BATTLE FOR THE NORTH

By Barry Smith

 BATTLE FOR THE NORTH reunites the heroes and heroines of
For Freedom’s Cause-Dan, Charlie, Elspeth Liza and Alice, in
frustrating Japanese espionage plots and raids into northern
Australia during World War 2. The action takes place in the
Kimberley wilderness and celebrates the daring and heroism of
moun

• Language: English
• Publisher: BARRY SMITH
• Release date: Jan 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9780987177995

Barry Smith

Barry Smith is, it goes without saying, an islomane. He has spent much of his 60-odd years at work, rest and play on islands all around the world – from Scotland’s Western Isles to Sicily, from Alaska to Cape Horn. To cap it all, he has completed a doctoral dissertation... about islands. He lives in northern Scotland and France.

Book preview

1

Attack in the North

3 March 1942

Broome

The receding tide exposed the dense tangle of mangroves revealing armies of red crabs scurrying across the black mud. A perfect tropical Broome morning was marred by the litter of children’s toys, broken and charred bodies spilling from the burning carcass of a Catalina flying boat. The Japanese navy had left its deadly calling card and its intent was clear. The Battle for the North had begun.

Kimberley Cattle Station

Dan Bevan was about to saddle up when the homestead radio crackled into life. Tethering his horse, he returned to the verandah and joined his wife on the Malacca cane lounge. In measured cut-glass tones the Australian Broadcasting Commission announcer, secure in his distant Melbourne studio, began to read a news flash.

It is my sad duty to report that at 9:30 this morning Japanese fighters shot down a hospital plane near Broome as it was taking off for Perth and accompanying bombers destroyed Catalina flying boats, packed with Dutch families fleeing from Java. There appear to have been no survivors of both attacks. In response to this cowardly and criminal action, the Prime Minister will address the nation at 6pm this evening.

Liza clasped her husband’s hand and asked,

Did you hear that? Looks like the Japs are on our doorstep now. I hope Daniel is safe.

He’s alright as long as they don’t try to hit Darwin again.

Dan, they won’t come here will they?

Don’t fret Liza love. I think these are just testing raids to check our defences and to destroy any fuel dumps the Americans might rely on. They will have to drive our boys out of New Guinea before they could chance a foothold on our shores and there’s nowt of value to bring them here. But if they do land in the territory, Daniel will be in the thick of it, for sure.

He hugged Liza reassuringly and kissed her fondly before mounting his horse to ride out and check on his herd of cattle. But for the twinge of arthritis in his knees, a legacy of the punishment they had suffered in his Manchester mining days and as a sapper digging tunnels under German and Turkish lines during the last war, Dan was in good shape for a man of his age. At least all that was behind him and he would not be called on to fight in this one.

Broome

From the cockpit of a cruising fighter, Broome should have looked peaceful and calm but Flight Captain Daniel Bevan could see the rising pillar of black oily smoke ascending from the burning wrecks of flying boats, close to the shore and from a crashed Dakota located some distance from Broome. He knew that he could do nothing to help those poor souls whose safe-haven had become their grave.

The raiders had long gone and as his fuel gauge warned that he was near the limit of his cruising range from Darwin, with a heavy heart, Daniel called for his flight to turn back towards its base. Australia had been attacked for the second time, but closer to his Kimberley home. There was no knowing what this might mean for the people there, especially his parents, Dan and Liza Bevan.

Canberra

A loud, authoritative voice cut through the insistent thrumming of the ceiling fans that fought a losing battle against the fug created by a room full of cigarette and pipe smoking politicians and military men.

Admiral, what are Japanese intentions now that they have attacked Darwin and Broome?

This is not the beginning of an invasion, Prime Minister, but they are seeking to destroy naval and aviation assets in our northern ports and knock out our fuel depots. They are expecting retribution from the US Navy for the attack on Pearl Harbor and desperately need to deny the American fleet access to re-fuelling facilities.

That makes sense, Admiral, but I have to address the nation this evening and I must be able to offer them some reassurance that we can defend ourselves. Our veteran troops are still engaged in the Middle East and we only have a small defence force and reservists standing between a Japanese advance from Rabaul and our northern shores. What can I offer to keep them calm?

The military chief of staff turned to a large, well-built, silver haired man and enquired,

What do you think Charlie? Can we stop them if they mean to invade?

Charlie Elliot had distinguished himself as a Captain in the Light Horse during the Great War and because of his close association with the government, as a legal advisor to the Attorney General and his substantial land ownership in the Kimberley region of North-Western Australia, he had been conscripted to lead a new force that was being set up to keep watch across that part of the top end. The 2/1st North Australia Observer Unit would operate as a mounted force in the style of the Light Horse. It would comprise a core of local men, some first war veterans too old for the regular forces and a number of Aboriginals who knew the country and were born bush men. It was not due to be commissioned until May but this emergency had accelerated the recruitment and equipping of its men.

I can’t speak of the overall strategic situation, gentlemen, but should the Japanese attempt an incursion, I am afraid we would be hard-pressed to halt a serious landing. Most of our defensive capability is in the south or on its way to reinforce Papua and whilst I cannot see them risking a push inland that would stretch their supply lines to breaking point, the best we could do is to follow the Russians’ example in defeating Napoleon, by using the harshness of our interior as our main defence. The new observer force and the coast watchers will provide excellent intelligence and advanced warning of any sea-borne threat, but we could not stop a determined Japanese thrust without substantial air, artillery and armoured support.

So, Colonel Elliott, you think that we might need to start evacuating the North?

The Prime Minister inferred, with obvious distaste.

We have such plans ready. An army General confirmed. Sealed airstrips have been built along stretches of the Darwin to Alice Springs road for evacuation purposes, but the real challenge will be to muster enough suitable cargo planes and trucks to move people south.

General, that’s all very well, the PM retorted, But how will the people of the North react if I have to tell them to abandon all that they and their forebears strove for and suffered to build?

Charlie took the General’s cue to respond.

"Many will refuse to leave, sir. They have too much to lose and as long as we can move women and children to safety, the men will want to stay and fight. As for the larger Aboriginal population, Japanese propaganda has failed to seriously affect their loyalty. They are deeply rooted in their ancient lands and in and around the main settlements of Darwin, Broome, Katherine and the Alice, numbers of men are veterans of Gallipoli and the Western Front. I am sure, if called upon, the majority will enlist and they will make excellent guerrilla fighters on their own territory, as our coast watch recruits have demonstrated."

Well, what you say is better than nothing, Charlie, but I am not looking forward to my radio broadcast later today.

Darwin—RAAF Base

The thunderous roar of fighters leaving Darwin’s RAAF base interrupted the flow of Daniel Bevan’s de-briefing.

So, Flight Captain, tell me again. What did you see when you arrived over Broome?

Daniel had no need to reflect on his answer to the assessor’s question. He would never forget the scene of death and destruction he had seen below.

The Japs had gone by the time we arrived over Broome. Smoke was spiralling up from the burning wreckage of the hospital plane and from the broken Catalinas on the tidal mud banks. There was no sign of life and I concluded that all of the passengers had died as a result of direct hits and the resultant fires. The civilians’ luggage was strewn across the mangrove swamps and the poor bastards in the evacuation flight had no chance. Some further distance away was the wreck of a Dakota with Dutch markings. Looked like it had been shot up but there were some survivors who waved to me.

What sort of aircraft could have done the damage and where do you think they might have come from?

Daniel could not be specific but reasoned that,

"As the enemy aircraft had gone, I could only surmise from the state of the targets that Zero fighters from enemy carriers had downed the hospital plane with cannon fire as it was getting airborne. The Catalinas, grounded on the mud flats, were sitting ducks and it appeared they were the victims of incendiary bombs dropped from long range fighter-bombers which could have come from their nearest land base on Timor. It was a bloody massacre of defenceless innocents," Daniel growled.

"Thank you Bevan, that will be all for now. Might be