Written Records, AWM54 741/5/9 PART 2 - [Patrols - Reconnaissance:] Report on Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit, by Sqn Ldr D F Thomson RAAF [Report minus maps] - Part 4
25.
A reconnaissance was made of Elcho Island, and the vessel
taken through Cadell Straits, where a further reconnaissance on foot
was carried out on the Napier Peninsula region west of Buckingham
Bay. On March 4th the AROETTA sailed to an anchorage behind Hardy
Island on the western side of Arnhem Bay. I was anxious to
establish contact with a native of this area, Bindjarpuma, also
known as "Slippery" who was at this time the most powerful and
aggressive man in this part of Arnhem Land, and who had for some
years led the life of a predatory border chief, making periodical
raids on his neighbours and then returning to the hills. At the
same time, while searching for the man and his group, it was planned
to employ the interval in unloading the heavy cargo from the ship,
and to careen her in a sheltered sandy corner under Hardy Island,
to clean the copper. This work was carried out on March 5th and
6th, and the vessel refloated and loaded again.
Meanwhile, patrols were carried out in the neighbouring
country and the native Bindjarpuma and his group located. A meeting
was held with this man and his fighting band, and Bindjarpuma and
most of the able bodied fighting young men of the group were enlisted.
By the evening of the 7th of March, 36 picked men, all good travellers
and hunters, some of them renowned ad fighting men in single combat
had been collected. Only a nucleus was required to travel on the
ship, and as I had decided to limit the enlistment in the meantime
as I wished to select a number from my old friends at Caledon Bay
no further natives were enlisted on the north coast. An account
of the enlistment and organisation of the detachment being formed is
set out in a section which follows.
The whole of the detachment was taken aboard the AROETTA
on the afternoon of March 7th, and landed again that night on the
south-east corner of the Bay. On the following morning I joined
these men and set out with them on a patrol overland to Caledon Bay.
After landing here the AROETTA in charge of Sergeant (Lieutenant)
Palmer, sailed for Caledon Bay where the vessel arrived the following
day.
The distance overland between Arnhem Bay and Caledon Bay
is a little more than 40 miles, but the country is rough, with many
rugged hills outcropping with rock, and some swamps and rivers.
Most of the native detachment completed the journey by the following
night, but some were unable to maintain the pace and came a day later.
Again, no natives were found at Caledon Bay, and it was
apparent that the group which belonged to the area must be farther
to the south.
On March 12th the ship left Caledon Bay for Trial Bay, an
unchartered bay a little to the south. The Caledon Bay group was
located in the bush a little to the south west, and moved down to the
sand beach close to the ship. Friendly relations which I had
established years before with the fine, bold and warlike people
were renewed, and we were inundated with offers from the men to join
the detachment. As a nucleus only was required at this stage the
number had to be limited. The men selected were especially fine
specimens, all people who had grown up in an area where tribal feuds
were still carried on, and where guerilla fighting still plays an
important part in their lives. Many of these men were renowned
warriors with almost legendary reputations for the prowess as spear
fighters, and some them had already killed Japanese (1).
__________________________________________________________
(1) NOTE: In 1932-33 the natives of the Caledon - Blue Mud Bay
areas - besides killing most of the crews of two Japanese manned
luggers, to which reference has already been made, also killed two
white men, Traynor and Fagan at Woodah Island, and at the same place
in the same year, ambushed a party of the N.T. Police and killed one
of their number (Constable McColl). All these parties were armed
with firearms and were expecting attack, but the natives, using only
their own spears, suffered no casualties.
26.
It was possible to make only brief contacts with all
these natives, for time was now short for the completion of the
programme laid down by March 21st. Wherever possible I went
inland on foot, travelling and living with the natives, and
re-establishing contacts. The allegiance of the natives of
this area was never in doubt however, for the Japanese are
almost hereditary enemies, and they needed little encouragement
to begin preparing for the resumption of possible landing parties,
by forging their own "shovel" spears from odds and ends of metal.
Anything or iron, ranging from heavy oil drums and iron bars to
galvanised water pipes, and horse shoes are beaten out cold, and
skilfully forged into SPEAR HEADS.
On March 13th, a signal was received from Headquarters with
notification of Sgt Palmer's commission.
On March 14th, we left Trial Bay for Groote Eylandt, anchoring
off the Advanced Operational Base at the S.W. corner of the Island.
The following day was spent in watering the vessel, and Lieut.
Palmer was sent overland by M.T. from the R.A.A.F. A.O.B. to take
delivery of safe hand mail from the Flying Boat Base. While the
AROETTA lay at anchor off the A.O.B. on March 16th, two multi-engined
aircraft, apparently Japanese long range reconnaissance
flying boats, flew low over the A.O.B. and passed, one on each
side of the Aroetta, at apparently 3,000 feet, without dropping
a bomb or making any demonstration. It is assumed that these
aircraft were engaged in photographic reconnaissance, particularly
as this incident almost immediately preceded the raid on Katherine.
We were handicapped in challenging the aircraft to ascertain
definitely their identity, as the W.T. operator was receiving a
signal of "immediate" priority while the aircraft passed over. In
view of the priority of this message, and its possible relation
to the aircraft then overhead, I deemed it advisable first to
receive the incoming message and to decode it, rather than break
off with the risk of losing contact to permit the operator to
see the Aldis Signalling Lamp.
A message was sent recalling Lieutenant Palmer, so that the
ship could be moved from the vicinity without delay, as she was at
that time carrying the whole of the equipment of the Unit, no
suitable opportunity having yet occurred for the dispersal.
On March 17th we arrived off the mouth of the Roper River,
and the following day proceeded upstream. Two boats were lowered
when the ship arrived off the estuary, and most of the native detachment
was then landed to avoid exposing all these men on deck in
view of the presence of enemy A/C. Just when the two boats, fully
loaded, were leaving the ship, a heavy bomber approached, but it
proved to be a United States machine.
The mouth and approaches to the Roper River have changed considerably
during the recent years, and there is now a bar with little
more than one fathom of water, nearly five miles out to sea, and
a vessel, missing the narrow and unmarked passage, would probably
be driven on to a bank, with the risk of breaking up, if a heavy
squall arose from the weather quarter before she was refloated.
Progress upstream was slow, on account of the depth of the
Aroetta. Fully loaded, the vessel was now drawing 8 - 9 feet,
and owing to the "drag" over shallow areas, she had to wait for
the tide at several places. Meanwhile, the native detachment was
put ashore and carried out a thorough reconnaissance along the
banks of the country fringing the river in preparation for
possible future operations against an enemy using the river to
approach the L of C. On March 19th, the Aroetta arrived at the
Mission Station (Roper River Anglican Mission). The natives, who
had not tasted fresh meat for some time and who had been working
hard on foot patrols, had been promised a bullock on arrival at
the Roper River, and a steer was now obtained from the Mission,
slaughtered, and handed over intact to the detachment.
27.
Advantage was taken of this period in the Roper River to
drill the crew again regularly and to take in hand the newly
recruited detachment, which now numbered fifty fighting men and
to get them into some shape. A parade was held each morning
in order to instil the elements of discipline into these nomadic
hunting people. Some account of the training of the native
detachment will be given in section 8 which deals with the organisation
of the native force.
The M.V. "Larrpan", which is normally stationed at Milingimbi
in the Crocodile Islands, and is employed in the transport of stores
to the Methodist Missions on the North Coast, had arrived in the
Roper River with evacuees from the Methodist Mission Stations.
These people, the white women, have castes, and Fijian women from
the Missions of Crocker, Goulburn and Milingimbi Islands, as well
as from Yirrkala, were conveyed from Roper River to the railway
line by military transport which had come down to meet them.
From March 19 to March 23rd, the Aroetta remained at the
Roper River Mission. In addition to the drilling of the crew and
the native unit, a considerable amount of general reconnaissance was
carried out on both banks of the River. An appreciation of the
situation in the Roper River at this time revealed the fact that
it was wide open to any enemy party which night come upstream. No
watching organisation of any kind existed and there was not even
a native camp for the first sixty or seventy miles from the mouth
to give warning of an enemy landing or approach.
Arrangements were made with the Missionary in charge (Mr. Port)
in the meantime, pending the setting up of a more permanent O.P.
to send a party down to watch the mouth of the river and to build
a pyre on a high hill as a warning. Some weeks later, a permanent
O.P. equipped with wireless, was established at Gunara Bluff
commanding a view of the mouth of the river and its approaches, in
order to cover this very vulnerable area.
On March 23rd the Aroetta proceeded upstream, to the Four
Mile Landing, which is the limit of navigation for a vessel deeper
than a dinghy on the Roper River. This landing is situated on
the south bank of the River four miles from Leichardt Bar, at which
the Roper Bar Police Depot is situated. The landing above the
junction of the Hodgson River with the Roper and a few hundred yards
below the junction of the Wilton. Here we awaited the arrival of
M.T. which was to transport the native detachment to Katherine as
had been laid down in the Operation Instruction (No 1).
On March 27th, two 3-ton M.T. from No. 4 Independent Company
which had recently replaced No. 8 Independent Coy. at Katherine,
arrived and on the 29th the detachment of 50 natives, together with
arms and ammunition and equipment left for Katherine with O.C.
Reconnaissance Party. On the same day the Aroetta, under Lieutenant
Palmer, sailed down the river en route for Darwin, under orders from
7 M.D. Headquarters.
On night of March 30th, a camp was made with the native detachment
on the Roper River at the Elsey Station, and contact again
established with the Manager Mr. Harold Giles, whom I had known
for some years. Mr. Giles was born in the Northern Territory and
has had life long experience of the area. He is an expert bushman
and knows the Territory terrain as few white men know it. Arrangements
were made to enlist the co-operation of Mr. Giles in the event
of later operations in this area.
Furthermore, Elsey Station was so situated as to form a good
depot for reserve of ammunition and equipment for any small mobile
force working in the Roper River, which might be unable to transport
bulk stores father down the river in times of heavy rains and
floods.
28.
On March 31st the party arrived in Katherine. In order
to avoid the possibility of disorganising the natives, and to
maintain discipline, which had been very good to date, it was
considered advisable to establish a separate camp some distance
from the regular camp area. A site was selected some two miles
down stream on the banks of the Katherine River, which by arrangement
with the Camp Commandant, was placed out of bounds to all
the white troops in the area. No difficulty was experienced
in keeping the natives within their own zone, but as their
arrival has created some interest among the troops it was very
difficult to enforce the prohibition. An undesirable feature
was the fact that whereas the natives had been encouraged to
carry, and maintain always, a certain number of spears, both
for hunting and fighting, for reasons which will be apparent
later, were to be their chief weapon in the event of guerilla
operations against and enemy landing force, the white troops
persistently endeavoured to induce the natives to trade these.
This not only left the men without proper arms, but once the
edict had been issued, had to be enforced or discipline would
have broken down.
A conference was held with Major Walker, O.C. No. 4
Independent Company, and Lieutenant Burton of that Company who was
about to leave with a section for the Roper River, in order to
inform them fully of the situation on the Roper area and to pass
to No.4 A.I.C. the results of the recent reconnaissance there.
As information was to be obtained at Katherine as to the
covenant which we had just raised and which I had been instructed
to bring to Katherine, and intended role of the native detachment,
and as there had been changes in Command, I considered it advisable
to proceed to Headquarters for a general discussion and for new
orders. A request was therefore made for authority to leave the
detachment at Katherine, and to proceed to Darwin by air. I was
reluctant to be away from the natives for any length of time, as
I was alone with them having no N.O.C. to bring with me in view of
the smallness of the Unit and the danger of undermanning the ship.
I had promised these men when they were enlisted that I would never
desert them whatever befell, and did not with to leave them now
in a strange military camp, hundreds of miles from their own
territory. Approval was granted to my request and on April 5th,
I proceeded to Darwin by Lockheed leaving Raiwalla in charge of
the camp and detachment at Katherine.
At Advanced Headquarters I reported to Operations section
and a conference was held with the G.S.O.II (Major now Lieut Col
G.H. Finn) and subsequently with the G.O.C. (Major General Herring)
who then issued a new Operations Order (7 M.D. Operation Instruction
No.13). This simplified and also greatly extended the scope of
the previous order (7 W.D. Op Instruction No.1) under which we
had been working since he had left Darwin. This new Operation
Instruction laid down that the Forces consisting of the crew of the
Aroetta and the native unit already formed, together with any other
native personnel who might be added to it, was to be known as the
Special Reconnaissance Unit, and so definitely established this
Unit as an independent command to operate on the distant flanks of
the area, with a reconnaissance and fighting role. One of the
functions of the Special Reconnaissance Unit was to pave the way
for the Independent Companies and other flank forces, and to
co-operate with these forces.
On the morning of April 7th I returned to Katherine, as I was
anxious to see the natives as soon as possible. This visit to
Force Headquarters had occupied only two days, but I left with a
clear understanding of our role, and full appreciation of just what
our tasks and responsibilities were.
29.
We knew that we had the entire coastline from Cape Don
to the McArthur River, as well as Groote Eylandt and other
islands off the coast, to watch, and to prepare against possible
enemy landings - a coast line of more than 1000 miles. We knew
also, for we had been told clearly, that we could expect no help.
I can still recall now the feeling of pride that we all drew from
this order and which told us to remain on the flanks and "to
harass enemy landings and progress in the event of landings on
the east coast", and the determination that we felt that whatever
befell we would remain at our station. We did not overlook the
fact that we were only four while men with a 65 ton ship. But
we knew that if the enemy should land on this coast we were
entrusted with a responsibility so great, and an opportunity to
serve that might never again be given to so small a body of men.
It gave is fresh encouragement in the task of raising the native
unit and training these nomadic people. Hitherto we had heard
nothing but disparagement of this native force. We know now that
our faith in the native forces that we had been sent out to
raise and which had been so laboriously built up and trained, was
shared by the G.O.C. and his Staff, and we returned with fresh
heart to a task that had proved always exacting and difficult, and
often disappointing.
I am proud to be able to tell now of the work carried out
in the six months which followed by the handful of men, white
and native, under my command, and to record the story of relentless
unremitting hard work, unselfish service and initiative, displayed
by these men working with one objective. In all that time not
one of the men obtained, or asked for, any leave to relief, there
was no grumbling or discontent, but everyman in this unit carried
out willingly and cheerfully what should have been the work of
two men. Guards were maintained throughout every night; the men
did armament as well as deck and other duties, they handled all
the cargo, they fuelled the ship, often swimming out with the
heavy drums of fuel. They watered the vessel, filling the tanks
of the vessel with drums from wells that they dug ashore; they
cut firewood, they careened the ship and cleaned the copper, and
at the same time, they were drilled, trained in the use of small
arms and turned gradually into soldiers as well as sailors.
At one period, the Unit was divided into three detachments,
operating hundreds of miles apart - one Sergeant ashore in charge
of an O.P.I. Lieutenant Palmer and the W.T. Operator on the Aroetta
while I was away on reconnaissance with M.T., operating between
the Roper River and Borroloola on the McArthur.
Most of us expected that following the heavy raid on Darwin
and the raid on Katherine, when reconnaissance aircraft were
frequently sighted, that the enemy would make a landing somewhere
on the east coast at Milingimbi, Groote Eylandt or the Roper River,
and we set out at once to prepare for this.
It was obvious that any plan, to be of real use must be
carefully prepared and rehearsed and skilfully executed. My
first objective therefore was to establish a good and effective
O.F. equipped with W.T. commanding a view of the approaches to the
Roper River which at this time was wide open, since early warning
of the approach of an enemy would be vital to Headquarters. The
fact was not overlooked that, important as might be the guerilla
operations, we might be able to carry on the most vital role was the
rapid passing of information of an enemy movement to H.Q.
The next most important point was to disperse ammunition
and equipment that if the ship should be lost we would still possess
arms and ammunition to carry on. Finally, it was necessary to
establish and maintain an O.P. apart from that to be set up at
the Roper in area where the following conditions would be found:
30.
- The O.P. must be situated in sufficiently close proximity
to the most vulnerable points - Milingimbi, Groote Eylandt,
and the Roper River - to enable raids to be carried out at
night with natives to destroy enemy aircraft on the ground
and to sabotage fuel dumps and equipment. - It must be situated in an area where the natives were well
disposed and absolutely to be relied on it the event of an
enemy landing, and where in the meantime regular contacts
could be maintained, with the natives to prepare them for the
role they were to play and to enable them to be mustered
at the first warning of enemy approach. - Though located close to a likely point of enemy attack,
the O.P. should, if possible, be situated at a point not
likely itself to be attractive to the enemy, and therefore
one at which they were unlikely to land.
Before leaving Darwin on return to the east coast, where the
Aroetta was the meet us at the Four Mile Landing near Roper River,
arrangements were made to replenish all stores on the Aroetta to
enable the vessel to remain for six months without further supplies
except of fuel, and plans had been made to lay down a fuel depot
at Groote Eylandt so that the ship need not leave her station at
a critical time to refuel.
In view of the plan to attack enemy aircraft on the ground,
certain special stores had to be obtained. The vessel was already
well equipped with demolition materials, but materials for the
making of Molotov cocktails were inadequate. For this purpose a
drum of bitumen was obtained in Darwin and a raid then conducted
on all the hotels which remained after the first air raid to secure
as many clear glass bottles as possible since these are the most
suitable for this work. From these forays, conducted independently
the crew returned each with a sack of empty bottles on his back.
Every man put his heart into this acquisition of equipment for the
task ahead with a zeal that would not be denied.
(II) Return to Roper River: Establishment of Depots and O.P.
On return to Katherine, arrangements were made to transport
the native detachment of 50 men back to the Roper River. A convoy
of two 3-ton trucks was made available and in addition a 30-cwt
vehicle was taken on charge by the Special Reconnaissance Unit
for land transport in the Roper-McArthur River areas where
necessary.
It was considered imperative that the O.P. which I intended
to establish at the mouth of the Roper River should be equipped
with wireless. It has not been possible to obtain the necessary
equipment at Headquarters at this time, as there was a heavy call
for W.T. transmitters and equipment and already been issued.
A W.T. set was therefore impressed from Roper Valley Station for
this O.P.
On route from Katherine to the Leichardt Bar, Roper River,
a depot was laid down at Elsie Station, containing a reserve of
S.A. ammunition and rations. A second depot was established at
the Roper Bar Police Depot, containing further reserves of ammunition
and in this depot which was considered reasonably safe, certain
weapons, including a Bren, LMG, and number of [[?]] rifles and
ammunition, were laid down. As Roper Bar was at the end of the
Road up to the L of C, the motor vehicle and fuel supplies were also
laid down at this point. In establishing a reserve store of arms
and leaving the WT here, consideration was given to the fact that
headquarters of a Platoon from No.4 Independent Company, was being
set up at Roper Bar Police Depot. Subsequently, a small cache
of two cases of S.A.A. ball ammunition was secreted in the rocks of
a hill overlooking the river close to the Four Mile Landing, which
could be reached by night in extreme emergency even if the area
should be strongly held by an enemy fire.
On April 15th the Aroetta arrived on return from Darwin,
and on the following day the whole of the native detachment was
taken aboard the vessel and proceeded down stream to the Roper
River Mission. Natives were landed on the north bank, under
Pte Raiwalla to make a foot reconnaissance of the north bank
of the stream between the Roper River Mission and of the mouth
of the river.
While proceeding downstream on April 19th an obstacle,
believed to have been a submerged, waterlogged piece of timber
or log was picked up by the propeller and passed through the
propeller aperture, damaging two of the blades and throwing the
propeller out of balance. Copy of the report on this incident is
included in Appendix 4. To avoid excessive vibration the engine
had now to be run at low revolutions, thereby greatly reducing her
speed and power. On April 22nd the vessel was anchored at No. 1
Survey Camp close to the mouth of the river and intensive reconnaissance
was carried to:
(1) determine the accessibility of the area for enemy AFVs
(2) to locate the most suitable site for a permanent O.P., and
(3) to endeavour to find water, which in this season, was
unusually scarce.
A local patrol was carried out on foot by Lieutenant
Palmer, with a detail of natives, to the south of the mouth of
the river. A copy of Lieutenant Palmer's report included in
Appendix 4.
As no high ground exists in this vicinity and as no water
could be found even in native wells at this time, the vessel
proceeded upstream to Gulnare Bluff (Mt Moore) where a further
reconnaissance was made to determine the suitability of this site
for an O.P., for I was anxious to select a site and set up this
post for observation without loss of time.
The fact that Gulnare Bluff (Mt Moore) was situated only
six miles from the mouth of the river, and that it commanded a
view over the estuary of the river and also covered the mouth and
approaches, made it eminently suitable as a site for an O.P. But
no water was found at this time, other than surface water. It was
decided, however, that the O.P. must be established and a search
for water conducted while this work was in progress.
(iii) Reconnaissance on Foot Northward to Ross River
Instructions had meanwhile been received from Headquarters
for a reconnaissance to be carried out for a distance of 40 miles
to the north of the Roper River Mouth to search for possible enemy
fuel depots and landing areas.
I decided to carry out this patrol on foot while the O.P.
was being prepared. A party was selected from the native detachment
and leaving Lieutenant Palmer in charge of the ship, I proceeded north
of the Ross River. The area was extremely arid and on the forty
mile patrol to the Ross River only two wells were found. These had
to be cleaned out and deepened and even then provided very little
water. On the afternoon of the second day we arrived at the
estuary of the Ross River after a long hard stage - only to find
that the only native well was dry, and after we had therefore to
retrace our steps at once to the well where we had last obtained
water. Copy of the report made by signal on this patrol is included
in Appendix 4, with other reports covering the activities of the
Unit.
32.
Work on the O.P. had meanwhile, progressed well and in
order to camouflage the site to the best effect, the camp was
partially excavated in the ground among the rocks. It was then
roofed with galvanised iron obtained from an abandoned camp near
the mouth of the river, and this was then camouflaged with boughs
so that it was almost impossible to detect from the air. Some
difficulty was experienced first in inducting the natives to
approach the post in such a way that tracks would not be worn
leading direct from the river to the site.
As the search for water, in the area had proved fruitless
this had to be supplied in the meantime, from the ship, until
tanks could be obtained to hold a supply adequate for the needs
of the O.P.
By 28th April the work was completed, the W.T. set
installed by Sergeant Harvey, W.T. Operator on the Aroetta and
satisfactory tests had been carried out. An "Iron Horse"
charging motor which had been impressed for the purpose, was
provided, for the charging of batteries. Sergeant Elkington,
who was the only one of the white personnel who could be detached
was placed in charge of the O.P. with a detachment of twelve
picked natives from the detachment of 50, headed by their own
section leader. Bindjarpuma or "Slippers". (See Section from
Organisation of native unit). Sergeant Elkington was provided
with an Operation Order No 3 (See Appendix II) covering the work
and maintenance of this post. We remained in charge for two
months (until July 5th) when the post was handed over to No. 4
Independent Company, and he was relieved.
On May 1st the Aroetta again proceeded up stream to carry
water for the O.P. Two 400 gallon heavy galvanised tanks were
secured from Roper Bar, and these were subsequently installed at
Gulnare Bluff. Both the tanks had been filled with water up
stream, but the additional weight had increased the draught of the
vessel sufficiently to prevent the ship from crossing some of the
sand bars except on a very full tide, and one of the tanks
eventually slipped overboard. The tank was retrieved, but only
four hundred gallons of water remained and the second tank had to
be filled laboriously with surface water scooped from the shallow
pools that still remained on the surrounding plains.
As much difficultly was being experienced in securing a
propeller of the same pitch and diameter as the one now on the ship
which had been damaged, I at length obtained authority to send
Lieutenant Palmer by Flying Boat from Groote Eylandt to Brisbane
to assure that the replacement would be of the right diameter and
pitch and tapered to fit the shaft. On May 23rd the Aroetta
arrived at the Flying Boat Base and anchored in Little Lagoon.
While awaiting the arrival of the Flying Boat on which Lieutenant
Palmer was to proceed to Brisbane, we put the stern of the Aroetta
up for examination of the propeller and to obtain the correct specifica-
tions for the replacement. Now that I was assured of obtaining
another propeller I decided to take the risk of beating out the
damaged blades of the propeller in the hope that, pending replace-
ment, this would increase its efficiency at least a little.
Working in four feet of water, we were able to bend the blades out
with heavy hammers and to remove the rough edges with files.
On May 26th Lieutenant Palmer left by Flying Boat, and I
employed the period of his absence in patrols of Bennet Bay, Blue
Mud Bay and the Caledon Bay areas, in order to maintain the
closest possible contact with these natives.
The Aroetta left Groote Eylandt for Blue Mud Bay, on May
29th, anchoring in Bennet Bay, near Cape Barrow. The ship was
now much under manned, as I had with me only the W.T. Operator
in addition to the natives. Sergeant Elkington, who had served
as engineer, was at Gulnare Bluff O.P. and the native who had
acted as assistant, Pte E. Richardson, had been sent to Katherine
Hospital and later invalided out of the Unit.
33.
During the ensuing week the Aroetta worked along the
shoreline of Blue Mud Bay, sailing also at Woodah and Round Hill
Islands, and at various points of the mainland.
This is a dangerous shoreline for vessels drawing much
water; it is shallow and uncharted with many banks and reefs,
the more dangerous because the water is always dirty and discoloured.
In the S.E. season the sea rolls straight into the wide, open,
shallow bay. Throughout almost the whole of the period in which
the Aroetta was cruising in this area the engine had to be run
at greatly reduced speed and the lead line used constantly to
feel the way.
At each anchorage, detachments of natives were sent
ashore to reconnoitre and to examine the area for signs of recent
occupation by strangers or by native hunting parties with whom
it was desired to establish contact. A report had been received
from HQ that an RAAF GANNET Aircraft was reported to be missing
over Arnhem Land. Sgt. Elkington was instructed by W.T. to
send out patrols in his territory, and an extended search was
carried out by natives from the Aroetta at each anchorage without
result. On June 2nd a detachment in charge of Raiwalla was put
ashore west of Woodah Island and instructed to carry out a patrol
north of Blue Mud Bay to Trial Bay., and to meet with the ship
there. On June 4th I took the Aroetta out of Blue Mud Bay and
sailed north along the cast, anchoring in Trial Bay, where
Raiwalla arrived with his detachment on the following night, after
a severe journey in very rough country.
Many natives were living here and it was at this time
the chief camp of the people whose territories extended over
a long stretch of coastline. Contact was made with Wongo, headman
of the Caledon Bay people at Trial Bay. Except for reports of
aircraft sighted, these natives had little to report, and no signs
of strange ships or of Japanese activities had occurred in our
absence.
A number of natives from the detachment had been
recruited in this area, who had tired of the routine work, and
gone A.W.L. and these men arrived back in their home camp while
the Aroetta was anchored in Trial Bay. They readily rejoined the
vessel however, and all served for a further period on an extended
reconnaissance on the Roper and McArthur Rivers. A fuller account
of the work carried out by this force is set out in section B.
I remained in Trial Bay with these natives for more than
a week, in preference to extending the patrol north and west over
a greater length of coastline, working hard with these people,
from amongst whom we had already recruited many men. The value
of an O.P. in close proximity to Groote Eylandt and the approach
to the Roper River, was stressed earlier in this report, and I had
already planned to establish this base a little later, among the
Caledon Bay people, either at Trial Bay or in Caledon Bay itself.
For this reason close contact with them now was essential. These
people offered just what was required; they were so notoriously
hostile to the Japanese fishermen in recent years, that it was
unlikely that the Japanese would select their territory as a
landing point for small parties, even if it had otherwise any
advantage. They were warlike, and numerically strong, and as I
myself was on very friendly terms with them and spoke their language
their territory would afford an excellent base. But being high
spirited and independent, they were not easy to handle, and
discipline was hard to them, as it does to most natives.
On June 13th, I took aboard the whole of the detachment
again and sailed south to Groote Eylandt to the A.O.R. The ship
proceeded then on to Port Langdon to pick up Lieutenant Palmer who
returned on June 21st. Lieutenant Palmer brought a new propeller
and shaft which were flown up with him from Brisbane. The straightening
out of the blades which had been attempted after some
hesitation, and which was regarded as an emergency measure only,
34.
had proved so satisfactory that it was now possible to run the
engine at the full normal speed of 1000 revolutions without
excessive vibration, and as it was now considered advisable to
slip the vessel before the end of the year, the damaged
propeller was not removed in the meantime, instead the replacement
was had in reserve, to that if possible the work could be carried
out on the slip by experts.
On June 29th the Aroetta anchored off the O.P. at Gulnare
Bluff. Sgt Elkington had nothing of importance to report. Both
be, and all the members of the detachment, were in good health, and
spirits, but they were suffering severely with the mosquitos which
were present in great numbers, and came out in hordes at night,
and during the day were much troubled by flies. Conditions at
the O.P. were severe and extremely monotonous. The surrounding
country was flat and uninteresting, consisting merely of miles
of salt pans and plains intercepted with mangroves. Nevertheless
Sgt. Elkington and the detachment of natives had carried on their
work at this O.P. - maintaining a constant look out, keeping regular
schedule with the ship each day, and carrying out patrols in the
surrounding country. The N.C.O. and his detachment had carried
on their difficult and lonely undertaking excellently throughout.
In the meantime arrangements had been made to hand over
this O.P. to No 4 Independent Company, which was now in a position to
supply the necessary personnel to take over the whole of the Roper
River area and so to free the Aroetta for patrol work further out
on the flanks.
It had now been arranged that I was again the visit Force
Headquarters to report. As this Unit was responsible for
reconnaissance of the area as far south as Pellow Group and the
McArthur River, and the territory generally north of Nutwood
Downs, it was considered most economical to send the Aroetta after
landing at Roper Bay to carry out reconnaissance of Maria Island,
the Pellow Group, and the McArthur River. It was planned that
I should then proceed overland on the return from Darwin, to make
an extended reconnaissance by land, meeting the Aroetta at Borroloola
on the McArthur River.
On June 29th, the ship was again taken upstream to the 4
mile Landing near Roper Bar, the whole of the cargo was removed to
enable a general check to be made, and to clean out the holds.
Meanwhile the depot which had been maintained at Roper Bar Police
Depot was withdrawn, including arms and ammunition, and loaded on
the vessel. While this was in progress the crew was sent ashore
regularly to drill and for bayonet exercises, a routine which had
been suspended while the ship was at sea on patrol.
Arrangements were made with Captain Thompson of No. 4
Independent Company to proceed down the river on the Aroetta and
to take over the O.P. This post was handed over on July 5th, when
Sergeant Elkington, together with the detachment of 18 natives,
rejoined the ship and resumed duty as engineer. Lieutenant Palmer
then proceeded with the Aroetta via Maria Island to the Sir Edward
Pellew Group and the McArthur River, carrying out the work laid down
in Operation Order No. 4 (See Appendix II)
Meanwhile on July 4th I left Roper Bar by M.T. with a
detachment of six natives, one Solomon Island member of the crew,
and five other natives, for Force Headquarters.
At Force Headquarters a discussion was held on the future
role & Identity of the Special Reconnaissance Unit, and as a result
an application was made at this time for a definite establishment for
the Unit, and for a separate colour patch. It was felt that such
establishment and definite identity would assist in holding together
this force and that it would further serve to foster a pride in the
Unit and build up a solidarity which is essential to the success of
any organisation of men however small.
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