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2/2 Commando Association of Australia

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23.01.2022 Respected family doctor Dan Murphy has died aged 75. The founder of the Bairru Pité clinic suffered a heart attack last night and died, according to the clinic's director. The American doctor is being remembered for his dedication and love towards the Timor-Leste people. Dr Dan was known personally by many Association members and supporters who have travelled to or resided in Timor-Leste over the last 20 years.... See also: http://www.tatoli.tl//respected-family-doctor-dan-murphy-/

21.01.2022 Join us live at 3pm on Sunday 15 November 2020 for the 71st annual ceremony to commemorate the men of the 2/2. We're also streaming live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3x8N-08NcI

21.01.2022 JACK HANSON INTERVIEWED THE 2/2’s last man standing, 98-year old Jack Hanson (WX12804), was recently interviewed by American video journalist Rishi Sharma for his ‘Heroes of the Second World War’ website (http://www.heroesofthesecondworldwar.org). A local newspaper story about Jack’s interview is posted below.

21.01.2022 WORLD WAR II HERO TEDDY SHEEAN TO POSTHUMOUSLY RECEIVE VICTORIA CROSS Prime Minister Scott Morrison has recommended the Queen posthumously award World War II hero Edward 'Teddy' Sheean a Victoria Cross. https://www.abc.net.au//scott-morrison-teddy-shee/12540708 The report of the Expert Panel review of the Teddy Sheean case can be downloaded from: https://www.pm.gov.au/me/ordinary-seaman-edward-teddysheean... The story of the connection between Sheean’s heroic actions and the Commando Campaign on Portuguese Timor can be found on Doublereds at https://doublereds.org.au//125-the-armidale-tragedy-and-/ See more

20.01.2022 LT-COL DAN GOSLING RECOGNISED FOR COORDINATING TIMOR-LESTE'S SUCCESSFUL COVID-19 RESPONSE Dan, well-known to participants in the 2018 and 2019 'Timor 1942 Commando Campaign' tours (and many others) received this well-deserved accolade in today's Age: https://libraryedition.smedia.com.au//SharedView.Article.a

19.01.2022 The April 2020 edition of Courier is now available for download: https://doublereds.org.au/news/april-2020-courier-r67/

18.01.2022 ‘INDEPENDENT COMPANY’ DOCUMENTARY A NEGLECTED VISUAL RECORD OF THE TIMOR CAMPAIGN The documentary film ‘Independent Company’ is a neglected visual record of the No. 2 Independent Company’s (No. 2 IC) campaign against the Japanese on Portuguese Timor during 1942. First shown on SBS in 1988 it has been rarely, if ever, broadcast subsequently. The film can be viewed through the Doublereds website: https://doublereds.org.au//independent-company-videorecor/... The 53 minute film is made up of interviews with No. 2 IC men (Bernard Callinan, George ‘Happy’ Greenhalgh, Gerry McKenzie, Jim Smailes, Colin Doig, Tom Nisbet, Rolf Baldwin, David Dexter, Percy Hancock, Joe Poynton, Arch Campbell, Keith Hayes, Don Turton, Jerry Maley, Ray Aitken, Ray Parry and Harry Sproxton), ‘Mad Mike’ Calvert (trainer of the No. 2 IC), Maria Louisa Sousa Santos (wife of António Policarpe de Sousa Santos, the Administrator of Fronteira Province) and 5 Japanese veterans (Koichi Nakajima, Haruka Nishiyama, Kuwakichi Arakawa, Masatsugu Kambe and Onuki Shigenobu) who served on Timor. There are also re-enactments using of some of the key incidents during the campaign the most notable being the rejection of the Japanese surrender demand at Hatolia and the construction of ‘Winnie the war winner’. The footage is rounded out with extracts from Damien Parer’s better known ‘Men of Timor’ (1943) film. The film was produced by Colin South of Melbourne-based Media World Pty Ltd and the script was based on Bernard Callinan’s book ‘Independent Company’, archival research and interviews with participants in Australia, England, Portugal and Japan. The production team had hoped to film the re-enactment scenes in Timor but access to do this was not possible during that phase of the Indonesian occupation. Tom Nisbet was ‘technical adviser’ for the film. The old 2/2 Commando Association was consulted about the production and they gave it active support. The producers flew Bernard Callinan and Rolf Baldwin to Perth to participate in the 1987 Anzac Day parade and film interviews with some of the WA-based veterans. A ‘Meet the Visitors’ get-together was held in Mandurah on the following Sunday. To see the full post about the "independent Company' documentary go to: https://doublereds.org.au//253-independent-company-docume/

16.01.2022 WWII IN EAST TIMOR - A SITE & TRAVEL GUIDE - ATSABE Atsabe sits at an elevation of approximately 1,500 metres on the western slopes of Mount Ramelau. During WWII it was in a key ‘crossroads’ position overlooking important roads and tracks heading in all directions of the compass. Bernard Callinan recorded that:... Meanwhile [by mid-April 1942] we had developed a system of patrols which came up through Lete-Foho, moved across to Boyland by night, and then around through the Hatu-Lia area on the lookout for stray lone Japanese patrols, and finally back to Atsabe; the complete circuit took approximately a week. There were a large number of Japanese troops milling round in this area, and often one of their patrols would be allowed to walk through an ambush position because our position was itself covered by another patrol higher up. Portuguese reports placed the number of Japanese troops based on Ermera as not less than twelve hundred. Atsabe remained an important Platoon or Section base for the No. 2 Independent Company for the remainder of its campaign after which a section of the No. 4 Independent Company took over. Sergeant José Alexandrino of the Portuguese Army, (nick named ‘Krupps’ because of his skill with weapons and explosives) who had served in the colony for 20 years and was well known to Callinan and the other men who had used Atsabe as a base. The Australians had fled to Alexandrino’s redoubt in the foothills of Mount Ramelau during the August offensive. To read more about the significance of Atsabe as a location during the campaign go to the full story on the Doublereds website: https://doublereds.org.au//273-wwii-in-east-timor-a-site-/

16.01.2022 COMMANDO CAMPAIGN SITES EAST TIMOR - BOBONARO DISTRICT - MAROBO The Marobo hot springs in south west East Timor are justifiably recognised as one of the premier rural tourist attractions in Timor-Leste. In addition to its current worthiness as a place to visit, the site was also of significance as a Section headquarters for the No. 2 Independent Company between March-August 1942. After the fierce fighting in the area during the ‘August Push, in which the unit lost two men... killed in action, Marobo remained more within the Japanese controlled sphere of influence and was not as frequently occupied by our men. Following the departure of Lancer Force from Portuguese Timor in February 1943 the colony settled into a harsh regime of Japanese occupation and the spa at Marobo was used as a ‘Rest and Recreation’ site by the garrison forces. A less well known aspect of the Japanese occupation was the sexual exploitation of Timorese females known as comfort women. A Comfort station was established at Marobo. To read more of the interesting history of this site see the full post on Doublereds: https://doublereds.org.au//237-commando-campaign-sites--/

16.01.2022 Further to our earlier post about the "Double Reds Resilience Award" ...

14.01.2022 COMMANDO CAMPAIGN SITES EAST TIMOR - Manufahi District -TURISCAI Turiscai was a significant campaign site particularly between July 1942 and January 1943, being frequently occupied as Section and Platoon headquarters by both the No. 2 and No. 4 Independent Companies. The indigenous population of Turiscai revolted, attacked, and robbed the government posto there in July as a result of Japanese propaganda. The rebellion was brutally suppressed in August 1942 by 700 moradores... (Timorese troops serving the Portuguese) from Laleia, Laclo and Laclubar. From then on Turiscai was on the front line of the action as the Japanese controlled ‘black columns’ of hostile Timorese warriors frequently probed the area and created mayhem. The full post about Turiscai can be viewed on the Doublereds website: https://doublereds.org.au//243-commando-campaign-sites--/ The post also includes some interesting personal recollections by John Burridge Snr and content regarding Mau Asu, a Turiscai man who was Jack Hanson’s creado.

14.01.2022 Anzac Day 2020 video from Dili, Timor-Leste THE Australian Defence Cooperation Program (DCP): Timor-Leste team in Dili in cooperation with their New Zealand colleagues prepared this special video as a substitute for the usual live dawn ceremony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbw_N3jOqXI&feature=youtu.be

13.01.2022 WWII in East Timor A Site and Travel Guide - Commando Campaign Sites - BAUCAU MUNICIPALITY During the WWII period under the Portuguese colonial administration, the area now known as the Baucau Municipality is made up several northern districts of the civil circunscriçõe of Sao Domingos that extended from the north to the south coast. The map shows the area and highlights the sites (numbered) where significant events occurred during WWII....Continue reading

12.01.2022 VALE JOHN TRELEASE (‘JACK’) HANSON - WX12804 1920-2020 Association members and supporters will be saddened to learn of the passing of former 2/2 Commando Squadron soldier John Trelease (‘Jack’) Hanson - WX12804. His nephew, Martin Morris, advised the Association that Jack passed away aged 98 at Hervey Bay, Qld on Tuesday 26 May 2020. Because of current travel restrictions Martin said Jack will have a private cremation and his life will be commemorated and celebrated at a... later time. Jack was an original member of the unit, embarking aboard ‘S.S. Zealandia’ on 8 December 1941 for Timor as a Private in No 6 Section, B Platoon. After the campaign on Timor, he embarked with the unit, for Australia aboard the Royal Dutch destroyer ‘Tjerk Hiddes’ on 16 December 1942. He then fulfilled an instructor role with different training units in the Canungra, Qld area before being transferred to the 2/12 Cavalry Commando Squadron in May 1944 and then served with that unit during their Borneo campaign between June August 1945. He was discharged from the A.I.F. on 2 April 1946 and then joined the Australian Army, serving for another 10 years. Though born in Fremantle, WA, Jack lived and worked in Queensland after leaving the Army, finally settling in Hervey Bay. He re-established contact with his family and the old 2/2 Commando Association in the late 1970s and over the years was a frequent contributor of personal updates and reminiscences to the ‘Courier’. Jack wrote a full account of his early life in Fremantle and wartime service with the 2/2 and 2/12 in his own inimitable style that can be accessed on the Doublereds website: https://doublereds.org.au/files/JackHanson-TheWhiteGhost.pdf He has also been featured in two other recent posts on the Association’s Facebook page: ‘Jack Hanson interviewed’ March 7 2020 and ‘Jack Hanson interviewed on ABC Media’ August 11 2019. As far as can be ascertained Jack was the last surviving member of the 2/2. LEST WE FORGET

11.01.2022 WWII in East Timor A Site and Travel Guide - Commando Campaign Sites - VIQUEQUE MUNICIPALITY LACLUTA Lacluta was a small Portuguese posto town located in what is now in the central western area of the Viqueque municipality. The town was first occupied by the No. 2 Independent Company in mid-September 1942. The unit War Diary entry for 15 November recorded: ‘Force HQ desire "B" Pl to move to the LACLUTA (05472605 ) area and from there maintain OPs on the roads MANATUTO-BA...UCAU and BAUCAU-VIQUEQUE also to harass any Jap movement in the EASTERN end of the island’. To read more about the significance of Lacluta as a location during the campaign go to the full story on the Doublereds website: https://doublereds.org.au//258-wwii-in-east-timor--a-sit/

11.01.2022 https://www.abc.net.au//teddy-sheean-victoria-cro/12550210

11.01.2022 JAMES STANLEY (JIM) DUNN (1928 2020) Members and supporters of the Doublereds will be saddened to learn of the passing of James Dunn who became best known during the 1970s and ‘80s when he stood up against Australia’s foreign policy establishment over its endorsement of Indonesia’s invasion and annexation of East Timor. The evidence presented in Dunn’s published reports and books was endorsed and appreciated by the men of the old 2/2 Commando Association of Australia who us...ed it their representations and advocacy to government in support of the Timorese fight for independence from Indonesia. A copy of Dunn’s influential report ‘The Timor story’ (1976) is held in the old Association’s archives. An informative and respectful obituary for Jim Dunn was published in Friday’s Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.smh.com.au//campaigner-for-east-timor-during-i For additional information om James Dunn go to the Doublereds website: https://doublereds.org.au//238-james-stanley-jim-dunn-192/

10.01.2022 COMMANDO CAMPAIGN SITES EAST TIMOR - ERMERA DISTRICT - THE UNIT STRIKES BACK: THE ‘BATTLE’ OF GRADE LAU (NEAR RAILACO) The ‘Battle’ of Grade Lau was a signature ambush conducted by A Platoon of the No. 2 Independent Company on 3 March 1942 in the early part of the Timor campaign. It’s recollection has perhaps been overshadowed by the Japanese attack at Bazar-Tete that took place a couple of days before when two B Platoon men were killed in action and three were wounded. Th...e Japanese were aware other elements of No. 2 Independent Company were in close proximity further south and pressed on aggressively with columns advancing from Bazar Tete and Railaco towards the A Platoon positions at Grade Lau. Cyril Ayris in Chapter 14 of ‘All the Bull’s men’ titled ‘The unit strikes back’ gives an account of this action conducted under the astute leadership of Captain Rolf Baldwin of A Platoon who had anticipated the direction of the Japanese advance, set his Sections well in prepared positions, timed the ambush in order to inflict maximum casualties on the enemy and planned an organised withdrawal that enabled all the men under his command to escape unharmed. An estimated 30 or more Japanese soldiers were killed in the ambush. Fortunately, detailed first hand accounts of the ambush were recorded by Rolf Baldwin, 2 Section soldier Jack Hartley and some other participants. The information they provided enables the site to be fairly accurately located, which is often not the case with other actions during the campaign. To read the full story of the battle go to: https://doublereds.org.au//250-commando-campaign-sites--/

08.01.2022 VALE JOHN HAROLD (‘SNOWY’) WENT - NX123562 1923-2020 Association members and supporters will be saddened to learn of the passing of former 2/2 Commando Squadron soldier John Harold ‘Snowy’ Went (NX123562). His daughter, Lorraine Hickey, advised the Association that Snowy passed away aged 96 at Bateau Bay, NSW on Thursday 26 March 2020. His funeral was held on 2 April.... He served in New Guinea and New Britain as a member of 7 Section of C Troop. Post-war he was an active member of the NSW Branch of the Association and Lorraine noted that he ‘proudly attended many reunions over the years’. There are frequent mentions of him in the back issues of the ‘Courier’ and Col Doig expressed his thanks to Snowy and others who helped him ‘re-constitute’ the manning lists included in his unit history. A fuller Vale for Snowy will be prepared and published on Doublereds once more information about him becomes available. Up until being contacted by Lorraine we had assumed that Jack Hansen was the ‘last man standing’ from the 2/2. If any Association member or supporter is aware of another 2/2 veteran still with us, please contact the Association with his details (https://doublereds.org.au/forums/forum/8-open-discussion/).

08.01.2022 COMMANDO CAMPAIGN SITES EAST TIMOR - Manufahi District - MINDELO Following on from our previous post about Turiscai, nearby Mindelo was also in the crucible of the intense fighting that occurred during November 1942 as the Japanese supported and controlled rebel Timorese pressured the Australian positions in the Central Highlands. Two No. 2 Independent Company men, Andy Smeaton and George Thomas went missing in action (believed captured and later executed) after an attack on... the 8 Section observation post and camp near Mindelo on the 11 November. Renowned cameraman and filmmaker, Damien Parer arrived on the scene two days later and filmed the aftermath of a successful responsive attack on Mindelo by 9 Section men led by Lt Gerry McKenzie and supported by 100 friendly Timorese warriors from nearby Tutuloro. Parer recorded the victorious warriors bringing home their captives and booty. Next day Parer used the less hazardous circumstances to recreate and film some of the action during the attack on the village. Parer’s film and the photographs he took at the same time at or near Mindelo provide a unique and invaluable visual record of the No. 2 Independent Company’s Timor campaign. To read the full story go to Doublereds: https://doublereds.org.au//246-commando-campaign-sites--/

07.01.2022 Lest we forget.

06.01.2022 The November 2020 edition of Courier is now available for download: https://doublereds.org.au/news/november-2020-courier-r74/

05.01.2022 Jack Hanson's obituary in today's West Australian http://thewest2.smedia.com.au//th/SharedView.Article.aspx

04.01.2022 Committee members Sue and Peter Epps laid a wreath at the 2/2 Commando Squadron memorial in Kings Park this morning.

03.01.2022 In honour of 2/2 veteran Archie Campbell, the Arch Campbell Memorial Scholarship offers a boy the opportunity to attend Christ Church Grammar School for the whole of his secondary schooling without paying a cent of school fees. Awarded to a boy who would not, for financial reasons, otherwise have the opportunity to attend the school, the scholarship is an amazing opportunity. The current offering is available to boys entering year seven in 2021. For more information, visit th...e link below or contact [email protected] https://www.ccgs.wa.edu.au//the-old-boys-association-schol