The troops besides having to be trained to fight, build defence works, and related projects, but time had to found to teach and organised and men (and women) in prevention of the thousand and one things that could cause deaths, injuries, sickness, loss or damage of equipment and stores, and any other cause that may reduce the efficency of the military and civil effort. History was to show how little time there was and despite the determined and dedicated efforts of the majority of all ranks, they just did not have a fair chance.
Extracts from the War Diary of the 9th
Indian Division
16th
September 1941
Divisional
H.Q. P.A.D. (Passive Air Defence)
Divisional P.A.D. Scheme (based on Malaya
Command Operation Instruction No. 6 of 27th Jun 1941)
Appendix ‘D’
P.A.D. Stores and Equipment
Shovels……………………….50
Sand Bags…………….…...4,000
Axes Felling…………………...6
Axes Hand……………………..6
Pails Fire………………….....100
Whistles Thunder……………...4
Stretchers Ambulance…………6
Air Wardens Sets……………...3
Look Outs Sets……………….25
Police Sets……………………..7
First Aid Party Set………..……1
Fire points B Sets……………...9
Fire points C Sets……………...4
Trailer Pump……………...……1
Appendix ‘E’
P.A.D. Establishment
A.D. (Air Defence) Officer – G.S.O.III
Assistant A.D. Officer – Camp Commandant.
1
Regimental Aid Post –
M.O. (2); Nursing Orderly (2); = 2 Officers
& 2 O.Rs.
1
Gas Cleaning Centre –
(for
Decontamination of seriously contaminated personnel & those with mustard
gas or Lewisite or acid in the eyes)
Supt. (1); Undresser (1); Bath attendant (1); Storeman / First Aid
attendant (1); = 2 N.C.Os. & 6 O.Rs. (including 100% reserves)
1
Gas Decontamination Centre –
(for
the Decontamination of Wounded)
Supt. (1); Undresser (1); Bath attendant (1); Storeman/First Aid
attendant (1); = 2 N.C.Os. & 6 O.Rs. (including 100% reserves)
1
Gas Defence Centre –
(For
the decontamination of personnel working on contaminated ground, e.g. decontamination
squads)
Supt. (1); Undresser (1); Bath attendant (1); Storeman/First Aid
attendant (1); = 2 N.C.Os. & 6 O.Rs. (including 100% reserves)
4
A.A.L.M.Gs. –
12 O.Rs. = 24 O.Rs. (including 100% reserves)
1
Fire Fighting Party –
7 O.Rs. = 2 N.C.Os. & 12 O.Rs. (including 100%
reserves)
1
Unit Bomb Disposal Section –
4 Sappers = 1 Officer, 2 N.C.Os. & 6
O.Rs. (including 100% reserves)
2
Stretcher Bearer Party (First Aid Trained) –
6 O.Rs. = 12 O.Rs. (including 100%
reserves)
1
Div. H.Q. Rescue Party –
6 Sappers = 2 N.C.Os. & 10 O.Rs.
(including 100% reserves)
1
Unit Rescue Party –
4 O.Rs. = 8 O.Rs. (including 100% reserves)
1
Decontamination Squad –
6 O.Rs.
= 2 N.C.Os. & 10 O.Rs. (including
100% reserves)
2
Air Raid Wardens –
2 N.C.Os. = 4 N.C.Os. (including 100% reserves)
4
Look outs –
4 O.Rs. = 8 O.Rs. (including 100% reserves)
Note – Reserves of trained man power are required so as to allow relief of teams to every two hours to maintain operation efficiently. This is particularly necessary once a gas attack has occurred and teams and/or individuals are operating in a contaminated environment wearing protective gas mask and/or protective clothing in a hot humid climate.
Appendix ‘F’
Essential Telephone Numbers
- H.Q. Division………………....Kuala Lumpur .. 2987,2988,2989,2990
- H.Q…………………………....Kota Bharu..……125 Extension 21
- H.Q…………………………....Ipoh...………….1181
- O.C. Mantin..…………….…....Mantin……..…...215
- H.Q. III Indian Corps…….…...Kuala Lumpur…4431
- H.Q. Malaya Command……....Singapore…..….5051
- Residence G.O.C. Division.......Kuala Lumpur…2756
- Residence G.S.O.I………….....Kuala Lumpur…2087
- Residence A.A.&Q.M.G….......Kuala Lumpur…3739
- Divisional Provost Unit….…....Kuala Lumpur…4393
- Military Ambulance………..…Kuala Lumpur…2711
- Director of A.R.P…………..…Kuala Lumpur…4422
- Kuala Lumpur Aerodrome..…..Kuala Lumpur...79285
- Commander Royal Engineers...Kuala Lumpur….2987 Extension 21
- Inspector of Air Watchers…….Kuala Lumpur…3371 Extension 5
- Fire Brigade…...……………....Kuala Lumpur…2222
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Coast Watchers
The Staff Officer (I), Major J.C. Westall,
Royal Marines, carried out an inspection (…I
need to confirmed the historical date ) with object of assisting the army
on Naval matters as far as they affect Coast Watching.
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(I will will have check the date of this document. Some part were illegable and some names doubled checked against wartime maps as modern spellings and even names of places have in some cases radically changed.)
Operational
Instruction No.8
Appendix
“A”
STATE
OF KELANTAN
Coast Watching Stations at Pabal, Tumpat and K. Besar who
report to the Supt. of Customs at Kota Bharu via telephone line who,
immediately passes any report which can be regarded in any way suspicious by
telephone to (a) H.Q. K.Bharu (b) to British Ad. Kelantan.
STATE
OF TENGGANU
Coast Watching Station at K.Besut who report to the Assist. Ad.
Besut via telephone line who, immediately passes any report, which can be
regarded in any way suspicious by telephone to (a) H.Q. K.Bharu; (b) to British
Ad. Trengganu.
Coast Watching Station at K.Jetiu who report to the Assist.
Police Officer Commanding K.Trengganu via telephone line who immediately passes
any report, which can be regarded in any way suspicious by telephone or W/T to
(a) H.Q. K.Bharu; (b) to British Ad. Trengganu.
Coast Watching Stations at K. Betiu, Merang, Batu Rakit, K.Trengganu, K.Mar (Marang ?) and Merchang who report to the Supt. of
Customs at Kota Bharu via telephone line who, immediately passes any report
which can be regarded in any way suspicious by telephone or W/T to (a) H.Q.
K.Bharu; (b) to British Ad. Kelantan.
Coast Watching Stations at Jambu Bongkok, K.Dungi and Pani, who
report to the Duty Police Officer Commanding at Dungun or Assist Ad. Dungun via
telephone line who immediately passes any report, which can be regarded in any
way suspicious by telephone or W/T to (a) H.Q. K.Bharu; (b) to British Ad.
Kelantan.
Coast Watching Stations at Kemasik, Kijal and K.Kemaman (Talaga Simpol) who report to the Assist. Engineer
(A.E.), Public Works Dept. (P.W.D.) Kemaman via telephone line who immediately
passes any report, which can be regarded in any way suspicious by telephone to
(a) H.Q. K.Bharu; (b) to British Ad. Kelantan; (c) H.Q. Kuantan. In the event
the A.E., P.W.D. being absent from Kemaman, reports will be sent to Duty P.O.C.
Dungun or A.A. Dungun for onward transmission as above.
Coast Watching Stations at Sungi Ulan, Sungei Parang, Tg,Tembkling (Kuantan) and N.Pahang who report to the Senior Customs Officer, Kuantan via telephone line who immediately passes any report, which can be regarded in any way suspicious by telephone to (a) H.Q. Kuantan.
Coast Watching Station at ??????? who report to the P.T.O. Psk? (Pekan ?), bicycle or ???? car repeats report to ???? and then to the Senior Customs Officer, Kuantan via telephone line who immediately passes any report, which can be regarded in any way suspicious by telephone to (a) H.Q. Kuantan.
*********************************************************************
1st
April 1941
Commander of Netherlands East Indies Air Force inspects Sembawang and Kallang air fields, Singapore.
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15th to 19th May 1941
Dutch flying boats and Glen Martin bombers
visiting Darwin, northern Australia.
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19th May 1941
Australian Hudson bombers commence visit to Koepang, Timor.
1,000 tons of military stores are on passage from Sydney (Australia) to Sourabaya (Java) for distribution to Koepang and Ambon, when buildings ready.
Observer Posts Anamba and Bogotighe and control centre at Tanjong Pinang in
Meteorology Interchange of information between Australia, N.E.I, and Malaya including simple M.E.T. code for aircraft.
Liaison Dutch Naval Officer stationed at Manila (Phillipines) and United States Naval Officeres at Darwin, Colombo and Wellington as observers. United States observers at Singapore to be increased to seven, and Australian Naval and Air Liaison Offices in Java.
Hong Kong Stocks of fuel prepared for U.S.A. flying boats at Aberdean Inlet.
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20th May 1941
Communications Point to point service opened between Cavite, Singapore, Batavia and Australia. Service between Australia, New Zealand and Honolulu being arranged. Arrangements being investigated for the use of Cocos Island D/F by Dutch flying
British Far East G.H.Q. and N.E.I. General Staff each send a representative officer (accompanied by a U.S. military observer at Singapore) to Manila.
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11th November 1941
Extracts from War Diary of 2/26 Battalion A.I.F. MALAYA
“ROUTINE ORDERS, No.226 Part 1.”
2. COMFORTS ISSUE
The following issues of comforts, supplied by the Australian Comforts Fund, will be made today:-
Per Man:-
1 ounce tobacco
1 packet razor blades
1 cake laundry soap
Per 5 men:-
1 tin soup
3. TRADESMEN
Companies will submit to Battalion H.Q. by 13 Nov 41 the names of personnel who are experienced in:-
(a) Engraving
(b) Tennis racket repairs and restringing”…..
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12th
November 1941
Extracts from War Diary of 2/26 Battalion A.I.F. MALAYA
“ROUTINE ORDERS, No.227 Part 1.”
2. PAY
All ranks are advised that the following increases in pay will come into operation by next pay day:-
Active Pay – 1/- per day increase all ranks.
Dependents’ Allowance – 6d per day increase.
The above increases are effective as from and including 7 Nov 41.
In order that the increased Dependents’ Allowance (6d per day) may be paid the following minimum allotments must be made:-
Officers – 5/6 per day
Other Ranks – 3/6 per day
Detailed instructions re alterations of pay books will be issued shortly; and NO action will be taken by sub-units until receipt of instruction”……
4. LANGUAGE
All ranks are warned that it is an offence to use blasphemous and obscene language. Disciplinary action is to be taken against offenders. This order is to be read out on parade once per week for 3 consecutive weeks.”……..
(Historical Note: -
(i) If the pay clerks were putting everyone on active service pay rates, somebody must have thought there was going to be a war.
(ii) Also when an Australian soldier qualified as a specialist in an infantry battalion his pay went up by 1/- a day.
(iii) 1/- is one shilling Australian; 6d is sixpence or 6 pennies or half a shilling. 5/6 is 5 shillings and 6 pence)
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1st December 1941
Extracts from War Diary of 2/26 Battalion A.I.F. MALAYA
...“General preparation, packing, issuing of
equipment, checking of stores and arms in readiness for any move which may be
ordered”…
…“Warning SEAVIEW received. Action taken as per Operation Instruction
No. 9.” ...
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This is the first of a long list of efforts that demonstrate that the commanders, officers and rank and file were not just sitting on the hands, but it was the task ahead of them was emmense.
Cheers ...
Geoff
