Diary of Austin Ellerman Yeats, 1942 - Part 2

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Open to contributions

Accession number:

AWM2020.22.30

Difficulty:

NAME	DETAILS	NEXT OF KIN OR HOME ADDRESS
✓ TX8323 PTE McGURK R.G.	P.O.W. CHANGI	LYALL RD QUEENSTOWN TAS
X VX45645 " ASPINALL W.D.	P.O.W. CHANGI SEE ORIGINAL	A. COY
X VX55386 " HART E.E	SEE ORIGINAL "A" COY.
X TX8237 " McDONALD J.	MISSING 10.2.42. LAST SEEN NR. SINGAPORE	165 CAMPBELL ST. HOBART.
X VX48402 " CARR L.M.	SEE P.O.W. CHANGI	155 PEEL ST. NTH MELBOURNE
✓ 7. PL. 2 SECTION SEC COMD VX63704 A/CPL BAYNES P.D.	P.O.W. CHANGI FCEA 14.5.42.	45 PRINCES ST. MELBOURNE
✓ VX60586 PTE SLEEP J.H.	P.O.W. CHANGI " B 8.7.42	THOMAS ST WARRACNABEAL
✓ NX45010 " WOODWARD L.L.	P.O.W. CHANGI.	WOOTTON N.S.W.
X NX54907 " McGILL L.J	P.O.W.CHANGI FCE B.8.7.42.	29 GEORGE ST. WATERLOO.
✓ VX60589 " FARRAR K.O.	P.O.W. CHANGI	VICTORIA ST. EAGLE HAWK
✓ NX56754 " MURRAY D.H.	P.O.W. CHANGI	83 RYDE ST. HUNTERS HILL
✓ VX62834 " CLIFFORD D.	P.O.W. CHANGI	CADELL ST. WENTWORTH N.S.W.
X VX54262 " DAVITT B.P.	P.O.W. CHANGI	16 MORGAN ST. YARRAVILLE
✓ VX52553 " FREEMAN W.G.	P.O.W. CHANGI	WENTWORTH N.S.W.
X NX50441 " ELLIS A.C.	P.O.W. CHANGI FCEA 14.5.42.	1 O'NEILL ST. BRIGHTON LE SANDS
✓ 7. PL 3. SECTION SEC COMD VX38307 CPL. REID H.B.	SEE ORIGINAL "A" COY.
✓VX37875 PTE HANSON L.C.	(P.O.W. CHANGI) SEE ORIGINAL A. COY
✓ NX77752 " FAIRWEATHER M.L.	P.O.W. CHANGI	35 ELIZABETH ST REFERN NSW.
✓ NX77798 " SCHMATT T.G.	P.O.W. CHANGI	129 PARK RD. KOGARAH BAY NSW
✓ VX59965 " SIZELAND E.J.R.	P.O.W. CHANGI	BROOK ST. MORTLAKE VIC.
✓ QX24770 " TAYLOR C.	P.O.W. CHANGI	SWANSON ST. HUGHENDON
✓ QX23588 " WILKINSON I.T.	P.O.W. CHANGI	9 FERN ST THOMSON EXT BRISBANE
✓ QX24493 " CARRODUS B.C.	P.O.W. CHANGI	ROSEBERRY ST. HIGHGATE HILL BRISBANE
✓ QX20339 " CRUST C.	P.O.W. CHANGI	MOONMERRA QLD
X VX55840 " McCRIMMON W.	(P.O.W. CHANGI.) SEE ORIGINAL ACDY.
X VX55993 " McMILLAN G.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	79 JOHN ST. COROWA.
15TH HOSP QX21301 " GERARDY B.K.	P.O.W. CHANGI	31 CHASELY ST. AUCHEN FLOWER Q.
✓ VX54849 " MARTIN R.G.	SEE ORIGINAL "A" COY.
X 8. PLATOON PLHQ PL COMD QX3842 LIEUT METCALFE W.E.	P.O.W. CHANGI	12 DENBIGH ST. CAIRNS QLD
✓ PL SGT VX63037 A/SGT TIPPETT A.W.	P.O.W. CHANGI	WHYTE ST. COLERAINE VIC.
✓ RUNNER QX25015 PTE BRIGGS A.G.	P.O.W. CHANGI	MARYVALE VIA WARWICK Q
BATMAN +NX65235 PTE WHITE A.S. 2/26	P.O.W. CHANGI A FCE 14/5/42	24 HOLDSWORTH ST. NEWTOWN SYDNEY
MORTAR +NX52194 " MILNE R.A.C 2/36	P.O.W. CHANGI B 8/7/42	MINNUMAN HOUSE JAMBEROO KIAMA NSW
X +NX68547 " ARMSTRONG R.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI 21 St Clair St Bonnells Bay 2264	NEW LINE RD. CASTLE HILL N.S.W.

NAME	DETAILS	NEXT OF KIN OR HOME ADDRESS
8 PL. 4 SECTION SEC COMD VX56532 A/CPL SINCLAIR D.	SEE ORIGINAL "A" COY.
15TH SECN VX44983 PTE GOGGIN L.M.	SEE ORIGINAL "A" COY.
✓ VX55568 " YOULE W.	P.O.W. CHANGI	CANTERBURY RD. BLACKBURN VIC.
✓ VX60838 " CAMPBELL A.E.	P.O.W. CHANGI FCE A 14/5/42.	34 RUSKIN ST. ELWOOD VIC.
X VX37947 " BOYES W.E	SEE ORIGINAL "A" COY.
10.15 HOSP. VX 37222 " PURTILL J.E	SEE ORIGINAL "A" COY.
✓ VX60451 " LEECH H.F.	P.O.W. CHANGI FCE A 14/5/42. [now Avondale Dunkeld]	90 KERR ST FITZROY VIC.
✓ VX 61120 " YOUNG A.D.	P.O.W. CHANGI FCE A 14/5/42.	477 RAE ST. N. FITZROY VIC
8 COY QX23695 " OWENS J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	GYMPIE P.O. QLD.
8 PL. + 5 SECTION SEC COMD NX47090 A/CPL BRADLEY E.	P.O.W. CHANGI.	x
2/26 + NX57938 L/CPL WHITMORE A.E.	P.O.W. CHANGI.	26 PARRAMATTA RD. SUMMER HILL NSW.
15TH HOSP NX41146 PTE PHILLIPS C.O.	W.I.A. 15.2.42 B.W. at 510E BACK AND NECK P.O.W. CHANGI	"CLYSO" BENDEMEER N.S.W.
2/26BN +NX939 " PHILLIPS H.	P.O.W. CHANGI	37 PITTWATER RD. GLADESVILLE
15TH HOSP +NX937 " BURKINSHAW R.R.V.	P.O.W. CHANGI	70 FLETCHER ST. BONDI
2/26 +NX935 " SLUSHER F.P.	P.O.W. CHANGI	70 RYAN ST. LILYFIELD NS.W
G.B.D. +NX30952 " LISTER G.B.	P.O.W. CHANGI (2/30 BN)	EVANS HEAD VIA CASINO.
10TH HOSP +NX23361 " TATE C.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	11 OSBORNE ST. DAPTO NSW
13,14,15 G.B.D. +VX48459 " DYE V.B.	P.O.W. CHANGI	WHITTINGTON P.O. VIC.
11-15TH? NX37694 " CROME J.E	P.O.W. CHANGI FCE B 8/7/42.	71 OCEAN ST WOOLLAHRA N.S.W.
15TH 2/19BN NX22806 " GORDON A.L.	P.O.W. CHANGI -Tpet 2/-19 BN.	x
8 PL. 6 SECTION SEC COMD X VX36789 CPL. CLINCH A.W.	LAST SEEN 11.2.42 NEAR B.TIMAN SEE ORIGINAL A COY POSTED MISSING 10.2.42
✓ VX 39474 PTE TOWERS R.G.	(P.O.W. CHANGI) ~~ORIGINAL A COY~~	OLANGOLAH BEECH FOREST VIC.
11-15 HOSP. +NX50294 " MELDRUM D.H.	P.O.W. CHANGI	178 CORLETTE ST. JUNCTION NEWCASTLE
X +NX19808 " DICK W.B.	LAST SEEN 11/2/42 0700 HRS NR. HOLLAND RD. POSTED MISSING 11.2.42	M E.E. DICK 58 COOPER ST. RANDWICK
X +TX5214 " RICKARDS A.B.C.	KILLED IN ACTION 11.2.42. CANE FACTORY BUNITTIMAN RD. BURIED JUNE 42 4/SUFFOLK BN.W.Pty 773144 M[[?]]	F JAMES RICKARD 153 YORK ST. LAUNCESTON.
? +NX54208 " NAGY W.T.	P.O.W. CHANGI	73 JOHNSTON ST HARBORD N.S.W.
? +NX71905 " DURRINGTON A.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	ALSTONVILLE RICHMOND RIVER
X +NX43486 " DEAR R.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	JUNEE RD COOTANIUNDRA.
✓ VX56005 " GREENHILL W.R.	P.O.W. CHANGI	JARDINE ST. BEECHWORTH VIC.
10-15? +NX1717 " CHAPMAN B.B.	P.O.W. CHANGI	29 BASSETT ST. HURSTVILLE NSW

NAME	DETAILS	NEXT OF KIN OR HOME ADDRESS
9 PLATOON PL. H.Q. PL.COMD QX6461 LIEUT. R.H.S. KELSEY	P.O.W. CHANGI	KELSEY TERRACE BOWEN Q.
PL. SGT. VX40882 A/SGT. THOMSON R.A.	ORIGINAL "A" COY
RUNNER VX55199 PTE POWELL D.J.	do do
BATMAN TX8281 " ABSALOM G.	P.O.W. CHANGI	18 PARK ST. HOBART
MORTAR VX13711 " HOLMES S.A.B.	ORIGINAL "A" COY
9 PL. 7. SECTION SEC COMD VX43825 CPL. EDMUNDS L.M.	ORIGINAL "A" COY
✓ VX20469 L/CPL LONSDALE J.	ORIGINAL "A" COY
✓ VX42268 PTE LONSDALE I.O.	do do
✓ VX42272 " PERTZEL C.A.	do do
✓ VX42467 " SEPHTON P.H.	do do
✓ QX22315 " MARRIOT R.S.	M.I.A. 15/2/42 G.S.W. SHLDR. & THUMB.	HOME HILL P.O. QLD
✓VX38050 " MENSFORTH J.E.	P.O.W. OR "A" COY.
✓ QX23432 " BANKS E.T.	~~ORIGINAL A COY~~ P.O.W. CHANGI P.O.BOX 627 BURLEIGH HEADS	P.O. GOONDIWINDI. 4220
✓ QX21608 " BOODLE J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	FRANCIS ST GOONDIWINDI.
✓ NX48194 " JONES G.P.	P.O.W. CHANGI	HORSESHOE CK KYOGLE NSW
✓ NX45104 " BUTLER R.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	TENTERFIELD.
9 PL. 8. SECTION SEC COMD VX45067 A/CPL BRANT J.H.	(P.O.W. CHANGI) ORIGINAL "A" COY
✓ VX43772 PTE SLATER M.	(P.O.W. CHANGI) ORIGINAL "A" COY
✓VX56725 " MINTY A.R.	ORIG "A." COY.
✓ NX78657 " POLGLASE J.C.	~~ORIG "A." COY.~~ P.O.W. CHANGI.	63 EDINBURGH RD WILLOUGHBY NSW
✓ NX48796 " HOGGETT N.V.	P.O.W. CHANGI	2 RIVERVIEW ST. WEST RYDE VIC.
✓ TX5781 " SALTMARSH G.J.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	CREEKTON CRESSY TAS.
✓ QX22099 " SWEATMAN K.T.	P.O.W. CHANGI	18 KINGSFORD ST. AUCNEN FLOWER QLD.
✓ QX20461 " BOURKE W.J.	P.O.W. CHANGI	OBI OBI VIA NAMBOUR QLD.
✓ QX18792 " FISHER D.	P.O.W. CHANGI now Dave Bribie Pines Caravan ParkBribie Is.	16 PYRIE ST. MACKAY QLD.
✓ QX22270 " BAYLY J.N.	P.O.W. CHANGI	SIMPSON ST MT. ISA Q.
9. SECT. 9 PLATOON SEC COMD VX46480 CPL. CORIDAS C.D.	(P.O.W.) ORIGINAL "A" COY
✓ VX55426 PTE SELLENS E.P.	"ROSE FCE" - P.O.W. CHANGI	PINAROO WERRIBEE VIC.
✓ TX8235 " NIBBS R.F.	P.O.W. CHANGI	SANDFLY TAS.
12-15 2/18 BN VX61744 " O'BRIEN J.H.	P.O.W. CHANGI
✓ TX8179 " NEWMAN L.C.	P.O.W. CHANGI	4 HENNEBERY ST. STH HOBART
✓ QX24030 " SILCOCK F.	P.O.W. CHANGI	6 FREDERICK ST BANKSTOWN N.S.W.
✓ TX8240 " BENNETT D.M.	P.O.W. CHANGI	18 KING ST W. BURNIE TAS.
11-15 HOSP? VX61306 " READ G.G.	P.O.W. CHANGI	26 SPEARMAN ST. ROSEVILLE N.S.W.

NAME	DETAILS	NEXT OF KIN OR HOME ADDRESS
✓ TX 5682 PTE BERRYMAN C.E.	P.O.W. CHANGI.	PERTH TAS.
TX8405 " ALLERTON J.	P.O.W. CHANGI.	56 SHIRLEY RD. WOLSTENCRAFT. NSW
JOINED "A" COY 12-15/2/42.
VX56603 A/CPL. LAMB R.	ORG. A COY OR WOUNDED SICK ETC RETD
VX55189 PTE BILLETT. S.	FROM HOSPITAL SEE OR. A COY.
VX45113 " ROWBOTTOM H.	SEE OR. A. COY
VX43156 " KENNETT J.	do do
VX45260 " CAMERON I.J.
VX26267 " PAGE R.	P.O.W. CHANGI.
VX36982 " SPOKES C.W.B.	SEE OR. "A". COY
VX38501 " WATTS J.L.	do do
VX42327 " CRAWFORD G.	P.O.W. CHANGI.
WITH BN H.Q. VX41345 " ESLICK T.E.	SEE OR. "A". COY
WITH PIONEER PL. QX21824 PTE MIDDLETON D.H.	WOUNDED S.W. RT. LEG. 10/2/42 P.O.W. CHANGI.	MUNDUBERRA QLD.
WITH 2/30 BN. VX43773 PTE OWEN J.L.	SEE OR. A. COY
VX55188 " WATKINS A.T.	P.O.W. CHANGI.	25 PRINCES ST BALLARAT EAST.
WITH G.B.D. VX39077 S/SGT. ROSS N.	SEE OR. A. COY
VX11432 PTE McPHEE C.T.	SEE ORIG. A. COY

"A" Coy Island Casualties

Offrs O/R's TOTAL

Killed in Action 1 1 2

Wounded in Action 3 3

Missing 1 3 4

2 4 9

2/29 Bn Island Casualties

Killed in Action 2 15 17

Died of Wounds 2 2

Missing blvd killed 1 1

" " wounded 4 4

Missing 1 64 65

Wounded 6 61 67

" Rem duty - -

" Accidentally 1 1

9 148 157

A Force Offrs ORs Total

B " 6 161 167

D " 4 79 83

F " 1 1

G " 27 638 665

H " 3 3

J " 3 27 30

Londah Halt Patrol

14.1.42. A/Coy 2/29 Bn were

in reserve posn nr Buloh Kasap

2/29 Bn being res. to 2/30 & 2/26 Bn.

Two days previously O/C A Coy

had asked if 9Pl were available

for a special job and Lieut.

Ellerman had volunteered with

his Pl.

14.1.42 12.30 hours orders received to

proceed on a special patrol to

Londah Halt on the East Coast

Railway line, north of Gemas and

towards Rompin. Two Bn Sigs

were attached for communication

purposes and Cpl Gray & 4 Sprs

2/12 Fd Coy were to come under

comd on reaching, the bridge over

S Muar, about ¼ mile NORTH of

Londah Halt. The tasks of the

force were as follows:-

To ambush any enemy approaching

down Railway line towards

Gemas.
To send back information of any

enemy movement.
To cover Engineering party

working on bridge and

demolish same on order of

Lieut. Ellerman.
To return by most siutable route

and rejoin Bn.

At 1400 hours 9 Pl moved by M.T

to Gemas, taking sufficient dry

rations for 5 days.

At Gemas Railway Yards contact

was made with Engineering

party under Lieut Campbell

and arrangements made to

make up a small train with

Morris inspection truck, coupled

up. to handtrucks. Two handtrucks

were taken by 9 Pl for purpose of

carrying rations. 2 Bn has

secured telephone from nearby

house. Party moved on foot

up Rompin Railway line, passing

over bridge over S. Gemenchep,

2 miles N of Gemas, where the

Engineering party were working,

arming bridge ready for

demolition.

At 1800 hours party arrived at

Bridge over S. Muar and took

up positions for night. 8 sec fwd

of bridge, 7 & 9 Secs on SOUTH side.

Lieut Campbell 2/12 Fd Coy

arrived at 1815 hours and

arming of bridge was ordered

by Lieut Vellerman engineering

party. Working until late in

the night. Total force all ranks 40.

15.1.42. Engineering party

continued work completing

double wiring of circuit.

Effective ambush prepared

about 350x fwd of bridge

at bend in Railway cutting

7 & 8 Secs fwd, one on each

side of Railway line. Particular

care was taken to conceal all

movement in order to escape

detection by Aircraft.

During the morning a number

of natives approached with

the intention of crossing bridge

but these were turned back.

Signallers unable to effect communication

with Gemas owing faulty

phone. At about 1100 hours,

2 natives approached from NORTH,

one wearing a white shirt and

one a red shirt,. Their movements

aroused suspicion so orders

were given by Lieut Ellerman

to open fire and one man

was killed, the other escaping

into the jungle.

At 1230 hours, Engineers came

up from Gemas in the "train"

bringing with them some

necessary engineering supplies,

also timber etc to enable

Morris truck to be derailed.

Arrangements were made by

Lieut Ellerman for engineering

party to bring up "truck"

engine and trucks that

night and it was planned

to leave these concealed at

Londah Halt to use to

enable the force to return to

Gemas. Engineering party

were also to bring back any

late information in regard

to enemy movement and

details of circumstances

under which 2 mile bridge

over S. Gemencheh was to be

blown and who was to order

same.

Shortly afterwards heavy

fighting could be heard

in the direction of the Gemas

Road, where 2/30 Bn were in

position. This continued during

the afternoon, growing in

intensity with much Arty

fire and aerial activity. Late

in the afternoon and during

the early part of the evening,

this firing seemed to be

moving around in the

direction of Gemas.

Al efforts to get into 'phone

communication with Gemas

failed, so the only means of

communication was by way

of the Engineering party

coming up and down.

Engineering party were

scheduled to come up to the

Bridge again just after dark

that evening. As it became

dark ambush was drawn

in closer towards N end of

bridge as it became dark.

By 2100 hrs Engineering party

had not arrived, but this did

not cause undue alarm

and it was thought a temporary

breakdown may have occurred

with the train.

At 2300 hours there was still no

sign of Engineering party so

it was decided to send a

patrol down the 4¼ miles

to Gemencheh. R. bridge and

contact Engineers there.

Accordingly at 2359 hrs Col.

Comd sent out a patrol

of Cpl Coridas & 3 men.

16.1.42 The patrol returned

at 0400 hours with

the news that the Bridge over

S. Gemencheh had been blown

and no troops were there.

The rail tracks could be seen

looped down into the waters

of the river. The blowing of the

bridge indicated some trouble

in the vicinity, and a

withdrawal of our forces from

fwd Gemas area. It also

cut the line of withdrawal

of 9 Pl force back along the

railway to Gemas.

Lieut Ellerman decided then

to blow the bridge and return

with his force by way of an

alternative route, which

had been marked on a map

and shown to all members of

the party the preceeding day.

Accordingly orders were issued

to the Engineering party to prime

the demolition charges and

the ambush party was withdrawn

to S. side of bridge; as per

prearranged plan. - infantry

crossing the bridge on the

sleepers, so as not to interfere

with Engineers working in

galleries on either side.

All members were to withdraw

and assemble at a point 500x

South of bridge, just around

a slight bend in Railway line.

As each man filed past an

issue of available dry rations

was made each man carrying

as much food as possible,

it being anticipated that it

may take 2 days or more

in which to make way thru

the jungle and rejoin the Bn

When all members with exception

of Eng. Cpl Gray and Lieut Ellerman

had withdrawn to R.V. charge.

was fired and bridge demolished,

time being 0500 hrs. Cpl Gray

returned to the bridge and

reported a very successful blow.

2 of the 3 spans being blown

into the river and the third

blown from its support.

Move back then commenced

and after travelling for 1000x

in a southerly direction down

the Railway line, party left the

line and truck due E through

Kampong Londah. After travelling

for about ½ hour a false

alarm took place when suspicious

sounds were heard in a house.

The force surrounded this

house, but the occupants were

only several badly scared Malays.

Just after this in the continuation

of the move forward and just

at daylight it was found that

9 members of the party were

missing having become separated

in the vicinity of the house.

As soon as cover was reached

a halt was called and Lieut

Ellerman sent out in all

3 search parties in the course

of 1½ hours halt, but could

not find any trace of the

missing men, who were

Cpl Gray and 4 Sprs of the Eng

party, 2 Bn Sigs and Ptes

R. Johnson and F. Moore.

This party subsequently made

their way towards Gemas

[[Baharu?]] and rejoined their

units 1830 hrs 16.1.42.

Liet Ellerman continued on

with the main party on a due

E bearing and soon came

into some thick jungle and

deep swampy country, eventually

striking the Muar Ragain

but it was found impossible

to cross the river here as it

was hoped. The river was

100x wide and running

with a very swift current

and this coupled with

the impassable nature of

the jungle and deep swamps,

forced the party to turn

back and retrace their steps.

The only signs of habitation

were one or two native monkey

traps and elephant "signs".

At 1230 hours after a light

meal the party commenced

the move back and Lieut

Ellerman decided to move

down the railway line

to the Gemencheh river cross

this by way of blown bridge

or failing that, by swimming

it and proceed E again

By 1400. hrs the railway line

was reached and at 1530 hrs

the party reached the Gemencheh

bridge. Aircraft were active

and it was necessary to take

cover on a number of occasions.

On reaching the bridge it was

found that it was possible to

cross the river by walking

down the ties of the railway

line across a few yards of

water and use the ties on

the further side.

At this stage Lieut. Ellerman

decided that as there were no

signs of Japanese in this area

and other indications that

Gemas was still in our hands

and so decided to push on

with the intention of coming

into Gemas proper from the

NORTH in preference to the more

arduous way E through

swamps and jungle.

Move forward was continued

along railway line to within

4 miles of Gemas, when Machine

G fire broke out from a

slight hill feature. 2 to 300x

on the right of the railway..

No shots fell in close proximity

and 9 PL moved up and

halted in a patch of rubber

on the left of the railway.

Not being sure of these

indications, Lieut Ellerman

sent forward a small

patrol to investigate and

see what the posn was another

500x further on. At this time

there was some Aircraft

activity and MA fire which

seemed to indicate that

the enemy were in possession

of the locality.

At 1630 hrs patrol returned

and advised having

contacted an Indian who

assured Cpl Edmunds,

the leader of the patrol, that

there were no Japs in Gemas,

further he sent a message

to Lieut Ellerman, repeating

this information, and adding

that he had been in the Indian

Army once and suggested

the party move into Gemas

by way of a track near his

house.

Instead, Lieut Ellerman

decided to move on a compass

bearing, which would bring

the party out on a road connecting

with the main road between

Gemas and Gemas Railway

yards. This route led past

the Indian's house and this

Indian again repeated his

assurances to Lieut Ellerman

that there were no Japs in

Gemas. These were proved to

be absolutely false as after

having gone a further 500x

the party ran right into 5 Japs,

A/A gun crew. These were

surprised, when they were

trying to catch pigs and

took to their heels. Owing

to the fact that the Japs

were dressed only in T.U.

shorts, ~~it was~~ and no

headgear it was not at

once realised that they

were Japs and Lieut

Ellerman withheld his

fire. Moving further to the

left flank, the party continued

on so as to investigate

further. Hardly had the

party got away again,

when a Bofors Gun opened

up fire and fired 3 rounds

in our direction. 9 Pl

continued on and halted

in cover at a bend in the

road which connected with

the main road.

Lieut Ellerman then went fwd

with Cpl Thomson and Pte

Powell down the connecting

road to within 150^x of the

main road. Within a few

minutes a lone Jap cyclist was

seen and then a car appeared

containing 4 Japanese officers;

just as they drew abreast

a light Arty gun opened up

from a position 300^x away

from the watchers and the

Japs, thinking it was bombing

took cover at the left of the

road, then discovering the

gun posn. moved off again.

The patrol rejoined the Pl.

and having gained a

certain amount of information

and some positions pin

pointed, Lieut Ellerman

decided to make NORTH

then E and try and get

back with this information.

It was then about 1730 hrs

and the party moved off.

in a N direction and

made for a well defined

track heading across S. Muar

at a ford.

During the next hour

until dark, good progress

was made, skirting around

two further o/posts of Japs

who were easily detected

by noise of talking and

these were thought to be (1)

a Bofors Gun and 2 an

Arty O.P. posn. By dark

the going became heavy

so the party who were by then

very weary rested for the night.

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Last edited by:

Ray Wilson

Last edited on:

11 April 2025, 6:14 pm

Last updated: 16 April 2025