Diary of John William Cardwell Wyett, 1942 - Part 1

P.W.                           15186      Brig C.W. RICHARDS, Barclays Bank,

Missing                     2228      Piccadilly Circus
Killed                           427      Major G. WORT, Wiltshire Regt, Cox & King,

Died of Wounds        110       6 Pall Mall.
Died other Causes    120      Lieut F. MANSFIELD, c/o Shell Coy (Marine Dept)
Total                         17,871       Melbourne. 

G. Richardson
8 Liscard
St
Elsternwick
S4
Sister Jean EDWARDS,
103 A.G.H.
Baulkhan Hills,
N.S.W.
Frazer Harvey
c/o MacDonald Moffitt, Solicitor
Wynyard St SYDNEY.
(Birthday 4 Dec.)

8
G. Richardson
8 Liscard
St
Elsternwick
S4
Sister Jean EDWARDS,
103 A.G.H.
Baulkhan Hills,
N.S.W.
Frazer Harvey
c/o MacDonald Moffitt, Solicitor
Wynyard St SYDNEY.
(Birthday 4 Dec.)

Boat Station - 7
Masseuse - Miss McCullogh
Chief Egr. - 
Sister - Day !
[*402715
F/LT ANDERSON A.C
GROUP 816
Rathmines
NSW*]
H. J. Wyett,
Bank of Australasia,
Martin Place

I went fwd c̄ Brig MAXWELL & met the LOYALS
coming out about 2200 hrs. We climbed
into an armd c & proceeded a few 
miles. I do not like being boxed up &
was glad to get out at YONG PENG where
we walked to the fwd A/Tk gun & inf
sec & then down the M BATU PAHAT rd to
the br where we waited for any 2/19 survivors
before blowing the br. (KANAN) Col ANDERSON arrived
shortly before midnight with about 100 men
& was warmly welcomed. Brig & he went
off to div in the Brig's car which had arrived.
I decided to remain & see the br. blown
as I felt uneasy about it. Just as well
I did as Ind S & M det was most
inefficient & badly officered_*   I ordered coy
comd to withdraw across br shortly
after midnight & an sapp engr cpl went
over to light the petrol on a timber stack

23 & house built over the water. Wet fuse went
out & I had to order him back. He 
refused & I had to insist strongly __ he &  I
were only two fwd on the br. When
timber was well alight (cpl nearly went up with
the petrol which he had spilt everywhere) I
ordered him to blow the br. He wanted
to light timber on a near side of br first
as he had been ordered to so by his offr.
I was afraid of more dud fuse & made him 
blow the br first __his offr was nowhere about.
It was a fairly long wooden br & went up well.
However, the stumps were left standing & I have
now doubt was easy to repair. Two sappers
who disregarded my warning to stand back
were injured by splinters & I found their
frantic offr trying to bandage a leg & hav'g
no idea how to put on a first fd dressg;
I did the job & being nar the last tps fwd
decided to go back to bde, very disgusted with
the engr det.

I left bde about 1000 hrs to establish a
report centre with 2/30 Bn.  Planes made
several attacks on my car both with
bombs & m/g, the nearest bomb landing
on a bank 5 yds away but too high to
do any damage. The rd was almost
continually attacked & untenable for long periods.
All sig wires were cut & I repaired
several breaks en route in the overhead
wires which were our alternative channel.
Arr at 40½ mile about midday, hiding the
car in a small detour where two armd
c's were stationed. 

(blank page)

At 27 Bde HQ - House of YAP TWEE.
Called at 0200 hrs for 2 hours duty.
Brig wanted me to accompany him to
visit fwd. units but Gl thought
otherwise & ordered me to div.
Out all day on a recce c̄ Maj W.E.F.raser
& Maj Jones, 2 i/c 2/4 MG Bn.
Called in at div & back to bde
9.30 P.M. Bed early, No tea.
Pile of papers arrived c̄ postmarks dating
back to Oct.
Heard that airmail was off, but not
confirmed.

Up at 6 AM for spell as duty offr.
Cannot do both & must ask to be
relieved while div. job for defences is
on.
Saw Chas Kappé re sigs comm & spent rest
of day on job with Frazer who annoys
me.
Sent cable to Con ^___ 5 days to arrive
@ 35c a word.
(opposite page - following day)
Saw Pond re defence layout & went to collect
McEwan who had left.
Went to BULIM village but no sign of
Frazer. Pond came along while
Sent cable to Con.
I was working on pos'n & I took him 
round defences.
Shaw c̄ JVE reps arrived at B [[ech?]]
& spent rest of day getting them
going c̄ digging & showing Chapman
round posts.
Saw James Thyer who promised
help from 2/4 MGs.