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  • Reginald Claydon NEAVE


    Peter Epps
    • Regimental Number: NX70843

    Reginald was appointed a Lieutenant on 9 Aug 1940, but his Citizen Military Force (Reserves) service papers are not available. He transferred to the A.I.F. on 11 Mar 1941 as a Lieutenant and was posted to 75th Light Aid Detachment' Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (AEME) on 12 Mar 1941. He was promoted Captain on 10 Jun 1941 and embarked with 75th Light Aid Detachment for Timor aboard "KOOLAMA" on 17 Jan 1942. he joined the unit on Timor as a Captain, from 75th Light Aid Detachment, after the fall of Koepang, approx. March 1942. He embarked at “SUAI” aboard “KURU” on 8 Aug 1942.

    He was Mentioned in Despatches, for Gallant and Distinguished Service, London Gazette, 25 May 1943 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 119-3 Jun 1943. These are the two Gazettes for the Timor Campaign.

    Also awarded a Commander in Chief Commendation Card for service in Timor, Authority, Army Order 69/43.

    Transferred to “Z” Special Force on 1 Dec 1942 and his service papers state that, from 15 Nov 1942 to 19 Dec 1942, he served outside of Australia, no destination given. On 1 Apr 1943, he transferred to Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and was discharged on 30 Sept 1944.

    He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, pictured below. 

     

    neave.JPG

    Def Medal.JPG

    MID.JPG

    Edited by Peter Epps


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    CAPTAIN REGINALD CLAYDON NEAVE’S SERVICE ON TIMOR

    SERVICE RECORD

    NEAVE REGINALD CLAYDON : Service Number - NX70843 : Date of birth - 01 Nov 1907 : Place of birth - NORTHWOOD NSW : Place of enlistment - NSW : Next of Kin - NEAVE BARBARA - NAA: B883, NX70843 -  https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=4640795&isAv=N

    Light Aid Detachments (LAD) were small elements of Workshop units, comprising one officer and 20-30 enlisted personnel who provided 2nd Line repair and recovery support to forward units in a formation (Brigade).  They augmented the repair and recovery resources (referred to as '1st Line') within the units of the Brigade.

    The LAD would comprise a number of specialist trades determined by the nature of the Brigade unit's principal equipment (particularly numbers and types of vehicles and armaments).

    Reference: https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/3428

    75th Light Aid Detachment was a support unit for Sparrow Force, to service and repair firearms and equipment.  Members of the Australian Army Ordnance Corps, they wore the same colour patch as Lines of Communications personnel.  Some rolls list some of these men as being Electrical and Mechanical Engineers however they were AAOC members.

    At Darwin, the 104th LAD was originally to accompany Sparrow Force to Timor however their rifle shooting was not up to standard and they were taken to the rifle range with 2/40th instructors to improve their shooting over a period of weeks.  This would not seem to have improved their marksmanship sufficiently because in November 1941, the 75 LAD was attached to Sparrow Force and eventually accompanied them to Dutch West Timor on the HMAS Westralia.

    Initially the 75th LAD was stationed at Penfui near the airstrip but after a rear supply depot was established at Babaoe for transport, maintenance, fuel reserves and a first aid dressing station, the Ordnance Corps men were moved to Babaoe on 9th January 1942.  D Company of the 2/40th was stationed there as a mobile reserve from 7th January 1942.

    75 LAD Personnel - Captain Reginald C. Neave - Officer in Command, L/Cpl. Leslie V. Osborne plus privates Esson, Cusack, Herd, Hullick, Leviston, McKenzie, Robertson and Trengove.  One officer and 9 other ranks, plus two men listed as AAOC on the 2/40th nominal rolls (craftsman Dean & Pte. Mears) so these were likely unit armourers.  Both have NX prefix regimental numbers so they were not from Tasmania or Victoria, likely seconded in Darwin before Sparrow Force left for Timor.

    The 75th LAD contingent was not captured at Airkom (Irekum) on 23rd like most of Sparrow Force, but they were at Champlong with the new HQ group there.  So they joined up with the 2nd Independent Company (Commando) in Portuguese Timor and eventually returned to Australia.  The two AAOC men Dean and Mears returned to Australia early, likely with the Brigadier Veale group.

    There was only one casualty of the 75th LAD on West Timor, Pte. John Esson, missing and believed killed in action on 20th Feb. 1942.  As the ordnance men were stationed at rear depot at Babaoe which was attacked and captured by the SNLF paratroops on 20th, it is likely that Esson was killed in that vicinity.  Some hastily organised patrols of cooks and rear echelon personnel were hastily assembled to meet the paratroops coming from the rear.  A number of these men were killed before the 2/40th infantry companies retook Babaoe.

    Rank

    Name

    Regt No.

    Notes

    Captain

    Neave, Reginald Clayton

    NX70843

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Lance Corporal

    Osborne, Leslie Victor

    VX34061

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Private

    Esson, John

    VX39770

    Believed KIA 20/2/42

    Private

    Cusack, Roy Andrew

    VX35633

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Private

    Herd, Eric James

    NX52731

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Private

    Hullick, Norman Maitland

    VX17171

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Private

    Leviston, Harold Keith

    VX38849

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Private

    McKenzie, Colin

    VX38850

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Private

    Robertson, Campbell

    VX39128

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Private

    Trengove, Ronald Claude

    NX42332

    Joined 2nd Ind. Coy.

    Reference: http://www.sparrowforce.com/75LAD.htm

    image.thumb.jpeg.e641afe866329e7980a329724167aa4a.jpeg

    75 Light Aid Detachment AEME – late 1941-early 1942 – location and individuals unidentified (https://hdl.handle.net/10070/848202)

    RON TRENGOVE MEMOIR

    Private Ronald (Ron) Claude Trengove (NX42322) was a member of the 75th Light Aid Detachment and wrote a lengthy memoir covering the period 10 December 1941 – 4 March 1942 during which time he was in close company with Captain Reginald Neave who is referred to frequently.  See:

    1.

    "My early days on Timor" by NX42322, R. Trengrove, 75 L.A.D., later 2/2nd Ind. Coy. 2/2 Commando Courier v.21 no. 200 May 1967: 7-11.

    2.

    "My early days on Timor" by NX42322, R. Trengrove, 75 L.A.D., later 2/2nd Ind. Coy. 2/2 Commando Courier v.22 no. 201 July 1967: 7-12.

    3.

    "My early days on Timor" by NX42322, R. Trengrove, 75 L.A.D., later 2/2nd Ind. Coy. 2/2 Commando Courier v.22 no. 202 August 1967: 5-7.

    4.

    "My early days on Timor" by NX42322, R. Trengrove, 75 L.A.D., later 2/2nd Ind. Coy. 2/2 Commando Courier v.22 no. 203 September 1967: 3-7.

    5.

    "My early days on Timor" by NX42322, R. Trengrove, 75 L.A.D., later 2/2nd Ind. Coy. 2/2 Commando Courier v.22 no. 204 October 1967: 15-16.

    6.

    "My early days on Timor" by NX42322, R. Trengrove, 75 L.A.D., later 2/2nd Ind. Coy. 2/2 Commando Courier v.22 no. 205 November 1967: 6-10.

    A full transcript of Trengove’s memoir is available.

    Trengrove - my early days.pdf

    REGINALD NEAVE DIARY

    Captain Reginald Neave kept a comprehensive daily diary covering the period 15 February  – 9 August 1942 – the diary is held in the Australian War Memorial collection:

    Neave, Reginald Claydon (Captain, b.1907 - d.1958). – Diary 15 February 1942 – 9 August 1942. – Australian War Memorial Private Record PR85/023

    Reference: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C88477

    A full transcript of Neave’s memoir is available.

    Neave diaries transcripts - working version.pdf

    The following maps identify the locations in Dutch Timor and Portuguese Timor referred to by Neave in his diary:

    Colourmap-AreastudyofDutchTimorNEI.thumb.jpg.941e6b60e3127c7c1d309c755989d5b5.jpg

    PortugueseTimortracksmapcopy4.thumb.jpg.23c685a5a554dcad6ff22b23bcf09219.jpg

    References:

    Area study of Portuguese Timor / Allied Geographical Section, South West Pacific Area. - [Brisbane] : The Section, 1943. – (Terrain study (Allied Forces. South West Pacific Area. Allied Geographical Section) ; no. 50.): map 1. https://repository.monash.edu/items/show/26455#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0

    Area study of Dutch Timor, Netherlands East Indies / Allied Geographical Section, South West Pacific Area. - [Brisbane] : The Section, 1943. – (Terrain study (Allied Forces. South West Pacific Area. Allied Geographical Section) ; no. 70): map 1. https://repository.monash.edu/items/show/26287#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0

    RECOVERY MISSION TO DOWNED KITTYHAWK FIGHTERS, 15 – 19 FEBRUARY 1942

    Neave covers the mission he lead to recover weapons, ammunition and other equipment and components from the Kittyhawk fighters that crash landed near Atamboea in his diary entries for the period 15 – 19 February 1942.  Trengrove also recounted the mission in his memoir – see transcript pp.11-15.

    The following references provide background on how the Kittyhawk fighters crash landed in that location.

    References:

    William H. Bartsch. - Every day a nightmare: American pursuit pilots in the defense of Java, 1941-1942. - College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2010: 156-159.

    Walter D. Edmonds. - They fought with what they had: the story of the Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific, 1941-1942. – Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1951: 324-325. https://archive.org/details/TheyFoughtWithWhatTheyHad

    REPORT ON RECONNAISSANCE OF EAST PORTUGUESE TIMOR BY CAPT. R.C. NEAVE

    2 MAY – 4 JULY

    Neave prepared a comprehensive report on the reconnaissance mission to the eastern provinces of Portuguese Timor that is described in his diary entries for the period 4 May – 4 July 1942.  A transcript of his report is available.

    Neave recon report.pdf

    Reference:

    Report on reconnaissance of East Portuguese Timor by Capt. R.C.N. Neave, 2 May - 4 July - AWM 54 571/4/34, PR 00249.233-.247 (item 97) – copy in possession of the author.

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECCE OF SOUTH COAST PORTUGUESE TIMOR, JULY 1942

    These instructions were issued on 16 July 1942 by Major T. Cape for the reconnaissance mission completed by Neave described in his diary entries for the period 16 – 31 July 1942.  A transcript of these instructions follows:

    Instructions for recce of south coast PT - SF -15:7:42.pdf

    Reference:

    Sparrow Force instructions for recce of South Coast Port. Timor / Major Cape, 16 July 1942 - copy in possession of the author.

    MISSION TO ACQUIRE RUBBER FROM PORTUGUESE TIMOR, 17 NOVEMBER – 17 DECEMBER 1942

    The Services Reconnaissance Department report on the LIZARD III operation records:

    … 

    (xi) In response to repeated requests from Capt. BROADHURST to S.O. H.Q. in MELBOURNE three further officers and another signaller …. were made available and sent to DARWIN from where they were introduced by M.L. * on 17/11/42 with a further supply of arms. …

    (xii) In addition to LIZARD reinforcements, there were introduced at the same time:

    NX70843

    Capt. NEAVE, R.C.

    VX40398

    Sgt. ROSS, L.W.

    Both ex-SPARROW Force, and at that time employed by G.H.Q. under Col. ELLIOTT, U.S. Army.

    They were charged with the duty of attempting to purchase and export from TIMOR as much rubber as could be obtained.

    With LIZARD’s assistance they were able to purchase approximately 4 tons of this commodity, which was shipped back to AUSTRALIA accompanied by NEAVE and ROSS on 19/11/42 [sic]. **….

    The LIZARD III report also includes a subsidiary report prepared by Neave: “Statement By Captain R.C. Neave Concerning Eastern Timor From Which He Has Recently Returned” – see the attached transcription.

    Statement by Captain R.C. Neave concerning Eastern Timor .....pdf

    Note:

    * The group were actually inserted by the corvette H.M.A.S. Kalgoorlie – see log entries for 16-19 November 1942 in AWM78 -Reports of Proceedings, HMA Ships and Establishments HMAS KALGOORLIE (I) - AWM78 179/1 - April 1942 - May 1946 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1420214

    ** Actually 19 December 1942.  Neave and Ross and the rubber consignment were extracted from Aliambata on the Dutch destroyer H.M.N.S. Tjerk Hiddes along with a large group of Portuguese refugees.  “OBJECT 2. To take in about 41/2 tons of stores and to evacuate from ALIAMBATA … about 283 persons including 75 Portuguese men, 58 women and 130 children and 20 Native women and children.  Also to embark about 33/4tons of rubber if it is available and time permits”.  See H.M.N.S. Tjerk Hiddes Darwin Operation Order No. 23, 17 December 1942 – copy in author’s possession.

    References:

    Cleary, Paul. - The men who came out of the ground: a gripping account of Australia’s first commando campaign, Timor 1942. – Sydney: Hachette Australia, 2010: 195-196.

    “Moving rubber under the very noses of the Japanese” in El Tigre : Frank Holland, M.B.E. - commando, coastwatcher / [editor: Peter Stone, with Mabel Holland & John Holland]. - Yarram, Vic. : Oceans Enterprises, 1999: 96-101, 102.  See the attached transcription.

    Moving rubber under the very noses of the Japanese - El Tigre - Frank Holland MBE - rescan.pdf

    [Tanimbar, Timor, Lesser Sunda, Java -] LIZARD, copy I [Timor] - NAA: A3269, D6/A - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=235186&isAv=N

    RECOGNITION FOR TIMOR SERVICE

    Mention in Despatches (M.I.D.)

    NeaveMID.JPG.3786d048bef0b23dfe44f1cbfe4d0c34.JPG

    Reference:

    https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1576797

    Service Commendation Card

    Commendationcard.png.593393f62e080bb4788e46a5ca6b52dd.png

    BLAMEY PRAISES TIMOR "SPARROWS"

    The Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Land Forces (General Sir Thomas Blarney) this week sent service commendation cards to 10 of the A.I.F. "Sparrows of Timor".

    The most surprised "sparrow" was Captain Reginald Clayton Neave, of Garnet Crescent; Killara, who said yesterday: "I'm sure there are plenty of chaps who deserved this more than me.  Still, it's a darned nice souvenir."

    The service commendation cards are the equivalent of a "mention in despatches".  Captain Neave's card reacts: "Your name has been brought to my notice for services rendered in Timor from March 9 to May 25,1942.  I congratulate you on your devotion to duty, and thank you for the example you have given.  I have directed that a note of your conduct should be made on your record of service."

    Special Duty at Timor

    Captain Neave, who is on sick leave, told a Sunday Telegraph reporter that the "Sparrows" had been sent to Timor on special duty.  "There was nothing specifically significant in the title 'sparrows' as different units carried bird names, but I must confess the Japs kept us hopping, like sparrows", he said.  "I always suspected that the natives did a bit of reconnaissance work themselves.  "Whenever I turned, up at a village they, had a meal ready, and never seemed the least surprised at my sudden appearance."  Captain Neave praised the Portuguese for sending secret supplies of food to the Australian patrols.

    Reference:

    Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), Sunday 27 September 1942: 32 - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247887016/27296294#

    ADDITIONAL READING

    Wigmore, Lionel. - The Japanese thrust. - Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1957.  Ch. 21 ‘Resistance in Timor’: 491-492 (Australia in the war of 1939-1945. Series 1, Army; v. 4)

    Wray, Christopher C.H. - Timor 1942 : Australian commandos at war with the Japanese. - Hawthorn, Vic. : Hutchinson Australia, 1987 – “Every man for himself”: 78-89.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Neave diaries transcripts - working version.pdf

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