The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
c. 1946. Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) B.C.(Ben) Hackney, 2/29th Battalion, one of only two men to survive the Japanese massacre of wounded at Parit Sulong during the fighting on the Malay Peninsula in 1942. The force commanded by Lieutenant Colonel C.G.W. Anderson attempting to withdraw along the Bakri to Parit Sulong road was stopped at the bridge over the river at Parit Sulong. Unable to withdraw on the road, Anderson's men were forced to disperse through the jungle and swamps. They left behind 163 wounded who could not travel, including Lt Hackney. After they were captured by the Japanese the wounded prisoners were brutally herded together; many of the prisoners were forced into a shed from where on the evening of the 22 January 1942 they were tied together in small groups and taken away to be killed. Lt Hackney feigning death, was left behind. He crawled away and eventually found another member of his battalion, Sergeant Ron Croft, who had also escaped and they were also joined by an English soldier. The three eventually reached a Malay house where they were given assistance. Hackney who could not stand, convinced the others to leave him. The Malays, fearing reprisals by the Japanese, carried him off some distance from the house and left him. He managed to crawl from place to place, but was generally refused assistance by Malays, who appreared to fear reprisals, but was given assistance by Chinese. On the 27 February 1942, thirty-six days after he escaped the massacre, he was caught by a party of Malays, one dressed as a policeman, taken back to Parit Sulong and handed over to the Japanese. He was again subjected to brutal treatment by the Japanese, but after a series of moves on 20 March 1942 he arrived at the Pudu gaol at Kuala Lumpur. He was later taken with other POWs to Changi gaol. He survived the war and returned to Australia.
This work depicts the fighting at Parit Sulong by the men of the 2/15th Australian Field Regiment. A 25 pounder gun is in the lower right corner. This battle became the scene of a massacre at the hand
Manuscript titled 'Dark evening'. Account of fighting by 2/19, 2/29 and 2/30 Battalions on Malayan Peninsula between Bakri and Parit Sulong; also convoy work and evacuation of wounded by 2/3 Reserve
Tas. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment of TX4600 Private Shadwick, 2/29 Battalion. He was one of 145 men who were massacred by the Japanese at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942 during the Malaya C
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment of VX55956 Private Robert Paterson, 2/29 Battalion. He was one of 145 men who were massacred by the Japanese at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942 during the
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment of VX45114 Private Robson George Forrester, 2/29 Battalion. He was one of 145 men who were massacred by the Japanese at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942 dur
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment of VX27980 Private Henry Patrick McGovern, 2/29 Battalion. He was one of 145 men who were massacred by the Japanese at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942 duri
