Defending Australia 1942 - Episode 1: Lark Force

[@sueneilson896]

Had the infinite pleasure of knowing one of the survivors of the Japanese detailed in this video. His name was Harold Martin, and after capture, was imprisoned in Changi, then survived 2 years on the Burma railway, then 4 days adrift after their prison ship was torpedoed by a US submarine as mentioned also. Harold was a quiet, kind and gentle man, and died last year at 103 years of age.

[@MTG776]

What a Legend... They don't make them like that anymore...

[@wufongtanwufong5579]

My great Uncle was a prisoner of the Japanese during WW2. And he wouldn't have anything to do with them. If you went to pick him up for a doctors visit, etc and you turned up in a toyota he wouldn't get int the car. The worse part is you would have woke idiots telling him he should get over it. Why should he? Why should he not hate a race and culture that tortured, starved and almost worked him to death him for 3 yrs or how he watched them beat starve and take great pleasure in murdering his friends? The poor old bugger still had a massive great scar on his back from when they beat him with a shovel.

[@Ekstrax]

@@MTG776 actually they do make em like that nowadays

[@MTG776]

@@Ekstrax Pfffftttt...

[@matty6848]

You extremely Lucky to have met such a man. RIP Harold Martin.

[@Kingmick58]

Hello Dr. Felton. Always totally absorbed watching your excellent presentations. My uncle was Captain Ben Hooper Medical. Two times in New Guinea on the front line. Twice returned to recover from malaria. Late 1944 he joined Z Special Force. Unfortunately he drowned on manoeuvres off Perth 9th March 1945. Just asking if you do a story on Z Special Force. Many thanks for what you do. Andy from Rockhampton Queensland Australia. Ta mate.

[@jeremygreen3392]

My great uncle is Lieutenant Ron J Green. Gullforce P.O.W. In Ambon. Went out to work with troops every day but didn’t have to because of rank. Lucky to be one of roughly 300 out of 1100 to survive.

[@Mark-vd4gg]

Thank you Dr Felton. The shortsightedness of Australia's failure to adequately garrison and support Rabaul was seriously incompetent. The lack of any evacuation plan for those troops stationed there was unforgivable. This disturbing myopia is still trending in the present day. We can see an expansionist China developing infrastructure and influence among the islands to the North and the Australian Government is now rethinking the lease of the Port of Darwin to a Chinese company for 99 years.

[@kimnewling5728]

Awful

[@nogibertv4824]

And they said Atom bomb is Inhumane.. at least you didnt fell pain when you got evaporate by a-bomb than Bayoneted 11 times and lived.

[@LizardYup]

God the bayonet incident is truly horrific. The Japanese committed terrible crimes

[@unnamedchannel1237]

Crazy

[@thunderbird1921]

The Aussies have constantly proven to be a remarkably strong-willed people. As an American I find it unfortunate how often they're overlooked, such as their incredible performance at Kapyong in the Korean War (together with the Canadians and New Zealander artillery force). Good to see Dr. Felton and others sharing these stories.

[@shaner1912]

Another good one to look up is the siege of Tobruk. The Anzac forces deserve a lot of respect

[@derekweiland1857]

They used to be. Now they gave up their guns and their Chinese controlled puppet leaders are putting them all in camps because maybe they have the flu, and the Australians are quietly allowing it. Has beens.

[@stupidumbasshithead5715]

But theyre kinda annoying

[@nameunavailable1330]

Save Australia!

[@thunderbird1921]

@@stupidumbasshithead5715 Sometimes that can be a good thing. Keeps everyone on their toes.

[@timothychapman2455]

My father was part of gull force as capt. He escaped with 17 others and island hopped to Thursday island using only a compass and world atlas. It took Three months and dad arrived back in Australia weighing 5stone and covered in tropical ulcers. He relived this three months in his dream every year until his death in 2007. I attended the 70th anniversary dawn service and walked through the war cemetery

[@mattharcla]

Yes. Lest We Forget.

[@colinpowis3600]

Is there any good biographies of these escapees ?

[@obesetuna3164]

As an Australian who currently lives in the UK, I salute Dr Felton for describing this much over - looked tragedy of WW2.

[@johnsaia9739]

It was a lot rougher in the CBO and the Pacific than many people realize and where some of my relatives fought in it in the US Army and US Navy. The stories they told me were bone chilling of what all allied men faced. We should always honor them for their valor and sacrifice.

[@adamarmstrong6304]

John Saia - not only allied men. Australian and Dutch nurses were bayoneted and shot just like their male colleagues - not to mention the horrors committed upon the civilian populations.

[@timontide6404]

Not tragedy but atrocity.

[@oldfatbastad6053]

@@adamarmstrong6304 and boy did they commit attrocities. many say the 2 atom bombs were ideal retrobution.

[@oldfatbastad6053]

G'day Cobber 😁 👍

[@andrewd7586]

My late father, his 2 brothers fought in the 2nd AIF against the Japanese from 1942 in New Guinea after being called back from the Middle East. His eldest brother was in Darwin & was bombed numerous times! Dad told me some horrific stories which you’ve now highlighted Mark! Dad passed away in 2010 & still had nightmares up until his passing aged 86. Although dad moved on with his life, he could NEVER forgive the Japanese for the atrocities committed against his countrymen & allies. Lest We Forget…

[@rogerkay8603]

Never forget, never forgive....

[@pastorofmuppets8834]

@@rogerkay8603 a very poor motto to live by

[@matthewwhitton5720]

Never forgive. Never forget.

[@aussieoffroader1974]

Lest We Forget

[@coolhand1964]

​@@pastorofmuppets8834Until you've been a victim of the barbarity.

[@jimrutherford2773]

Many history professors leave out the Japanese brutality in WW2. They usually focus on Germany and concentration camps.

[@SnoopReddogg]

A lot of the 2/22nd Battalion were recruited from the Western district of Victoria. My small hometown lost 4 men on Rabual. One escape back to Australia only to be KIA in Wau in 1945. Another ended up as a POW only to be torpedoed and plucked out of the water by a USN submarine. My grandmother lost her boyfriend and 2 school friends. Rabaul had a terrible impact on our area.

[@allangibson2408]

10% of the total population of Australia served in the armed forces during WW2.

[@maddyg3208]

What is the name of the town?

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@maddyg3208 Dimboola area I'm guessing. These troops went from the Little Desert area to a jungle. That would have been impossible for them.

[@Sacrifice-Loyalty]

Not Forgotten!

[@mauriceturner6970]

My Father was at Rabaul. He survived!

[@23draft7]

Merry Christmas ⛄🎄⛄🎄 to all. Aussies have been over looked by most. Excellent determination, and collectively very good fighters. Thank God for the Australian people. 🇨🇦🇦🇺

[@johnsaia9739]

Informed Americans know how awesome they were to fight alongside big time. They were also issued British beer in many cases so it was good to know them. LOL!

[@23draft7]

@@johnsaia9739 right on John. Nice to hear.. Be safe.

[@jesuschrist7169]

Merry Christmas too you all as well

[@Black-Sun_Kaiser]

I dont really feel like Australia is over looked, ive always been well informed on Australian events pretty well, maybe its just me but I definitely didn't over look.

[@23draft7]

@@Black-Sun_Kaiser that also good to hear. Cheers to the people of Australia.

[@westernjeep4015]

This IS history that should never be forgotten; to my Australian and New Zealand brothers and sisters in-arms, I salute you.

[@dlosg6037]

Utterly terrorizing, I still can't believe that one Australian survived being bayonetted over 6 times even one to the face. I still can't believe they were sent to fight being woefully outnumbered and out gunned. Happy to see they are not forgotten. As a US Marine listening about the horrors of war, this is at the top.

[@IgorTheGreat]

If I understood correctly, it was a total of 11 wounds for that guy. The Japanese soldiers went out of their way to be as evil as humanly possible.

[@demonprinces17]

Why not it was all they had

[@camg2793]

Look up the interview of Australian soldier shot 9 times at Papua New Guinea on the Kokoda Trail

[@duffvader6731]

Only 6 times? In occupied countries they rounded up civilians including children for bayonet practice. Each target would be bayonetted in turn by an entire platoon or company.

[@mattharcla]

@@duffvader6731 Yep

[@PJF62]

When I was 6-9 rs old I lived at RAF Changi in Singapore. My dad flew Argosy type aircraft at the time. From our back garden we could see the notorious Changi prison. I learned about the atrocities there against Japanese prisoners and the bravery of Australian commandos who would smuggle medical supplies onto the beaches at night. An old woman who sold fruit and hid these supplies and her adventures are worthy of a Dr Felton story. I have made it my mission in life to defend the courage and contribution of the Australian and New Zealand people in all of the wars. Please do not think that the world has forgotten you. Many many Poms still remember your part with respect and gratitude. We will remember them.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

Japan got off very light for its war crimes. They managed to weasel themselves out of making reparations, unlike Germany and to this officially there has never been an official apology. Maybe too late, because of course the sins of the father should not befall the son, and current generations should not be made to pay or apologize for the crimes of their forefathers.

[@23draft7]

They were totally dishonorable.

[@hyokkorichin]

Japanese leaders have made numerous apologies to Korea, and Japan has paid Korea millions in reparations since the 1960s, both to the Korean government and to private citizens (and the Koreans, predictably, continue to demand more, to the point of recently rioting in the streets). The Japanese government has been less charitable toward China, correctly perceiving Chinese demands to be purely political attacks. A government that drives over dissidents with tanks and runs a police state cannot legitimately make moral demands of anyone.

[@bloodybones63]

Tell that to the modern day abolitionists.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

@@hyokkorichin That's the thing though, they always made personal apologies, never on behalf of the Japanese nation. Never an admission of national guilt. And Japan paid Western POW's and civilians that had to enjoy the hospitality of the Emperor squat. And yes, China is no position to make any moral demands itself. And again, I hold the current Japanese generations not responsible.

[@bruceparr1678]

I disagree that Japan got off lightly. The US used its superior technology to extract a terrible vengence on the Japanese people culminating with the atomic attacks. That vengence was so horrifying that it sort of put an instant stop to the violence and left every one feeling a bit disgusted.

[@saltmerchant749]

The unconscionability of Japan denying these acts ever took place to this very day is not lost on anyone.

[@xiaoka]

Who is denying it took place? Please be specific.

[@saltmerchant749]

@@xiaoka Every government of Japan since it happened. Numerous public figures in media and a troubling % of the population who subscribe to ultra-nationalist politics... to start with.

[@demonprinces17]

Current generation and polictal leaders only USA did war crimes

[@drscopeify]

​@@saltmerchant749 When I visited Japan you can see the issue everywhere, they have many WW2 memorial sites but they all have the same issue, they memorialize Japanese losses to Civilians and military but they do memorialize Japanese victims and they do not explain any context to the Japanese losses especially the atomic bombs. So a Japanese person can see the result but does not understand why and that is a big issue to still today in 2021 "save face". As a result, if you dare look up videos of US and Japanese navy exercise today in 2021 here on KZbin and translate the Japanese comments you will see them full of anti American rhetoric, there are some Japanese fighting against them, here and there, but they are usually drowned out.

[@bangochupchup]

I served in the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, 85-86. We were there to keep those Tojoists in line!

[@brittishshorthair6709]

It’s a huge disgrace that so few japanese war criminals have been brought to trial My grandfather was a corporal in the dutch indies army and captured somewhere around februari 1942 Leaving behind his pregnant wife (carrying my mother) and being send to slave work at the Birma-Siam railway By a miracle he survived this hell on earth after the japanese surrender on the 15th of august 1945, just a few days after the beautiful second atomic bomb on Nagasaki was dropped It was in the weeks following when he saw my mother for the first time, already at the age of almost 3 (oktober 1942) My mother and her little brother had been wandering around all places on java..the so called “buitenkampers”, meaning they were not locked up in a japanese concentration camp because of their mixed origin, my grandmother being a native from indie An older (18) half brother went searching for them along with some english military he had succesfully pleaded to come and help searching Grandmother just left the children behind on their own and left.. My mother bears a scar on her knee…scrapnel from an exploding granate.l, together witje a burned foot and an everlasting war trauma They returned to the netherlands by ship, only to return a few years later because of the so called politionele acties ( colonial indepence war) and somewhat later to finally return to the netherlands A huge disgrace from the dutch government was the refusal to pay the salary my grandfather owned, for the years he had been slave working for the japanes at the Birma-Siam railway, saying he was not serving…….it’s mind boggling After the war the people returning from the dutch indies fellt nobody cared about what they had gone threw…nobody was interested…they thought that only they themselves had sufferd from the germans in the netherlands ..and those from the dutch indies..what did they know/have been gone threw Only for the last few years now there is some media and governmental attention to those who suffered severly from the saddistic japanese occupation

[@vegitoblue5000]

*"It’s a huge disgrace that so few Japanese war criminals have been brought to trial"* This phenomenon can be attributed to the USA never being bothered to dispose of the royal family but instead keep him to use him to pacify the country. They also never did a huge military war trial for the Japanese as they did for the Germans, or try to re-educate them that empires are bad, like they did to the Germans. Which is why the idea of a recreation of the Japanese empire is still well and alive to this day. One reason was because many of the war crimes were committed by the members of the royal family and since the US wanted to keep them, then they could not be prosecuted. The second reason was because they wanted to know some information about their human experimentation of chemical and biological weapons to use against the communists later on (such as their use in the Korean and Vietnamese war), which is similar to operation paperclip when they brought some Nazis and actual war criminals to the US, to live a life of American luxury, just so they could get information from them. And a final reason was because the Soviets were not there to pressure the US to have a war tribunal to sentence war criminals, even though they were a contributing factor in the Japanese surrender and actually captured more prisoners in the final months of ww2 than the US did in the whole 4 years of the war.

[@timontide6404]

@@vegitoblue5000 As the saying goes, the Nazis lost the war but the fascists won.

[@WELLBRAN]

Old guy goes back to try and put right a wrong as best he can.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r56beH6Bpamdfdk

[@WELLBRAN]

My wife come s from a provincial capital in far east.my father in law told me that in late 70s they had a top Japanese baseball team touring the country they were to arrive in the city..and the mayor put out lots of flags and bunting around the town and the team was to march down the main street and to the top hotel so they all lined the streets and the music played and the Japanese marched down the main street waving...and then they got pelted with stones.

[@Tubepoacher]

@@WELLBRAN that's stupid

[@parvuspeach]

amazing how lightly punished the japanese armed forces where, even their reputation is less known rthan any random nazi or even german soldier

[@DaveSCameron]

EDWARD Russell, - Knights of Buchido is THE book 📙

[@bashirmuhammad8181]

Considering their ruthless cruelty, you're correct.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

I reckon that for Westerners the Germans made more of an impression as those countries experienced German 'hospitality' directly. Whereas with the Japanese it was only Western soldiers and civilians in Asia who got to experience it. Plus I wouldn't be surprised that with decolonization a lot of people came to look down on those who worked and/or fought for colonial administrations. So for some of them it even became kinda a just punishment for people who served as part of colonialism. And for others a book of history they now preferred closed. Of course for the people of Asia it was never forgotten. I hear the South Koreans are more weary of Japan then North Korea, the Philippines haven't forgotten it either and the Chinese loath Japan. If the PRC wants to divert attention away from its own failures all they have to do is beat the Japan drum.

[@stevewhite3424]

Hmmmm, 3.5 Million total Japanese deaths including military personnel as compared to at least 20 million murdered Chinese. Add another 3 to 6 million murdered Phillipino and Southeast Asian civilians and and Allied POW's. Japan came out of the war in far better condition than any of those people who she conquered and occupied.

[@4FYTfa8EjYHNXjChe8xs7xmC5pNEtz]

The Allies originally intended to prosecute Japanese war criminals to a degree similar to that of German and other Axis figures in post-war Europe. MacArthur and Truman eventually canceled these plans out of a perceived need to use Japan as a political and economic bulwark against the Soviet Union. There was an active communist/socialist movement in Japan at the time, and American authorities were afraid of Japan turning "red" if they prosecuted too many of Japan's wartime political and economic leaders who, while not the nicest people, were definitely no friends of communism. As it turned out, Japan's postwar recovery was essentially led by a clique of unrepentant Class A war criminals given a pass by the Allied leaders. One postwar prime minister alone, Nobusuke Kishi, was a sadistic rpist and slve driver directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of workers and civilians in Manchukuo, Japan's puppet state and colony in Manchuria, in his former role as an industrialist and political operator there.

[@phrayzar]

Ah yes Australians, great soldiers repeatedly given undoable jobs to do in countless wars. One of the reasons why many older Australians are still anti Brit, even though our heritage may be from there. Shafted again and again by the motherland. Also some ill feelings to the Japanese from the old timers.

[@theoilandgasresourceportal2132]

Im not sure why you think Britain let down Australia. Most Australians had it easy, compared with the hell that people in Europe and the Soviet Union went through.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Population of Great Britain in 1940 :- 44,730,000. Military deaths in WW2, 383,600 Population of Australia in 1940 :- 7,039,000. Military deaths in WW2, 27, 000. British % 0.85. Australian % 0.38. 'Shafted again and again.' How exactly?

[@questionmark05]

As an Australian, I never knew about this. Thank you for your video Dr Felton and for all your work. Happy holidays.

[@DaveSCameron]

ME neither, best wishes my friend from Liverpool here and we won't mention the Ashes OK 🎁🥂😀🙏

[@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55]

Merry Christmas

[@nameunavailable1330]

Hope you’re staying safe and out of your concentration camps. #SaveAustralia

[@250sabre]

@@nameunavailable1330 exactly !!

[@questionmark05]

@cas curse my great grandfather died early on in tassie. We never learnt about great grandmother. On the other side, I think opa's (dutch for grandad I think) farther was a Dutch solider. Opa died when I was 3 so I never learnt what happened to his parents but they did survive the war. My grandmother did say that her brother had his leg below the knee cut off by a katana for stealing bread while in a Japanese labour camp.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Why are the Aussies so overlooked in war histories? What great, brave, hard-fighting soldiers they have always been, and their contributions are almost never even mentioned, much less highlighted. Thank you, sir, for putting this video together. I look for history books that are about Australia‘s fighters. They finished WWI. They were a major force in Korea. One unit, left with no help nearby, was so heroic in Vietnam (there is a great movie on those few guys against thousands of Vietcong). Yet they get skipped over by so many books and documentaries. History; you’ve got to really dig to try and make sure get it all or you’ll miss quite a lot. Helmets and hats off to the Aussies from this thankful American. 🇦🇺 🇺🇸 Thank you to your fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, cousins - all. They gave at home, too.

[@tomobrien4965]

Respect from Downunder to our greatest ally and brother in arms the US 🇦🇺🇺🇸 👍

[@keithkearns93]

Please don’t forget the Kiwis .

[@peterpayne9869]

Always Anzacs Australia New Zealand Army Corps .

[@longtabsigo]

Why? Two words: Doug MacArthur. He assured that no one but he would get any credit for defeating Japan.

[@kristinehayes4885]

@@longtabsigo not just that, Yanks have always thought they are "the best of the best of the best" bullshit. They are far from it.

[@jeffveraart2695]

A workmate's father was at 16 the youngest Australian POW held by the Japanese at Changi, working on the rail line. He had the nickname "the pup". He survived the war and went on to be part of the Commonwealth occupational forces in Japan.

[@Slugbunny]

This is one story I've been waiting to hear. Australia hasn't been heard enough.

[@TheJapanChannelDcom]

I am an Aussie, living in Japan, and I had a martial arts master who fought Aussies in PNG. We had some interesting chats about it.

[@mathewkelly9968]

Did you confront him about his war crimes ? You should have

[@TheJapanChannelDcom]

@@mathewkelly9968 When you grow up, you can come to Japan and do that yourself, kid. But you wont, will you.

[@dustywoood]

​@@mathewkelly9968 Sorry, but that's an awful suggestion. You're essentially suggesting that every Japanese soldier was a war criminal and committed war crimes, when there's probably no proof to make such a claim against his old teacher. It's like walking up to a German Veteran and accusing them of being a Nazi, when there were many whom were not - Afrika Korps for example. You really ought to educate yourself before going around and confronting people.

[@jesuschrist7169]

@@mathewkelly9968 how far up the lunch line does pretending to be tough on the internet get you?

[@frankmueller2781]

One cannot blame every Indian for Crawnpore nor every American pilot guilty for Dresden, any more than every German for the Einsatzgruppen or every Japanese for Bataan. Every man writes his own plea before God at Judgment. No man bears the blame for his father's sins or his brother's misdeeds.

[@ray7419]

God bless those brave Australians. Merry Christmas to everyone, from America. 🎄🇺🇸

[@lachlanf4842]

I'm a young Australian and it never ceases to amaze me how my fellow young and old Australians alike, forget how barbaric the Japenese were and how close we were to being conquered. The Japanese got away with their atrocities and yet many Japanese and people like to make out that the Japanese were victims because of the two Atomic bombings. The bombings were awful but if you understand the history prior and what the Japenese did to Asia, you can not help but have very little pitty for them, a cruel symptom of a cruel war. I , like many, love the modern day Japanese now ofcourse, but it still doesn't sit right with me. Atleast now we are strong allies against the new tyranny that is hanging over Asia, Communist China. It is sad to see that the coming conflict with China will likely follow a similar path as the Imperial Japanese conquest did and that it's likely, once again, our little continent shall again be plunged into a desperate war of defence. Love from Australia to all Mark felton viewers and ofcourse to Dr Felton himself. Merry Christmas and holiday.

[@matty6848]

Exactly all historians seem to do is concentrate on the Nazi war crimes which are nothing compared to what the Japanese forces did. At least the Germans fed and gave their POWs well the British, Australians at least food, water and basic shelter. My grandad was a POW in WW2 taken prisoner by the Germans for two years. Although upon being rescued he was underweight and suffering, malnutrition he at least was given some food and shelter, even struck up distant relationships with their German captures. He said had he’d been taken prisoner by the Japanese he was certain he most likely not have survived…

[@jaygonzales8258]

I understand where you are coming from, but history shows that all rising great powers during early in their rise were often prone to brutal atrocities. One example of such these atrocities of a rising great power is America. In 1880-90s Philippine-American war it was not uncommon for American officers to order the deaths of every male in "liberated" villages from the ages of 10 and upwards. Yes American officers were ordering the deaths of 10 years old children in that conflict. I could sift through England's, Russia's, France's, Germany's and others rise to great power status and find atrocity after atrocity also but you get my point.

[@jaygonzales8258]

I think it was the fact that if they won and become victors and a great power status. They thought they could re-write history whitewash or cover up any atrocities and crimes it would be decades before people actually learnt the truth by then it would be too late for justice against the people ordering the atrocities often dead and buried as heroes or holding supreme power of the state they control, thus immunity. Couple that with the fact over time people have got comfortable with the new status quo and see the rising or new great power as legitimate.

[@tutts999]

My grandfather knew all about how the Japanese treated their POW while somehow surviving 2.5 years on the Burma Railway. RIP these brave Australians

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

He survived a hell, an incomparable hell.

[@jabirujoe5206]

As a "Canzak" (a Canadian serving in the NZ Army in the 70's) my most memorable ANZAC day was the dawn service at the Changi War Memeorial in in Singapore. It somehow made the suffering and sacrifice more tangible and real.

[@blakeshannon2083]

My pop was a z unit comando, and the stories he use to tell us of the Japanese treatment of soldiers were terrible,he had buttons made of cyanide incase of capture

[@alisleem8384]

Dr. Felton has been revealing such vivid illustrations for these chapters of ww2. Its truly intetested. Thanks a lot Dr. Felton

[@ElliottFranks]

My grandad and his brother fought here as past of the New Guinea volunteer rifles. His brother was was captured and went down on the Montevideo Maru. The crap thing was the Australian government didn't recognize their servive until after their death. RIP Norm & Garth.

[@unnamedchannel1237]

This may sound like crazy talk but I Am thankful for nuclear weapons. I think it helped prevent the Cold War breaking out into world war 3. With all having nukes I don’t think we will have mass wars like WW1 and WW2. In saying that let’s just hope a job doesn’t fire one off

[@64maxpower]

Such brutal people. This was 80 years ago. There is something never talked about in Japanese people where they can act so horrid. And somehow the ability to act like brutal animals just left their souls in just a few years of the wars end. I'm not buying it. I don't know what to think

[@berryreading4809]

This is why I have little sympathy for the Japanese losing large parts of thier culture after WW2 🤷‍♂️

[@haroldvoss5886]

Not about WW2 but Vietnam: My dad was a liaison officer who worked directly with and alongside some Australian soldiers in Vietnam, according to dad, those Aussies where real badass's and more so than our own American soldiers, I wasn't there, and can only go on the stories dad told us, but the respect and love for the Aussies he had was astonishing

[@SupernormalParanatural]

Wasn't it Rommel who said, "Give me a division of Australians and I'll give you the world"?

[@warwickmorris9097]

I feel you were overly critical of the Australian Army HQ (AHQ) and the Australian Government. When we consider that the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were in North Africa or on their back to defend Australia and with the fall of Singapore 1/5th of the Australian Military Forces were captured by the Japanese. Bearing this in mind the only troops in Australia at the time were under training or Militia (Citizen Military Forces) very brave men who did the best they could.. To add to this situation the Australian PM Curtains was in conflict with Churchill over the “Europe First” policy the British and Americans politician had decided was the way to fight the war. This policy left Australia and New Zealand on their own and exposed. Churchill’s belligerent attitude that the Australian and New Zealand forces “must” stay and fight in Europe left Curtain with no choice but to angrily withdraw Australian Forces from North Africa to defend the homeland. With the Japanese rapid movement through South East Asia an add hock defence with very little left in reserve was organised. Australian HQ was hard pressed until the AIF could return be re equiped and dispatched.

[@montecarlo1651]

Quite correct! What was worse, Churchill and Roosevelt had agreed privately that Australia would not be defended and that they would seek to retake it later, should it fall to the Japanese. British people don't realise how much hostility there was from Churchill and Alan Brooke towards Australia and Australians, they only saw them as colonial troops to be used in defence of Britain. The defence of Singapore had the highest priority after Britain itself in Imperial Defence Policy however Churchill had no interest in it and the Far East at all, having openly racist attitudes towards the Japanese, thinking that they were like tribespeople where a whiff of grapeshot and a big ship would send them packing. His reward was the worst military disaster in British history with the surrender of a numerically superior force to a more determined Japanese foe at Singapore. In Australia's hour of need, Churchill cared more about the Middle East (where a defensive strategy was all that was required), than he did about a settler society like Australia and he openly transferred military responsibility for Australia to the USA and actively thwarted attempts to bring the 2ndAIF home, including diverting troops mid-ocean, to India (which Curtain countermanded). This period was critical in Australian History for it was the end of any strong pro British sentiment and began the rapid destruction of the old imperial loyalties. Britain's unceremonious dumping of Australia and NZ, with their UK oriented export trades, to join the EU in 1973 was the last act of betrayal.

[@warwickmorris9097]

@@montecarlo1651 I absolutely agree with all you say, I was trying to be tactful. Curtain was a strong leader to stand up to a the pompous over bearing Churchill just the leader Australia needed at the time. Churchill under estimate and belittled anyone who was not white and preferably British, although the Americans would do in a pinch even if they didn’t speak the Queens English. There is far more to this story than Dr Felton has stated, hopefully the second episode will address some of the issues we have raised, maybe even Churchill’s attitude to Australia and New Zealand and the animosity that was felt by Churchill’s lack of support and apparent lack of understanding of the situation in India and South East Asia. Australia and New Zealand were most certainly bump in favour of the EU but now we have just signed a trade agreement with the UK how things can change is it in Australia’s interest we’ll have to wait and see

[@Caratacus1]

I find it amazing that even the previously tough Aussies now view their history from a self-pitying 'victim' mentality. Blaming their British 'oppressors' when it was actually the Japanese who were murdering their men. War is unbelievably brutal, tough decisions are made, and good men die horribly. I know of no Brit who doesn't admire and appreciate the Aussies for their war effort. All your Divisions apart from one were immediately sent back to Australia when the Japanese attacked. The final one went back in late 1942. Oh and your Prime Minister was called John Curtin not Curtain. To be fair you do need to pull yourselves together.

[@warwickmorris9097]

@@Caratacus1 We are all Military Historians aren’t we and we all see history from our own particular perspective. The animosity that Australian felt towards Churchill goes back long before WW2, there was a small action called Gallipoli you may of heard of it, Churchills great idea I believe. The Australian Divisions were NOT send back they were TAKEN back by Curtin (correct spelling happy blame auto correct). Of course Churchill like a petulant child through a tantrum jumped up and down held his breath until he went red in the face. The British were oppressors not only with Australia but also with the other Dominions they considered they were still a great empire and world power able to order others to do their bidding. Today most Australians see the British Empire and indeed the Commonwealth as irrelevant and the Queen as a wealthy old lady living in a big house. The Japanese were the enemy in front of the rifle muzzle the British (Churchill) was a friend holding a knife from behind.

[@guyh9992]

@@Caratacus1 Two brigades of the 6th division were diverted to Ceylon by Churchill for six months. One brigade of the 7th division was diverted by Churchill to Java where it was was captured by the Japanese. Churchill failed in his attempt to divert another division to Rangoon where it too would inevitably have been captured. Three brigades of the 6th and 7th divisions actually landed in Australia by the end of March, well after these events. At the same time, there were around three dozen frontline British and Canadian divisions sitting around the UK "getting fat" as Churchill himself put it.

[@elleodurkin409]

I hope Mr Felton will do a short episode about the rape and massacre of Australian nurses at Bangka Island. I have the impression that these events have been ignored in the Australian school system, which annoyed many Australian veterans of WW2.

[@gavanwhatever8196]

I'm not sure what benefit would be delivered to our children by traumatising them. I'd like to think we could teach them some context and resilience first. More important too to teach them some critical thinking to help them identify where the real threats are in the contemporary world. Not that any of these Japanese atrocities should be forgotten.

[@SpermDonorAnthonyGreenfield]

​@@gavanwhatever8196The crazy part is the Aussie government covered it up? Like WHY?

[@BROOKS39]

Yes that story needs to be told 100%. Never forget

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

‘The Knights of Bushido: A Short History of Japanese War Crimes During World War II’ by Lord Russell of Liverpool A good read. Rather difficult, but for the WWII reader it’s a necessity - and a start.

[@chopper7352]

...& some people question why Australians of the WW2 generations were never able to forgive (&/or forget) the Japanese (& the many atrocities they committed in WW2) in the 'Post WW2' era.

[@chamberpot969]

It is hard to fathom the brutality of Japanese troops. One of my father's friends, a Singaporean Chinese, witnessed his parents being beheaded by the Japanese who brutalised the Chinese population of occupied Singapore. He never forgave them and refused to do business with the Japanese after the war until the day he died.

[@colinpowis3600]

They had a primitive quasi medieval mentality

[@Ludendorf01]

Aussie here - Thanks for covering this topic Mark. You're a legend. These campaigns were huge factors in contributing to Australian national identity and spirit of the Australian Army. It's probably why even though we're an island, we have such a disproportionately large soft spot for the Army.

[@gooraway1]

So little is acknowledged about this period of Australian history. The pathetic government attempts at defence and the Japanese cruelty. Thank you for honouring the sacrifice of those brave men given a hopeless job.

[@seniorsergeanttomcroydon6401]

As I understand the Japanese don't teach this history in their schools. It's like it never happened.

[@montecarlo1651]

Reading John Curtin's biography will help give some insight into what the Government was dealing with during this period of the War.

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

The Japanese soldiers were taught death before dishonor, that the enemy were not humans and that surrender was not to be accepted. It was the Japanese divine right to conquer the world and anyone in their way was to be removed. Even to this day Japan have not acknowledged some* of the horrible war crimes.

[@jduff59]

Nippon Kaigi. That's all you need to know.

[@michaelmangano1732]

True, but the later attempts to hide the atrocities speaks volumes about their consciences…

[@michaelmangano1732]

My great grandfather fought in PNG, then joined the special forces as a human guinea pig for testing of chemical warfare. Typical Aussie: “the fun really started”

[@stekarknugen9258]

The Imperial Japanese Military: Where every unit in all branches were Dirlewangers.

[@Roscoe_B]

Or worse.

[@randolphscott3361]

Amazing how they got away with it.

[@johnalexander7831]

Great work as always Mark. As an Australian I found this an excellent account. The history of the Australian army in WW2 is quite unusual. These events certainly doesn't get much coverage here. Naturally the performance of the Australian divisions in the 8th army in North Africa or the militiamen in New Guinea much preferred as topics to talk about. The terrible negligence of the Australian govt and high command in all of this is another reason it gets little attention. Then of course there is the scandal of the use of the Australian army in 1944 mopping up Japanese forces left starving after the American advance across the pacific had cut them off. Rather than leave them to wither the Australian army thought it a good idea to waste lives reducing these pockets. The futility of it all was obvious to the troops who in some cases mutinied for being sent out to die for absolutely no reason. So unlike the Navy or Airforce the history of the Australian army in ww2 is quite chequered.

[@andyperth1000]

I always find it very hard when reading or seeing the history of my country men at the hands of the Japanese.

[@1pcfred]

If it makes you feel any better we only left 12 of them alive after Tarawa. There were over 20,000 of them on the island before the US landed too.

[@gregmcgrath4859]

We actually had no trained, experienced troops in Australia to oppose these invasions. Similarly for the Air Force. All our best divisions were either in North Africa or already captured in Singapore. It took until September 1942 for some to return, to be committed in Papua. Even then, Churchill had tried to keep them in Ceylon for the defence of India.

[@tacitdionysus3220]

The military involved in the events in this clip were mostly AIF, as were most of the divisions overseas. But, in addition to that, there were seven militia divisions in Australia - 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 infantry divisions, I and 2 armoured cavalry divisions, and the AIF 1st armoured division, (plus garrison troops, troops guarding POW camps etc.). Initially under-equipped, by just after the Battle of Coral Sea (May 42), they were formidable enough a force to complicate if not deter any Japanese invasion of Australia itself, and were fully equipped by the end of that year. Their armoured units were typically equipped with Grant and Stuart tanks. Some units were later disbanded as the threat waned, as the Australian workforce was very short of labour for war production due to the large numbers that had joined the army. I'm not saying any of this just to be contrary, and they were certainly not suitable for operations such as described in this clip at the time. It's just that very few of these units feature much at all in Australian military history (except 39 Battalion of course), which focus very much on the AIF; so few Australians have ever heard about them. 3rd and 5th Divisions in particular did a lot of effective work in New Guinea and New Britain, but rarely rate much of a mention. In contrast, US National Guard divisions (such as 32 Div - in New Guinea and beyond) get quite good coverage in equivalent US histories. My personal connection was that my father was a company commander with 30 Battalion, 8 Brigade; a militia unit whose activities included defence of Northern Sydney beaches, defence of WA around Geraldton, operations towards Saidor in New Guinea and the capture of Madang. They killed about 700 Japanese on operations plus found about as many bodies of others again (due disease and malnutrition), with very few combat losses to themselves, (though heaps from malaria and other jungle diseases).

[@tacitdionysus3220]

@Billy Bones Australian territory was invaded, but the mainland received only air and naval attack, and one ground reconnaissance. Japanese aims are clear in retrospect, but not to those there and then. Hence the barbed wire on beaches, new strategic roads, hundreds of airfield constructed, the Brisbane Line, etc. WA was considered a prime target, with its small and isolated population facilitating any easy to maintain lodgement, hence the concentration of militia and armour there in 42. From a historical aspect it’s a shame that General Sturdee destroyed his records. He accurately predicted the events of 41/42, was chief military advisor to Curtin, worked with Marshall in the USA and returned later to command 1st Aust army. No doubt could have provided some interesting insights. It’s not very different from the speculation about whether Germany had the capability to invade Britain, but it was certainly feared so at the time.

[@rocksandoil2241]

Japan soldiers should have faced execution for their actions. Stalin suggested executing everyone above the rank of Sargent. He may have been right.

[@thunderwarrior2459]

*Gets stabbed 11 times by a bayonet Crikey that’s it -Chad Aussie

[@hyokkorichin]

"It only actually hurt when he stabbed me in the mouth. The other 10 stabs were nothing really."

[@Swellington_]

It would be really hard to show an enemy,in this case the Japanese,any sort of mercy or any "leniency" when they turned it around and it was the Japanese in captivity,I imagine plenty of the allied troops would have been happy to put a bullet between their eyes, but as we know it didn't go down like that

[@GTgaming69]

It most definitely did “go down like that” on several occasions. You can read first hand accounts from US Marines talking about how they often took no prisoners, especially after some japanese soldiers would fake surrender only to pull a grenade at the last second. Obviously nothing close to the sheer scale & brutality of the Japanese, but to think it never happened would be naive

[@micko11154]

Don't fool yourself! Allied soldiers are human and humans take revenge. Many cases of it. Cheers!

[@roslynweidemann9487]

My grandfather fought with the 🇦🇺 army during WW11. I'd like 👍 to see 👀 more about Australian troops during WW11, as I'm a proud Australian. I think there's a little too much about the German's during WW11. I love ❤ your channel, Mark

[@MadMax-bq6pg]

The people who fought in WW2 were my parents generation. Any wonder I grew up being told I was supposed to hate the Japanese?

[@henriknilsson7851]

I am always amazed by the toughness of the Australians. This should all be remembered, for a similar fate would await them at the hands of the Chinese.

[@kingcarter9975]

What’s this about the Chinese?? When?

[@mathewkelly9968]

Australia basically gets no love for our efforts in ww1 and ww2 . Nice to see some coverage.

[@montecarlo1651]

Dr Felton, I have long and greatly admired your work, however in this video you have criticised the Australian Government and Army without providing the necessary context which would allow your viewers to form an accurate view of what happened both in New Britain and the other islands north of Australia in this period. That the entire professional military force of Australia was fighting in British theatres at this time is not noted in your video. Australia's navy and army were in the Middle East (except for the 8th Division which went to Singapore) and the bulk of Australian airforce personnel fought in Britain throughout the War. In other words, Australia was militarily naked at the time of these Japanese attacks, as it was fulfilling it's imperial obligations in other theatres. What is surprising about Australia's performance in this early period is best seen by the Kokoda and Milne Bay campaigns, where essentially militia forces inflicted the first defeats by a western country on Japanese land forces. There is a rich history in Britain's relationship with Australia during the War and one that would be great subject for your video format. I think many of your viewers would be greatly surprised should you choose to produce one on this subject.

[@Ewen6177]

Cheers Mark, now the weekend can truly begin. I salute you Sir and the content you provide us with. So cheers, from Speybay Scotland.

[@juliestevens5764]

Much respect 🙏 From the UK 🇬🇧

[@SupernormalParanatural]

Wasn't it Rommel who said, "Give me a division of Australians and I'll give you the world"?

[@CB-fz3li]

A lot of these quotes attributed to Rommel regarding (insert commonwealth nationality here) seem to be apocryphal, although that doesn't stop them getting repeated in KZbin comments on a regular basis.

[@craigbenn8671]

No. He did say 'those damned Australians' when it was actually a South African defensive position proving troublesome. But he probably did appreciate the Australians fighting qualities after the 9th divisions stand at Tobruk.

[@alec349227]

I can't get enough of your videos. Your truly the best history based person on KZbin. I was actually looking to get one of your books. Any recommendations on what to read first?

[@DaveSCameron]

JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH, JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH! 🎁🥂

[@tropicaussie4572]

I guess Australia in WW2 would have had a hell of a lot more soldiers to defend New Guinea if so many weren't volunteering and being sent to Europe and North Africa to fight for the Brits !

[@bashirmuhammad8181]

This audio is another classic! I never read much about this particular theatre even in the Staff Colleges. Now I'm better informed. Thanks to you Doc.

[@trj1442]

Another excellent episode. Thankyou from Australia. Gee war is hell. When are we ever going to learn.

[@peterterry398]

Only the dead have seen the end of war....PLATO

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Salute from 🇺🇸 to 🇦🇺

[@robman2095]

Ironic to have a pommie historian criticising initial lack of Australian forces defending places like Rabaul when the AIF were in north africa under british command and the British PM would not let them come back to defend australia, considering Australia expendable. When the AIF were finally returned to fight in png they and other Aussie and US forces kicked the Japanese ass in every major battle / campaign they fought against them in PNG and so gave the Japanese army a new experience of battle i.e. losing.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Except that, contrary to what you claim, all Australian divisions except 9th were returned to Australia promptly. 9th remained in North Africa until after 2nd Alamein. FDR had agreed with Curtin that 9th could stay in Africa on the understanding that US troops went to Australia instead.

[@nameunavailable1330]

Australia needs saving once again. 🇺🇸 🇦🇺

[@nameunavailable1330]

@cas curse No. think about the people who don’t know. Your human rights are being trampled and me reminding you of that is triggering. Maybe Australia has already fallen.

[@gavanwhatever8196]

Look to your own country ya muppet. We're fine.

[@elviramcintosh9878]

Painful to imagine what our Uncle Harold Collins went through. But thanks for re-telling this sad story.

[@mikestirling7093]

my grandfather was on the last plane out of Ambon and to his dying day he was 'exceptionally crooked' on the organisation that was non existent at Ambon and other 'defensive positions'. One story is that some prisoners were put into bamboo cages bayoneted and then thrown into the sea at Ambon to be eaten alive by sharks. I don't doubt the truth of this particular story. You should do a story on Vivian Bullwinkle sole survivor of 20 odd shipwreck survivors who where machine gunned in the ocean on I believe Banka Island

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Lord Russell included her and tens of thousands of others (non combatants) in his book, ‘The Knights of Bushido.’ It’s difficult to read, but that and other books on the Japanese atrocities need to be read. Horrific. Past horrific.

[@TankerBricks]

Mark. Thanks for providing my Saturday Night Entertainment!

[@andyjarman4958]

As a European, I think Mark's narrative commits the usual mistake of under appreciating just how sparsely populated Australia was. Despite their independence from the UK they were little more that a smattering of large colonial towns, thousands of miles apart, on a breathtakingly massive and hostile land of extreme climate and uncertain worth. To this day, Europeans and North American's fail to appreciate the isolation and the degree of self reliance demanded of Australians. Until the war, Australians viewed the UK as mother England. They had no citizenship of their own until 1947. To this day the popular myth is one of abandonment by the British, despite the UK itself being engaged in an existential struggle.

[@XxBloggs]

You’re committing the usual mistake of being completely ignorant. The UK refused to let the AIF in the Middle East come back to defend the country. Eventually Australia sent the men back anyway but not before the British tried to divert them to Burma. This was the incident that caused Australia to publicly separate its future from the UK and go with the US. Australias sparse population is irrelevant as it presented even more of a problem for the Japanese than Australia, as can be seen by the Japanese reluctance to invade Australia. The Japanese would have failed if they tried to occupy the south East of Australia. Stick to soufflé and Normandy if you don’t know your stuff.

[@skyislands8887]

In short Chirchills attitude from the boer war, ww1 through to ww2 was one of distain to any colonial force, seen as inferior, and only as good as how they could be used to serve Mother England. He was never afraid to voice this oppinion. Australian pm John Curtin stood his ground, putting australia first. The 2 men were poles apart, Churchill an upper class aristocrat with drivers, servants and a domineering belligerence, a great oritator, polariser ; equally devisive and galvanising. A brutish will against the brutal will of Hitler. Curtain, a very quiet achiever and simple man, living in his basic suburban family house, continually using public transport, troop trains, walkin, , humble enough to mix and sit beside ordinary people. Churchill may have understood what his nation needed in Europe, Curtain knew what every day people needed in Australia. World's apart as men and nations, figuratively and literally. Chirchill was never going to win the war in the Asia Pacific. Curtain did what was best for Australia, and US president Roservelt more closely aligned with the Asia pacific interests, where Chirchill was more Curtains adversary. When Menzies declared war, as monarchist, he sided with Britain, allowing British command of AIF troops, negating the post ww1 agreements on Australian, command, troop deployment ect. Certain rolled this back, repatriated what troops he could, but by then, the Japan was and empire. John Curtain (and his ministry) are the most understated and overlooked leader/s of the war era. His decisions provided the pivot that allowed allied forces the leading edge in future ww2 progression, influencing not only the pacific campain, but also allowing the US to support the European theater more effectively. These were tough times, with tougher decisions, but on the ground, fought by tougher men, in tougher situations who often paid the ultimate price. LEST WE FORGET

[@Eatherbreather]

Hi Dr. Felton. Thanks for covering this bleak episode of Australian history. Typically our (Australian) involvement in WWII and other conflicts isn't widely taught unfortunately.

[@cristianmicu]

as a canadian and human i bow to these aussie heroes defending australia

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Don’t be so obsequious it is embarrassing.

[@cameronnewton7053]

Australia made a catastrophic decision after ww1 to waken its army (partly due to pacifism and partly due to the great depression) this, combined with a low population of 7 million at the outbreak of war and our decision to send our best troops overseas for Britain led to terrible consequences. later the government panicked and gave full control of the Australian military to the Americans which hurt us even more. The troops in ww2 were excellent, their government and high command. Were not. To sum it up a quote form Peter Brunes excellent book those ragged bloody heroes: "By September 1939, the proverbial chickens incubated by two decades of politico-military ineptitude, were coming home to roost--and they looked ominously like vultures...."

[@davidberriman5903]

The two six inch guns in Rabaul were re-located there from Fort Wallace in Newcastle when it was re-armed with 9.2 inch guns. The range finder cams on them are labelled "Fort Stockton" which was Wallace's name before being re-named Fort Wallace.

[@roslynnorish3552]

My uncle was beheaded on Ambon he was with the Larhar garrison...he was with GULL FORCE. MacArthur failed to OK the rescue attempts.

[@importantname]

Tough choice.. fight or surrender. Die fighting or die after surrendering. As the war progressed Australians learnt to never surrender.

[@Sacrifice-Loyalty]

Has this mini example of Japanese brutality ever been taught in any "official" capacity or even known by 99% he Current Japaneses population. I am from Canada and we have historic issues with first nations peoples but at least we are making attempts to deal with it.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

As an Australian, I'd like to thank you for taking the time in putting this documentary together. Happy new year to all, and Long Live Western Culture.

[@alanmoffat4454]

THIS IS EVEN WORSE THAN THE AMERICANS GOT AT WAKE ISLAND THANKS Dr HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS 🎄 👍.

[@jamesbinns8528]

Even though I was not born until after the war, when I hear the bleeding hearts lament the nuclear bombs that were dropped on Japan, my hot anger rises.

[@gavanwhatever8196]

Well, killing that many people IS a terrible thing. That's what your 'bleeding hearts' are reacting to. So it is, on an immediate level, a decent moral response. However, given a fuller understanding of the context, the bombings are almost certainly the least appalling option available to the allies. If you start getting angry at people for their ignorance, you'll always be angry...

[@brucie-of-bangor528]

The Lark force garrison was assembled inn March 1941 under Prime Minister R G Menzies. John Curtin, considered by most Australia's best PM ever, took office in October 1941. which he held until his premature death in July 1945, aged 60, from heart failure. He was considered one of the greatest of wartime statesmen and was nominated as our greatest PM in a poll of academics in 2021. Menzies was known during the war as Pig Iron Bob, a reference to his sale of pig iron to Japan just before WW2. He was also a strong Anglophile and gave every indication of following Churchill's plan to abandon Australia to the Japanese and use the Australian military to support the British military in Europe.

[@YMC888]

Thanks for this video Mark! Wish you an early Merry Christmas with your family and friends!

[@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55]

Thank you for saying merry Christmas instead of happy holidays

[@WarStorieswithMarkFelton]

Same to you!

[@davesky538]

They were killed so they didn't have to be fed or guarded.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

The colonel committed suicide by starving himself, how ironic

[@MCOult]

Too bad it didn't take the SOB longer to die.

[@gavanwhatever8196]

Nobody can die of starvation in nine days. Dehydration maybe. Regardless, good riddance.

[@asterixdogmatix1073]

Most of the Rabaul POWs who initially survived captivity were then killed when the ship they were on while being shipped to prison camps in Japan was sunk by a US submarine.

[@GrahamWKidd]

Be warned. Some of the comments below are truly deranged ...

[@wanderer7755]

Its KZbin mate you just have to accept and move past the lunatics

[@curtismes]

The Japanese are the ones who need to hear this...lest they still think they are the victims...

[@jamesengland7461]

If only the many peoples facing Japanese invasion had known of the fate of the defeated and captured could they have steeled themselves to fight to the death rather than endure brutal slaughter, enslavement, torture and death? Could we?

[@thunderbird1921]

We'll never know. Similar logic could be applied to the Korean War. Who could have guessed that the North Koreans would slaughter a whole hospital, regularly kill POWs, or force teens to be slave soldiers? But if they DID fight to the death, perhaps they could have faced even WORSE attrocities. When you face cruelty beyond all human reason, there are no easy answers.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

Knowing what I know and being stuck in that position I would never have surrendered. Better to take your luck with the jungle.

[@markbringolf5908]

Between, the fall of Singapore, the loss of Lark, Gull & much of Sparrow Forces & HMAS Perth the start of 1942 was dark indeed.Their sacrifice was in vain just to appease British & Dutch requests. That lost division of troops could of been trained & equipped for jungle warfare & not been sacrificed for no gain. Perth could of participated in later battles. A horrible waste of our troops.

[@larrybarnes3920]

My Father, Jack Barnes, QX53779, fought in Papua, New Guinea, Morotai and New Britain. His war ended in 1947 when he came home after servong with the Commonwealth Occupation Forces. Thank you Mark for telling this story. Lest we forget.

[@colinpowis3600]

Is there any good biographies of those escapees ?

[@keithad6485]

Mark, perhaps do a video on an extremely saddening event with Aussie soldiers in WW2. In the Australian War Memorial, there is a room devoted entirely to the Borneo Sandakan Death March, where all Aussie/Brit POWs died during march, except for six Aussies who escaped into the jungle, and were able to tell the story. Approx 1,787 Australians and 641 British soldiers died between January and August 1945. A rescue plan was activated but appears not to have been followed through.

[@ducaticessna9386]

Thank you Mark Felton for your, matter of fact, reporting of these events. Two uncles were PoW , held by the Japanese during WW2. One was executed at Sandakan, too unwell to commence a march. The other survived forced labour on Blakan Mati but was traumatised by his experiences and even in old age, the scars of his beatings from the Japanese were clear to be seen. The facts of those times need to be preserved to aid remembrance and hopefully, in some way, prevent re-occurrence

[@blackburneflw]

Australia would have been better served if the 50,000 Australian army personnel in the Mediterranean and North Africa theatres had have been available for Australia’s defence. (6th, 7th & 9th Divisions) RAN & RAAF in other regions were also needed for the defence of Australia. This absurd loyalty to Britain when Japan was ‘colonising’ our region says it all except to reiterate that Churchill once again sacrificed ANZAC lives in the futile Greek campaign. Australia should be true to itself and disengage from AUKUS which will put it in a subservient position to two nuclear states whose only interest is in their own objectives.

[@jerryjeromehawkins1712]

Merry Christmas Dr Felton! 👍🏾

[@WarStorieswithMarkFelton]

Same to you!

[@DonDiesel85]

As an American I’ll always see the Australians as bros. Like when sh*z gets real & it goes down - The Aussies are there, getting our backs - ready to rock

[@fedecano7362]

It's always a pleasure listenning to you Mark!