DISPOSAL OF JAPANESE AMMUNITION - WWII IN EAST TIMOR - AN AUSTRALIAN ARMY SITE & TRAVEL GUIDE

[Edward Willis]

WWII IN EAST TIMOR

AN AUSTRALIAN ARMY SITE AND TRAVEL GUIDE

DILI DISTRICT

DILI BAY

e.         Disposal of Japanese Ammunition

W.D. Forsyth, the Political Adviser to Brigadier Dyke (Commanding Officer of TIMFORCE) in Dili reported:

5. On 24th September [1945] work proceeded; e.g., Japanese brought ammunition by truck to the waterside, natives carried it to barges and assisted Japanese to dump it out at sea; dumps, dismantled guns and other equipment were inspected; some interrogations were made. [1]

Sergeant K.B. Davis of the Military History Section team took a sequence of photographs that provide a visual narrative of this dumping exercise.  The photographs reveal that the ammunition wasn’t taken far out into the bay before being unceremoniously thrown overboard.  Looking in the background of the photos taken it may be possible to identify the area of the bay where the dumping took place.  The ammunition probably still resides in this location.

The photos have the collective title: Dili, Portuguese Timor 1945-09-25.  In concurrence with the terms of the surrender, Japanese arms and ammunition were being dumped in the sea off Dili harbour.

 

Timorese natives unload ammunition from a truck while Japanese officers, still arrogant, stand by. [2]

 

 

Some of the ammunition were in boxes that had been badly damaged by white ants (termites). [3]

 

 

TX13874 corporal J.D. Butler, 12/40^th Battalion stands guard over Japanese ammunition on Dili beach. [4]

 

 

Japanese prisoners and native collaborators load ammunition onto a barge on Dili beach. [5]

 

 

Japanese prisoners and native collaborators load ammunition onto a barge on Dili beach. [6]

 

 

Japanese ammunition on a barge on its way out to sea to be dumped. [7]

 

 

An Australian soldier carrying an Owen gun stands guard as Japanese prisoners dump ammunition from a barge outside Dili harbour. [8]

An Australian soldier carrying an Owen gun stands guard as Japanese prisoners dump ammunition from a barge outside Dili harbour. [9]

Japanese prisoners of war dumping ammunition overboard outside Dili harbour. [10]

 

Japanese prisoners of war dumping ammunition overboard outside Dili harbour. [11]

After the surrender: Japanese troops dumping ammunition in the sea off Dili, Portuguese Timor, 26th September 1945. [12]

References

[1] Portuguese Timor – Surrender of Japanese. – NAA: A1838 TS377/3/3/2 PART 1

[2] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201931

[3] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201933

[4] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201928

[5] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201929

[6] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201930

[7] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201932

[8] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201937

[9] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201936

[10] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201935

[11] https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C201934

[12] Gavin Long. – The final campaigns. – Canberra : Australian War Memorial, 1963. – Australia in the war of 1939-1945. Series 1, Army ; v. 7: between 556-557.

 

 

 

Edited June 16, 2023 by Edward Willis
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