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Dec 16 11 4:27 AM
Most Welcome
18TH JUNE 1941
Extracts from War Diary of 8th Australian Division
AUSTRALAN IMPERIAL FORCE , MALAYA.
ROUTINE ORDER NO. 25.
3. FRONTIER CONTROL: The following instruction issued by 11 Ind Div promulgated for information:-
… “To ensure, as far as possible, that the Frontier into THAILAND will NOT be crossed, the following rule will be observed:-
(a) CHANGLAN-SADAO ROAD – No one will go north of the Frontier Customs Post without the approval of the Brigade Com., application for this will give the name of the officer or N.C.O. (not below the rank of Sjt), in charge of the party, strength and reason.
(b) To ensure obedience of this order, 6 Bde has a guard at the Frontier Customs Post during the hours of daylight, whose orders are to prevent all military personnel from going North of this post unless in possession of a pass stamped with an 11 Div, 6 or 15 Bde, or Penang Fortress Stamp, and signed by a Staff Officer” ….
NOTICE.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESSES: The following telegraphic addresses of other formations of MALAYA are shown hereunder, for information.
3 Ind Corps : MAYCOR
L of C Area : NACOM
9 Ind Div : GENFOR
11 Ind Div : NORDIV
PISTOLS: A return is required from all units showing the number of privately owned .38 Pistols in possession of personnel in lieu of .45 Pistols on W.E.T.
This return will be rendered with the usual Arms Return.
************************************************************************
Edited by myself as there was deal of explaining going on ........
War Cabinet Minute (1744)
Melbourne 23rd January 1942
1. The supply of 25 2 pounder anti-tank guns had been withheld following War Cabinet decision on 12th December 1941 the War Cabinet minute 1579 (a) (x) to retain munitions manufactured in Australian from export to meet Australia urgent defence requirements.
2. This had been interpret as virtually almost blanket ban on munition exports by the Director Ordinance Production.
3. The War Cabinet stated that there was nothing in the cabinet minute preventing the export of munition unless they were urgently required for the defence of Australia.
4 In view of the shortage of ammunition, the 2 pounders on the Adelaide wharf can be shipped to Malaya.
5. In the view of the advice of the Chief of the General Staff, the despatch of the 25 2-pounder guns to Malaya was approved.
War Cabinet Minute
Melbourne 13th January 1942
(1683) Dock Operating Company for Malaya
The Minister for the Army referred to a request from G.O.C., Singapore, for the provision of dock operation personnel from Australia for service in Malaya in view of the unsatisfactory behaviour of local Asiatic labour in bombing raids, and the vital need to keep the Singapore docks in operation.
Approval was given to the provision of one Dock Operating Company comprising 438 personnel of all ranks. The unit is to be raised by calling for volunteers from Australian Imperial Forces in camps and depots in Australian.
Sign
Secretary of the War Cabinet
From Australian National Archives
I have retyped the files because of the poor quality of scanned original documents which are difficult to read and some words whose meaning is clear when taken in conjunction with other information but that are partially unreadable I have corrected. These historic communications include typing errors and group mutilations, the cipher clerks in Singapore and Australia must have been in very tired and overworked by this time.
The Australian Government Representative in Singapore was at the time Mr Bowden; he was murderer by the Japanese on a Dutch Island in Feb. 1942 despite his diplomatic status. As situation became more desperate the clerks are increasing abbreviating titles etc.
The many communication during 1941 and 1942 on the subject of various items of mining equipment stored in Singapore refers to the Japanese attempt to start an iron ore mine at Yampi Sound in Western Australian that was stopped by an Australian Government embargo in 1938. The Japanese with the industrial effort committed to the war in China order all the mining equipment from Britain. This equipment arrived in Singapore and being covered by the Australian embargo could not be sold or exported without Australian permission.
Department of External affairs
CABLEGRAM
Decyphered From:
Australian Representative in Singapore
Date Sent 3rd Februrary, 1942 7.4 p.m.
Received 4th February, 1942
Most Secret
Your telegram No. 56 first porsgraph and your 68
(1) The position as regards equipment at the works of the Harbour Board and United Engineers is that this is in crg for essential work and that the removal of any machines could be reguarded by extremists as a first move towards the evacuation and abandonment of Singapore. The Governor considers this risk too serious to incur, therefore, will not permit the removal s nd the machines will be included in the demolition programme.
(2) At the naval base understand that most of the machine tools are still in position and scheduled for demolition because the available labour and transport fully occupied removing stores. Therefore, anything I can take away is available to me without any present, question of payment. Have already arranged expert supervision for this work and have shipping opportunity in view and ars now trying to arrange labour and transport.
(3) There are also certain commercial stocks of engineering equipment, spare parts and materials slan two Ruston Rueyrus 100 R.B. excavators held by the custodian of enemy property particulars of which are been obtained for submission to you.
(4) Discovered yesterday 14 cases of telephone equipment consigned to “G.E.C. Darwin for P.M.G. via Singapore” discharged here some weeks ago and not forwarded owing to lack of steamers for Darwin. Have arranged shipment shortly by steamer proceeding to Fremantle only.
Group mutilated as received
Copies to:
Minister R.A.
Def. Co-ord. Dept
Munitions Dept.
Treasury Dept.
4/2/42
Aus Official Representative Singapore
Date Sent 5th Feb, 1942 7.34 p.m.
Revd 6th Feb, 1942
My telegram No. 111, para. 2. Enemy are now shelling oerose naval base and work therefore only possible after dark. Work party will start tonight freeing tools from seatings and hope to begin removal tomorrow night.
para. 3. Custodian of Enemy Property holds for account of the Japanese Nichinan Mining Company two unused Ruston Bueyus 100 R.B. high lift electric shovels each with 3 ½ cubic yards digger, 34 ft boom, 26 ft dipper handles for 2,200 volt, 3 phase 50 cycles supply Ward Leonard control suit transformer starting together with extensive redundant mechanical and electrical spares price Sterling 33,000 pounds limp sum of which 6,000 is for spares. Payment against delivery order ex warehouse Singapore in original packaging,
These terms appear to present difficulty because under existing conditions there can be no certainty of the ability to effect complete shipment. BOWDEN
Min. E.A..
Defence
Munitions
Treasury
Div. of Import Procurement
Customs
6/2/42
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