Description:
Australia: William Heinemann Ltd., 1953. Book. Good. Hardcover. First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. xxxiii, 235 pages. Index. Black and white photographic plates. Map endpapers. "A campaign complete in itself in which some three hundred Australians waged a successful war against thousands of Japanese, and held them in Timor when they could have been employed more profitably in the Japanese interests in other parts of the Pacific - they might even have been used for landings on the mainland of Australia." - Foreword. Armorial bookplate upon recto of frontispiece. Bit of red writing on page 2. Average wear. Binding intact. Dust jacket not included. A sound copy. Ensor p.47..
Independent Company by Bernard J. Callinan - 1953
by Bernard J. Callinan
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Independent Company
by Bernard J. Callinan
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The chapters that follow were written in haphazard order and as opportunity arose while I was serving in New Guinea, and their writing was spread over twelve months.
Looking back, it is difficult to reconstruct our daily life in Timor and the strain under which all lived. As in all war there were periods of inactivity punctuated with periods of intense excitement, but there was no boredom, as we were continually pitting our wits against the numerical superiority of the enemy, and his ability to attack where and when it suited him. Also the gathering of our daily food and the controlling of our native helpers were in themselves all-absorbing occupations.
In a campaign which leaves three hundred men scattered for months over fifty or sixty miles of mountainous country with poor communications, the experiences of platoons, sections and individuals must be very varied. The platoon that hung on for so long over Dili and the detachment that watched the eastern end of the island had problems, difficulties and experiences differing from each other and from those of the section that operated along the frontier between Dutch and Portuguese Timor. We lived and fought as a unit, with each man coming forward to do his part as the circumstances demanded; there are many names and exploits that I have not mentioned, in fact there are many more names omitted than there are included, and the record is poorer for the omissions.
It would require greater opportunities than I have had to describe the campaign in all its detail, but it is hoped that this account by one who had the privilege to command various portions, and later the whole force, will be typical of the experience of all and give an outline of the complete story.
I have described the Company as its organization was at the time; later its designation was changed to 2/2 Australian Cavalry Commando Squadron with troops instead of platoons, but I consider it preferable to retain the organization as it was.
The chapters that follow were written in haphazard order and as opportunity arose while I was serving in New Guinea, and their writing was spread over twelve months.
Looking back, it is difficult to reconstruct our daily life in Timor and the strain under which all lived. As in all war there were periods of inactivity punctuated with periods of intense excitement, but there was no boredom, as we were continually pitting our wits against the numerical superiority of the enemy, and his ability to attack where and when it suited him. Also the gathering of our daily food and the controlling of our native helpers were in themselves all-absorbing occupations.
In a campaign which leaves three hundred men scattered for months over fifty or sixty miles of mountainous country with poor communications, the experiences of platoons, sections and individuals must be very varied. The platoon that hung on for so long over Dili and the detachment that watched the eastern end of the island had problems, difficulties and experiences differing from each other and from those of the section that operated along the frontier between Dutch and Portuguese Timor. We lived and fought as a unit, with each man coming forward to do his part as the circumstances demanded; there are many names and exploits that I have not mentioned, in fact there are many more names omitted than there are included, and the record is poorer for the omissions.
It would require greater opportunities than I have had to describe the campaign in all its detail, but it is hoped that this account by one who had the privilege to command various portions, and later the whole force, will be typical of the experience of all and give an outline of the complete story.
I have described the Company as its organization was at the time; later its designation was changed to 2/2 Australian Cavalry Commando Squadron with troops instead of platoons, but I consider it preferable to retain the organization as it was.
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Bookseller
DASHbooks
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- Book Condition Used - Good
- Edition First
- Binding Hardcover
- Publisher William Heinemann Ltd
- Place of Publication London
- Date Published 1953
- Keywords bernard callinan, independent, company, war, true, story, australia, cavalry, squadron, new guinea, enemy, timor,
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Independent Company - The 2/2 and 2/4 Australian Independent Companies in Portuguese Timor, 1941-1943
by Callinan, Bernard J.; Sturdee, Sir Vernon (Foreword); Shute, Nevil (Introductory Chapter)
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