by Peter Brune
9 ibid. p. 143.
10 Lieutenant-General A. E. Percival, ‘Operations of Malaya Command from 08.12.1941 to 15.02.1942’, London Gazette.
11 Kirby, p. 242.
12 ibid.
13 Simson, Singapore Too Little, Too Late, p. 61.
14 ibid.
15 ibid. p. 62.
16 Kirby, p.242.
17 ibid.
18 Simson, Singapore Too Little, Too Late, p. 63.
19 ibid. p. 69.
20 ibid. p. 71.
21 ibid. p. 73.
22 I. M. Stewart, History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion, p. 49.
23 ibid. p. 50.
24 Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 120.
25 Kirby, p. 244.
26 I. M. Stewart, History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion, p. 58.
27 Kirby, p. 246.
28 ibid. p. 247.
29 ibid.
30 Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 124.
31 Heath, quoted in Kirby, p. 270.
32 Barstow quoted in Kirby, p. 270.
33 Kirby, p. 271.
34 Kirby, footnote, p. 270.
35 Kirby, p. 272.
36 Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 129.
37 Masanobu Tsuji, Singapore, The Japanese Version, p. 151.
13 SLIM RIVER
1 Simson, Singapore Too Little, Too Late, p. 67.
2 Kirby, pp. 275–6.
3 Alan Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 134.
4 ibid.
5 Masanobu Tsuji, Singapore 1942, The Japanese Version, p. 171.
6 Kirby, p. 276.
7 Deakin, quoted in Kirby, p. 277.
8 I. M. Stewart, History of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Battalion, p. 80.
9 Simson, Singapore Too Little, Too Late, p. 44.
10 Kirby, p. 279.
11 These figures are quoted in Kirby, p. 281 (footnote).
12 Lieutenant-General A. E. Percival, ‘Operations of Malaya Command from 08.12.1941 to 15.02.1942’, London Gazette.
13 Kirby, The Chain of Disaster, p. 180.
14 Kinvig, Scapegoat, General Percival of Singapore, p. 178.
15 Bennett Diary.
16 Kinvig, Scapegoat, General Percival of Singapore, p. 178.
17 Wavell to the Chiefs of Staff, 9 January, quoted in Connell, Wavell, Supreme Commander, p. 87.
18 Kirby, p. 285.
14 GEMAS
1 Alan Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 150.
2 Kirby, p. 289.
3 Alan Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 150.
4 Lieutenant-General A. E. Percival, ‘Operations of Malaya Command from 08.12.1941 to 15.02.1942’, London Gazette.
5 Percival, The War In Malaya, p. 214.
6 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 30.
7 ibid. p. 36.
8 Maston quoted in Recollections, 2/30th Battalion AIF Association, a five DVD disc set, 1994.
9 Lieutenant Albert Farr, Signals Officer, 2/30th Battalion, interview with the author, Sydney, 17 April 2007.
10 Captain Rowley Richards, RMO 2/15th Field Regiment, interview with the author, Sydney, 16 April 2007.
11 Quoted in a number of works e.g., Garth Pratten, Australian Battalion Commanders in the Second World War, p. 140.
12 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 211.
13 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 212.
14 AWM 52 8/3/30, the 2/30th Battalion Unit Diary. A detailed map is shown in the January–February 1942 Diary.
15 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghans’s Greyhounds, pp. 81–2.
16 Private Ray Brown quoted in Recollections 2/30th Battalion AIF Association, a five DVD disc set, 1994.
17 Corporal Harry Holden quoted in Recollections 2/30th Battalion AIF Association, a five DVD disc set, 1994.
18 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghans’s Greyhounds, p. 89.
19 Corporal Harry Holden quoted in Recollections 2/30th Battalion AIF Association, a five DVD disc set, 1994.
20 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, p. 88.
21 Private Ray Brown quoted in Recollections 2/30th Battalion AIF Association, a five DVD disc set, 1994.
22 Corporal Harry Holden quoted in Recollections 2/30th Battalion AIF Association, a five DVD disc set, 1994.
23 Lieutenant Lyn Booth quoted in Recollections 2/30th Battalion AIF Association, a five DVD disc set, 1994.
24 Kenneth Harrison, The Brave Japanese, p. 25.
25 ibid. p. 26.
26 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 217.
27 AWM 52 8/3/30, the 2/30th Battalion Unit Diary. The January Diary 1942.
28 ibid.
29 ibid.
30 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, p. 111.
31 AWM 52 8/3/30, the 2/30th Battalion Unit Diary. The January Diary 1942.
32 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, pp. 121–2.
33 Ian Morrison, Malayan Postscript, p.114.
15 THE BATTLE OF MUAR
1 Kirby, p. 304.
2 ibid.
3 Alan Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 161.
4 Corporal Bob Christie, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 6 January 2005.
5 Captain Victor Brand, RMO, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 5 January 2005.
6 Captain Bill Bowring in R. W. Christie (editor), A History of the 2/29 Battalion 8th Division AIF, p. 45.
7 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 226.
8 Colin E. Finkemeyer, It Happened To Us, p. 34.
9 Corporal Jim Kennedy, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Albury NSW, 10 January 2005.
10 Colin E. Finkemeyer, It Happened To Us, p. 32.
11 ibid.
12 Captain Victor Brand, RMO, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 5 January 2005.
13 AWM 52 8/3/29, the 2/29th Battalion Unit Diary. The January Diary 1942.
14 Colin E. Finkemeyer, It Happened To Us, p. 34.
15 ibid.
16 Kenneth Harrison, The Brave Japanese, p. 48.
17 Lance-Corporal John Roxburgh, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Albury NSW, 10 January 2005.
18 Private John Boehm, B Company, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Geelong Victoria, 28 December 2005.
19 Captain Victor Brand, RMO, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 5 January 2005.
20 ibid.
21 ibid.
22 Captain Bill Bowring in R. W. Christie (editor), A History of the 2/29 Battalion 8th Division AIF p. 45.
23 Captain Victor Brand, RMO, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 5 January 2005.
24 Lieutenant Jim Howard, Carrier Platoon, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 28 September 2004.
25 Private Gus Halloran, Signals 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 29 September 2004.
26 Private Jim Stewart, Signals, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Sydney, 1 October 2004.
27 Lieutenant Jim Howard, Carrier Platoon, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 28 September 2004.
28 ibid.
29 Captain Bill Bowring in R. W. Christie (editor), A History of the 2/29 Battalion 8th Division AIF p. 47.
30 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 231.
31 Newton, The Grim Glory of the 2/19 Battalion AIF, p. 200.
32 ibid.
33 Lieutenant Ben Hackney quoted in Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 233. (footnote).
16 TO PARIT SULONG
1 Sergeant Bert Mettam, Mortar Platoon, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Adelaide, August 2005.
2 Lance-Corporal John Roxburgh, HQ
Company, 2/29th Battalion, War Diary, copy kindly given to the author 5 October 2005.
3 AWM 52 8/3/29, the 2/29th Battalion Unit Diary. The January Diary 1942.
4 Newton, The Grim Glory of the 2/19 Battalion AIF, p. 205.
5 AWM 52 8/3/29, the 2/29th Battalion Unit Diary. The January Diary 1942.
6 Corporal Bob Christie, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 6 January 2005.
7 Lance-Corporal John Roxburgh, HQ Company, 2/29th Battalion, War Diary, copy kindly given to the author 5 October 2005.
8 Corporal Bob Christie, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 6 January 2005.
9 Captain Victor Brand, RMO, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 5 January 2005.
10 Sergeant Bert Mettam, Mortar Platoon, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Adelaide, August 2005.
11 Brand in John Lack, No Lost Battalion, p. 92.
12 ibid.
13 Wigmore (p. 234) states the strength of the 2/29th remnant at Bakri as seven officers and 190 other ranks. It would appear that he arrived at this figure at least partly using the 2/19th Unit Diary, which states ‘ A Coy 50, B Coy 100, C Coy 50’ but does not state the number of officers.
14 Sergeant Bert Mettam, Mortar Platoon, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Adelaide, August 2005.
15 Lance-Corporal John Roxburgh, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Albury NSW, 10 January 2005.
16 Sergeant Bert Mettam, Mortar Platoon, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Adelaide, August 2005.
17 Corporal Bob Christie, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 6 January 2005.
18 Corporal Jim Kennedy, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Albury NSW, 10 January 2005.
19 John Lack, No Lost Battalion, p. 94.
20 Private Gus Halloran, Signals, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 29 September 2004.
21 The structure and order of withdrawal of Anderson’s column is taken from the 2/19th Unit Diary and Anderson’s account published in Newton’s The Grim Glory of the 2/19 Battalion AIF.
22 AWM 52 8/3/19, the 2/19th Battalion Unit Diary. The January Diary 1942. There is a detailed map provided in the Diary.
23 Karl Hack and Kevin Blackburn, Did Singapore Have To Fall? p. 157.
24 Private Gus Halloran, Signals, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 29 September 2004.
25 Newton, The Grim Glory of the 2/19 Battalion AIF, p. 211.
26 Private Jim Stewart, Signals, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Sydney, 1 October 2004.
27 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 239.
28 Private Gus Halloran, Signals, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 29 September 2004.
29 Gunner Jim Kerr, 4th Anti-Tank Regiment, interview with the author, Melbourne, 20 April 2007.
30 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 249.
31 Gunner Jim Kerr, 4th Anti-Tank Regiment, interview with the author, Melbourne 20 April 2007.
32 AWM 52 8/3/19, the 2/19th Battalion Unit Diary. The January Diary 1942.
33 Lieutenant Jim Howard, Carrier Platoon, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 28 September, 2004.
34 Captain Victor Brand, RMO, 2/29th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 5 January 2005.
35 Private Jim Stewart, Signals, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Sydney, 1 October 2004.
36 Russell Braddon, The Naked Island, p. 78.
37 Lieutenant Jim Howard, Carrier Platoon, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 28 September, 2004.
38 The 2/19th Unit Diary.
39 Private Charles Edwards, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Melbourne, 17 February 2007.
40 Lionel Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 249.
41 Lieutenant Jim Howard, Carrier Platoon, 2/19th Battalion, interview with the author, Port Macquarie, NSW, 28 September, 2004.
42 Lynette Ramsay Silver, The Bridge at Parit Sulong, p. 177.
43 ibid. p. 182.
44 ibid. p. 185.
45 Percival, The War in Malaya, p. 233.
17 A GREAT SCANDAL
1 Kirby, p.306.
2 ibid. p. 307.
3 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, pp. 235–6.
4 AWM 553/5/23, Operations of 8 Aust Division in Malaya 1941–1942, Colonel J. H. Thyer, Part 1, p. 53.
5 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 236.
6 ibid.
7 AWM 52, 1/5/17, 8 Australian Division General Staff Branch Diary, January–February 1942.
8 AWM 553/5/23, Operations of 8 Aust Division in Malaya 1941–1942, Colonel J. H. Thyer, Part 1, p. 53.
9 Percival, The War in Malaya, p. 231.
10 AWM 553/5/23, Operations of 8 Aust Division in Malaya 1941–1942, Colonel J. H. Thyer, Part 1, p. 53.
11 AWM 52, 1/5/17, 8th Australian Division General Staff Branch Diary, January–February 1942.
12 AWM 553/5/23, Operations of 8 Aust Division in Malaya 1941–1942, Colonel J. H. Thyer, Part 1, p. 53.
13 ibid.
14 ibid.
15 ibid. pp. 53–4.
16 AWM 553/5/23, Operations of 8 Aust Division in Malaya 1941–1942, Colonel J. H. Thyer, Part 1, p. 54.
17 ibid.
18 ibid.
19 ibid.
20 Percival, The War in Malaya, p. 232.
21 ibid.
22 Quoted in Lodge, The Fall of General Gordon Bennett, p. 104.
23 Kirby, p. 314.
24 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 231.
25 Captain C. G. T. Dean, The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) 1919–1953, pp. 75–7 and pp. 131–5.
26 Bennett Diary.
27 Quoted in Connell, Wavell, Supreme Commander, p. 110.
28 Quoted in Connell, Wavell, Supreme Commander, pp. 110–11.
29 ibid. p. 111.
30 Quoted in Connell, Wavell, Supreme Commander, p. 112.
31 ibid. pp. 112–13.
32 Winston Churchill, The Second World War, Vol. IV, p. 43.
33 ibid. p. 44.
34 Kirby, p. 329.
35 ibid.
36 Kirby, The Chain of Disaster, p. 207.
37 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 262.
38 AWM 52 8/3/18, The 2/18th Battalion Unit Diary. The January–February Diary 1942.
39 ibid.
40 ibid.
41 ibid.
42 AWM 52 8/3/18, The 2/18th Battalion Unit Diary. The January–February Diary 1942.
43 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 268.
44 Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 191.
45 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 269.
18 TO THE CAUSEWAY
1 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, p. 148.
2 AWM 52 8/3/30, The 2/30th Battalion Unit Diary, The January–February Diary 1942. Dispositions taken from a map, ‘Appendix B’.
3 A. W. Penfold, W. C Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, p. 152.
4 ibid. p. 153.
5 The timing of the attack and enemy strength is taken from the 2/30th Battalion Unit Diary, while its location is derived from the 2/30th unit history.
6 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, p. 155.
7 ibid. p. 158.
8 AWM 52 8/3/30, The 2/30th Battalion Unit Diary, The January–February Diary 1942.
9 ibid.
10 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 269.
11 Kirby, p. 335.
12 AWM 54 553/5/23, Operations of 8 Aust Division in Malaya 1941–1942, Colonel J. H. Thyer, Part 1, p. 65.
13 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 269.
14 AWM 54 553/5/23, Operations of 8 Aust Division in Malaya 1941–1942, Colonel J. H. Thyer, Part 1, p. 65.
15 Kirby, p. 335.
16 AWM 52 8/3/26, The 2/26th Battali
on Unit Diary, The January–February Diary 1942.
17 ibid.
18 ibid.
19 The description of the ground at the Namazie Rubber Estate and the dispositions are taken from: a map in AWM 52 8/3/26; the 2/26th Battalion Unit Diary; the January–February Diary 1942; and a map, descriptions and dispositions in A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, p. 163.
20 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, p. 165.
21 AWM 52 8/3/26, The 2/26th Battalion Unit Diary, The January–February Diary 1942.
22 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 276.
23 AWM 52 8/3/30, The 2/30th Battalion Unit Diary, The January–February Diary 1942.
24 ibid.
25 Bennett Diary.
26 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 277.
27 A. W. Penfold, W. C. Baylis, K. E. Crispin, Galleghan’s Greyhounds, pp. 173–4.
28 AWM 52 8/3/26, The 2/26th Battalion Unit Diary, The January–February Diary 1942.
29 ibid.
30 ibid.
31 AWM 52 8/3/26, The 2/26th Battalion Unit Diary, The January–February Diary 1942.
32 ibid.
33 ibid.
34 Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, p. 279.
35 ibid. p. 257.
36 ibid. p. 270.
37 Kirby, p. 335.
38 ibid. p. 337.
39 ibid. p. 336.
40 Moses Papers (held by Neil McDonald in Sydney: various parts kindly copied and given to the author October 2004). The quoted Trott account is included.
41 Moses letter 19 July 1982 (Moses Papers).
42 General H. Gordon Bennett, Why Singapore Fell, p. 157.
43 Moses, letter 19 July 1982 (Moses Papers).
44 John Wyett, Staff Wallah, p. 82.
19 ‘COMETH THE HOUR . . .’
1 Percival, The War in Malaya, pp. 259–60.
2 Morrison, Malayan Postscript, p. 156.
3 ibid.
4 ibid.
5 Kirby, pp. 234–5, p. 295.
6 Percival, The War in Malaya, p. 184.
7 Warren, Singapore 1942, Britain’s Greatest Defeat, p. 211.
8 Kirby, The Chain of Disaster, p. 213.
9 Percival, The War in Malaya, p. 184.
10 ibid.
11 A detailed account of these events is given in Christopher Shores and Brian Cull, Bloody Shambles, p. 150.
12 Simson, Singapore Too Little, Too Late, pp. 83–91.
13 Kirby, The Chain of Disaster, footnote, p. 213, also Simson, Singapore Too Little, Too Late, p. 106.