This is a true report concerning the article in To Be A Soldier

 

    My lasting memory is of a jungle thicket where along with my section I have been sent to take part in an ambush. My instructions are to set up a machine gun nest and then wait in absolute silence until enough Japanese soldiers appear to make it worth my while to press the trigger.

    As they come into view in two's and three's I hesitate. An involuntary action as for a moment I consider that I am about to send at least one man to his death. The sound of battle around me increases in volume and a number of shells whistle overhead, followed by a flurry of mortar shells

    The Japanese soldiers some riding bicycles are advancing in groups of three and four initially, and then as they feel safe they start to move forward in larger droves. I press the means by which many of them will die. I see their bodies, shapes and outlines as they seem to dance a dance of death. I hear their cries of pain and I can smell the damp stirring jungle as flies and insects unaffected by events continue through their life cycle un-caring. I shout for more ammo and a box is thrown to me by my number two. All our training has been forgotten by now as he maintains his safety behind the trunk of a large tree.

     There is no sign of my number three and four as I quickly change belt and continue firing.

     I must have been in this position for hours (minutes actually) and I shout out for more ammo. “All gone” comes back the reply. There is steam coming from my machine gun cover and water can, so I set about trying to dismount the gun. "Leave it" someone shouts from behind me, and as I stand, my legs are aching. Lying on the ground close by , is my number two, I start to shake his shoulder, telling him to “come on” and the voice shouts “leave him he is dead” I stumble over one body then another of my gun team. As I follow the voice I run past several more khaki clad figures lying in grotesque poses. There is a sudden increase in noise as the Japanese break through. Then there is no more, the voice has silenced and I continue to run into the jungle. My next recollection is of being transported on the back of a fifteen hundred weight truck, taking me to safety. The only survivor of my section of five. Each day I live with the guilt of my survival

( Extract from official report )

      On 14th January 1942, the Australians and British machine gunners made a successful ambush near Gemencheh River which connects the Tampin and Gemas trunk road. The ambush was laid by 2/30th AIF Battalion supported by companies of the Leicester regiment the Australian 2/2 machine gun regiment and guns from the Manchester regiment. The details were carefully prepared by Lt. Col Gallaghan. The forwarded company of Leicester's covered 7 miles east of Gemencheh River and was 3 miles in front of the main battalion position. Demolition charges were placed along the bridge. And preparation made ready. Orders were issued that the forward group of Japanese who were all riding cycles be allowed to pass through. Around 500 Japanese cyclists passed over the bridge and at 1640 hours the trap was sprung as the main party arrived at the killing zone. This was the signal to start to blow the bridge. Then the firing started from both side of the road and some 400/500 Japanese soldiers were killed. Mortars, machine guns, grenades, Bren guns and automatic rifles were all used to strike at the enemy. What amused the Australian troops was that some of the Japanese soldiers were lightly equipped and they looked like they were having a good time chanting and laughing as if they were on the way to watch a football match. some of them were wearing football shirts. After a successful ambush, most of the ambush team retreated to their battalion positions where they began to prepare defensive positions below Gemas in preparation for a counter attack to begin

Arthur Lane
Stay Alive

 

THE SULONG MASSACRE WAS THE JAPANESE ANSWER TO OUR AMBUSH

 

      During the second world war, the withdrawal of British forces from north Malaya along the west coast into Johore Baru was committed the most horrific massacre by the Japanese ever recorded. The withdrawal into Johore meant the abandonment of Selangor, Negri Sembilan and the ancient colony of Mallaca, Between the 19th and 20th January 1942, 3rd Indian corps retreated through the Australian lines. Gordon Bennetts Australian 22nd Brigade plus remnants of the British Brigade and 2nd battalion the Loyals who were fighting a rear guard action. They had sustained a large number of casualties and were ordered to fall back onto the village of Parit Sulong. more than 300 Australian, Indian and British wounded were left to fend for themselves.The Japanese over run the village on the morning of the 22nd January 1942. All 300 were either killed in battle or massacred. The MOD have never revealed the names of those massacred by the Japanese on that day. and their names were included with 26,000 others who had no known grave. But now it can be revealed that the following were the victims. In many instances it has not been possible to obtain the addresses of next of kin of British soldiers murdered. However the names and service numbers of each are given after the following true story of how they died.

Arthur Lane

 

Taken from Authenticated War Crimes Documentation

COMMENT

This investigation will continue as many others are involved in this major

atrocity. J.G. Godwin (Capt.)investigating Officer 2nd Aust.War Crimes

Section 22 July 1949

File 151 G Weekly Investigation Report: 21 September 1949

151H OPERATION PARIT SULONG 168

 

    I Completed the interrogation of former Captain Shoichi Nonaka who held the position of personal aide to the GOC Konoe Division, Lieutenant-General Takuma Nichimura at the time of the Malayan Campaign. Nonaka admitted to have been a member of the convoy (HQ Konoe Division) that stopped at Pant Sulong in the late afternoon of 22 January 1942. According to Nonaka he and Lt-Gen. Nishimura were travelling in the same vehicle and upon stopping at Pant Sulong he, Nishimura and the Chief of Staff, Colonel lmai, and other HQ officers alighted from their respective vehicles and walked over towards some buildings on the right-hand side of the main road. About half-way there the said party was met by a junior officer (a 2nd lieutenant, name unknown) who reported directly to Lt Gen. Nishimura. Nonaka states he is unable to recall the full details of this officer's report; however, he does remember him saying that a great number of prisoners had been taken during the battle for Parit Sulong and that most of them were confined in a large wooden building which he pointed out.

     After finishing his report this said officer led the GOC and accompanying officers towards the building identified. On arrival at the building Nonaka noticed about six or seven wounded Australian soldiers in various postures near the steps leading up to a wide verandah.then He also recalls seeing the bodies of many dead Australian soldiers scattered about at diffemt places in front of this building Among the dead were some Indian soldiers..(2) Nonaka then recounted how he, Lt-Gen. Nishimura, Colonel Imai and the officer-in-charge of the prisoners climbed onto the verandah and peered through one of the building’s two open doors at the mass of wounded POWs confined therein. After this short inspection had been made, the said party retraced their steps and rejoined the other HQ officers in front of the building. Nonaka stated that Lt Gen. Nishimura turned and gave him the following oral order.

(3) instruct the olficer-in-charge of the prisoners to execute (Shobun Seyo) all the prisoners by firing squad. Kill them all.’ No sooner had Nonaka acknowledged this order than the Chief of Staff. Colonel lmai gave him the following additional order.

(4) ‘The bodies of the prisoners are to he cremated on completion of the execution and all traces of their disposal obliterated.’ Nonaka confesses to having relayed these two orders to the officer concerned, following which and whilst walking back towards the parked vehicles. Lt Gen. Nishimura directly ordered S/O Supply Major Eisaku Morioka to remain behind and supervise everything. Former Colonel Kamejiro Imai has previously been requested for interrogation; (However, the Japanese authories have officially reported this former senior officer as having died from sickness in Siberia on 22 March 1947). Thus and despite our request for official Soviet verification, of which none has been forthcoming, further inquiries to the Soviet authorities reveal the following.

(5) Colonel Kaniejiro Imai had never been listed as a prisoner of war of the Soviet Union. His alleged captivity and death by sickness is completely unknown. This investigation officer discounts quite frankly the truthfulness or veracity of the notification received from ‘Japanese Army Records’, and is more inclined to believe the Soviet authorities as an inipartial source of honest in formation.

    Observation : At most times and whenever a Class A war criminal is finally identified, particularly if formerly a powerful and influential senior officer, we invariably encounter subtle obstruction to their apprehension by means of deviousness and duplicity. for a variety of dubious circumstances too numerous to mention. the coincidences of major war criminals effectively disappearing is no accident. when such vanishing acts are unaccountably but officially confirmed without investigation by Japanese authorities is tempted to suggest the word, collusion. It is hard to avoid being cynical. This charade happens too often with regard to officially sanctioned Japanese fabrications. The second part of this priority investigation should shortly he concluded and entered into Official Weekly Reports as quickly as possible have only to add my disappointment that the powers that be (Legal and Prosecution Division) do not propose to proceed with a fresh prosecution against Lt Gen. Nishiniura. a most evil man. Perhaps the sheer horror of what ordered against defenceless and wounded Australian prisoners. particularly the large number, would shock the world.

 

JGG/BEJ. REPORT OF INVESTIGATING OFFICER (Capt. J.G. Godwin)

File 151 G Massacre of Prisoners of War. PARIT SULONG I )

 

      Captain Godwin interrogated former Major Fukashi Hinokunia who had a grim story to tell and which was recounted to him in full detail over a meal by Staff Officer: Supply, Major Eisaku Mono who related, Major Morioka who was detailed by the GOC to remain at Parit Sulong and supervise the mass execution. This is what happened

(2) ‘One hour before dark, the prisoners were ordered to make their way to an assembly point at the rear of a row of damaged shops. Those who were unable to walk were carried by the walking wounded, while others, also walking wounded were made to carry the bodies of their dead comrades who were laying in the dust. The pretext used to entice the Indian and Australian prisoners to drag themselves to what was in the designated execution site, was that medical treatment, and food. Concealed within the rear rooms of damaged shops, three squads of executioners waited behind tripod mounted heavy machine-guns.

      When all of the prisoners had arrived at the assembly point and were either sitting or laying prone, depending on the seriousness of their wounds, the machine-guns began their wicked thumping chatter of death. Such concentrated machine-gun fire cut swathes of carnage from three different points, enfilading the closely grouped prisoners. chopping flesh and limbs to pieces. When cries of pain and shock were silenced, so were the machine-guns. Morioka mentioned to Hinokunia that seven prisoners had to be bayoneted despite the concentrated gun-fire. They had still showed signs of life. Funeral pyres were quickly expedited per the simple method of collapsing six abandoned shops with mortars and hand grenades. following which 161 bodies were carried in an endless stream to the timber dry debris and placed in piles where the engulfing flames would consume most efficiently. A considerable amount of paraffin obtained from a captured lorries forty gallon drums and some sixty gallons of gasoline, were then splashed and spilled over and around the corpses. To ensure total incineration, tyres and demolition material from the walls and verandahs of the collapsed buildings. were also heaped onto the quite large pyres.

      At 8 pm, according to Major Hinokuma and as related by Major Morioka. he. Morioka, gave the signal for everyone to stand well clear. Then a flaming torch was thrown. The demolished buildings erupted with a whooshing cataclysmic roar. In the event four adjacent dwellings and nine shops burned to the ground before midnight. As told to Flinokuma by Morioka, the stench of roasting flesh permeated the warm night air until the small hours of the morning when the fierce flames had reduced to mere flickers above piles of grey white ash. But even then, radiated heat Irom concealed red hot embers could be felt twenty yards away. Without any doubt, the mass cremation. I ike the execution, was an outstanding example of efficiency. Morioka told Hinokuma it was 4 am before he snatched a few hours sleep. He awoke at a little after lOam and ste; outside into the hot morning sunlight he stared across ati the shops had stood. Nothing remained except scattered mounds of grey ash little more than two feet high. Clearly incineration had been total. After enjoying a good breakfast and self-satisfied at the report he would be able to give the Chief of Staff of HQ Konoe Division, now temporarily quartered at Batu Pahat, he left Parit Sulong at about midday and was driven south to rejoin HQ Konoe Divison.’ This interrogation will continue as a high priority.

 

AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH I HAVE FINALLY ESTABLISHED

THAT THE FOLLOWING WERE THE VICTIMS

 

Davies Frank 4862501 1/Leicester 28 Derbyshire

Danciger Richmond NX38170 2.15 Fd RA 30 New Sth Wales

Goodfellow Victor J NX66957 2/15 Fd R A 27 New Sth Wales

Williams Frederick S NX8458 2/15 Fd RA 39 New sth Wales

Whitham Arthur E NX32532 2/15 Fd RA 27 New Sth Wales

Wheeler Edgar C NX45193 2/15 Fd RA 41 New Sth Wales

Tornquist Oscar T NX45314 2/15 Fd RA 19 New Sth Wales

McNamara Roy NX20559 2/15 fd RA 27 New sth Wales

McLachlan Kenneth D NX54192 2/15 fd RA 32 New Sth Wales

McLachlan Melvin B NX59906 2/15 fd RA 28 New Sth Wales

Grenstreet Neil NX28405 2/15 Fd RA 24 New sth Wales

Fisher Henry M NX27268 2/15 Fd RA 28 New sth Wales

Bruce Leonard L NX29690 2/15 Fd RA 28 New Sth Wales

Brown Frederick J NX27200 2/15 FD RA 23 New Sth Wales

Baxter Eric J NX6903 2/15 Fd RA 23 New Sth Wales

Atkins Lester J NX26541 2/15 Fd RA 23 New Sth Wales

Pearson Ronald H NX34184 2/15 Fld RA 36 Surbiton Surrey

Couch Bert R NX35271 2/18 Aus Inf 33 New Sth Wales

Mainwaring Leslie M NX56205 2/18 Aus Inf 30 New Sth Wales

Wilson Arthur H NX55090 2/19 Aus Inf 29 New Sth Wales

Williams Angel A NX35709 2/19 Aus Inf 24 New sth Wales

Whte George L NX35391 2/19 Aus Inf 22 New Sth Wales

Walker Leslie R NX35230 2/19 Aus Inf 27 Queensland

Walker Eric W NX2479 2/19 Aus Inf 21 New Sth Wales

Thomlinson Francis M NX54801 2/19 Aus Inf 28 New Sth Wales

Snelling Newt R L NX70191 2/19 Aus Inf 41 New sth Wales

Smith Arthur P NX35791 2/19 Aus Inf 30 New Sth Wales

Smith Frederick B NX6594 2/19 Aus Inf 23 New Sth Wales

Sheridan William H NX60258 2/19 Aus Inf 23 New Sth Wales

Sheldrick Ernest L NX57146 2/19 Aus Inf 22 New Sth Wales

Sawyer George F NX29299 2/19 Aus Inf 24 New Sth Wales

Richardson Leslie H VX45058 2/19 Aus Inf 21 Victoria

Quinlan James E NX35413 2/19 Aus Inf 26 New Sth Wales

Quinliven Leslie J NX35635 2/19 Aus Inf 21 New Sth Wales

OIliver Robert W NX55429 2/19 Aus Inf 22 New Sth Wales

Nugent Goerge E NX54952 2/19 Aus Inf 25 New Sth Wales

Mitchell William J NX35253 2/19 Aus Inf 35 ??

Miller Victor NX55906 2/19 Aus Inf 30 New Sth Wales

Miles Charles c NX35260 2/19 Aus Inf 25 New sth Wales

Maxwell Claude NX52369 2/19 Aus Inf 39 Queensland

Mahon Kevin G NX36028 2/19 Aus Inf 33 New sth Wales

McNabb George F T NX35403 2/19 Aus Inf 29 New sth Wales

Leonard Francis J NX56221 2/19 Aus Inf 23 New Sth Wales

Kennedy William P NX5255 2/19 Aus Inf 39 New sth Wales

Jones Jack NX33265 2/19 Aus Inf 24 New Sth Wales

Harris Mervyn K NX27593 2/19 Aus Inf 29 New Sth Wales

Hamilton Alexander M NX33196 2/19 Aus Inf 29 Tasmania

Hall Percival NX35156 2/19 Aus Inf 33 Victoria

Hall Henry NX58109 2/19 Aus Inf 26 New sth Wales

Grosvenor Henry NX35568 2/19 Aus Inf 34 New sth Wales

Greentree Ernest NX54322 2/19 Aus Inf 23 New Sth Wales

Gallagher John NX36360 2/19 Aus Inf 26 New Sth Wales

Fuller Frederick NX35714 2/19 Aus Inf 35 New sth Wales

Freeman Leonard C NX52751 2/19 Aus Inf 25 Victoria

Fitzgibbon James M NX60362 2/19 Aus Inf 25 New sth Wales

Fallow Charleton NX34869 2/19 Aus Inf 27 New sth Wales

Evans Leonard E NX35458 2/19 Aus Inf 39 London UK

Evans Clarence L NX55861 2/19 AUS iNF 28 New Sth Wales

Enke Arnold C VX55997 2/19 Aus Inf 39 New sth Wales

Davies Jack L NX56212 2/19 Aus Inf 21 New Sth Wales

Christie Jack NX59619 2/19 Aus Inf 22 New sth Wales

Bullock Keith A K NX56143 2/19 Aus Inf 21 New Sth Wales

Buckley James S NX25935 2/19 Aus Inf 24 New sth Wales

Bruce Leonard J NX905 2/19 Aus Inf 27 New sth Wales

Brookes Douglas C NX7072 2/19 Aus Inf 21 New sth Wales

Brett Frank NX59483 2/19 Aus Inf 40 ??

Breakspear Sudney NX51241 2/19 Aus Inf 29 New Sth Wales

Bourchier Harry L NX35235 2/19 Aus Inf 37 Welwyn Herts

Armitt Archie E NX60270 2/19 Aus Inf 28 New sth Wales

Harrison Leonard J NX36101 2/19 Aus Inf 28 ??

Forrest Leslie W NX35806 2/19 Aus Inf 32 New sth Wales

Finnigan Raymond NX30059 2/19 Aus Inf 22 New sth Wales

Woodhead Benjamin VX55025 2/29 Aus Inf 39 Queensland

Wilson Thomas R VX41801 2/29 Aus Inf 36 Victoria

West Bruce VX55681 2/29 Aus Inf 22 Victoria

Waddington Harold F VX53606 2/29 Aus Inf New sth Wales

Shadwick George H TX4600 2/29 Aus Inf 20 Tasmania

Parker Edward M VX36253 2/29 Aus Inf 37 Victoria

Murtagh Patrick VX56033 2/29 Aus Inf 32 Victoria

Meagher Desmond F VX53456 2/29 Aus Inf 23 ??

McGovern Henry P VX27980 2/29 Aus Inf 35 Lanarkshire Scot

McDonald Mervin VX42752 2/29 Aus Inf 23 ??

Knight Ronald J VX76541 2/29 Aus Inf 29 Victoria

Kennedy Daniel M VX43146 2/29 Aus Inf 20 VictorIA

Hawkins George VX44488 2/29 Aus Inf 34 Victoria

Hansen Thomas VX37072 2/29 Aus Inf 38 ??

Goodnan Alfred VX46999 2/29 Aus Inf 37 Victoria

Gamble Robert G VX56175 2/29 Aus Inf 22 Victoria

Forrester Robson G VX45114 2/29 Aus Inf 26 Victoria

Evans Lindsey S E VX35112 2/29 Aus Inf 24 Victoria

Dean David Roy VX55871 2/29 Aus Inf 23 Victoria

Cant William T T NX45840 2/29 Aus Inf 23 New Sth Wales

Campbell William J VX42411 2/29 Aus Inf 36 Victoria

Browning Albert J VX39621 2/29 Aus Inf 36 Victoria

Brew Phillip J VX55590 2/29 Aus Inf 21 Victoria

Breddin William W VX44683 2/29 Aus Inf 23 New Sth Wales

Bennetts William G VX47011 2/29 Aus Inf 29 Victoria

Bennetts Kenneth VX46999 2/29 Aus Inf 21 Victoria

Bennett Leslie C VX35496 2/29 Aus Inf 29 Victoria

Annett Reginald A VX45018 2/29 Aus Inf 30 Victoria

Halson Roy N VX55217 2/29 Aus Inf 35 Victoria

Corr Stewart VX40424 2/29 Aus Inf 26 Victoria

Beard Alexandra VX45128 2/29 Aus Inf 21 Victoria

Worrall Albert E VX42178 2.29 Aus Inf 35 Victoria

Costello Arthur G NX52674 2/9 Aus Inf 27 New sth Wales

Wilsher jJames G 3855204 2/Loyal reg 28 ??

Walker George 3855171 2/Loyal reg 27 Kendall

Stevenson Joseph W 3855113 2/Loyal reg 26 Lewisham

Spalding Fred 3856093 2/Loyal reg 23Lytham St Annes

Sloan Hugh Y 3855668 2/Loyal reg 27 ??

Sloan Frederick 3857677 2/Loyal reg 21 ??

Shaw Joseph 3856933 2/Loyal reg 27 ??

Roberts Harold 3713437 2/Loyal reg 22 ???

Pryle Harold 3856194 2/Loyal reg 22 Middleton

Pennington Edward 3856207 2/Loyal reg 25 Wigan

Parker John J 3855501 2/Loyal reg 31 Blackpool

Osbourne Phillip 3854712 2/Loyal reg 27 ??

Murphy John 3851664 2/Loyal reg 35 ??

Murphy Thomas 3854741 2/Loyal reg 32 ??

Moorland Thomas S 3850221 2/Loyal reg 39 Preston

McGuire James 3855762 2/Loyal reg 27 Farnworth

Linney Thomas 3856420 2/Loyal reg 22 Manchester

Knockton Dennis 3855908 2/Loyal reg 23 Blackburn

Kennedy Martin 3860671 2/Loyal reg 21 Oldham

Kennedy Henry 3855089 2/Loyal reg 26 ??

Hawken Ralph 3865646 2/Loyal reg 18 Lancs

Hart Richard 3857543 2/Loyal reg 21 Wigan

Harrison Benjamin 3855642 2/Loyal reg 25 Burnley

Hallhead Thomas 3854414 2/Loyal reg 27 ??

Griffiths Trevor 3961711 2/Loyal reg 22 Aberdare

Greenwood James 3860665 2/Loyal reg 26 ??

Green James 3858850 2/Loyal reg 22 Pemberton Lancs

Good George J 3855539 2/Loyal reg 24 ??

Gilbert Alfred 3858527 2/Loyal reg 22 Preston

Garsden Joseph 3854148 2/Loyal reg 28 ??

Fowler John 3855195 2/Loyal reg 28 ??

Foster John 3855981 2/Loyal reg 22 ??

Fielding William 3855353 2/Loyal reg 26 ??

Fildes Norman 3855665 2/Loyal reg 26 Burnley

Fawcett Harry 3856701 2/Loyal reg 19 Everton

Eckersley Harry 3858514 2/Loyal reg 23 ??

Croston James W 3855704 2/Loyal reg 25 ??

Crossley Joseph 3855227 2/Loyal reg 28 ??

Cook James E 3857566 2/Loyal reg 20 Ashton

Canby Sylvester 3855004 2/Loyal reg 27 Burnley

Blackledge Wilfred 3859507 2/Loyal reg 24 ??

Bird Thomas 3854665 2/Loyal reg 30 Wigan

Barker George W 3857479 2/Loyal reg 27 Stoke

Atherton TThomas H 3858464 2/Loyal reg 23 ??

Ansell John 3865694 2/Loyal reg 20 ??

Carrol James 3854743 2/Loyal reg 31 Walsworth

Barnes Fred 3858473 2/Loyals 22 ??

Jones Donald A 5773006 5/Norfolk 24 ??

Guymer Christopher G 5775221 5/Norfolk 22 Fakenham

Frost Geoffrey G 5777088 5/Norfolk 26 Norwich

Gray Leonard 5774421 6/Norfolk 35 Norwich

Crump Frederick C 796308 6/Norfolk 30 Lakenham

Kennedy David J 879001 60 A/T R A 21 Glasgow

Moore William A NX60460 8 Provost 22 New Sth Wales

Gourley David 1527657 80 A/T R A 24 Whitchurch

Flowers Robert 1107737 80 A/T RA 33 Shepherd Bush

Campbell John 866722 80 A/T RA 36 Glasgow

 

The next case concerns men who had actually been taken prisoner of war, and the fact reported to the British Government

Arthur Lane
Stay Alive

 

 

 

 

 

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