Report on Gordon Wilson Diary:
By Dianne Cowling
Gordon served in the WW1 but when urgent calls went out for volunteers to serve in WW11 in the Far East against the Japanese invasion, Gordon again joined up.
Gordon trained with the AIF at Darley Camp in NSW and was finally shipped out on the Aquitania, from Sydney on 10th January 1942 for Malay. Unbeknown to one and all, this was just over one month before the allies were to surrender to the enemy on the 15th February 1942.
Their ship travelled down from Sydney around the Victoria coast, across the Great Australia Bight and on to Perth WA. The trip through waters during this time of the war was harrowing and exciting and Gordon describes the allied ships that shepherded them safely through dangerous waters to stop for a short stay in Sunda Bay where the Captain was told to return to Australia. The fateful decision to not return would see these late arrivals taken POW shortly after their arrival in Singapore.
The Aquitania continued in convoy throughout January 1942, to finally arrive at the destination, Singapore, 24th January 1942. The men were to be immediately sent to Malay, Johore where they were to have joined the 2/29th as reinforcements but were still on Singapore Island until the end of January. Gordon describes the conditions at the time and it is ‘an eye opener into the frustration and helplessness the men were feeling at the time.
Gordon describes in great detail of the conditions and what they had to face each day until finally the fateful day of surrender arrives and they are all POW’s of the Emperor of Japan for 1276 days and so begins a time of depravation and bravery in the face of man’s inhumanity to man. Gordon’s diary is a vivid day by day account of what he and his mates went through, first on Singapore Island and then as part of F Force on the Thai Burma Railway. How they came across their other mates in H Force and the conditions, weather, food and treatment of these brave men, those who survived and their mates who didn’t. Kindness in the face of unimaginable horror, sacrifice for one’s mates in the hope that this will make a difference if only they can survive another day. Even during this time, Anzac day, the anniversary of the Battle of Muar (17th January) Melbourne Cup day, Christmas Easter, individual birthdays and even family members back home are still celebrated and not forgotten. As 1945 dawns they wonder if this is the year and start again to look forward to when their torment will finally end. Gordon counts the time off in weeks and as the weeks 156 – 159 show a marked air movement by allied planes hope builds. Their hope of Liberation is never far from their thoughts as they continue to encourage and help other survive and look for every positive sign from day to day that soon this will all be over. 11th June 1945 Gordon is allowed to send a wireless message home and his thoughts are for his family and easing their worry as he sends not complaints but instead says ‘ I am quite well don’t worry, love to children dad and & mum, no mail since Feb 44, remember me to relatives, longing for early reunion, Gordon.” And he thinks “Do hope they get it ok”.
Despite poor reports by British Officers of the performance of the 8th Division these men know it was “a lie! A B-----a----lie”“The Eighth Div fought fantastically and bravely. Thirty days and thirty nights, never more than 15 minutes rest. Almost never a British or allied plane; Only Jap planes, as if the heavens’ belonged to them. ”Gordon wrote his diary at the time so it is a day to day account with all the stark details only a first-hand account can deliver. Heartbreaking and yet it makes one proud to see how these brave Australian soldiers never lost their humanity or hope. Not for the faint hearted