1Platoon consisted of Lt. Proctor with some 16 British soldiers, and 4 Volunteers. We learned afterwards that the Navy had wirelessed Singapore regarding Japanese landing, but took no further action. We had that job. Major Fearon references that 1 Platoon (British) was posted in a good position near the lighthouse end of the road leading…
View MoreEarly in the morning of the 15th, the Company moved into a rest area for the morning, while a recce of the whole position was made by officers and NCOs. Close to the Company area on the Padang was a mobile Anti-Aircraft Unit, and for the first time the Company was to see some good…
View MoreFearon said that the road to SEGAMAT was indescribable. There was a solid jam of traffic on it over a length of several miles (Richardson estimated 10 miles in length). Vehicles overturned in the road added to the confusion. Drivers in waiting in the block would fall sleep, not realising that the traffic in front…
View MoreThe convoy was heavily engaged by 2 enemy planes. Richardson describes Proctor’s car and Richardson’s truck being machine gunned. A big bomb was dropped in padi fields some 50 yards to Richardson’s right. Richardson ‘plodded on but had to stop up-hill as truck was very slow.’ They machine gunned the truck again and gave another…
View MoreOn the 12th, Richardson noted that there was some bombing and machine gunning north of them. Pollock and I refilled petrol tins from a pump in a rubber estate a few miles away. Coolies had looted the manager’s bungalow and had removed everything but the main uprights. Pollock and I did a recce of Port…
View MoreRichardson indicates that everyone is tired of the continual withdrawal, but no naval or air force support to enable land forces to throw the Japanese back. Morale inevitably suffers under these conditions. Only good things are that we are alive and have plenty of grub and drink. The Company remained in this rubber estate all…
View MoreRichardson describes two planes caming over (Banting) about 0900hrs and dropping four bombs up the road from the Independent Company. Another bomb drop on padang near the Company. Then planes machine gunned Pollock and Richardson up and down a ditch. By luck did not hit either, but a near thing. General machine gunning also and…
View MoreRichardson indicated: Slept well in back of truck (in KLANG). Planes over again 0800. Some action towards Port Swettenham. Later they were over again and bombed quite near our motor transport. Several people killed in Klang. No damage to us. Pollock and I spent the afternoon in R.H[1]. and later we had a very…
View MorePollock and Richardson prepared a good breakfast of boiled haddock in milk; grilled sausages, grape fruit and coffee. In town, just in time to stop coolies looting Fraser and Neave’s warehouse. Richardson stayed armed with pistol, Bren gun and 4 percussion grenades, and we took what stores we wanted. We then went to Kuala Lumpur…
View MoreThe morning was spent gathering barang in the godowns at Port Swettenham. Got some food, beer and chemistry. All stocks being destroyed. Dreadful wastage. Had a quiet evening. Met some blokes in Volunteer Light Battery; Caddy et alii. Heard Bill Tooke is O.K. Met 1st Perak Engineers Seddin and Bean, “Groucho” McBain, Urquhart, Beaton et…
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