'Pounding Along to Singapore', the 2/20 Battalion AIF in Singapore and Malaya in May 1941.

'Pounding Along to Singapore' is the book I wrote about the 2/20 Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF) who were sent to Singapore and Malaya in 1941 as part of the 8th Division. Captain Bill Gaden's letters to and from the family provide the timeline along which the story of the 2/20 Bn is woven, from inception in June 1940 to the end of the Second World War. Other  threads come from the 2/20 Battalion's War Diary and Routine Orders (available from the Australian War Memorial) newspapers and magazines of the day, interviews with some of the men who survived the eventual POW years and came home and other reports from the time. (The book is available from me at cagaden@iprimus.com.au)

4 May 1941

Unit moved tactically by M.T. from Seremban to Port Dickson and took over lines vacated by 2/18 Bn who moved into Seremban. The move was carried out very quickly and without any delay.  Several officers were reported as being in hospital. The next day the unit and Company HQ took part in an exercise in preparation for a whole unit exercise in a couple of days time. Unfamiliarity with the area caused many difficulties  but it raised many points of interest and ideas.

6 May 1941

The 2/20 settled into their new quarters and made preparation for the exercise to be held the next day. This exercise covered movement through jungle, attack, organisation of HQ and the exercising generally of all Companys. The War Diary reported it was the best 'all day' exercise so far. It was  umpired and organised by the Brigade to produce situations  and events in such a manner as to thoroughly exercise all personnel  in their duties and coordinate all branches of the unit. As a result of these lessons the troops themselves became more interested in tactical training.

8 May 1941

Unit out training all morning in jungle on Movement on Compass bearings. Unit B Echelon Recce. Op. on receipt of message from Brigade moved out on a Recce in connection with Div. exercise the next day. Ptes Sym, Storey and Serong were selected to play for Negri Sembilan in the inter-State soccer match versus Selangor on Saturday 10 May and Pte Quinn was selected as referee. (Sadly two of these men were destined to die as POWs, Daniel Quinn (15 November 1943, Naoetsu) and Gordon James Storey (8 April 1945, Sandakan). Lest we forget.

9 May 1941

Several NCOs marched out on a 15 week course at an OCTU (Officer Cadet Training Unit).

10 May 1941

Bill Gaden wrote to his mother that "Our batmen ....are  becoming expert gardeners and ... tomorrow, Mother’s Day, they will decorate the place with white flowers in jam tins. Our white flowers are frangipani, petunias and some small ones I have no name for."

 Mother's Day was obviously important for the troops. In my history of the 2/20, "Pounding Along to Singapore", there is a transcription of an interview given by four released POWs to ABC reporter Fred Simpson whilst waiting in Thailand for repatriation. Padre Harry Thorpe ('D' Force) told listeners "Each year we observed Mother's Day in our jungle area. It was moving to see a thousand men going to work with white paper flowers in their mixed kinds of headgear." Alick Davis ('A' Force) asked "Where did you get the paper?  We used all our paper for cigarettes!" and was laughingly admonished for being a "heathen" by Bill Gaden ('D' Force).

11 May 1941

Major Robertson, in command of unit during the absence of the CO, and the Adjutant, went to Malacca to visit the CO and discuss several administrative matters. They found Lt Col Jeater to be greatly improved and he was to shortly rejoin the unit.

12 May 1941

The guard left for duty in Kuala Lumpur, several men went on leave to Singapore.

14 May 1941

22nd Brigade held a Sports Day meeting at the Malay Regiment's Sports Ground (they also competed). The 2/20 did 'quite well' but the 2/19 finished a long way ahead. The Adjutant commented that the meeting was very well enjoyed by the troops who need such distractions to keep them in good spirits.

16 May 1941

The Unit was carrying out the syllabus in the camp area to help with the prickly heat.

Syllabus of Training

A Syllabus of Training for a week in May 1941 showed how the troops were kept busy.  Squads used a "Bull Ring" within each Company  to rotate  all troops so they learned how to use the equipment. Every day they spent an hour on each of their weapons, using the Bren LMG (Light Machine Gun), the Thompson SMG (Sub Machine Gun) and the Anti-tank Rifle. They also did rifle exercises, Smartening Drill, had Brigade Sports on Wednesday afternoon and on Saturday morning did a 3½ hour Route March.

19 May 1941

A check of personnel admitted to hospital with VD complaints showed very small figure of 2.55% of Unit active strength since arrival of unit in Malaya. A slight unrest amongst the more difficult of the Unit's trouble makers has again appeared and a number of minor but annoying cases of ill behaviour have occurred in the last few days. These cases seem  to be due to the fact that this type of man is not used to discipline and does not wish to remain so far from "action". Apart from these few cases, the Unit discipline has been really splendid.

20 May 1941

A couple of men were detached to the Port Swettenham Detention Barracks.

21 May 1941

The Battalion's War diary reported that a Divisional Conference was held in the Officers Mess to discuss the exercise held on 9 May 41. The G.O.C. considered that the exercise showed distinct improvement in all phases to that held in April. The Battalion had a rest day on Sirusa Beach (about 7km from Port Dickson near the Alor Gajah peninsula). Boats were hired and all appeared to have benefitted from the day. Bill Gaden wrote to tell his family of his visit to Malacca, a town full of historical buildings which captured his interest, for example the old Gate and the fort, both built by the Portuguese in 1511.

28 May 1941

Lt-Col Jeater was still suffering from a severe skin rash but he remained with the unit.  This day the first issue of the unit's magazine 'Thumbs Up' was published and it appears that it was the only issue as no others have been located. The unit was on the range getting used to the Bren Gun.  

31 May 1941

Several officers either left the unit to go to an Indian exercise, or rejoined the unit from Convalescent leave. The Officers organised a dance in their Mess and invited the nursing sisters to come from Malacca and Port Dickson, an evening which proved 'most enjoyable'.

'Pounding Along to Singapore', the 2/20 Battalion AIF in Singapore and Malaya in April 1941.

'Pounding Along to Singapore' is the book I wrote about the 2/20 Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF) who were sent to Singapore and Malaya in 1941 as part of the 8th Division. Captain Bill Gaden's letters to and from the family provide the timeline along which the story of the 2/20 Bn is woven, from inception in June 1940 to after the end of the Second World War. Other  threads come from the 2/20 Battalion's War Diary and Routine Orders (available from the Australian War Memorial)  newspapers and magazines of the day, interviews with some of the men who survived the eventual POW years and came home and other reports from the time.  (The book is available from me at cagaden@iprimus.com.au)

1 April 1941

The 2/20 Battalion Routine Orders advised that each Company had to provide their own fire in the Company kitchen, to be lit at 0430 hours daily and Quarter Masters could draw the mess rations at 16.30 hours daily. The Vegetable Fatigue was to report to the Company kitchen immediately after the evening meal. But only potatoes appear on the menu of the Restricted Number 2 diet which consisted on 6 ounces of bread, 1 pint of porridge, ½ ounce of butter for breakfast, 6 ounces of bread,  4 ounces of meat, 8 ounces of potatoes, 2 ounces of rice for dinner and 6 ounces of bread, 1 pint of porridge, 1 ½ ounces of butter was considered adequate for supper.

8 April 1941

The Adjutant reported that some of the officers attended  dinner at the home of the British Resident of Negri Sembilan.  Bill wrote to tell his family that the lads of the 2/20 were trying to learn the local language. One soldier was trying to converse with a young boy who told the Australian 'Your Malay is incomprehensible, speak English!' The children were 'taught English at school and had soft pleasant voices and were delightful to listen to.  In this town they greeted the soldiers with 'Hello' but in another town it was always 'Hello Joe!''

10 April 1941

GOC AIF visited the 2/20 Battalion today and lunched in the Officer's Mess. In the evening a number of troops from the Unit HQ staff were entertained to 'dinner of the true Chinese style' by a local noted Chinese merchant.

11 April 1941

This day was Good Friday so a church parade was held on the Bn HQ Padang.

Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday in 1941 was on 13 April when a Communion Service was held at St Mark's Church, Seremban and a team from the 2/20 Battalion played a cricket match against the 2/19 who had an easy win. In Australia Adele Shelton Smith's articles from Malaya had started to appear in the Australian Women's Weekly.

15 April 1941

The 2/20 troops settled into the routine of sport most afternoons, with cricket, hockey, soccer and even boomerang throwing taking place on the local padang. However military  training took a very large part of their days. A weekly syllabus was organised so the Companies rotated through  a variety of 'stations' learning about new weapons, navigating through the jungle, negotiating the large drainage ditches and practicing attacks on specific locations.

17 April 1941

The countryside in Malaya was composed of many rubber plantations. The troops of the 8th Division were told there would be a fine of £5 per tree  imposed on any soldier who  damaged one during training... as Russell Braddon (NX8190) of 2/15 Field Regiment  remarked 'Nothing could have been more calculated to interfere with mobility and efficiency.'

18 April 1941

A Divisional exercise was held this Friday with the 22nd Infantry Brigade participating. The Adjutant J M Lowe reported 'it was very interesting and useful experience was gained'. The troops would have been able to make use of their experience gleaned from the Battalion exercises held during the earlier days of the week.

19 April 1941

The CO was admitted to hospital with a serious case of heat rash. A concert was performed to entertain members of the local community. Called the "All in Fun Revue", it was a great success, with Major Dick Cohen responsible for its organisation.

25 April 1941

The 1941 ANZAC Day commemorations (which officially was named in 1916) was for the 25th ANZAC Day, and the 2/20 Battalion joined other troops of the 8th Division to recognise the service of their fellow countrymen in earlier military campaigns.

On 25 April 1941 the unit 'embussed' and travelled to Kuala Lumpur for a Parade. Lieutenant-Colonel  J Thyer was in command of the troops with Major A E Robertson the commander of 2/20. The parade took place on the Selangor Club Pandang. The ceremony was 'simple but very satisfactory'. The salute was taken by the General Officer Commanding (GOC ) Malaya, and others present included the British Resident of Selangor, the Sultan of Selangor and the GOC of the AIF.  The men had a meal at the Kuala Lumpur racecourse and then had two hours of leave in the city.

The Routine Orders for 25 April 1941 also reported that some of the troops attending the local picture theatre in Seremban were buying a ticket for a 25 cent seat but were then sitting in the 60 cent seats. They were admonished that if the practice continued  the discount would end for everyone and "disciplinary action" would be taken!

The cricket team to play a Seremban XI at the weekend was named as WOii Webster as Captain with Capt Gaden, Lieut Brooks, Sjt Salter, Cpl Spurway, Ptes Brinkman, Bourke, Steel, Want, Barter, Dean and Cook with the reserve being Pte Jennings.

28 April 1941

The local executive of the Services Club organised  a free dance for 100 troops. It was a 'most successful evening and appreciated by the troops'. A couple of days earlier the 2/19 Battalion held a demonstration exercise to show the rest of the 22nd Brigade the actual movements of transport and personnel of a Battalion HQ during operation from one harbour to another.  'Valuable experience was gained'.

The Police Band  performed a  'Beat Retreat' on the local Station Padang and troops were invited to attend, there was an official enclosure for the officers.

The Singapore Swimming Club Carnival was held and the local water polo team beat the AIF team by five goals to one, it being scored by RGW Cornforth.

29 April 1941

The Unit held its first sports meeting in Malaya but mid-afternoon  heavy rain caused its postponement.  A conference was held at 8 Div HQ where the exercise held on 18 April was criticised and  thoroughly discussed. A large number of important points were raised which were of great value. This exercise had started with the 22nd Brigade following an 'enemy force' withdrawing along the Malacca-Port Dickson road and the 'enemy' had fallen back to  the Pasin Puteh Estate... the subsequent action progressed according to orders received.

'Pounding Along to Singapore', the 2/20 Battalion AIF in Singapore and Malaya in March 1941

'Pounding Along to Singapore' is the book I wrote about the 2/20 Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF) who were sent to Singapore and Malaya in 1941 as part of the 8th Division. Captain Bill Gaden's letters to and from the family provide the timeline along which the story of the 2/20 Bn is woven, from inception in June 1940 to the end of the Second World War. Other  threads come from the 2/20 Battalion's War Diary and Routine Orders (available from the Australian War Memorial) newspapers and magazines of the day, interviews with some of the men who survived the eventual POW years and came home and other reports from the time. (If you are interested in purchasing a copy, the book is available from me at cagaden@iprimus.com.au)

The 8th Division sailed from Sydney on board troopship 'QX', better known to us as the cruise ship 'Queen Mary', on 4 February 1941, arriving 2 weeks later in Singapore. Bill Gaden was transferred straight from the ship to Middleton Hospital before being transferred to Alexandra Hospital whilst his battalion  moved to Port Dickson.

16 March 1941

Still on sick leave, Bill Gaden was recovering and would soon be able to leave the Alexandra Hospital. Meanwhile the 2/20 troops had been granted General Leave and received their first surface mail from Australia. Battalion spirit was encouraged when the 2/20 and 2/18 played an inter-battalion cricket match which was won by the 2/18th.

17 March 1941

The Battalion Sergeants won the football match played against the Officers who no doubt missed Bill's input on the field.  He was recovering in hospital and hoped to be granted leave to go into Singapore with Capt Reg Newton of 2/19, his room-mate at the Alexandra Hospital. The Battalion's entertainment committee ran an in-house concert for the troops which was a 'great success'.

18 March 1941

The Company Commanders all discussed a Battalion Exercise but Bill was still missing from the team. He and Reg Newton spent the afternoon in Singapore. They visited the Post Office, Robinson's [a large European store], Yamada and Co [which sold good quality items including clothing, china and carved images]  and Change Alley which Bill described as a seething mass of humanity. They visited a British regiment on the way back to hospital and were entertained with a beer or three.

19 March 1941

The 2/20 men spent their time on a training exercise  engaging the enemy. They set up  perimeter defence areas overnight and slept under mosquito nets maintaining an overnight blackout.  Bill Gaden rejoined his unit for the first time since disembarking from the troop ship "QX" or Queen Mary, on 18th February 1941

20 March 1941

Following their exercise the troops 'stood to' at dawn and, after breakfast,  returned to camp at Port Dickson by Motor Transport. Bill rejoined his unit and he wrote they were  "camped in a beautiful spot close to the sea and within walking distance of a swim". They had good quarters, tennis courts, football ovals and a golf course close by, but the lads only had time for football. He received three letters and a parcel from home.

21 March 1941

Several members of the Battalion were sent back to Singapore for detention. Bill wrote a lengthy letter home filling in has family on some more details of his and Reg Newton's afternoon shopping in Singapore. He and his commanding officer Captain Moses explored the area and they collected some cane which they took back to camp.

22 March 1941

Soccer was on the agenda today. Capt Moses injured his knee in one inter-Company game and was taken to a local hospital. The Battalion team beat the Malay Volunteers 3-1 at Si Rusa. Bill remarked that they had a good team which should do well. Back home the Australian Women's Weekly was reporting the troops were in excellent health and good spirits and were making friends with the local population. Each soldier had his own mosquito net but malaria was not considered to be a problem. Morale had been boosted by the presence of a Kangaroo mascot.

23 March 1941

Bill wrote that the  small ebony elephants he had bought in Singapore to send home to his mother were packed and ready to be posted. He also discovered that the ants had found the tin of butterscotch he'd received in his parcel and then placed in a drawer. He wrote that "the little black blighters were all prancing among my clothes" and he hoped an airing in the sunlight would "burn them out".

24 March 1941

Each day Bill travelled into the rubber and jungle by truck and worked with the troops as much as possible. He was still recovering from his time in hospital but hoped to be fully fit by the end of the month.

25 March 1941

Bill's optimism about the soccer team last week proved correct, this day the team won 4-1 to beat the 3rd Bn FM Volunteers at Si Rusa.  He bought and tried some breadfruit and remarked it tasted like a 'mixture of pineapple and bananas'.

26 March 1941

Bill's letter remarked how they stopped in a village and a group of local Tamil children swarmed round the truck and then excitedly lined up to have their photographs taken. One small boy was holding  an enormous fish almost as long as he was tall.

27 March 1941

Several officer and men of the 2/20 were entertained by Mr and Mrs Brunton of Sepang. The troops were shown the rubber plantation and factory and were warmly received. The adjutant remarked how thoughtful and kind the Brunton's had been.  I wonder if they survived the Fall of Singapore.

28 March 1941

The 2/20 Battalion was about to move location as part of the rotation within the Battalions of the 22nd Brigade. This day would have been spent packing up and cleaning the Port Dickson camp so another Battalion could move in. There were also  preparations for an exercise the troops would be conducting en route to the new camp.

29 March 1941

The whole unit were moved by vehicle to new quarters at Seremban. The 'Retreat Parade' was watched with great interest by the local population which was a boost to the troops' morale.

Bill wrote to tell his family of the visit by some 2/20 officers to the home of the local Yam Tuam, a man referred to as 'His Highness' who lived in a Palace like a Sultan. Bill was fascinated by a magnificent collection of curios and antiques in large glass cases.  What happened to all these treasures after the fighting in December 1941 and January 1942?

30 March 1941

Adjutant Lowe reported things were more difficult in the new camp as the Unit was separated and there were more duties to accomplish. Several officers left to go on exchange with Indian or British regiments. Bill commented that there were no taxis, only rickshaws but said he preferred  to walk. He also mentioned they now had an excellent water supply and he had thoroughly enjoyed his first shower since their army camp in Bathurst, NSW.

31 March 1941

Each Company had to provide their own fire in the Company kitchen, to be lit at 0430 hours daily and Quarter Masters could draw the mess rations at 16.30 hours daily. The Vegetable Fatigue was to report to the Company kitchen immediately after the evening meal.

A copy of the Battalion's Routine Orders and War Diary can be obtained from the Australian War Memorial, Canberra