Walter Pollock
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Telok Anson, Perak (1/1/42)

January 1, 1942January 1, 2017

Air action was requested by W/T from 11 Division which replied at 1030 hours that two Blenheims were on the way. These, however, never put in an appearance.

No. 1 Platoon motor launch, commanded by 2nd Lt Holland, engaged the enemy at close range in an exciting fight at 1130 hours.

The enemy was ready for our men and had mortars and machine gun position on the sand bank. After a great fight, with the motor launch circling the grounded enemy at speed, our troops were forced to withdraw with 3 casualties, two of whom subsequently died.

By 1400hrs all Japanese boats were re-floated.

Air action, or the loan of some artillery would have blown these launches out of the river, with Major Fearon adding “and  it is a pity that no suitable action was taken.”

Meanwhile, the Perak River Patrol spent the morning working on the boat and preparing for a quick departure by sea if necessary.

By the afternoon we learned that the Japanese had landed at BAGAN DATOH, KUALA PERAK and UTAN MELITAN and advancing rapidly.

By 2000 hours, the enemy was in possession of the cross roads at SIMPANG AMPAT.

Loaded two truck and two cars and made ready for rapid move by road.

At 1900 hours the Perak River Patrol blew up the No. 43 boat and fired the jetty. At this time the Japanese were just across the river. The Japanese landed on our side of the river near HQ some half hour after we had left.

Platoons went into action soon after we had moved off along CHANGKAT JONG Road. We parked some 4 to 5 miles out and stayed the night on guard. Fighting round about, but not too near. Mosquitoes terrible – little sleep.

 

THE TELOK ANSON BATTLES

Major Fearon, Commanding Officer of the Independent Compay had this to say about the engagement of the enemy around Telok Anson:

The Telok Anson battles had imposed considerable strain on all ranks, but the Company, used in its wrong role and attempting to fight a battle which eventually proved too much for a whole brigade, aquitted itself well. While our casualties were light, must have suffered severely. On balance, the Independent Company did well in its first large scale action with the enemy.

The work of the Company in denial operations before the battle was excellent and the Japanese could have gained no material of value in the town.

All rubber, petrol, vehicles, launches, boats, stores,, etc not dispatched south had been destroyed. The power station and telephone exchanges had been wrecked and accumulated reserves of rice had been issued to the population.

All stocks of alcohol (and it appears that Telok Anson must have been a thirsty place) were destroyed.

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