REPORT ON USE OF PROVOST IN OP – OBOE ONE

Courtesy RACMP Museum. Exact retype of original doc.

COPY

Subject: REPORT ON USE OF PRO IN OP – OBOE ONE

HQ 9 Aust Div

Ref: PW/O/1

14 May 45

 

AA & OMG 7 Aust Div

Copy to : APM 1 Aust Corps

The subtended report dealing with Pro activity in op OBOE ONE was forwarded by Lt JENKINS, 9 Aust Div Pro Coy, who is OC 3 and 4 Secs 9 Aust Div Pro Coy att to 26 Aust Inf Bde:-

  1. ALLOCATION OF PERSONNEL

    2. Members of 3 and 4 Secs embarked MOROTAI commencing 24 Apr 45, and were allotted as follows:

    Vessel

    Offr

    Sjt

    Cpl

    Pte

    Vehs

    HMAS MANOORA

    -

    -

    2

    2

    2 Jeeps and trailer

    HMAS WESTRALIA

    1

    2

    6

    3

     

    LST 467

    -

    -

    2

    -

     

    LST 1019

    -

    1

    13

    -

    No.4 Sec

    USS ROCKY MOUNT

     

     

    2

     

     
  2. ASSAULT LDG – P DAY

    3. Two Cpls landed with 2/23 Aust Inf Bn in initial assault ldg wave, immediately establishing a report centre and Infm Post, guiding assault tps to their objective areas and establishing telephonic comm with fwd tps at approx H plus 15.

    At H plus 45 native internees commenced to flood the Anzac Highway and Beach Areas. A temporary compound was immediately est in the vicinity Pier 1 Green Beach 1, and natives were escorted to that area, - one Pro Cpl to approx 200 natives. Approx 1500 to 2000 natives were compounded by H plus 60. A relay system of escorting natives ensured that no congestion was caused by internees.

    Sjt KIMPTON and 4 Ors landed at H plus 75 and assisted in TC. Approx 100 vehs were landed by H plus 60. No TC difficulties were experienced at this stage.

    Two Cpls allotted an escort to Brig WHITEHEAD landed at H plus 60 and remained as personal bodyguard through P Day.

    Sjt MASON and 13 Ors (4 sec) landed at H plus 3 hrs and were immediately att to 17 Aust Indep Bde Gp Pro Pl to assist in TC. Two Cpls were later withdrawn from this Sec and att to 3 Sec at Bde HQ.

    Approx HQ plus 60 two Pro Cpls landed with 2/24 Aust Inf Bn and went fwd with that unit and are still att to that Bn. No useful purpose was gained by attaching Pro personnel to Bns and it is recommended that this practice be eliminated for future ops (NOTE ‘A’).

  3. TC

    4. Towards the end of P Day approx 200 vehs were on shore and dispersed along ANZAC Highway for approx one mile. Ships were unloading throughout the night and TC was carried out throughout the night.

    On P plus 1 day approx 500 vehs were landed with still only about 1 ½ miles of Highway on which to operate. Congestion of traffic was only minor. Main source of trouble experienced was with RAAF by eqpt vehs, majority of which either bogged or broke down along ANZAC Highway.

    Lack of rd space resulted in the hy vehs being parked on the rd proper. These vehs attempting to leave the rd were immediately bogged down, the majority being left where they were until P plus 2 days.

    At 0700 hrs 7 May 45 a one-way circuit was brought into op. A copy of the rd plan is att hereto.

    Pro personnel assisted in policing land mines and craters, reporting same to RAE.

    I would suggest for future ops that condition of rds be taken into consideration in establishing one-way circuits. By that I mean that the majority of vehs leave the Beach area heavily loaded, returning empty, and rds should be selected to suit the weight of traffic, lightest rd being used for return circuit. Would also suggest that BD units be equipped with signs denoting Mines, as fatalities have occurred through ignorance by dvrs. I feel that this matter should be given every consideration for future ops.

    Conditions of TARAKAN rds – Good.

  4. CAS

    5. Pte WEGNER C was evac to MBDS on 1 May with lacerated hand caused by broken bottle. RTU P plus 2 days.

    At 0100 P plus 1 day Bde HQ was under shell fire – no Pro cas resulted.

    On P plus 1 day Bde HQ was under sniper fire. Pro personnel assisted Gd Pl in defence of Bde HQ.

  5. BDE DUTIES

    6. One Cpl guarding Comd Post, keeping all ranks clear of G staff.

    One Cpl Bde entrance 24 hrs. PW cage est Bde HQ P plus 1 day. Various duties performed as required by SC.

  6. AIR STRIP

Captured P plus 5 days. Pro personnel and RAAF SP controlled area, assisted in clearing of strip for take-off by Scout planes.

P plus 7 days OC SP returned MOROTAI, SP then being placed under direct comd OC 9 Div Pro Secs. SP mainly engaged in Air strip.

7. PW

On P plus 2 days one enemy PW was brought to Bde PW cage. Bn RPs escorted this man to Bde and entered the Bde area via outer perimeter, resulting in PW walking through Bde area unblindfolded.

Would suggest that for future ops signs be placed around outer perimeter of Tac and/or Main Bde directing PW escorts to enter Bde area via main entrance, reporting to Bde Pro on duty there (NOTE ‘B’).

P plus 4 days one PW captured and owing to abovementioned signs being posted, correct procedure was carried out by RP escort. Would also recommend that Bn RPs be acquainted with PW procedure and blindfold principles be explained to them.

One enemy PW captured P plus 2 days was admitted to MBDS but later died without being compounded.

TARAKAN gaol is being used for holding all PWs, 2/2 Aust Pnr Bn supplying gds. Four native PW are being held awaiting trial by NICA for alleged collaboration with enemy. Cpl BUTCHER of No.4 sec escorted 2 enemy PW to MOROTAI by air 9 May 45.

  1. CIV INTERNEES

    2. About 5000 civ internees were handed over to NICA by P plus 4 days. Rationing was a problem and Pro were of great assistance in locating food dumps – mainly rice. The number of natives interned was far beyond NICA expectations and compound allotted was not fenced off, not large enough nor was sanitation provided until P plus 2 days. On P plus 5 days 500 natives were moved to District V TARAKAN 1:25000. Enemy activity necessitated moving of women and children to a safe area on P plus 7 days. No.3 Sec Pro assisted in evac of natives. Native MP were placed at the compound by NICA but were not capable of controlling natives. Would suggest for future ops that one sec Pro be allotted for first seven days to assist in controlling compound. Another suggestion is that Pro personnel be given a rudimentary knowledge of Malay language as I have found it most essential. (NOTE ‘C’). Native lab is now being supplied by NICA. Captured Dutch and enemy vehs were early seized by Aust Tps, an order has been promulgated to the effect that such vehs be handed over to NICA. Pro will assist in this matter on 9 May.

  2. L OF C PRO

This sec was kept aboard until P plus 5 days, arriving too late on TARAKAN to relieve the strain of TC. See att to Beach Gp Pro Pl for TC duties.

10. MT

As expected two jeeps proved inadequate for the efficient functioning of the Secs. One Jeep and trailer was allotted to No.4 Sec at Beach Gp Pro. Although their need was perhaps not so great as the Bde Sec. On P plus 4 days three MCs were allotted to 9 Aust Div Pro, one of which was allotted to No.4 Sec. Arrangements have been made to obtain another MC.

11. LOOTING

Looting is prevalent, RAAF and US personnel being main offenders. A roving Pro patrol is maintained in TARAKAN town area by No.3 sec and Bde Comd intends to deal with offenders severely.

12. PRO DUTIES GENERALLY

A visit was paid to the island by Corps Comd on P plus 4 days. Pro personnel engaged in TC, and policing Bde area. On P plus 7 days C-in-C visited TARAKAN, one MC escort was provided and TC was excellent.

A problem encountered was the question of signs, and it is suggested that a signwriter be allotted to Bde Secs (see NOTE ‘D’).

NOTES:

  1. It is considered that the attachment of 2 Cpls to a fwd Bn is necessary for the est of a report centre and for sign posting.

  2. Action has been taken for refresher lectures to be given to all Bn RPs in the methods of handling PW. Signs as suggested will be available for future ops.

  3. Both Beach Gp Pro and Div Pro are receiving lectures n Malay. A list of 100 phrases considered necessary for Pro personnel is being prepared for issue to each Cpl, incl members of 2/3 Aust L of C Pro Coy.

  4. There is no signwriter on the WE of a Pro Coy – a signwriter is at present being carried as a Pro Cpl and he is at present instructing Bde Secs in signwriting.

 

 

K.C. HARRIS Maj

DAPM 9 Aust Div