Timor Island's 'Lost Battalion'

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Synopsis: Behind enemy lines, deep in the interior of Timor Island, a force of Australians have held out against all efforts of the Japs to locate and dislodge them...(read more)

Date: 1943
Duration: 00:02:31
Sound: Yes
Color: Monochrome
Type: Public Domain
Language: English
Location: Timor Island, Darwin Australia

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Timor Island's 'Lost Battalion'

Timor Island's "Lost Battalion"

Five hundred miles northwest of Darwin, Australia the pacific island of Timor has been held by the Japanese for nearly a year. But behind enemy lines, deep in the interior, a force of Australians have held out against all efforts of the Japanese to locate and dislodge them. For months Japanese planes sought their hideouts. And while Australia gave them up for lost, the men assembled a radio set from bits and pieces stolen in raids on the enemy. Finally, they hammered through their message to Darwin "S.O.S. Timor to Australia. Timor to Australia." And the message flashed across the Timor Sea is heard in Darwin. On the mainland, officers suspect a Japanese trick. No white men are supposed to be alive on Timor. Darwin radios the cautious question, "What is the Christian name of Jack Sergeants wife?" Answer immediately. And the men on Timor flash the answer "Joan". In this way Australia was satisfied.

Secretly, food, clothing and ammunition were rushed to the beleaguered Australians on their seven thousand square mile outpost. Letters from home for men long given up for lost. With fresh supplies and friendly native help the Australians launch an attack on Japanese occupied territory. Moving up over mountains, through jungles, they take the enemy by complete surprise.

The leader congratulates his men. Hardy rugged fighters, they've won every skirmish against the Japanese and they're staying right there to carry on the fight. No longer a lost battalion, the men of Timor are living symbols of the United Nations determination to smash the Japanese.

01:07:26:20

Shows bearded Australian soldier tapping out "SOS Timor to Australia".

01:08:30:05

Australian soldiers attack and destroy Japanese outpost on Timor.