| Place | Asia: Timor |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | MSS2119 |
| Collection type | Manuscript |
| Measurement | 1 wallet: 1cm |
| Object type | Manuscript |
| Maker |
Walker, Norman |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | Unknown |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
The Ten Commandos
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of Norman Walker (Alias Joseph Cahill) and the men of the No 1 Section, 2/4th Australian Independent Company. The collection consists of a 63 page typed manuscript titled "The Ten Commandos" written by Norman Walker (served as VX67160 Joe Cahill). The manuscript provides an account of the activities of No 1 Section 2/4th Australian Independent Company over the four months of the Timor campaign in late 1942.
The 2/4th Australian Independent Company were sent to East Timor (then Portuguese Timor) in September 1942. There they conducted a guerilla war against the Japanese who had invaded the Island in February 1942. The 2/4th carried out many successful ambushes, blew bridges and roads, and manned two observation posts in the mountains outside Dili where they reported the movements of Japanese ships and aircraft. The unit was evacuated to Darwin in January 1943.