Patrols from 3 Cav and a platoon 5/14 Punjabi were detailed to assist the Company in maintaining law and order. Work was intensified on the destruction of boats and vehicles that were of no use to us. Supplies of milk, flour, medical supplies were dispatched south by all available lorries and denial schemes for rubber…
View MoreDamned hot most of the day which was quite uneventful. Stuck on a sandbank for two hours at K.S. Bidor on return. Back at Teluk Intan at 1900 hours. During the day Teluk Intan bombed by three planes. 7 killed and 12 injured. Water supply cut, so no baths in Teluk Intan club.
View MoreOur Commanding Officer had hoped to give us a Christmas dinner, but this was not possible. During the morning enemy aircraft gunned our troops in Teluk Anson. The new launch that was kitted out was a Thornycroft Diesel No. 43 which Richardson described as a “fine craft”. The river patrol commenced at 21.30 hours upriver…
View MoreFrom Richardson’s diary: 11.45 Proctor hurt by exploding .22 detonator. Attacked by Japanese from 10.00-11.45. Bombing, diving and machine gunning. There were several near misses from 50lbs bombs and one inch cannon shells. However, neither personnel, not ships were hit. The planes spent another three hours in the vicinity, evidently looking for us. Started return…
View MoreAn uneventful journey upriver to PARIT, continued until midnight. Destroyed several craft and sank others, then pack to Teluk Intan. Several aircraft aircraft flew over. Heavy Japanese bombing of Parit and area. On guard in two hour shifts all night. Proctor fired tommy-gun at one craft which did not stop. (NB: Richardson diary has date…
View MoreFrom Major Fearon’s diary: The threat of a landing by the Japanese made it imperative to put into operation some form of defence based at Telok Anson. The orders received by the Company were: Retain transport and remain mobile. Prepare and put into operation defence of Telok Anson. Salvage all servicable vehicles and stores, and…
View MoreUnder the command of Lt. J. H. Proctor (originally from the Loyal Regiment), the Perak River Patrol, of which Walter was a member, consisted of: C.S.M. O’Callaghan (Kedah Volunteer Force) Cpl J.A. Richardson (4FMSVF) L/Cpl White, Pte C. T. Ross (3FMSVF) Pte W. Gilchrist (1FMSVF)
View MoreThree strong Japanese battalions were advancing down the road from Sumpitan and approaching Lenggong. On the morning of December 20th, Captain Bal Hendry’s A Company, Argyll and Souther Highlanders, was instructed to ambush and delay the advancing Japanese. At dawn on December 20th the first successful ambush was made. [1] The Moon Over Malaya, p116.
View MoreThe action at SUMPITAN was the only action fought by the Independent Company on the GRIK road. Further actions were fought by the Argylls and other units of 12 Brigade which later arrived, the result of which was that the lifeline of 11 Div was never cut by the enemy as was its intention.
View MoreTwo platoons of the Independent Company had arrived in Sumpitan ahead of the main body of the Argylls at 10.30 a.m. and had not anticipated that the Japanese advance unit had already infiltrated the village. As they left their vehicles in the centre of the village, the Independent Company was ambushed and suffered some twenty…
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