Japanese officers present were Lieuts

Kitenchi, susatei, Itch. All the

curtesies of an officers mess were

observed. Thanks were extended

to Comd. staff & troops for their

efforts as a working party. Some

food given to guests. Party concluded

by singing God save the king to

which all stood.

Put to sea 0900 hrs, course North

day. Fine & hot. Sleeping

through [archipelago. Course

now WNW.                             

28 May 42 (Sat)

At sea. course ENE. Fine. Sea calm.

warning order issued that

we would disembark at 1700 hrs.

Ordered to reorganise into groups

of 70 for transport to shore. All

baggage brought on deck. At 1800 hrs

advised that 200 only would be

disembarking tonight as a working

party. The remainder to disembark

tomorrow. Advised that Brig. A.L. Hasley

M.C. had with  ship

& only were to come off with 

balance will go on to 
final destination.

Further that 62 
Engineers would 
be disembarked

from other ship [ & [units 

Comd. (Lt.Col Ramsay) & 
Adjt (Capt. Hence)

(Lt Col Hamilton) & Maj Cousins

expected to join
 Comd (Capt Negosashi)

to say farewell. Capt. 

Negosashi said

he was sorry to be leaving  &

was going to make 
representations to

his with the convoy to allow us to

stay with him. Akicko stated

that he was not our transport 

a  proper & that he

was very favourably 

impressed by the

Australians & their attitude towards

the Japanese soldiers. At off

MERGUI. 200 men go 

ashore as ordered.

 

21 May 42 (Sun.) Mergui

Reveille 0500 hrs. First boatload left 

ship at 0700 hrs. The distance to shore

approx 8 miles and first boatload

landed at 0830 hrs. CO & Adjt being

included in first boat. Landed at

wharf and spent most of day at

padang at wharf unloading stores.

Joined by 499 English troops (and

six Australian Lt Col from Sumatra.

This force comprises Army, Navy & Air force

personnel. The force was in a very poor

condition so far as clothes were concerned.

being clad in no uniform but

in cast off uniforms of dutch units & in 

some cases no shirts & hats.

The force came ashore in groups 

of no special organisation. Opportunity

was taken to reorganise into Coy & Bn

formations.

The force was joined 
by 62 engineers