OFFICIAL Commando News Magazine Edition 15 2023

On 11 January 1944, SRD advised operation
LAGARTO (then captured including our former
member Captain Jim Ellwood) that the Noronha
brothers were “doing well as signallers and would be
available for coast watching your area if you can get
the scheme started.” 5
Cancio was proposed for OP BLACKBIRD in late
May 1944 to reinforce/relieve operation LAGARTO for
an operation at Kuri or Isuum with his brother,
Bernardino 6 and possibly with Zeca Rebelo. However,
operations were deferred as CANCIO had not yet
trained for parachute jump into water. He undertook
training at the special operations Australia training
facilities at Trained at Mount Martha, Fraser Island and
Rockhampton wheeze course reports noted that he
was “very keen”.
He completed parachutist training in either June or
October 1944 with the RAAF Parachute Training Unit
and then undertook No.3 Cavern Course at Rock hamp -
ton conducted by Captain Sam Carey during the
period 4-7 July 1944 with other BLACKBIRD personnel
(his brother Bernardino and LT Stevenson, SGT
Dawson). This course was designed to train operatives
on how to select and live in the cave systems whilst
con ducting their operations. Following the course they
returned to Fraser Commando School FCS. 7
Files also indicate that Câncio also undertook
grenade and advanced training at Mount Martha and
wireless and Morse code training whilst at Fraser
Island. 8
A revised operation to insert the OP BLACKBIRD
team by Catalina seaplane in an area off Point Bigono,
Baucau on the north eastern coast of Timor was
planned for mid-June 1944 was deferred and a water
jump at Fatu Uaqui, Manatuto was planned for 31
August 1944. Fatu Uaqui, is about 8km east of
Manatuto which is 62 km west of Baucau. However,
approval was withdrawn by General Headquarters.
Operation BLACKBIRD was postponed on 15
September 1944 and cancelled on 1 October 1944
(later replaced by OP SUNLAG with Celectino dos
Anjos as their Timorese guide 9 ).
Câncio’s rate of pay in October 1944 at FCS (as
trainee) was 6/- per day. This was the same as any
member of the Australian forces and was three times
the wage of English forces) leading to the phrase 'six
bob a day tourists'.
Câncio’s also undertook advanced communications
training at Milton (Brisbane) in late October 1944 then
Source. Ernie Chamberlain
relocated to Mount Martha in Victoria on 21 November
1944 additional training.
On 12 February 1945, he was declared by SRD to
Portuguese Consul Laborinho as “employed in semi-
Army work”.
He returned from Mount Martha to the Lugger
Main tenance Section in Darwin and in March-June
1945 where he requested release from SRD in March
1945 (Consul confirmed the request on 20 March
1945). See SRD’s Group D report of April 1945 (D27/A,
p.63).
At Peak Hill in mid-late May 1945 and he departed
Newcastle as scheduled on the SS Angola on 27
November 1945 - aged 22.
Following the cessation of the war Câncio joined
the Health and Hygiene Service on return to Dili – as an
aspirante or trainee. He initially served in Dili, then was
posted to the Sub-Delagação at Ossu in October
1947. 10
He was later employed at the Overseas National
Bank (BNU) in Dili and was appointed as a member of
the Government Council on 15 November 1959. 11
He was a member of the UDT the Timorese
Democratic Union which was a conservative political
party in East Timor. It was the first party to be
established in the country on May 11, 1974, following
the Carnation Revolution in Portugal. He was a/party
from 1974-75 – and a member of its Central Com -
mittee. He resigned from the Central Committee in
1994.
Following the Indonesian invasion in late 1975, he
moved with his family to West Timor in 1976, then to
Portugal and Australia – arriving in 1986. Câncio took
up Australian citizenship on 7 May 1992. Where he and
his wife Maria establish their family home.
5
NAA A3269, D4/C p.267.
6
NAA A3269, D4/C, p.59).
7
NAA A3269, D4/A, p.372.
8
Noronha, C., letter to author, 12 May 2009.
9
Celectino was subsequently awarded the Loyal Service Medallion for his
part in this operation.
10
Forgotten Men - Timorese in Special Operations during World War II.
11
BOdT No.3, 16 January 1960, p.24.
14 COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 15 I 2023