A Family Story

Published on November 28, 2004 By Ande In World War II

One of my hobbies is Genealogy (Family History). I never knew I had an Uncle in
WW2 . He was never mentioned and it wasn't until I started looking into the FamilyTree
checking details and interviewing that the following story finally emerged.
You may or may not be interested but it's a good War Yarn about an episode .
(one of thousands) that are never told. It took place on the Indonesian Island of Timor- Ande (Brian Anderson)

ISLAND UNDER THE SUN
LESLIE CHARLES MOULE 1920- 1942
ANDERSON FAMILY HISTORY

Leslie Charles Moule was born on the 30th of September 1920 in
Herberton North Queensland third of three children of Charles and Ethel
Moule. He went to Kuranda State School and left at the age of 13 years . His
sister Beatrice says he was a stubborn type of person not easily moved from his
principals, right or wrong. This stubborn streak landed him in some trouble at
school, though nothing serious. After leaving school he worked in partnership
with his father as a timber cutter and later on a small family farm at Sarina in
Queensland. He worked physically hard and with the family lived through a
difficult period in our history, namely, the great depression of the 30's. He
could not have known it at the time but this type of upbringing would assist him
in coping with conditions he was to experience later.

War was declared in 1939 and as soon as Les was able he volunteered for
service in the A.I.F. (Australia Infantry Force) The enlistment age was 21 years, but in order to enlist, Les
overstated his age by one year. Army records show his birth date as the 30th of
September 1919. He enlisted in Cairns on the 1st of August 1940 and trained as
a Sapper (Engineer )at Redbank in Brisbane. He was in the 2/11th Field Company R.A.E. ,
in particular No 2 Section, D Sub Section, his Service Number QX15240.

In December 1940 the 2/11th was moved to Darwin, but it was not until
early December 1941 that No 2 Section of the 2/11th was sent to Timor as part of
"Sparrow Force". This period in Darwin proved most frustrating for Les. In a
letter to his parents dated the 5th November 1941 he indicated he would try to
transfer. If that proved unsuccessful he would try for a discharge with a view to
re-enlistment in a fighting unit. He had joined to fight, not to sit and labour
around the Northern Territory. It's not difficult to imagine the Army detailing
these men all sorts of mundane tasks in a effort to keep them occupied during
their holding time in the territory.

When Japan entered the war on the 7th of December 1941, the orders Les
and the others had waited for so long finally came through. The 2/21st
Battalion with No 3 Section of the 2/11th Field Coy. R.A.E. and other units went
to Ambon as Gull Force and the 2/40th Battalion with No 2 Section of the 2/11th
went to Timor as Sparrow Force. Sparow Force was a much larger body than
Gull Force,with numbering 70 Officers and 1,300 men. The units in Sparrow
Force were: 2/40 Bn; 2/2 Independent Coy; 2/1 Heavy Bty; 79 Light AA Bty;
2/1 Fortress Engrs; 2/1 Fortress Sigs; B Troop 18 - tk Bty; No 2 Section 2/11
Fd Coy; detachments of 23 Bde Sigs, 2/12 Fd Amb, AASC, 75 LAD, 22 Dental
Unit. A force of about 500 Dutch troops and a similar number of Portuguese
occupied the island at the time the Australian force arrived.

Like Ambon and Sumatra, the island of Timor was a stepping-stone
towards Java, heart of the Dutch empire in the East Indies. The Australian
garrison (Sparrow Force) sent to Timor on the 12th December 1941 to reinforce
the local force . It was likely to be attacked once Ambon had fallen. The main task
of the Allied force was to defend the Bay of Koepang and the airfield. On the
16th of December 1941 the 2/2 Ind. Coy was sent to defend the aerodrome at Dili
in Portuguese Timor, the transfer being completed by the 22nd of December
1941. This was the situation when the troops settled in to their respective tasks.
The island is 290 miles long and up to 62 miles wide. Mountains, highly
dissected and extremely rugged, occupy most of the island, and rise to 9,000 feet.
The north-eastern portion of Timor particularly is dominated by them. Much of
the south-west is open country, which could be easily traversed afoot or on
ponies. Timorese ponies -- small sturdy animals of which it was estimated that
there were at least 100,000 -- were the basic form of transport on the island
generally. A main trunk road ran from Tenau in the Dutch portion of the island
to Atapupu on the north coast, thence into Portuguese Timor , where it more of
less followed the coast. Offshoots ran inland and there were innumerable
tracks, mostly suitable for horses. Only three roads crossed the island from
north to south; two of these were at the Dutch end.

Les and the Sappers of No 2 Section, 2/11th Field Coy. were assigned
various engineering tasks. A cross section of which is detailed below;

(a) Construction of a 20 k track through lantana scrub from Bomeata to
Oesaoe. The purpose of the track was to enable wounded to be
evacuated, possibly by Timor ponies. This task was incomplete
on the 17th December 1941 because of the requirements of (

and the
imminent Japanese invasion.

(

Detonation of ten bomb dumps adjacent to the Penfui aerodrome.
Nine of the dumps each contained 50 bombs. Each bomb was
303kg. The tenth dump contained the detonators. All were
destroyed.

(c) Preparation of the Penfui aerodrome and it's installations for
destruction. On the 20th of February 1942 the Sappers were ordered
to destroy the aerodrome.

(d) Preparation of bridges for destruction. One of the bridges over a
stream west of Oesaoe was blown up by the Sappers on the 22nd of
February 1942.

After participating in the above tasks, D Sub-Section were extracted to
upgrade all strategic bridges on the main road to Class 25 (ie. to carry 25 tons).
To complete this task Les and the other Sappers were based at the Army hospital
approximately 12 miles up in the ranges near Champlong. They worked each
night between 6pm and 6am stripping and redecking one bridge a night. It was
back breaking work but this was the only road on the island capable of carrying
heavy traffic. This task was completed on the 19th February 1942 one day prior
to the Japanese invasion. The Sappers were not to see their mates with the
2/40th again until the wars end. Of the Sixty-five 2/11th Sappers sent to Timor,
only 14 were eventually evacuated. The remainder became prisoners of war.

On the 19th February 1942 the Japanese bombed Darwin for the first time
to neutralise the air forces stationed there prior to the invasion of Timor. The
R.A.A.F. squadron finally withdrew from Penfui and the Japanese landed in the
early hours of the 20th of February 1942. Early that morning a Japanese force
was reported landing at the mouth of the Paha River and the 2/40th reserve
company was deployed to block an expected Japanese advance into the rear of
the defences at Kopang.

The heavy guns were made inoperative by air attack or were disabled by
their detachments without having fired a shot in anger. Then at 0930 hours
paratroopers were reported landing north east of Babau which they soon
occupied, despite opposition from two composite platoons of infantry and
gunners. This cut the main supply route between Koepang and Champlong
where Les and the other Sappers of D Sub-section were located.

A counter attack by the reserve company (withdrawn from the blocking
position) succeeded in inflicting heavy casualties and capturing a 'useful number
of automatic weapons' but they were forced to withdraw back along the road to
the west after dark. That night the Colonel Leggatt OC of the 2/40th decided to
abandon the airfield, clear the paratroopers from the main supply route and
proceed to Champlong to re-supply and conduct guerrilla operations. The two
companies deployed on the beach had been withdrawn to Usapa Besar earlier in
the day and formed the firm base for the withdrawal and concentration of the
battalion group at Tarus. The withdrawal was conducted without incident and
the Manikan River bridge blown by Sappers of the 2/11th Field Company.

At 0530 hours next morning, 21st February 1942, after two sleepless
nights, the battalion was deployed for a battalion attack against Babau. The
battalion advanced with two companies up, each supported by a section of
carriers, one armoured car and a detachment of mortars. The men were tired
and progress was slow. Japanese aircraft dive bombed and strafed the battalion
group and at 0830 hours about 300 more Japanese paratroopers were reported
landing in the same place as those dropped on the previous day, north east of
Babau. Despite these problems Babau was cleared, mainly due to the initiative
of one company commander and his troops. After a day of mixed
performances, the battalion group was re-organised in Babau by 0530 hours on
the 22nd of February 1942.

At 0800 hours the withdrawal to Champlong continued but was halted by
a road block, on the Amabi River bridge. The road block was covered by the
Japanese Paratroop battalion, supported by a mountain gun, from a cluster of
low ridges on the far bank. The village of Usau was on the reverse slope of the
first ridge. After a series of uncoordinated company attacks from the left and
right flank failed to dislodge the paratroopers, the CO decided to launch a co-
ordinated battalion attack along the axis of the road at 1700 hours. Twenty five
minutes before H hour about 400 Japanese troops, in column of four, closed on
the rearguard from the direction of Koepang but were dispersed.

The attack on Usau went ahead as planned with two companies up and
one company, the machine guns and mortars giving fire support. The right
assault company was held up by intense fire and the OC and his 2IC were killed.
The left assault company succeeded in seizing its objective and the fire support
company assisted by swinging around to the left and clearing the village and
depth positions. The paratroopers opposing the right assault company were
then assaulted from the secure left flank.

When Usau was secure the remainder of the column passed through and
consolidated one and a half kilometres beyond Usau and prepared to continue
the withdrawal to Champlong the next morning. However, before the
mainbody commenced moving on the morning of 23rd of February 1942 , a large
Japanese force, led by light tanks towing field guns, closed on the rear of the
column and called on the troops to surrender. The ratio of Japanese troops to
the Australians was estimated at 21 to 1. At 0900 hours, after discussion with his
men, the CO surrendered the mainbody.

By the time the mainbody surrendered, the 2/40th Battalion had suffered
84 killed and 132 wounded, more casualties than any other battalion suffered in
one operation for the remainder of the war. The battalion group had fought and
moved for almost four days without rest, carrying its own casualties, cut off from
its base, subject to air attack and without air or artillery support.

It had little contact with Australia and no hope of being evacuated as a
formed body. It lacked radio communications to co-ordinate fire and
manoeuvre and was without artillery support against an experienced enemy
well equipped with modern automatic weapons. Nevertheless, it had
conducted a series of company attacks and two battalion attacks decimating a
Japanese Paratroop battalion, as well as conducting a rearguard action.

With his HQ established at Su Brigadier Veale, who had taken command
of Sparrow Force on the 12th of February 1942, had no contact with Colonel
Leggatt during the fighting. It was the 23rd of February 1942 when Veale
learned that Leggatt had surrendered. He also had no news of the 2/2nd
Commandos at Dili in Portuguese Timor. The only force available to him
comprised about 250 Australians, most of whom were in Ordinance, Army
Service, Army Medical Corps, Les and the other D Sub Section Sappers. This
group was armed with only rifles and a few Sub Machine guns. Les carried a
Tommy Gun. There were also about 40 Dutch and Timorese troops.

Brigadier Veale decided the continued occupation of Su would serve no
useful purpose. He further decided to send a party to contact the 2/2nd
Commandos and move them to Atambua where he would make contact.
Because of poor communication he was not aware the 2/2nd were heavily
engaged with the enemy at Dili aerodrome. Veale moved his small force to
Atambua leaving Sappers of D Sub Section as an outpost at the Mina River
bridge. After an enemy convey had approached the bridge on the 23rd of
February 1942 and had been fired on and withdrawn, the bridge was blown. On
the 25th February 1942 a Japanese force approached the Benain River, the
Sappers destroyed this bridge also and moved on to the Kefannen bridge.

The Mina River bridge was a steel structure and the Benain was of
masonry construction. When blown the illumination from the Mina was quite
spectacular whereas the Benain collapsed with a thud in a cloud of dust.
Circumstances which were to follow did not necessitate the blowing up of the
Kefannen bridge. When the Sappers eventually caught up with Veale at
Atambua they were exhausted. They dug a slit trench and slept for 24 hours,
oblivious to three air raids and only woke when their faces were slapped.

On the 27th February 1942 a strong group of Japanese mounted on ponies
crossed the Benain River and advanced on Kefannanu. Brigadier Veale decided
that when the Japanese occupied Kefannanu he would move most of the
Australian troops to villages in the north coast area west of Atapupu and allow
small parties to attempt to reach Australia. On the 2nd of March 1942 the troops
dispersed and Veale with a small party of about 10 personnel moved east into
Portuguese Timor in an effort to contact the 2/2nd Commandos. Sappers Les
Moule and Tom Thick were detailed as personal bodyguards and scouts for
the Brigadier.

The remaining Sappers of D Sub Section and a few 2/40th personnel
decided at a meeting to move to Badaputi on the North West coast. There they
hoped to locate a fishing vessel and sail to Australia. A simple plan, however it
proved much harder to execute. Arriving a Badaputi they obtained a small
canoe and rigged a sail consisting of a blanket. The method of crew selection
was each day to draw straws. The idea was for two armed men to sail across the
strait to the island of Flores. Four unsuccessful attempts were made. Each
night storms capsized the boat, fortunately however the boat drifted back to the
shore with the tide. On the fifth attempt the Sappers awoke to see no sign of
their boat. Jubilantly they waited for a week but the boat did not return. They
were to learn after the war that their mates were picked up by a Japanese
Submarine and sent to POW camp.

During their time at large, D Sub Section also had visions of retrieving a
Kitty Hawk fighter from a swamp down the coast . They had a pilot in their
midst who said he could fly it to Darwin. The plane had run short of fuel during
a storm prior to the invasion and was landed undamaged. With a team of
natives they managed to move the plane to within reasonable distance of dry
ground. Their plans were halted when a runner brought a message recalling all
troops to Mape in Portuguese Timor. Brigadier Veale had established his HQ
there after making contact with Major Spence CO of the 2/2nd Commandos at
Lolotoi. The Commandos had engaged the enemy in a series of small but
spirited encounters and had now re-grouped in the southern half of Portuguese
Timor. By the end of march practically all the remnants of the main force from
Dutch Timor were safely collected in the south west corner of Portuguese Timor.
The troops by this time were suffering badly. They were hungry, they were
wasted with malaria and had little quinine. Their boots were becoming mere
remnants of leather about their feet.

During late March and April the Australians set about consolidating their
positions. Contact had been made with Australia by a unique radio named
"Winnie the War Winner", now in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
This radio set had been ingeniously constructed by a few talented troops from
bits and pieces scavenged, cannibalised or stolen locally. As a direct result of
this contact badly needed supplies were air dropped in. The food situation had
also improved with a steady supply from the local natives. Letters and small
parcels from home had boosted the morale enormously.

A new platoon (D) had been formed from the Independent Company
Sappers and the fittest of the survivors from Dutch Timor. This platoon
augmented the 2/2nd's A,B and C platoons. Most of the 2/11th D Sub Section
Sappers stayed together as part of this new platoon. Les Moule was now back
with his mates after service with the Brigadier. Les had also served for a time
under Major Chisholm watching the frontier from a base at Memo.

General Blamey had suggested to General MacArthur two courses of
action - recapture Timor or withdraw the bulk of the forces. MacArthur decided
to retain the forces on Timor because manpower was not available in the number
required to retake the island. The 2/2nd and ex 2/40th troops were to continue
their present missions of harassment and sabotage. Accordingly a firm link
between Australia and Timor was quickly established.

However the food supplies air dropped did not supplement those
obtained from the land to any great degree. They lived off the land substantially
during the whole of their stay on the island. Many a time they did not live too
well. Their diet consisted of corn, rice, sweet potatoes, coffee beans, some
poultry and a few goats. They did not possess cooking utensils, so any cooking
when done was by native method. The troops had no storage facilities and food
could not be carried. They were always on the move.

The 2/11th D Sub Section Sappers of the new D platoon were led by their
own, Sgt Frank Healey and Cpl John Campbell. Their first assignment was a
map plotting exercise in the Atasbi area which occupied a couple of weeks.
Some of the troops would map and some would patrol. On completion of this
task the section HQ was at Ducri a small village about a mile from Roti.
Movement in their allotted area was not easy as most of the countryside was
very open. Therefore they would patrol and attack the enemy mostly at night.
The platoon HQ was many miles from their sphere of action. Their orders were
received by radio or runner. From their HQ at Ducri they would patrol and
probe the Villa Maria and Ermera areas.

June passed fairly quietly though marked by a series of small but vigorous
forays by the men of the improvised D platoon. In late June the 2/11th Sappers
had been observing a Japanese encampment at a bridge near Villa Maria. They
were waiting their chance for some weeks to blow the bridge. It was during this
period that Les Moule had a narrow escape with death. Les always moved as a
scout or was on point. Les would often be away from the section and would be
seen as a figure on another hill looking for Japs or food. Therefore it was no
surprise when Les went to investigate a native hut in the area. A Japanese
machine gunner let him enter the hut before opening fire. Troops who
witnessed this event says that Les ran the full length of the hut and between
bursts broke all records covering the open hundred meters or so to the cover of
the bush. The Japs later moved back to Dili and the Sappers moved in and blew
up the bridge.

Besides watching for enemy troop movements the Australians had to
watch for the availability of food supplies in the area being patrolled. Such
supply could vary considerably from area to area. In either case and in each
area the co-operation and goodwill of the local natives was essential. The
strategy employed by the Force Commander and his Officers was as General
MacArthur envisaged, ie., the harassment and the killing of the enemy without
loss to themselves. Ambushes had to be carefully planned because enemy
patrols were invariably far stronger numerically than the Australian patrols.
Therefore in such actions it was necessary to strike quickly then disperse to a
pre-arranged rendezvous for re-grouping. During such actions the Credo's
would take the soldiers packs and move away leaving the troops free to fight
unencumbered. The movement of the sick and wounded was also extremely
difficult and transport could only be achieved by Timor ponies or native carriers.
The positioning of the Hospital had to be in a region where enemy troop
movement was infrequent

The seriousness on the situation was broken by some lighter moments,
however they were few and far between. After carrying out a series of patrols in
the Galarno Valley area the 2/11th Sappers of D platoon took a break near the
residence of the local Portuguese Government Representative (PGR). During
the break the PGR arrived and in accordance with protocol all had to stand and
bow as he passed. All that is except Les Moule and his credo (Domingus). The
PGR walked up to Domingus and slapped his face for not showing due respect.
Les immediately stood up and with what was described as a left hook followed
by a right cross knocked the PGR to the ground. This incident was immediately
brought to the attention of Company HQ who issued a warning to respect these
people and their laws. In normal circumstances this incident would have been
treated far more seriously. It must be remembered that the Portuguese were a
colonial power and the local natives were subservient to their masters.

The Sappers arrived at Roti to check with the local native chiefs of
Japanese troop movements. They were informed daily from one source or
another. Some troops went to the local market where, for the first time, they
sampled the local brew (called tu-ar-ka, sap from palm tree branches). When it
came time to return to their HQ at Ducri two Sappers were missing - Les Moule
and Mark Dennis. Some time later they were located asleep in a bomb crater.
Cock fighting was very popular with the native population on the island. The
2/11th Sappers were presented with five fighting cocks as presents while at
Ducri. The local chief trained their birds for combat. The birds have their spurs
removed from their legs when young and steel blades fixed in their place. The
Sappers chose their champion and placed their bets. Fights are over three
rounds in a bricked oval area with an open exit. If the cock retreats out through
this exit its the end of the fight and the bird loses one wing by means of a knife.
Their champion was one such loser. They immediately donated their other
birds back to the Ducri Chief.

As July advanced, there were disturbing signs that the Japanese were
making preparations for a major offensive. Rumours, and reports from the Dili
observation post, came to the hills of the arrival of fresh troops at Dili and
accretions to the Japanese forces in Dutch Timor. The invaders withdrew to Dili
from their forward positions at Ermera and, though the Australian patrols
pressed closely in on Dili itself and busied themselves demolishing and blocking
roads and destroying key-points, they found the Japanese strangely passive.

During August a Japanese force of some 2,000 fighting troops made a
multi pronged drive to annihilate the Australians. (See maps attached) Eight
enemy columns thrust into the mountainous regions, an area with which the
Australian troops were familiar. This offensive necessitated a re-location of Coy.
HQ, platoons and sections to keep their line intact. Thanks to a efficient radio
communications system between Coy. HQ and platoons, plus the ability of the
troops to reorganise after an ambush kept the force cohesive. However they
were now aware that the enemy was now accompanied by Dutch Timorese
natives trained to spy out their positions.

During this offensive the most difficult fighting developed in the western
region were Lt Dexter with A platoon based at Rita Bau and Lt Turton with D
platoon at Atsabe further east. On the morning of the 13th August 1942 after a
series of clashes with the enemy A and D platoons joined forces to fight the
Japanese from a narrow saddle through which the road from Bobonaro passed to
Atsabe. However the superior numbers of the enemy forced all the platoons of
the 2/2nd Commandos to retreat further east from their regular sphere of
operations. As the Australian commander, with the Japanese closing in,
prepared orders for issue on the 19th August 1942 for an Australian attack which
he hoped desperately might stave off the necessity for breaking away into the
largely unknown and difficult country further east, the end came.

On the night of the 18th-19th the Japanese shot a green flare high into the
darkness above Same. The Australians felt that this was to signal the final
movement towards their destruction or dispersal. But their wary patrols could
find no evidence the next day of advancing enemies and then, incredulously,
discovered that their attackers were withdrawing. They hurried after them,
harassing their rear and flanks. Sapper Arnold Francis sustained a severe cut to
his left hand during the fight on the Bobonaro saddle. He literally ran into two
Japanese scouts well armed and with samurai swords. He managed to shot them
with his revolver, but the deep gash caused him to lose a great deal of blood.
Sergeant Frank Healey came to his aid on hearing the shots. A few days later
via Timorese pony he was in the Doctors care and out of action for six weeks.

After the Japanese August offensive the 2/11th Sappers in D platoon
continued their patrols. During a routine visit to Roti Les Moule decided to buy
his *Credo a new Leppa (Sarong ). He walked into the shop and enquired of the
Chinese proprietor the cost of the garment. The owner, believing the
Australians to be rich said the equivalent of sixteen shillings. Les, being aware
of costs in the market, having previously visited the local brewery stall, was not
amused and let the owner know in no uncertain terms. The owner took fright
and flight with Les firing a couple of rounds from his Tommy gun in the ground
to speed him on his way. The troops were not sure if Les had any money to pay
for the item, nobody had been paid since the Japanese invaded Timor.

During September the Japanese increased their movements inland and
along the north coast. The Australians learned that a complete fresh division
had relieved the original Japanese garrison on Timor at the beginning of the
month. Evidently the puzzling end to the Japanese August offensive was
caused by their need to prepare for departure. There were also reports that the
new regime was imposing much more rigid security precautions around Dili and
on the native and Portuguese populations.

On the 22st of September 1942 a party of about 400 Japanese, many
natives accompanying them, entered Aileu, and the next day reached Maubisse.
When 150 of them moved on towards Ainaro they were smartly engaged by C
platoon who killed about 30 without loss. Reports followed that two other
parties were following the one which had already been engaged, all three parties
totalling 350. In the early afternoon of the 24th, A and D platoons, from cleverly
arranged ambushes, shot many of the invaders. The fight did not flicker out
finally until evening. (Les Moule and the other 2/11th Sappers participated)
The next day however the Japanese occupied Ainaro with the men of D and A
platoons watching and waiting for a chance to harass them from positions above
the town. C platoon waited further back towards Maubissi to worry them if
they retraced their steps. But on the 27th of September, when A platoon entered
Ainaro they found the Japanese had eluded them temporarily by swinging away
north-west to Atsabe. (See maps attached)

On the 23rd of September 1942 the Australian Force on Timor was
reinforced by the arrival of the 2/4th Independent Company. The troops of the
2/4th were co-located with the veteran sections of the 2/2nd. A major
reorganisation of platoons and sections was necessary to accommodate the extra
personnel. D platoon was now situated between Same and Ainaro overlooking
Maubisse.

October saw vigorous action against Japanese parties, particularly by the
fresh troops who chopped hard at the Japanese moving east of Dili. At the same
time the Japanese were also skilfully exploiting the natives. Parties of 50 to 60
natives would press against the Australians, usually urged on by a few Japanese
in the rear. Almost daily Australian groups would report conflict with such
bands resulting in the shooting of 10, 20 or 30 natives and possibly one or two
Japanese. When the CO visited Ainaro he found a willing fight going on ---
near-by villages were burning, hostile natives from Maubisse being driven back
up the valley by Australian fire, natives loyal to the Australians armed with
bows and arrows and spears yelling wildly as they tried to get close enough to
the raiders to use their primitive weapons. On the 1st of November 1942 the
arming of local inhabitants for guerrilla operations against the Japanese was
approved.

By this time it was becoming clear that the men of the 2/2nd Independent
Company were almost at the limit of their endurance. They had been in action
for 10 months under conditions of great mental and physical hardship; their
food had never represented a balanced and sustaining diet; malaria had wasted
them; dysentery was chronic and widespread; they had suffered 26 causalities
since the Japanese invasion began. On the 10th of November 1942 the CO of
Sparrow Force signalled Northern Territory Force Headquarters that one
Independent Company was sufficient to carry out the tasks which had been
allotted on Timor; one company was all that could adequately be maintained;
the 2/2nd urgently needed relief. On the 24th of November Land Headquarters
approved the relief of the company.

The Dutch destroyer "Tjerk Hiddes" was to lift the first flight of the 2/2nd
on the night of the 11th and 12th of December and that was D platoon and the
hospital patients. D platoon had handed over to a platoon of the 2/4th and
concentrated at Same preparatory to moving down to Betano for embarkation.
2/11th Sappers Les Moule and Des Sagar were positioned as the rearguard. On
the 10th, however, the Japanese suddenly sortied against the rearguard and a
small pack train (escorted by three soldiers). The pack train was taking weapons
to the forward platoons. The soldiers of the pack train fought their way out. Of
the rearguard Les Moule was killed and Des Sagar was wounded in the legs.
The rest of the platoon managed to make it through to the embarkation point.

To further elaborate on this incident reference was made to accounts
written by Arnold Francis and Des Sagar. On the previous day it was observed
the Les Moule was restless, he could not settle, he was sweating, even though the
enemy to all intents and purposes was at least 20 miles away. The next morning
after Les and Des Sagar had breakfast with the soldiers of the pack train, the
main body started to move down to the embarkation point. What follows is
from Des Sagars account. Quote. 'At 7.15am Les and I were standing apart
from the others when Les suddenly grabbed his *rifle and started firing. I
could not see anything but fired in the direction Les was firing. Les had
emptied his rifle and was loading again when all hell was let loose. There
was a large number of Japanese and natives with machine guns and mortars
and they turned the lot on to us. Les got the lot and fell, he never moved. I
got three shots in the leg and dived for cover into a gully. After this initial
onslaught the Japanese withdrew, but not too far. Sapper Max Dennis came
to my aid, and with help took me down to the beach.

I believe some of the boys went back and made a bit of a grave for Les,
but could not do much as they were under fire all the time. Les would not
have had any kit, the only things we had were what we stood up in and our
guns and ammunition. The only other things would be in his pockets. If it
had not been for Les seeing these Japs in the bush, they would have stalked us
down to the beach and wiped the whole lot of us out. But Les through
drawing their fire saved the whole crowd. It was rotten luck and I only wish
Les had been able to come back. He never growled when anyone said
anything about how tough it was, Les would say, "You don't know what it
means by roughing it". Of course he would say it much plainer than
that.'Unquote.

Les Moule was the 27th and last soldier of the 2/2nd to be killed on
Timor, the whole company was evacuated to Australia the next evening. Army
records indicate that Les Moule's body was exhumed and buried in the
Australian War Cemetery on the island of Ambon. Indonesia Plot 15, Row 'D',
Grave '4'.

Action against the Japanese on Timor finally ceased on the 10th of
February 1943 when the last of the Australian were withdrawn. Thus the
Australian operations on Timor ended less than a year from the date on which
they had begun. They had no positive strategic value, except that perhaps they
diverted a measure of Japanese attention at a critical time and perhaps, in part,
led to a build-up of Japanese forces on Timor during 1942 in anticipation of
possible allied attempts to reoccupy the island. They did, however, result in the
destruction of many hundreds of Japanese soldiers at very small cost. But, most
importantly, possibly, they demonstrated how an apparently lost cause could be
revived by brave men and transformed into a fighting cause, and at a time when
such a demonstration was of the greatest value to many of their fellow
Australians.

Notes: Information contained in this document was obtained from the
following sources;

1. Australia in the War of 1939-45. The Japanese Thrust by Wigmore.

2. Account by Arnold Francis. Sapper No 2 Section, D Sub-Section.

3. " by Lt Ley. Engineer 2/11th Field Company.

4. " by Des Sagar. Sapper No 2 Section, D Sub-Section.

5. " by Colin Crebert. Sapper No 2 Section, D Sub-Section.

* Native boys who served the soldiers as personal carriers. They also scrounged for food and did some
cooking when required.
*All automatic weapons were handed over to the 2/4th Indepentant Company.

"

Comments

sherryterry

on May 09, 2008

Hi Ande,

I am interested in your story, as Arnold Francis is my grandfather. Is it possible to find the story you are talking of from Arnold Francis and Des Sagar? I would be very keen to read as he did not like talking about it much. I have spoken to my grandmother and she does not have a copy of it either.

Would love to hear from you

Sherry.

Ande

on Jul 24, 2008

Sherry,

Sorry I have not been around for a while. Contact me at bganderson@hotkey.net.au

Brian Anderson

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!