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27 - 31 December
3rd Patrol
Rather ominously, when the Third River Patrol was about to leave Telok Anson, Richardson notes in his diary that Major Fearon evidently said to them "When you come back we may be gone. Good luck"23
The morning of the 27th was spent manning Ack Ack machine guns (small calibre ant-aircraft gun) waiting for Japanese bombing planes which did not appear.
Two Japanese planes flew overhead in the afternoon reconnoitering the area. Later that afternoon the patrol went upriver again to Kg Pasir Panjang where we lay up for the night and did a standing patrol. On guard with Pollock 2100 - 2400. So tired that several times I nearly fell overboard into the river, Very glad when spell of duty finished, Becoming used now to sleeping rough.
In the morning of the 28th of December, the Patrol went onto Kg. Gajah where Richardson mentions meeting a Major and 2 British soldiers (one a Volunteer) returning from a week's recce behind Jap lines. This is likely Frederick Spencer Chapman.24
Richardson describes that “They had a fairly hectic time. We gave them food.” The patrol then went onto Kg. Pulau Tiga. On standing patrol for 24 hours. Japanese reported around Parit. Mosquitoes are dreadful just like Stuka dive bombers!
Slept well in the early hours of the 29th of December until 06.00 hrs. Richardson had a long chat with Che Uda Mahomet, a very old Malay while on guard. Nothing much happened all day. 27 Japanese bombers seen around 1640.
Richardson and Gilchrist did cycle patrol from Kg.P. Tiga to Kg. Gajah and back. Nothing seen. From Richardson’s diary, there seems to be an increasing tension as to what the Japanese were doing:
No one has any news of Nips, but we feel that they are not far away. Lots of flying foxes seen. Could get no information from natives. Feeling of tension growing. We have the impression that the Japs are making ready to come down the river. Rafts reported seen in the K.K?? area, but none here. Malayan Local Defence Volunteers patrolling village all night, working in conjunction with us. Rice mills in Telok Anson. open to Ryot. Malays laying in rice stocks with constant procession of sampans heavily laden moving upriver. Rice stocks low in Kg. P. Tiga.25
On 31st of December, the patrol left at 08.30hrs. On the way back to Telok Anson the patrol boat had got stuck on a sandbank for two hours and Major Fearon was evidently very worried that it was returning so late (eventually 13.00hrs) and had asked for a plane to look for the patrol, but none could be spared.
In regard to getting stuck on the sandbank, Richardson said, Thank God no Nip plane spotted us -- sitting target, hell of a job getting the boat off. Learned that Fearon had thought that we were lost and had asked for R.A.F. patrol to look for us. So we are thought of sometimes.
In Telok Anson, Richardson describes ‘Extraordinary sights’ when rice mill was opened to the public. Coolies staggering away with large sacks of rice. Great wastage.
Later on in the afternoon of the 31st, the boat was unloaded boat and the members of the patrol moved to new quarters. Richardson describes that the Military have gone mad and broken up nearly everything in our absence. Demolitions everywhere.
To celebrate Hogmanay (New Years Eve), the patrol members drank lots of Toohey beer.
By the first of January, the Japanese seemed to be making their move. So while the morning was spent working on the boat and preparing for a quick departure by sea if necessary, by the afternoon the Japanese had landed at Bagan Datoh, Kuala Perak and that they were at Utan Melintang and advancing rapidly.
At 11.30am, the other boat from the River Patrol engaged with five enemy launches that were stuck on a sandbank at the mouth of the Perak River. This was because it was impossible to reach them by conventional weapons from the shore. However, the Japanese had mortars and machine guns in position on the sandbank. After a great fight, with the motor launch circling the grounded enemy at speed, the vessel had to withdraw with 3 of the five crew injured, two of whom subsequently died.
Despite the request for air support to blow the launches out of the water, none was forthcoming.
So two trucks were commandeered and loaded with supplies and made ready with two cars for a move by road. At 19.00 hours the boat No. 43 was blown up and the jetty was set on fire, also blew up other craft.
The Japanese made it across to the other side of the river, near the Patrol’s old HQ, only a half hour after the members the Independent Company had left.26
Reference
23 Richardson Diary p99.
24 In F. Spencer Chapman’s book ‘The Jungle is Neutral’p36, he references to “an advance patrol of the Malayan Independent Company”.
25 Richardson Diary p5.
26 Richardson Diary, p5.
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