Moss Troops Summary

8/6/2019 Moss Troops Summary

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C.A. Brown

SRD OPERATIONS IN NEW GUINEA

MOSSTROOPS, SEPIk DISTRICT

AUG-DEC 43

Towards the end o Apr 43, the Director SRD was approached by Commander

Proud o FELO and Major McCarthy o AIB to consider what action could be taken

by SRD, FELO and AIB to prevent orward parties being jumped by small Japanesepatrols in the Sepik District o New Guinea.

Agreement was reached on the ollowing points

1. The creation o Guerilla Patrols to operate in Japanese-

occupied territory was essential or the protection o Intelligence and

FELO Parties operating on the new Guinea mainland.

2. The organisation, training and preparation o these patrols was

to be conducted by SRD.

3. The patrols were to be supplemented by Native Police Patrols

which could be enlisted in the area o operations.

4. The only practicable method o transport was by ying boat.

On 12 May 43 a conerence was called by Lt-Gen Sir Edmund Herring, GOC

NG Force at Port Moresby, to co-ordinate plans, operations and supplies or AIB,

FELO and ANGAU activities in Northern New Guinea. It was agreed that Major JKM

McCarthy, Executive Ofcer North-eastern Section, AIB, in Port Moresby, be chargedwith the co-ordination o plans, operations and supplies or AIB, FELO and ANGAU

activities within the area under supervision o NG Force. All requests or air and naval

transport o personnel and supplies or these purposes were to be directed through

Major McCarthy and required the approval o GHQ. SRD were not to be concerned in



The Official History of Special Operations - Australia; Vol. 2 Operations

Commander o the orce. At the time these negotiations were taking place there were

three parties operating in the Sepik district. In the Buriu area Capt Taylor o ANGAU

with a party o our Europeans was engaged in gaining native co-operation and in

transmitting intelligence rom the Middle Sepik. Lt Fryer o AIB, NE Area, had a

party o our Europeans in the Mai Mai area, carrying out observations and orwarding

intelligence o Aitape. Lt Staverman o AIB, NEFIS Section, had a party o two

Europeans and two Indonesians and was on a line o march rom Mai Mai to Hollandia

or the purpose o observation and intelligence in the Hollandia area. Another party,

under Capt Ashton o AIB had been ambushed approaching the Sepik and had lost allits gear. The personnel, in the poorest condition, were extracted by ying-boat during

Mar 43.

In this area the Japanese appeared to be intent protecting the chain o air-strips along

the north coast and preventing any Allied penetration into the Sepik Valley. The

estimated strength at Wewak where the IJA 18 Army HQ was situated was 20,000; at

Aitape 200; at Vanimo 500; and in Hollandia 500. There were also 500 protecting theBuriu air-strip and covering the Middle Sepik Area.

SRD prepared an outline plan or the protection o orward parties in the Sepik

by means o partisan action under white leadership, in particular making use o the

natives o the martial Middle Sepik tribes. This plan was submitted to C-in-C AMF

who approved o it, and directed that the project should be controlled by New Guinea

Force.

In consultation with Major Townshend o FELO (who ormerly had been a

District Ofcer on the Sepik) and Major Farlow, plans were prepared. In the early

planning a balance had to be struck between the advantages o a small administration

with great security, and a sufcient orce to impress the natives by a show o strength.

As a result, it was decided to employ the Middle Sepiks as partisans.

On the 15 Jul the C-in-C approved a plan which provided or three “gangs”,

each o twelve whites and twenty Sepiks; fve patrols, each o three whites and twenty

Sepiks; and a headquarters organisation to be inserted by Catalina into the Sepik area.



C.A. Brown

the assembly and movement o equipment and personnel not actually in New Guinea

at the time that the plan was approved.

Although the main stores had not arrived, it was decided on the 1 Aug 43 that

the advance parties should be inserted to carry out a preliminary reconnaissance and

to recruit native carriers.

On 9 Aug 43, Capts Blood and McNamara, Lt Tame, our ORs, one signalman

and ten native police were inserted by Catalina into Lake Kuvinmas, New Guinea.On 15 Aug 43, the party was attacked by Japanese, and subsequently broke up. Capt

McNamara was rescued three days later and the remainder o the party ater about

three weeks.

On the 5 Sep 43, another party consisting o Major Cardew, Capt Grimson, six

ORs and six native police were inserted by Catalina in the Yimas River area. Three

hours ater landing this party was attacked by a strong enemy orce. The attack wasbeaten o and the party made or the hills, abandoning its stores. Ater three weeks the

party was located by search aircrat and supplies were dropped. It then made a three

months march via the Karawari River and eventually linked up with the Australian

orces.

Ater these two abortive attempts to establish patrols in the area, it was decided

to move urther north near the junction o the Yellow and Sepik Rivers. A lake was

discovered at Panawa and this was used or the subsequent insertion o personnel. In

all, about thirty sorties were landed on this lake; but lt was ound that to move stores

over-land and up to the Yellow and Sepik Rivers was not practicable because o the

lack o native carriers.

It was decided thereore to reconnoitre urther up the Sepik and a straightstretch o water was ound at Kochiabu. A base was established here and stores were

moved both via the Sepik River and over-land. Great difculty was experienced

because o the lack o water transport, but this was eventually overcome by joining

together native canoes and olboats powered by outboard motors.



The Official History of Special Operations - Australia; Vol. 2 Operations

and a small party o reinorcements were own in, and arrived on the day preceding

the attack.

The frst attack was at East Post about the middle o Oct 43. Two launches

carrying enemy troops came up the river approximately two or three hundred yards

apart. The patrol at East Post which consisted o Lt Downie, three ORs and three

natives, armed with two Brens and our Austens, remained under cover until one

launch came abreast their position. Then they opened fre, and it is estimated that all

enemy on deck were either killed or wounded, except one; the launch then turnedabout and made o down stream, listing very badly. When the fring started, the other

launch pulled into the bank and landed its troops. These were held o until darkness,

when the party led by a native slipped through the Japanese lines. Next morning the

enemy withdrew leaving the camp intact.

Ater this attack two ofcers and twenty ORs were inserted rom Port Moresby

and East Post was reinorced.

On 11 Nov 43, Capt Ellis was in charge o Tokyo Post with two ORs and

two native police. Three Japanese were met about 200 yards rom the post and when

sighted opened fre with automatic weapons and withdrew. Two days later a airly

large orce o Japanese landed below Tokyo and also sent an additional orce up river

in launches. The Japanese attempted to cut o Tokyo, rom East Post but the party at

Tokyo managed to get through to East Post against which the Japanese again launched

an attack. They were again driven o and withdrew under cover o darkness taking

their casualties with them.

Two weeks later enemy aircrat located the main base and completely destroyed

it with bombing and strafng. Again reinorcements were called in rom Port Moresby.

These consisted o two ofcers and thirty ORs rom the 2/7 Aust Indep Coy. Throughnative talk it was learned that a strong orce o Japanese were moving down through

Aitape and also up the Sepik River. When this inormation was passed back to New

Guinea Force, it was decided to evacuate the whole party.

The evacuation was carried out in three days by American Catalinas which ew



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