THE LOSS OF CHARLIE WALLER AND TARZAN YEATES, KILLED IN ACTION, NEAR BOBONARO – 12 AUGUST 1942

[Edward Willis]

THE LOSS OF CHARLIE WALLER AND TARZAN YEATES, KILLED IN ACTION, NEAR BOBONARO – 12 AUGUST 1942

INCLUDING THE LOCATION AND RECOVERY OF THEIR BODIES FOR FORMAL BURIAL

ALSO, THE MEMORIAL TO STUART ‘MONSTA’ JONES AT RAEFUN

*******

Map1: Waller and Yeates burials and Jones memorial locations map

BACKGROUND – THE BEGINNING OF THE JAPANESE ‘AUGUST PUSH’

The New A Platoon Headquarters at Rita Bau

At the end of July Corporal Harry Wray, with Private 'Tarzan' Yeates, was sent by Lieutenant Dexter to reconnoitre a new A Platoon Headquarters at Rita Bau where a house owned by a Portuguese chefe de postowas located on the slope of a mountain behind Cailaco.  It had the advantage of being nearer to Marobo and in a central position for control of the platoon.  The house was a stone and plaster bungalow with a thatched roof and was surrounded by a veranda, while some 10 metres away was a cookhouse and storeroom.  The house was located on the lower end of a spur which sloped down from one corner of the almost rectangular mountain top, a native village being about 400 metres below.

Wray’s report on Rita Bau was favourable, and by the end of July Dexter had located his Platoon Headquarters there.  A Platoon was now coming together, with its headquarters at Rita Bau - 1 Section was located at Cailaco, 2 Section at Maliana and 3 Section at Marobo - and was better able to deal with the troublesome border area. [1]

THE JAPANESE ASSAULT BEGINS

On 9th August the Japanese methodically bombed Beco and Mape.  Next day the bombers were over Mape again and also attacked Bobonaro, where Callinan had his headquarters, and nearby Marobo, thus ushering in a series of raids on the villages which the Australians had been using as their key-points.  It quickly became clear that the Japanese were launched on a widespread and well-organised move to envelop and destroy the Australians and the Dutch.  The pattern which subsequently emerged was that perhaps 1,500 to 2,000 Japanese were on the move; that one column was striking south from Manatuto; two struck out from Dili itself, one south-east then south by way of Remexio, one due south through Aileu; another crossed the border at Memo and drove at Bobonaro through Maliana; attacks from Dutch Timor developed against the Dutch positions in the south-west round Maucatar; a party landed at Beco (but in a rather disorganised state after effective attacks on their convoy by 18 Hudsons).

The bombings drove Spence and his Sparrow Force headquarters out of Mape, and they lost touch temporarily with the main forces.  The Portuguese telephone system of which the Australians had been making full use was disrupted and Callinan moved a few miles out of Bobonaro and set up a wireless control through which he was able to keep in close touch with his platoons.

Perhaps the most difficult fighting, however, developed in the western sector where Dexter had his platoon based on Rita Bau, and Turton was based on Atsabe farther to the east.  As the Japanese advanced, Dexter, fighting hard and manoeuvring skilfully, found his movements hampered by Timorese (mostly from Dutch Timor) whom the Japanese were using to screen their advance.  These Timorese moved among the bewildered local villagers and completed the demoralisation which the bombings had begun, the locals reasoning that surely this time the end had come for the Australians and no sensible man would side with the losers.  Dexter's men fell back towards Bobonaro.

In these encounters, the No. 2 Australian Independent Company (No. 2 AIC) suffered its first casualties in the August push when, on the evening of 12 August, Privates David Waller and Arthur Yeates, both 21, were killed in action on the southern approach to Bobonaro when their Sections engaged the large force.  Waller, a farmer from Wyalkatchem, WA, had joined the company with his brother Frank, 22.

At Bobonaro the column which had come from Memo and the party which had landed at Beco came together on the morning of 13th August and Dexter then joined forces with Turton to fight from a narrow saddle through which the road from Bobonaro passed to Atsabe.

The handwritten Sparrow Force war diary summarised this phase of the battle and the deaths of Yeates, and Waller as follows:

13 August - FORCE HQ at HATA-BUILICO.  Japs at MEMO, LEBOS, LOLOTOI, BECO.  Also pushing down from Dili and reoccupied REMEXIO.  No contact with DUTCH since 11 AUGUST.  All W.T. equipment except the transceiver destroyed by natives at MAPE.  Japs enter BOBONARO resisted by No. 3 Section, A Platoon, No. 2 Independent Company.  Two [men] missing (Private A.E. YATES [YEATES] and D.C. WALLER) and believed killed. [2]

TIMOR GRAVES HARD TO FIND

Shortly after the end of hostilities, an unidentified No. 2 AIC veteran stated that he felt that some of the remains of Australians killed in action in Portuguese Timor would be hard to locate:

Although Japs apparently did not interfere with Australian graves in Portuguese Timor, one Perth guerrilla veteran said yesterday that unless experienced men of the Timor Force were used as guides, guerrilla graves will be extremely difficult to find.

War Graves Commission is known to be searching for Australian graves in the Dutch section of the island, has probably started to comb the Portuguese portion already.

"We split up after the Dili action," said the Perth veteran.  "We maintained contact throughout hut had no central burial ground.

"Very few Australians were killed, but those who were had to be buried where they fell.

"As we had no tools, we had to dig the graves as best we could.  There would be no more than a stick or two for markings, but even though the undergrowth grows swiftly, graves still might be recognisable because of the stones we had to heap on them to protect the bodies from the hordes of dogs which roamed the island.

"But unless experienced men from the original guerrilla force are sent to help the Commission, the graves may never be located."

"We were usually in out of the way places and the territory is rugged.

"We found no instances of Japs disturbing Australian graves, even though they must have come across some, but we took no chances, buried our men where they would not be likely to be I found easily." [3]

AUSTRALIAN WAR GRAVES UNIT ACTIVITY

As part of the Australian War Memorial’s process of improving the usability of their records, they have produced a resource to help find information about the WWII Grave Registration, Enquiry and Maintenance Units.  A spread sheet details where and when specific units were during, and in some cases, after WWII. [4]

The No. 16 Australian Grave Registration and Enquiry Unit (16 AGREU) was deployed to both Dutch and Portuguese Timor to locate and recover for reburial the bodies of Australian servicemen.  The spread sheet reveals that the 16 AGREU was active in Portuguese Timor on unspecified dates between 11 – 31 September 1945 and more specifically in the Bobonaro area on 26 June 1946.

The unit war diary entry covering the period 1 August – 30 September 1945 records that ‘Investigation has disclosed the location of … 16 identified graves in Portuguese Timor’. [5]

Captain R.J. Crilley, the commanding officer of the No. 16 Australian Grave Registration and Enquiry Unit (16 AGREU) first came to Portuguese Timor with the September 23rd Australian Dili expedition, at which time he was able to travel to Aileu, and probably elsewhere on brief trips [6].

Crilley reported on 3 January 1946 that he ‘… rejoined unit on 29 December 1945.  Examinations and investigations were completed in all parts of PORT. TIMOR, with the exception of one grave in the Portuguese enclave of OECUSSI.  It is anticipated that this task will be completed in the near future. [7]

The Australian cemetery in Koepang was also a project of the 16th war graves unit and was constructed by Japanese POW labourers under the war graves unit direction. [8]

BURIAL OF PRIVATE ARTHUR ‘TARZAN’ YEATES

In September 1945, a field team of the Australian Military History Section (MHS) was assigned to collect information related to the war in Timor for the historical record.  An important part of this was taking photographs and making sketches of people and places that had been significant for Australian army troops.  The field team included three key members: a war artist, Charles Bush, a photographer armed with a Mentor reflex camera, Sergeant Keith Benjamin Davis, and a guide, Sergeant George J.B. Milsom, a former member of the 2/40th Infantry Battalion which had been based in Kupang (December 1941 -February 1942) and then the No. 2 AIC which had been based in Portuguese Timor until December 1942. [9]

Sergeant Keith Davis prepared a report on the MHS team’s field trip that included the itinerary they followed.  He recorded that on 13 December 1945:

13 [December 1942] Bobonaro: Found beautifully maintained grave of an Australian service man … ref 121444 etc. [10]

Davis’ photograph of the grave is included in the Australian War Memorial collection:

BECO [SIC] AREA, PORTUGUESE TIMOR. 1945-12-13. TWO NATIVES, KORLIMALI AND NAMAU, STAND BY THE GRAVE OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER. THE NATIVES MADE THE WHITE TOMBTONE AND TENDED THE GRAVE DAILY. (PHOTOGRAPHER SGT K. DAVIS) [11]

Details enumerated in the ‘Reburial Return’ for Arthur Yeates included in his service record that the human remains discovered at this location were his.  Under the heading ‘Means of Identification’ heading it was noted:

Location of grave confirmed by Sergeant Milsom of 2/2 Cavalry Commando Squadron.  Map of PORT. TIMOR 1:250,000 M.R. [Map Reference] 9 Deg 02 Min South 125 Deg 22 Min East.

This location is indicated on Map 1 as ‘Yeates’ burial’.

Under the heading ‘Remarks’ it was noted:

Sergeant Milsom of 2/2 Cavalry Commando Squadron who was in BOBONARO during August confirms the location of the grave as having been given to Company HQ by natives about 26 August 1942. [12]

Captain R.J. Crilley and other members of the 16 AGREU attended the site along with MHS team as evidenced by the following image taken by Sergeant Keith Davis.

BECO AREA, PORTUGUESE TIMOR 1945-12-13. THE GRAVE OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER WHICH HAS BEEN WELL KEPT BY LOCAL NATIVES. STANDING BY THE GRAVE IS CAPTAIN R.J. CRILLEY, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 16TH WAR GRAVES UNIT. (PHOTOGRAPHER SGT K. DAVIS) [13]

Yeates’ body was exhumed and re-interred at the newly established Koepang War Cemetery on 31 December 1945.

BECO [SIC] AREA, PORTUGUESE TIMOR 1945-12-13. THE GRAVE OF AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER, DEPICTED IN PHOTOGRAPHS 121443 AND 121444, WAS OPENED AND THE BODY EXHUMED FOR REINTERNMENT IN THE AUSTRALIAN WAR CEMETERY AT KOEPANG. [14]

Yeates’ final resting place is at the Ambon War Cemetery.  The Cemetery burial record cites the date that he was killed in action as 12 August 1942 and the location as ‘4 hours march west of Bobonaro’. [15] 

BURIAL OF PRIVATE CHARLIE WALLER

Private D.C. (Charlie) Waller was killed on 12 August 1942; Lieutenant Turner was with him when he was shot.  Turner said that after his No. 3 Section had received news the Japanese were only a day away from their position near Bobonaro, all the men were stood to, in anticipation of No. 1 Section withdrawing through them.  When the section failed to appear, Turner took Alf Hillman and Charlie Waller to recce a ridge and the general area in which it was expected.

“We saw quite a large group of men in the distance, but the light was not good enough to identify them,” said Turner.  “We were walking about twenty metres apart approaching the top of the ridge, when we were confronted by three Japanese.  They called on us to surrender but we immediately opened fire, Hillman with his sub-machine gun and Charlie and I with rifles.  It was very quick and short.  I called out to the others to get out, but Alf was hit in the arm and Charlie went down.  He didn’t move.  We ran about 50 metres to the next ridge where there was some cover.  We had no hope of getting Charlie out.”

Turner said he bound Hillman’s arm with a field dressing then the two men returned to their section. [16]

Waller’s body was recovered and buried by men of the No. 2 AIC as verified by the following report:

Most of the equipment which could be recovered had by now been taken back to Company Headquarters.  Cpl Delbridge had taken a small patrol from Two Section down to Mape, collecting gear, returning by way of Bobonaro and collecting more equipment there which had been discarded by the Portuguese army.  They then patrolled as far as Rita-Bau, looking for the body of Pte Yeates, who had been killed in the action there.  Instead of Yeates they found Pte Waller's body there which they buried before moving back to Marobo.  Here they had searched for Japanese bodies, intending to obtain badges of rank and unit insignias, anything which may be of intelligence value.  Moving on to Atsabe they collected more equipment which had been left by D Platoon.  From there they went back to Ainaro, the whole trip taking seven days. [17]

Lieutenant M.J. Muir, the new OC, 16 AGREU, diarised on 22 June 1946:

MV Merauke arrived at Dili.  OC contacted the Australian Consul and Major QUINTON, 3 Australian PW Contact & Enquiry Unit (3APWCEU) in reference to deceased Australian personnel in Portuguese Timor.  The remains of an Australian soldier recovered from the BOBONARO area were handed to the OC. [18]

Muir subsequently diarised on 3 July 1946:

The remains of an unidentified Australian were handed to the OC while in Dili by Major QUINLAN of 3APWCEU.

Major QUINLAN obtained these remains from the Portuguese authorities at Bobonaro.  The only information obtained by him was that they were the remains of an Australian who had been buried by a priest. [19]

Details enumerated in the ‘Reburial Return’ for Charlie Waller included in his service record confirms that it was his remains that were recovered by Major Quinlan; particularly note the ‘Date of Reburial’ of 22 July 1946.

The ‘Remarks’ note that ‘Location of the grave given by Captain P.P. McCabe and Sergeant Milson [Milsom] both of 2/2 Cavalry Commando Squadron who were in this area in 1942.  Sergeant Milson [Milsom] directed recovery party to the grave’. [20]

The location of Waller’s initial burial was recorded on 22 March 1946 as ‘… Buried Marobo … 8° 58’ S, 125° 22’ E’. [21] See Map 1.

Waller’s final resting place is at the Ambon War Cemetery.  The Cemetery burial record gives the same map coordinates and notes the site as being ‘Between Bobobaro [Bobonaro] – Marobo’. [22]

58 YEARS LATER: ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN CASUALTY IN THE BOBONARO AREA

THE MEMORIAL TO CORPORAL STUART ‘MONSTA’ JONES AT RAEFUN

One Australian was killed serving with the UNTAET phase of peace keeping operations in East Timor following the independence referendum.  The Australian contingent was working in the dangerous border area near Maliana, notorious for the incursion of militia death squads from West Timor looking for trophies.  On 10 August 2000 Corporal Stuart ‘Monsta’ Jones was killed when a rifle accidentally discharged in the back of an armoured vehicle while travelling over rough terrain close to the village of Raefun near Bobonaro. [23] This site of ‘Monsta’ Jones accidental death is in close proximity to the locations where Charley Waller and Tarzan Yeates were killed in action on 12 August 1942 and subsequently buried.

The 4 Royal Australian Regiment Battalion Group campaign history notes that:

To remember … ‘Monsta’ Jones in the country of his peril … a cross was erected outside Fort Maliana and dedicated on the 10 July 2001 ….

Although this was a nice tribute the Troop felt it would be more appropriate to erect a stone memorial near the incident site on the 12-month anniversary of Monsta’s death.  This task was one that the Cavalry Boys (2 Cav and 2/14th) took upon themselves to ensure a fitting memorial service was held.

The village people of Raefun were also extremely helpful in assisting with information about the incident site and allowing us to intrude into their quiet little village.  This village, and in particular the memorial site, presented spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.  On the day we erected the pink marble monument, the local’s enthusiasm to help overwhelmed them and they grabbed the shovels from the lads and hooked in to dig in the memorial stone.  The villagers were of great assistance during the preparation of the site and the conduct of the service.

The service was held on 9 August 2001 … [and] … the members of Raefun village accepted our invitation and laid a traditional scarf and wreath. [24]

The villagers of Raefun assiduously maintain the memorial and warmly welcome visitors to the site.

 

Corporal Stuart ‘Monsta’ Jones memorial, Raefun – 30 April 2019

REFERENCES

[1] Corporal Arthur Henry Kilfield ‘Harry’ Wray (WX11485) Recollections of the 2nd Independent Company Campaign on Timor, 1941-42, manuscript in 2/2 Commando Association archives.: 95, 97-98.

[2] [Unit War Diaries, 1939-45 War] Sparrow Force March - December 1942 - AWM52 1/5/55/2 - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1365575

[3] ‘Timor graves hard to find’ Sunday Times (Perth, WA: 1902 - 1954), Sunday 23 September 1945: 4.

[4] Natasha Bobyreff ‘Second World War graves’ 09 September 2013 https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/second-world-war-graves

[5] AWM52 21/2/17/2 - [Unit War Diaries, 1939-45 War] 16 Australian Graves Registration and Enquiry Unit, June 1945 - December 1946 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2703747

[6] Norman K. Wallis ‘Peace comes to Dilli’ Walkabout February 1, 1946: 31.

[7] AWM52 21/2/17/2

[8] AWM52 21/2/17/2

[9] William Bradley Horton ‘Through the eyes of Australians: the Timor area in the early postwar period’ Journal of Asia-Pacific Studies (Waseda University) No. 12 (March 2009): 271.

[10] Sergeant Keith Benjamin Davis. – [Report on Australian Military History Section field trip to Dutch and Portuguese Timor, September 1945 – February 1946].  Partial copy held in 2/2 Commando Association of Australia archives.

[11] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C200635

[12] YEATES Arthur Edward: Service Number - V12019: NAA: A13860, V12019 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=202936308&isAv=N

[13] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C200634

[14] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/121448

[15] https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2172286/arthur- edward-yeates/#&gid=2&pid=1

[16] Cyril Ayris. - All the Bull's men: No. 2 Australian Independent Company (2/2nd Commando Squadron). - [Perth, W.A.]: 2/2nd Commando Association, 2006: 321.

[17] S.A. Robinson. - [Timor (1941-1942) - Sparrow Force and Lancer Force - Operations]: The Campaign in Portuguese Timor, A narrative of No 2 Independent Company.  Story prepared by Corporal S.A. Robinson, No. 5 Military History Field Team. – Australian War Memorial file AWM54 571/4/53: 104-105.  NOTE: Robinson’s report was derived from interviews with the No. 2 AIC men involved with the actions he describes.

[18] AWM52 21/2/17/2.

[19] AWM52 21/2/17/2.

[20] WALLER DAVID CHARLES: Service Number – WX13501 NAA: B883, WX13501 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=6471203&isAv=N

[21] WALLER DAVID CHARLES: Service Number – WX13501 NAA: B883, WX13501

[22] https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2172162/david-charles-waller/

[23] Peter Londey. - Other people's wars: a history of Australian peacekeeping. – Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2004: 259.

[24] 4 RAR BN GP in East Timor: Op Tanager / ed. By Brian Campbell. - Bayswater, W.A.: Brian Campbell, c2001: 110.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob Crossing]

Well done, once again, Ed.

Thank you for doing this at all, but thanks also for the high quality of your work.

Cheers

Rob

[Edward Willis]

Thanks Rob