FB plus! One wonders if after the war, those men reflected on the "law of unintended consequences", and the humanitarian cost of their actions. But true warriors know that tyranny and despots must be destroyed at any cost. As Don Henley wrote "don't look back, you can never look back".
And if you've never tried paddling a loaded canoe 9 miles in the ocean with a significant current come on down to coastal SC and I'll set you up. Amazing endurance they had.
No I will never be - was never - that cool; not even close; but I knew this story and there are other such epics in our history. The Combatant Craft Crewman Association's newsletter features great history researched and written by my Brothers Phil Garn and Jim Gray.
The movie remake, "inspired by true events," will include a diverse cast, two crewmen in a romantic relationship with each other, and a super bad-ass, woman of color captain in tight shorts and low-zipped scuba vest who will save the day.
"In September 1944, when Singapore was under Japanese occupation, 23 British and Australian members of Services Reconnaissance Department / Z Special Unit travelled from Australia by submarine to the outskirts of Singapore Harbour. Their mission was to attack and destroy enemy shipping from small submersible boats using magnetic limpet mines. The party included six former members of the highly successful raid launched against the Japanese shipping Operation JAYWICH. Unfortunately, the raiding party was intercepted by Japanese Forces and in the actions that followed, thirteen were either killed in action or died of wounds. The remaining ten were captured and subsequently executed on 7 July 1945. The place of their execution is approximately 580 metres east of the Junction of Clement and Dover Roads."
"Just before the raid was to start on 10th October, a coastal patrol boat spotted the Mustika and approached them. It is not certain what happened, but someone fired at the patrol boat, so the rest of the crew also fired at it. Three of the patrol boat crew were killed, but two escaped and reported the incident. The commandos destroyed the Mustika and made their way in groups to the rendezvous. It is possible that one group did row to Singapore, and setting some charges, destroyed three ships on the 10th. (Possibly Lyon, Davidson and Huston). "
Lyon, Ross and Stewart held off 80–90 opposing soldiers forcing them to fight for 9 hours and inflicting heavy casualties. Lyon and Ross had climbed trees for an elevated firing position, and remained unseen until muzzle flashes betrayed their positions and they were killed by grenades. Stewart remained at large, but his folboat was taken and he was found days later on a subsequent sweep of the island.
"The Heroes is a 1989 British/Australian mini-series on Operation Jaywick, a World War II special forces raid on Japanese shipping in Singapore harbour by the Australian Z Special Unit, based on Ronald McKie's 1960 book The Heroes"
"The Highest Honour is a 1982 Australian/Japanese co-production about Operation Jaywick and Operation Rimau by Z Special Unit during World War II. The same story inspired the TV mini-series Heroes (1988) and Heroes II: The Return (1991). "
"In 2010 Leading Telegraphist Horrie Young provided this in depth interview detailing the true character and behavior of his Z Special Unit shipmates during the daring and famous Operation Jaywick raid "
As Ernie Pyle would say, " Brave Men ".
Indeed!!
Now, where are the Tenders?
all that one could simply aspire to.
You can calmly look in the mirror and say, "I am too much of a p(ssy to do that". And k ow you're probably right.
FB plus! One wonders if after the war, those men reflected on the "law of unintended consequences", and the humanitarian cost of their actions. But true warriors know that tyranny and despots must be destroyed at any cost. As Don Henley wrote "don't look back, you can never look back".
And if you've never tried paddling a loaded canoe 9 miles in the ocean with a significant current come on down to coastal SC and I'll set you up. Amazing endurance they had.
Well now I have something to go visit when I make the trip down under in a few years. They have restored the Krait. https://www.sea.museum/2018/09/26/restoring-krait
Excellent info at the link. Great to see this vessel preserved!
No I will never be - was never - that cool; not even close; but I knew this story and there are other such epics in our history. The Combatant Craft Crewman Association's newsletter features great history researched and written by my Brothers Phil Garn and Jim Gray.
Great read! Thanks again for sharing.
Great post, CDR. The link within to the Warfare History Network deserves a complete read.
Another link to Operation Jaywick: http://www.combinedfleet.com/Cundall_Jaywick.htm
I'll never be that cool.
I'll also never be that sunburnt! 😳
Well, I thought somehow Mr. Reynolds beat the firing squad. Sad for him, but he left a legacy in the former Kofuku Maru.
I hesitate to ask, but I remember a movie titled "The Wackiest Ship in the Army." Any connection?
The movie remake, "inspired by true events," will include a diverse cast, two crewmen in a romantic relationship with each other, and a super bad-ass, woman of color captain in tight shorts and low-zipped scuba vest who will save the day.
The movie will have an anticolonial theme...
And also frame the white men (ick) dying their skin brown as a heinous act of cultural appropriation.
There is more to this story...
In 1944, another raid known as Operation Rimau was made on Singapore.
Six of the Jaywich veterans were on this one as well. Unfortunately, things didn't go as well...
https://www.anzac-biographies.com/2017/06/01/marsh-able-seaman-frederick-walter-lota-mid/
"In September 1944, when Singapore was under Japanese occupation, 23 British and Australian members of Services Reconnaissance Department / Z Special Unit travelled from Australia by submarine to the outskirts of Singapore Harbour. Their mission was to attack and destroy enemy shipping from small submersible boats using magnetic limpet mines. The party included six former members of the highly successful raid launched against the Japanese shipping Operation JAYWICH. Unfortunately, the raiding party was intercepted by Japanese Forces and in the actions that followed, thirteen were either killed in action or died of wounds. The remaining ten were captured and subsequently executed on 7 July 1945. The place of their execution is approximately 580 metres east of the Junction of Clement and Dover Roads."
"Just before the raid was to start on 10th October, a coastal patrol boat spotted the Mustika and approached them. It is not certain what happened, but someone fired at the patrol boat, so the rest of the crew also fired at it. Three of the patrol boat crew were killed, but two escaped and reported the incident. The commandos destroyed the Mustika and made their way in groups to the rendezvous. It is possible that one group did row to Singapore, and setting some charges, destroyed three ships on the 10th. (Possibly Lyon, Davidson and Huston). "
Other info in Wiki...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Rimau
Lyon, Ross and Stewart held off 80–90 opposing soldiers forcing them to fight for 9 hours and inflicting heavy casualties. Lyon and Ross had climbed trees for an elevated firing position, and remained unseen until muzzle flashes betrayed their positions and they were killed by grenades. Stewart remained at large, but his folboat was taken and he was found days later on a subsequent sweep of the island.
And lastly...
https://web.archive.org/web/20060429034342/http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/activities/z_special/pdf/z_force.pdf
"The Heroes is a 1989 British/Australian mini-series on Operation Jaywick, a World War II special forces raid on Japanese shipping in Singapore harbour by the Australian Z Special Unit, based on Ronald McKie's 1960 book The Heroes"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCZO0sXg_ig
https://tubitv.com/movies/100006255/the-highest-honour
"The Highest Honour is a 1982 Australian/Japanese co-production about Operation Jaywick and Operation Rimau by Z Special Unit during World War II. The same story inspired the TV mini-series Heroes (1988) and Heroes II: The Return (1991). "
"The complete mini-series now available on DVD from http://BuckleyFilms.com.au
"HEROES II – THE RETURN – OPERATION RIMAU" "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-xbY73DJ-k (trailer)
"In 2010 Leading Telegraphist Horrie Young provided this in depth interview detailing the true character and behavior of his Z Special Unit shipmates during the daring and famous Operation Jaywick raid "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo2AEdb4c-0