Correspondence Semut 1 request to stay on and Japanese surrender

Place Asia: Borneo
Accession Number AWM2017.7.171
Collection number 3DRL/6502
Collection type Digitised Collection
Record type File
Item count 33
Object type Papers
Physical description 117 Image/s captured
Maker Harrisson, Tom Harnett
Date made 1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Records relating to the service of Major Tom H. Harrisson, DSO Reconnaissance Corps, British Army. Harrisson was seconded to Z Special Unit, Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) and served in Borneo as party leader on Operation Semut 1 during the Second World War. This file contains correspondence from Semut 1 agents requesting to continue working in Borneo, messages regarding Japanese surrender and weekly reports regarding supplies. Correspondence includes Maj Tom Harrisson, Cpl Allen Wheelhouse (code W7), Fl/Lt Paul Bartram, Sgt Walter Rippin, Captain Eric Edmeades, L/Cpl Charles Da Roza, Sgt William Nibbs, Sgt Harold Fredericks (code F7), Cpl Ronald Gibbs, Cpl Victor Rawling, Sig George Edlin, Lt Robert Pinkerton and Lt Col J.E.B. Finley.
This file includes:
Exercise book of draft 'Messages In and Out', starting 23 October 1945 [regarding Japanese surrender, engagements with Japanese envoys, ammunition and food supplies]
Card with title 'Trusan';
List of 'Stock at Btg Sebulu', 11 August 1945;
List of supplies, 10 August 1945 [regarding medical, food, clothes];
Weekly report Pa Tengoa area, 6 to 12 August 1945;
Weekly report Trusan area, 13 to 19 August 1945;
Letter to Tuan Besar, 15 August 1945;
Letter from F/Lt Bartram on behalf of Tuan Besar to Tuan Bigar, 18 August 1945 [regarding supplies and visiting sick relatives];
Letter from Tuan Bigar to Tuan Besar, 15 August 1945 [regarding supplies and visiting sick relatives];
Letter from Wheelhouse [W7] to Bowen Valley HQ, 23 August 1945 [regarding activities, training Chinese soldiers and distributing letters and stores];
Letter from Eric to Paul Bartram, 24 August 1945 [summarising post war position in Ulu Trusan, Lt Wheelhouse, missing weapons, food supplies];
Weekly report Trusan River area from Fredericks, 20 to 26 August 1945 [regarding personnel movement and list of repatriated Malays];
Letter from Cpl Wheelhouse to Flt Lt Bartram, 27 August 1945 [regarding discharge of Semut 1 agents and his wish to continue in Borneo and assist with post war];
Letter from Sgt W Rippin, 25 August 1945 [wish to continue in Borneo and assist with post war];
Letter from L/Cpl C.B. da Roza, 25 August 1945 [wish to continue in Borneo and assist with post war];
Note from W. Nibbs to CO [regarding wish to remain a member of B.I.F.];
Memo from Fredericks to CO [regarding wish to remain as a member of the B.I.F.];
Memo from Pte R Gibbs [regarding willingness to stay in operational area and employment after the war];
Memo from Rawling to CO B.I.F. [regarding wish to remain and employment in Borneo after the war];
Letter from Sig G.R. Edlin, 25 August 1945 [regarding wish to continue in Borneo and his promotion to Corporal];
Memo from Sgt Nibbs to Ft/L Bartram, 19 August 1945 [requesting payment to Baro for three days work];
Memo from Lt Pinkerton Lt to Paul Bartram, 19 September 1945 [regarding beer and future arrival of carbines and pistols];
Letters from Bartram to Fredericks and Wheelhouse, 3 September [1945] [regarding stores and dealing with Japanese continued fighting after peace treaty signed];
Memo titled Preliminary Orders Armistice Period;
Sheet titled Report Trusan River Area, 29 August 1945 from Fredericks [regarding collaborators];
Letter from Fredericks headed Fa Brayong HQ Trusan River Area, 31 August 1945;
Note from Fredericks [F7] headed Fa Brayong HQ, 2 September 1945 [advising reinforcements not required];
Letter from Cpl Wheelhouse to Belawit HQ F/Lt Bartram, 3 September 1945 [requesting advice for local labourers' moving in flood conditions];
Letter from Cpl Wheelhouse to F/Lt Bartram 5 September 1945;
Weekly Report Trusan River Area from Sgt Fredericks, ended 2 September 1945;
Letter from Cpl Wheelhouse to Belawit HQ F/Lt Bartram, 6 September 1945;
Letter [from Tuan Bigar?] to Tuan Captain Bartram, 27 August 1945 [regarding payment to policemen and rice for Lawas];
Weekly Report Trusan River Area from Sgt Fredericks, ended 9 September 1945.