Hero or Deserter? by Roger Maynard

Author:Roger Maynard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 2017-04-08T04:00:00+00:00

A group of Australian officers were now actively discussing the possibility of escape, among them Major Charles Moses, who was at this stage a liaison officer with Bennett’s staff, and Lieutenant Gordon Walker, Bennett’s aide-de-camp.

Moses spelled out his position in a diary note in which he spoke of the inevitability of capitulation. He recalled telling Walker that he, for one, was not prepared to be taken prisoner and intended to make a break for it when the time came.

Walker replied, ‘Wouldn’t it be marvellous if we could arrange to get the general away?’

The two men talked about arranging a boat and Walker said he would approach Bennett about the idea.

‘A little later he said that the general was in favour of making an attempt if he found himself free to do so.’32

Although Bennett appeared to be keeping his cards close to his chest, he had effectively given a nod and a wink to the escape plan proposed by Walker and Moses. However, events were changing so rapidly that shortly afterwards Moses was promoted to brigade major of the 22nd Australian Brigade, effectively excluding him from the escape party. On hearing the news Walker realised he would need further volunteers and approached three more officers about the plan.

To add to the confusion Moses discovered that Lieutenant-Colonel Albert Varley had already been appointed the new brigade major. When Moses returned to the AIF HQ he found that the escape party had increased to six, including Brisbane-born Captain Harry Jessup, who was fluent in Dutch and Malay; Captain Adrian Curlewis, who as president of Surf Lifesaving Australia was a strong swimmer; and Lieutenant Vernon Baynes of the 2/30th, who was an experienced yachtsman. Everyone had the right credentials, but the larger the party the higher the chance of being spotted. Undeterred, the group set about acquiring a boat and obtaining equipment from Tanglin Barracks for the voyage.

Events were moving at a pace when they decided to divide into two parties: Moses, Walker and the general on one boat; and the rest on another.

Despite uncertainty about Bennett’s plans, Moses reckoned the old man would not want to be left behind and decided to pack a large box of cigars for the commander. Then came confirmation of the 8th Division commander’s intentions – he was determined to ‘chance his luck’, Walker reported. Although in anticipation of a last-minute conference at Fort Canning, Bennett realised it would not be easy to break out, especially if the Japanese were in Singapore town behind enemy lines.

There was also doubt about the other party and whether Captain Curlewis was committed to the escape attempt, even though they had apparently found a boat. Amid the growing pandemonium there was one piece of good news. Major Moses had managed to find a Chinese guide to help them infiltrate Japanese lines and make their way through the swamp to open water, where they might find means to sail away.

On the night of 14 February Moses wrote, optimistically: ‘Feeling sure tomorrow will see the end of it and hoping that the end will give us a chance to make our getaway.

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