Commando Edition 17 2023

Things then moved forward with comparative
smooth ness, the expected Jap attack failed to
materialise and all had a grandstand seat for the main
landing by 26 Bde, the following morning.
D+2 saw the Squadron relieved of it's protecting
duties and in a reserve position on the flank of 2/23rd
Inafantry Battalion near Tarakan Hill, a feature domi na -
ting the whole of the Oilfield
The Squadron, with Captain Pat. Haig as Company
Quartermaster, was ordered to relieve B Coy, 2/23rd
Infantry Batalion which had found the task of taking
Tarakan Hill too big for one Coy. For the first and only
time in it's history we fought as a complete group, and
proceeded to what was to be a 'successful attack
strictly in accord with infantry tactics.
Following a Naval barrage and Squadron air strike
two forward troops were to move on the feature over
completely open ground with one troop in reserve.
After an unhindered move to the base of the hill the
assaulting C Troop came under very heavy and costly
fire from tunnels going deep into the bowels of the
feature and was pinned hard and fast. Here it was that
K. P. (Brolga) O'Regan won his hard earned Military
Medal.
The reserve Troop under Carptain `Shorty' Hart
made a swift move round the flank and with a real
`Darby Sand-hill' attack up the side of the almost
vertical hill so surprised the Jap that after only sporadic
resistance the whole feature was taken.
cat walking between buried aerial bomb booby traps
towards the island water pumping station, and then on
to the inevitable jungle track, this one aptly named
`Snags Track'.
Tarakan, Borneo, 13 May 1945. Trooper J.D. GILL, (Gunner 1), and
Trooper A.L. ERWIN (2), members of C Troop, 2/4 Commando,
in a Bren gun pit on the left side of Snags track.
Source: AWM
With C Troop again forward, and again pinned hard
across the track by heavy machine gun fire, A and B
Troops endeavoured to outflank the enemy. Here it was
that the whole squadron encountered heavy going and
B Troop striking particularly heavy counter attack was
supported by a platoon of 2/48th Infantry Battalion.
when that gallant soldier Lieutant `Diver' Derrick, V.C.,
met his most untimely fate. With the Japs persisting in
mass attacks the Squadron not without loss to itself
inflicted casualties out of all proportion to its own
strength.
Soon the temporary deadlock in this area was left to
the 2/48th Infantry Battalion and the Squadron,
returned to it's normal role of patrol duties in the
Djoeata 'Oilfield area in the centre of the island and at
Cape Djoeata in the North.
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5 May 1945 Tarakan, Borneo. Captain G.C. HART, Officer
Commanding B Troop, 2/4 Commando Squadron, eating a ration
pack meal on Tarakan Hill.
Source. AWM.
After occupying another grandstand view for two
days the Sqn. moved inland with very wary Troopers
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44 COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 17 I 2023