Photos

Tjililitan

Batavia, Java. February 1942. Headquarters, 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, at Batavia Aerodrome, Tjililitan, Java. The initial role of the battalion in Java was the defence of the aerodrome against paratroops. AWM id no. 030390/02

Batavia, Java. February 1942. Soldiers relaxing outside Headquarters of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion at Tjililitan. Captain E. Campbell, Adjutant of the Battalion, is looking back towards the camera. AWM id no. 030390/04

Batavia, Java. February 1942. Captain S. J. Handasyde, 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, outside Battalion Headquarters at Tjililitan searching for something in a box. AWM id no. 030390/03

Leuwiliang

Leuwiliang, Java. March 1942. Captain D. D. Guild and Captain S. J. Handasyde, both members of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, getting a few minutes sleep during the action at Leuwiliang. Soon after this photograph was taken Captain Guild's Company was sent into a counter attack, and during this action A Company was cut off by the Japanese and forced to retreat. During this period, news of the capitulation was received, and a small party which included Captain Guild, preferring escape to capture, attempted to reach the south coast. They were never seen again. Note they have different stud patterns on the base of their boots. AWM id no. 030390/09

Leuwiliang, Java. March 1942. Major E. R. Meagher, a member of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, resting on a camp stretcher, during the action at Leuwiliang. AWM id no. 030390/10

Tjampea

Tjampea, Java. March 1942. Captain C. H. T. Nason MC, a member of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, studies the map in the Tjampea area, prior to going on a reconnaissance in Japanese held territory. AWM id no. 030390/11

Tjampea, Java. March 1942. Members of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion with young Javanese children in West Java after the action at Leuwiliang and prior to the battalion reaching Bandoeng. AWM id no. 030390/14

Tjampea, Java. March 1942. Major E. R. Meagher (left); Major E. A. Daly (right), and Captain C. H. T. Nason MC (background), all members of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, just prior to going into action at Tjampea. AWM id no. 030390/13

Tjampea, Java. March 1942. Sergeant Hopkins and Sergeant Cutter, both members of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, checking up positions on a map in the Tjampea area prior to a deep reconnaissance by the Dutch Liaison Officer at left of photograph. This officer carried out a very important patrol in enemy territory and gained considerable information for a counter attack. AWM id no. 030390/12

Tjampea, Java. March 1942. A member of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion on a shopping expedition in West Java after action at Leuwiliang. AWM id no. 030390/15

Leles

Leles, West Java. March 1942. A soldier (foreground) reads and another writes at the Headquarters of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion at Leles, March or April 1942. AWM id no. 030391/03

Leles, West Java. March 1942. Captain E. Campbell, Adjutant, 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, does some personal washing in a bucket at Leles, where the battalion had concentrated after the capitulation of the Allied Forces. AWM id no. 030390/16

Leles, West Java. March 1942. While some of his company look on, Captain S. J. Handasyde, a member of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, has a clean up. AWM id no. 030390/17

Leles, West Java. March 1942. A member of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion having his foot treated. During the action at Leuwiliang some of the troops were standing knee deep in mud and water for up to 48 hours, causing their feet to shrivel and distort. AWM id no. 030391/01

Leles, West Java. March 1942. Major E. R. Meagher, a member of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, at Battalion Headquarters in a tea plantation at Leles, South East of Bandoeng. This photograph was taken during the period between the capitulation of the Allied Forces and the battalion becoming prisoners of war (POWs) of the Japanese. AWM id no. 030390/18

Leles, West Java. March 1942. One of the huts in the market place at Leles, which housed the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion when it came under the control of the Japanese as prisoners of war (POWs). Note the washing strung between the rooves. AWM id no. 030391/02

Miscellaneous

Batavia, Java. 1942-02-19 Australian troops line the rails aboard the troop transport ship HMT Orcades which was bringing them from the Middle East. They watch as some of the contingent, possibly men of the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, disembark down the gangplank carrying a cased bren gun. Many of the troops disembarked at Batavia where they became Black Force and were taken prisoner of war by the Japanese. AWM id no. 011779/26

Batavia, Java. 1942-02-19. Australian troops line the rails aboard the troop transport ship HMT Orcades which was bringing them from the Middle East. They watch as some of the contingent, possibly men of the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion, disembark down the gangplank. Many of the troops disembarked at Batavia where they became Black Force and were taken prisoner of war by the Japanese. AWM id no. 011779/27

His Majesty's Transport (HMT) Orcades, At Sea. February 1942. The swimming pool on board HM Transport Orcades which brought the 2/6th Field Company, Royal Australian engineers; the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion; the 2/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion, and attached troops, from Port Tewfik to Java. AWM id no. 030390/01

Batavia, Java. February 1942. Two Red Cross workers with a van of the Java Red Cross which distributed free milk to the AIF in Batavia. This mobile unit visited each section of the 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion in turn and was well received by the troops. AWM id no. 030390/08