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Trouble Ahead
Extracts from an unpublished book
by
L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe 14640525
Page 5

 

.....First we had to bury the dead Japs. After digging in we sat on top of the hill watching a troop of armoured cars patrol, when a shot rang out and L/Cpl Burgess fell dead shot through the heart. A night of watching and waiting expecting the Japs to attack us at any time.

.....Next morning we brewed up a Char ‘O’ group was again held. Same plan was laid on, only this time the planning was not nearly as good. We again moved back leaving 3 men behind to fire a few rounds at Japs to make them think we were still there. As soon as the aircraft appeared they withdrew.

.....Thunderbolts came in strafing the Japs, then the Mitchell’s came over and dropped their bombs. Then the Hurricane bombers came in, dropped their bombs and strafed Japs and off they went. Here planning as not as good and Company did not move off for about half an hour after planes had finished.

.....Reaching the ridge, 4 Platoon on the right slope, 5 left, 6 in the rear moving through our positions. Company soon hit trouble. Heavy machine gun fire coming from all round. Sgt. XXXX, Cpl XXXX and Pte. XXXX being killed. Sgt. XXXXX, Sgt XXXX and Sgt. XXXX being wounded. The dead men’s bodies were covered by fire so that we could get them in.

.....At night, we sent out a party to get in our dead and a patrol was sent out to where the Jap H.Q. was. About midnight a big flash and explosions went up. Later found out it was a Jap dump going up.

.....Next morning, Major XXXX went forward with a Platoon. Japs had pulled out during the night. We found a large quantity of medical stores. Some of our own equipment also came bunkers that R.As. had scored direct hits on.

.....During this time 4/4 Ghurka and 8th F.F.R. had been holding a bridgehead 20 miles to the north. 62 and 64 Bdes had made their bridgehead 2 miles north of Singu. After a very stiff fight Japs counter-attacking for two weeks, they pushed forward having big battles at Singu, Teshin and Pear Hill.

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L/Cpl. William Joseph Lowe