Terror Behind the Japanese Lines: Australia's Z Special Unit Explained

[@williamm6764]

There is actually a plaque for Z force in refuge bay in New South Wales acknowledging their achievements and thanking them for their service.

[@bulkhammerii3419]

Also one in wa

[@TheBeard_And_TheBald]

Also one in Hervey Bay.

[@dalebridger750]

I read plague. Damn covid hahaha

[@marktuppen5526]

They also trained in Victoria at Wilson Promontory

[@blueycarlton]

@@marktuppen5526 There is also a monument and plaque at Tidal River where there was a training base.

[@nicholasfoong4575]

As a Sarawakian, we owe them a lot especially the liberation of Kuching (my hometown) we even have a memorial for them every year. Thank you Z Units.

[@James-kv6kb]

Wow that's very cool to know about the memorials they have similar things happening in Europe for the Australians but I didn't know about it happening in your country

[@nicholasfoong4575]

@@James-kv6kb exactly, the stories of these people are the sole reason why I join the service. Now I'm an active reservist in the territorial army.

[@James-kv6kb]

@@nicholasfoong4575 that's fantastic to hear. Always remember you don't have to be big and loud like the Americans just go in quietly and get the job done

[@nicholasfoong4575]

@@James-kv6kb aye mate, aye

[@James-kv6kb]

@@nicholasfoong4575 you sound like an Australian from the eastern states lol they're the ones that sound like the crocodile hunter 🤣 good luck with everything you do and if you ever need a hand I'm sure Australia will be there to help

[@Wanderingwalker-ke6mg]

Last words heard by the Japanese: “now THIS!,is a knife..”

[@morfiaanimation7936]

Lol

[@ogilvy85]

You mean a KNOIFE

[@aussieguy3689]

😂😂👌👍

[@keenl4057]

"That's not a knife.... that's a knife"

[@hurricanemac]

as a butter knife goes into the jar of vegemite

[@ceojw86]

I'm from North Borneo, Sabah, and I always remember my late father's message, which said "'if you go to Australia, don't forget to thank them immensely for the sacrifices they made to free us from the crazy Japanese soldiers.'" I did. that was when I was studying at RMIT. Again, thank you for your sacrifice Z Force, thank you so much and we will remember it forever more. Salute 🙋‍♂

[@James-kv6kb]

That was so nice to read your message we do try . Was just watching a video made by the Americans and according to them they single handedly rescued the world with no mention of the Australians lol

[@thecanticleofcrom4787]

My grand father was in Z force and brought home the gifts the people of Borneo gave to him. He loved Borneo and the people. Nice to see they are remembered, thank you.

[@kevinmoh3882]

Fellow Malaysian here, not just that. The Aussies have lent us a hand in almost any conflict fought near or at home. Remember the PKM? Yea I'm glad I ain't communist today.

[@crow0012]

My grandfather was in Borneo with the Australian 9th division 2/43rd batt They also fought in North Africa against Rommel's desert army Rommel called the Australians desert rats The Australian 9th division became the rats of Tobruk

[@slayerdeth0705]

Thanks for sharing that story with us mate. Australia and Borneo friends together for ever and ever.

[@jamesmacken89]

My Great Uncle was part of Special Z Force. Our family did not find out until his passing where members of the military informed us all of his military service at his funeral. Crazy to think that not even his wife knew and he took it to the grave. Wish I could have spoken to him about it. RIP.

[@pkzy852]

My great uncle was also apart of it. I’m sorry for your loss.

[@robertbutcher3885]

Military secrets become no longer secret with the passage of time. I had sign such an agreement upon my release from US Army as a member of the ASA I handled top secret and cripto docs routinely. But after several years my knowledge of military secrets become obsolete so I had no trouble discussing with my friends since I knew the army at that point had better things to do.(I had also become an Attorney)

[@SimonPaterson-b5c]

@@pkzy852 My cousin was also.

[@justy6420]

Australian armed forces videos have been popping up all over KZbin lately, keep it up because we love your content

[@vrtosag9472]

Because Australian SF'es have committed war crimes in Afghanistan a while ago, killing civillians on purpose and destroy villages.

[@toad3222]

@@vrtosag9472 were you there??

[@mrroberts7828]

@@toad3222 He's right, a platoon of our special forces, specifically the SASR, recently was found to have committed war crimes. However he shows that he's a propagandist by exaggerating the scenario. They weren't civilians, but captured enemy combatants, and they didn't destroy a village. What they did was awful, and I reckon as a country we have to own up to it, but we also can't let dickheads like the prick above you to control the narrative.

[@benjaminprince6424]

@@mrroberts7828 fucking oath bobby

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

@@mrroberts7828 I am Aussie, and I do hate to say this, but there were a couple of civilians killed. But as you say, they were very few the whole scheme of things. Americans were much worse in Iraq.

[@johntom_fnq]

Also the whole Timor campaign is amazing. A handful of Aussie guerillas, aided by Timorese locals, holding up a whole shitload of Japanese forces from being able to be deployed elsewhere. Shame how our gov then supported the Indonesian invasion of Timor some years later that resulted in the deaths of 100,000 innocent civilians :(

[@johntom_fnq]

@@azzthund1500 definitely a dark chapter of our history thats been swept under the carpet. I know far less about it then i should!

[@YouTube_user3333]

Indonesia needs to leave Timor and west papua. Australian government needs to grow some balls

[@Ligmab0llz69]

After indonesia left, timor turned into another sh**hole, jokes on them!

[@YouTube_user3333]

@@Ligmab0llz69 They are still in Timor, aren’t they? West Timor is still part of Indonesia?

[@azusavalerian8306]

@@KZbin_user3333 not anymore, ask Google

[@jimhowes2983]

Hmm so grandpa's "back in my day we walked 5 miles to school" really meant "we paddled 100 miles to blow up Japanese shipping"....

[@EBOWSAGOE-BIRIKORANG]

Guwees so

[@ronaldhee6608]

Yes, I've heard of Force Z. Thanks for this video. As a Singaporean, I am familiar with the severe reprisals meted out on the civilian population as a result of the raid. I am familiar also with the Force Z memorial at Kranji War Cemetery, we I have had the honor of paying respects on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Sunday.

[@ausdrifter05]

Awesome to see someone shine a light on these heroes. Jack Tredrea MM is my grandfather and I was luck enough to travel to Borneo with him in 2017 ( he was 97) . As pa used to say its just a pity it didn't happen sooner when more were alive to see it.

[@dalemoss4684]

I first heard of Z when my dad gave me a book called "blood on Borneo" by Jack Wong Sue. Sue was an Australian born Chinese and patriotic Aussie. So when his background and appearance caused people to suspect him as a spy, he joined up straight away, And became a spy- for Australia!

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

I went to school with his Son, and he had a Diving School here in WA.

[@okm88]

@@BatMan-xr8gg and dive shop I believe too. And later years did tours on 'ghost wreaks'

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

@@okm88 Correct, he was a good man as I did meet him a couple of times when he picked his son up from school. Cheers

[@stevenobrien557]

The historian Lynette Silver ripped apart a bunch of his claims.

[@sueneilson896]

Jack Sue was a local legend when I was a kid in the 60s.

[@windsorSJ]

I'm 64 and I live in the UK. When I was a teenager there was an Australian TV series called Spyforce. It focused on a special unit in the Australian army and it starred that great Aussie actor Jack Thompson. My memory is cloudy now but it sounds like maybe it was based on this Special Unit. It was on late at night and me and my mates would role in after a night on the beer and we'd all watch Spyforce while sinking more beer. Great times.

[@charanimations9801]

Sounds fun thank you for your insight.

[@kristinehayes4885]

It was totally fictional.

[@babuzzard6470]

Yes, it was based on Z force.

[@madscience1221]

"YOU'VE CALLED ME ENGLISH FOR THE LAST TIME, AKIHIRO!"

[@walnut6684]

Marmite

[@JonathanToolonie]

@@walnut6684 Dad might not.

[@walnut6684]

@@JonathanToolonie marmite

[@travisreed1730]

"what?" (Death noises)

[@SamO-ik2cm]

@@walnut6684 dad might not

[@maxcrowe3900]

I think anyone lucky, tough and smart enough to survive such service would have no trouble keeping their yap shut. Thanks to all of them.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

Yes and no, it tortured them until they day they died. (That's not meaning to say they didn't have happy and meaningful civilian lives, but the ghost of the past were always there).

[@ParabellumAK47]

As a “Yank” and a student of history, I’ve always felt Australia NEVER gets enough credit for their contributions during wartime. Their commitment to their allies, particularly the U.S.A is unrivaled. They are a formidable and first-rate fighting force, especially the Commando’s, who I feel rank among the best in the world. Pick a war in the last century and there’s a good chance we were fighting it together.

[@coval5694]

Since we had federated in 1901 we have fought in every war that America was apart with massive success 80% of the time

[@rupert5390]

We love ya that’s why, you’ve got our backs against you know who that hates our guts.

[@ForeverBennett]

We owe the USA a great deal for their help in WW2 and we've remained loyal ever since.

[@MoonKnightH8]

@Robert Simpson yea the Americans played a big part in it. But a lot of people forget about the army reservists on the Kokoda trail. They were ill equipped, ill trained and were called “chocolate soldiers” because others thought they would melt under pressure. But these men held back the Japanese in Papa New Guinea, stopping them from invading northern Australia

[@jeffreyflynn2805]

My stepfather was Australian army and fought alongside the American green berets in Vietnam he was given an American citation and medal and made an honorary member of the green berets for some act of bravery he would never talk about

[@hodaka1000]

I've met a few of them, I wouldn't be here without them My father was one of the six survivors of the Sandakan Ranua Death March and was recovered from the jungle near Ranau in central North Borneo by "Z" Special Operatives We also had a family friend a Dutchman who was also a member of "Z" Force My father would sometimes march with his "Z" Force mates on ANZAC Day in Sydney

[@jeffreycurtis9075]

A few years ago, my father was invited to Borneo, along with 9 other vets, by the sultan of Brunei to visit. All I know is that this had something to do with the Sandikan death marches. Now at 96, and in good health, he still don't speak about it. God bless you dad.

[@hodaka1000]

@@jeffreycurtis9075 Good on you

[@stevenobrien557]

What was your father's name? This sounds like bullshit.

[@consciousbeing1188]

@@stevenobrien557 - Why should the OP give out private information just because YOU think it's bullshit??... Seriously, mate.. this is social media not a Royal Commission.

[@javarnable]

You’re father sounds like a man to be proud of mate.

[@adamsteele8768]

Jack Sue was also a member of Z Force and he developed quite a name post war in Perth as THE guy to see when it came to diving, he also released a couple books notably Blood on Borneo describing some of their exploits. there is also a jetty dedicated to them in town and a few of their boats have been preserved in the museum here

[@stevenobrien557]

Turned out he made a lot of stuff up.

[@lightningfun6486]

@@stevenobrien557 turned out you do know shit

[@mochiisntbad6762]

@@stevenobrien557 like which one

[@step1drag1dwnunda]

@@stevenobrien557 I would say the word, embellish would be better. per Lynette Silver info on Sandakan

[@stevenobrien557]

@@step1drag1dwnunda who cares what you would say? I care what a respected historian says. She says he was a liar.

[@OzMate79]

My grandfather fought the Japanese in Borneo and he bought back home a Dyak headhunting sword, it was a ceremony sword that actually took heads, my dad still has it to this day

[@jeffrichards1537]

He said it best no matter your training all you need to know is you have to think of a way to survive. And you do it.

[@jdh992]

Aussie's have always been highly respected in war. Brave and tough as hell

[@ryanfrazer390]

Us and the kiwies were the best in WW1 and WW2 even the Americans said so as America was just throwing people at them and supplies while Britain was best at spys and intell

[@iexist1300]

We are tough although the emus are tougher.

[@tyrusbates2880]

@@iexist1300 emus have just been australia longer

[@Wile_E._Wolf]

@@tyrusbates2880 didn't help the natives...

[@millennium677]

@Harry Christie the emus war wasn;t a war

[@reubenmccall9978]

When he says "Pulled another Townsville" he meant buy a big bag of ice

[@eyesofstatic9641]

Merry Christmas everyone!

[@TheFront]

Merry Chrysler!

[@trekkienzl2862]

Merry Buick

[@jleeblackmon5340]

Merry Mercedes, && a Happy Hyundai

[@greenkoopa]

@@TheFront Merry Christmas from Chryslus Corp

[@MrLrebelo1]

@@jleeblackmon5340 Happy Yukon

[@kidsyx]

I live in the Northern Territory. We still have war memorabilia scattered everywhere. Trucks rusting in the bush and old anti air turrets on the beaches. They never really cleaned it up. Just left it where it was after the war. You get the sense of a fairly massive war effort on Aussie soil. So when people say we were this 👌 close to being invaded. They're not wrong. Our grandfathers did an absolutely great job protecting this great land of green and gold. Lest we forget ❤

[@seferinorino6951]

My wife’s great uncle was shot down over Netherlands and rescued by locals. He never spoke much to his family about the war. I wouldn’t be surprised these guys never were too open about their experiences.

[@shcomptech]

The movies Attack Force Z and The Highest Honour and the mini series' Heroes and Heroes 2 The Return are based on operations by this unit.

[@jacka1472]

@Koca Yüarakli Adam 27 Amazon Prime

[@aaronleverton4221]

Attack Force Z is fiction from end to end. Fun, but no more real than The Guns of Navarone.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

@@aaronleverton4221 True, the original vets had some say in Heroes, so it's not too far off the mark.

[@tj323i]

Ah yes, famous "Singnapore"

[@excal22]

singahpour

[@dashingdave2665]

3:45

[@Watergrovey]

The unit was so covert, it operated in secret unknown countries!

[@redacted9912]

@@Phil_X Tasmania actually

[@Ye4rZero]

Known for their odd war cry "OICARNT" which is incomprehensible to anyone other than fellow Australians.

[@mikehunt7419]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@garryfrater7536]

My Dad was a commando in Borno during the last few months of the war. Thank you for sheding more light on his time in the army.

[@ahhlucas]

Tbh I wish the front was my history teacher

[@TheFront]

Awww, thanks!

[@alexiscambridge8679]

@@TheFront Same first dislike btw

[@ahhlucas]

@@TheFront no problem ;)

[@constellation1986]

@@alexiscambridge8679 Your dislike won’t change anything bud

[@z0orb]

@@alexiscambridge8679 send this man to the eastern front.

[@64philsy]

I met Jack Sue Wong from the z force in kalamunda WA he signed his book to me amazing spirit. Love the moment in his company

[@ROB-tg5ec]

Finally someone knows about these boys. Lest we forget

[@rogerdavies6226]

@@BeeugsHistory lest we forget

[@charanimations9801]

@@rogerdavies6226lest we forget

[@alexwarburton5083]

My grandfather was in Special Z Force, they have a plaque in the gardens surrounding the war memorial in Canberra….I don’t remember how old I was…. Best guess 12 years old, my grandfather took us to a memorial on a ferry to Refuge Bay and onto a ceremony of the Krait at the national maritime museum……. I truly didn’t appreciate the significance at the time… but on reflection, I appreciate the hell my grandfather must have gone through…. He never spoke of his experiences. I later learned he was a coast watcher behind enemy lines in PNG.

[@thomassugg5621]

Happy Christmas everyone from the U.K.

[@ShadeOps45]

Merry Christmas from the U.S.A

[@TheFront]

Merry Christmas from Australia!

[@travisreed1730]

And a Happy New Year, too!

[@lifehack4110]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKnLpnWCbtd5sKc

[@mannymarin7317]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@jeffreypurcell4681]

The Z commando also helped trained the US Alamo Scouts.

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

Really? That is so interesting, will have to check it out. Thanks for the info. Cheers

[@ankec7567]

Merry Christmas from Serbia 🎄🇷🇸

[@reeeeeeeeeeeeeeman6757]

Merry Christmas from Australia

[@ankec7567]

@@reeeeeeeeeeeeeeman6757 tek you meit

[@Länsi-Virginia]

Merry Christmas from the United states

[@reeeeeeeeeeeeeeman6757]

@@ankec7567 kiitos

[@sdjj4009]

My next door neighbours husband was one of the men dropped into Borneo and trained the head hunters, just before my neighbour passed she gifted me 2 carved wooden head hunter trophy’s that were given to her husband. Really cool to see this story in a KZbin video, thanks

[@outdoors5352]

Interestingly, the MV Krait still exists in Sydney.

[@DanWahrenberger]

Also the remains of the training base on Fraser Island is still there if you know where to look. You'll need you own 4WD's to get there though.

[@slickstrings]

I walked past the krait twice a day for months. Every time i looked at it in awe. Knowing its story.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

Hehe, I had the fortune of sailing on the Krait as a youngen :)

[@Zed483]

I had the honour of doing restoration work to the Krait in the 80's and my love and interest for everything about Z Special Unit began. Special people from a generation we will never experience again.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

@@Zed483 Looking around at the comments on this video, I think they are well remembered. I just wish I had downloaded and archived more of the websites with the thoughts that the original crew had posted up here and there. Nearly all of them are gone now. I couldn't even find any image of the original green double diamond.

[@aapex1]

This and BRAVED are the 2 best HISTORY channels I've ever seen. THANKS!!!!!

[@coiledsteel8344]

Originally ALL Sworn to Secrecy, was why they couldn't make movie until AFTER 1980. Movie, ATTACK FORCE Z (1981-82) with a Very Fit and young, Mel Gibson (who did his own stunts) also with Sam Neil.

[@greenkoopa]

You said Sam Neill but my mind pictured Sam Elliot 🤠

[@xyforme8790]

Thank you I believe this is the movie I’ve been always looking for As I remember seeing it when I was a kid

[@kevinmchale6965]

that movie was terrible though lol

[@xyforme8790]

Wasn’t the movie, although i haven’t seen it, I did think it was a good old school movie there was a movie I remember a scene where they were in a swamp/jungle surrounded by Japanese in a canoe or getting out of the canoe and end up committing suicide so they wouldn’t be shot captured by the Japanese I do not know this name of this movie and I’ve tried to find for a long time

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@xyforme8790 You're probably thinking of Heroes II: the Return, which was a miniseries about Operation Rimau, the follow-up to Operation Jaywick. Operation Jaywick was a real operation in WW2 using canoes to penetrate Singapore Roads and attach mines to Japanese ships. The two miniseries aren't great, but unlike Attack Force Z, they have the advantage of not being fiction from beginning to end. And that comment about sworn to secrecy preventing film being made is garbage. The book that The Heroes and Heroes II is based on was published in 1960. The reason films weren't made is budget and market. Australia is a big country with a small population and war films are expensive.

[@CMIKAEL1172]

Learned about this unit from the movie “Attack Force Z”. I initially watched the movie as a kid. Older now, I love studying various special units. Good videos.

[@stevencrawford]

Old Jack who went to the same church I used to go to as a kid was a Z force guy. I remember his tattoo on his arm and seeing him in church and always wondering.

[@Gungho1a]

The Krait spent years moored in Broken Bay at Gosford before being bought and moved to Sydney. The old girl should have been taken to the war memorial in canberra.

[@willyvanloon1440]

Yes i here of Z force I am dutch To bad that that i dont see much of it here Greetings from the Netherlands👍😀

[@ianfarr-wharton1000]

Don't worry, your in Australian history books Netherlands with Z force and other things you did in Borneo. It's the US and UK that always forgets the Netherlands, Australian's, new Zealand's in there history books. eg they forgot about us in D day landings, not one word in there history books.

[@THXn11]

@@ianfarr-wharton1000 ask any yank about the ANZACs at the battle of Long Tan in Nam and I bet you 99.999% if them wouldn't have a clue what you're talking about. Hell, they probably don't even know we were there in country with 'em :/

[@matttuffy8933]

My grandfather was in the Z special force. Trained on Fraser and was a paratrooper behind enemy lines. He never revealed anything about his time in the war, but it tortured him all his life until he died in his early 60s. He would dream of Japanese soldiers chasing him down and beheading him, so I imagine he saw some nasty stuff. I really wish I knew his stories just so his heroic stories would have lived on, making us Aussies know just what they had to go through to keep our freedoms. Was a hero!

[@Wooargh]

My grandfather was a Major in Z Special Unit. I can't tell you much because he died in the early 70's before I was born. PTSD probably contributed to him dying relatively young, although I heard he never complained about anything, and would spend hours quietly gardening by himself as a way of dealing with it. I understand he had something to do with the planning for the Krait mission. I also heard he was apparently dumped on islands in the Pacific by himself for months at a time so he could observe and report on Japanese shipping movements. If any Japanese ever decided to land on his island his only options would be to either try to hide or shoot himself. Sad I never got a chance to meet him.

[@shieldfaith1]

@ Wooargh Even though he was not a commando, that is a parallel with my paternal grandfather who was also in the Pacific Theater. He was combat support but it says something when he was awarded 4 Bronze Stars. He barely ever talked about his war experiences and died when I was 4 years old (now 46). One story I was told does instill in me gratitude towards Australia. After being rescued when the troop ship he was on was sunk by Japanese sub, he was sent to Brisbane for recovery.

[@danielhunter2670]

It's GREAT to hear about a spec op decades later...not in the news or a book a week after... TRULY quiet professionals!

[@auscam6666]

Great doco done a few years ago on one of the Z/SRD missions called "Known unto God" and anything you can find on the OBO missions is a good read, especially Roland Griffiths-Marsh MM who joined the 2nd AIF at the tender age of 15 & fought in Nth Africa and Greece/Crete.

[@Eskay1206]

My Father was from "Z Force" no one knew not even my mother, He never spoke of it to ANYONE. We only found out when a military representative turned up at his funeral and informed us. My friend is a Dr at the Vets hospital, a patient there was part of Z force and knew my Dad, he said he had to do "the wet work" lived with my Dad my whole life and never knew. It does explain quite a bit though. He was not a man to be messed with

[@bruceherbert2414]

My father had a similar story. Served in RAN but told 2 of my older brothers he was involved with Z Force. Never shared with anyone else including my mother. Had strange stories of training in WA and going to Burma & getting very sick. Carried a Burmese one pound note in his wallet till he died. Only clue we have is a full blank year on his Navy service record based in WA. We were told by others that unit records were destroyed at the end of the war to protect against scrutiny later. Definitely the secrecy oath worked. Love to know more but don’t know where to start.

[@Eskay1206]

@@bruceherbert2414 Mine was in the RAN as well on N class destroyers

[@bruceherbert2414]

@@Eskay1206 Intriguing - was he ever based in Fremantle? That’s where my Dad spent a year from March 44 to Feb 45. Before that on Fairmile Motor Launches and after on HMAS Toowoomba (Corvette)

[@Eskay1206]

@@bruceherbert2414 Im not sure I know he went to HMS Cerberus in Vic and Fraser Island for training, He was on The HMS Nepal for a while

[@bruceherbert2414]

@@Eskay1206 I’ve done a fair bit of research on my father’s service. If you’re comfortable to give me his name I could see if there was any overlap. Service records are publicly available so not difficult. My Dad spent time at Cerberus also before going to Fremantle. First time I’ve found another RAN connection. Of course no problem if you don’t want to share...

[@emelyarye2641]

my grandad was one of these. god bless

[@Andrew-df1dr]

The Heros is a 1989 miniseries covering Opperation Jaywick, the successful 1943 raid on Singapore. The sequel: The Heros 2, covers the disasterous raid on Japanese shippingin 1945.

[@fiasco348]

I remember seeing an article covering the resistance groups working in the South West Pacific against the Japanese, there was at least 13 groups, they had little to no communication with each other and some of the Warlord factions would shoot each other on site. I think Force Z said they could trust about 2 of the groups.

[@jamesdillon9069]

Great video. I only knew of Operation Jaywick and Operation Rimau before seeing this video, so found it really informative. My great aunt married an Operation Z force member who was unfortunately ultimately captured and killed by Japanese forces in Operation Rimau.

[@akramgimmini8165]

Imagine a Sword Fight between a Japanese Officer with a Katana and a Aussie with a Machete ... Epic

[@boykayak001]

When an American observer witnessed a battle between Japanese and English soldiers who charged with bayonets he described it "like a medieval battle"

[@GrahameGould]

Ha! Katana? That's not a knife. This machete is a knife! (Seriously though. I'd give the edge to the katana, especially if operated by a trained user.)

[@akramgimmini8165]

@@GrahameGould would still be an interesting fight

[@GrahameGould]

@@akramgimmini8165 indeed. As an Australian, I hope he figures out a way to win. But a well made katana wielded by an expert would destroy a machete.

[@akramgimmini8165]

@@GrahameGould yes but still nice, Mate

[@the_black_douglas9041]

Great vid, keep them coming. My great uncle Lt D.S.Hicks NX53090, was an officer in the 2/5 Independent Company Cavalry (Commando) Squadron, among the first Commando units formed when independently operating atypical warfare was a new idea and some of the Australian brass were sceptical about how effective they would be. They 2/5 had embarrassingly spectacular success at the Salamaua raid of 1942 in Papua New Guinea. 100 enemy taken out for only 2 injured 2/5 men, plus destroyed communications equipment and captured battle plans. This achievement is barely known about. You have to dig for info. My great uncle David was a funny, clever and kind man, much beloved by my family. He was a young new barrister and Army reservist before the war and did his duty and enlisted to fight when the time came. He returned from the war with malnutrition and Malaria, and no doubt some mental scars. The thought he had to endure such horrific things troubles me and also that he never spoke about it to any of my relatives.

[@DeanandLisa1803]

My late G-Dad was in Z Force. He was from a farming background so could apply himself to many different situations. Poor bugger shot himself soon after coming back from the war 🥺

[@stevenobrien557]

@@mewoozy2 lol what bullshit

[@peterlovett5841]

There is a book just about to be published called "Semut: the untold story of a Secret Australian Operation in Borneo" by Christine Helliwell. She is an anthropologist who was studying the Dayak people when they began telling her stories of their links with Australian troops in WW2. This led to her tracking down the remaining survivors in Australia and telling their story. I listened to an interview with her and some of the stories are incredible.

[@N.I.R.A.T.I.A.S.]

3:43 *SINGNAPORE*

[@davidbonnell6601]

Great video mate. Very well researched

[@CailenCambeul]

There's been two mainstream media stories put out: First and early 80's movie, Attack Force Z with Mel Gibson, and later, a miniseries about the Krait with Jason Donovan.

[@stephenle-surf9893]

Always thought the silenced machine guns they used were to good to be true, then I saw one on KZbin and they really are that quiet! Amazing weapons for amazing men!

[@jojoanggono3229]

A long while ago, I read about Z Unit operation in Singapore. It was the book "Rimau", which means Tiger in Malay. I could never forget their heroic story.

[@allangibson2408]

You missed the Z special forces training base on Wilson’s Promontory in Victoria, Australia (the Australian Commando units also trained there).

[@Eskay1206]

HMS Cerberus, My Father started his training there

[@axle.australian.patriot]

They trained in many locations across Australia :)

[@kingy463]

Thanks I was asking for this video and it’s amazing

[@TeaMatty]

Jack Tredrea was my grandfather’s brother, it’s pronounced “Tred-ray” :)

[@warrenmilford1329]

Did you ever meet him, and if so, were you able to ask him anything about Z-Force?

[@jayssonjefferson946]

I wanna know

[@TeaMatty]

@@warrenmilford1329 His brother Leonard (my granddad) was an ambulance driver in the army posted to Borneo as well. He died in 1979 the year before my birth so I never met him or Jack. Would have loved to hear those stories though. The closest I got was seeing one of the native Bornean machetes hanging above the fireplace as a kid, it was adorned with feathers and tribal designs. My uncle has it now.

[@warrenmilford1329]

@@TeaMatty Thanks for the reply mate. It's a shame you couldn't have met or spoken to either of them, but then again they might not have wanted to relive those memories. By coincidence one of my grandfathers was an ambulance driver too, but in WW1 in France. He passed away when I was a baby, while my other grandfather was in the Light Horse in WW1 and the RAAF in WW2. He was around in my early childhood, but would never want to talk about his experiences when I would ask him about it. Would love to have heard about it though, as you said. That machete sounds good. I wonder if it took any Japanese heads.

[@robertkaslow3720]

They had a movie on the Zed about 40 years ago, pretty good flick.

[@ArlynHartley1]

It was rubbish - and that's the response from my father AK181 who was an AIB/SRD Operative and a Timor 1942 veteran of the 2/2 Independent Company.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

Heroes was about the only 2 that were closer to the reality as it was guided by the vets, but even then large parts were redacted due to defense sensitivities.

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

I had an Uncle who fought in Borneo... He would never speak of anything he did there. The only thing he confessed was his total hatred of the Japanese. A hatred he held firm to the end of his life. He found solace in alcohol and virtually drank himself to death.

[@stuart8663]

Between the Z-Force, the Coast-Watchers and the Code Breakers working out of Townsville and Brisbane, there are a stack of great stories to be revealed.

[@axle.australian.patriot]

It's interesting that a great deal of info was up on the internet for some time.. In recent years most of it has disappeared.

[@jackrichards4302]

As the son of a special forces vet and also great grandson of also what I’d say is the ww2 version of a commandos This was really nice and well constructed

[@markrowland1366]

Before this, twenty odd Australian soldiers hid from the Japanese on Timore island, holding down some forty thousand. Concocted a radio to tell what they were doing. Later named Sparrow Force.

[@iangrantham8300]

Not quite Mark, roughly 1,200 Australians in all winding down to 600 after the others were evactuated holding off over 10,000 front line japanese troops..still it was a good fight the odds were about even.

[@jeffreyflynn2805]

I have visited their old training base on the west coast of Fraser Island, camped on the attack training site at Jeffries beach on woody island and been aboard the old ship the Krait that took them to Singapore she was mired in the Southport Broadwater in the 80s

[@Alex_goat-fn]

Merry ChrisTmas, Australia and New Zealand are just awesome 🇦🇺 🇳🇿

[@AussieMaleTuber]

I was a student, and then registered nurse at Concord Hospital throughout the 1980's. I already new about Z Special Forces and their major operations. I nursed a Z Forces officer that I spoke with at length over a number of days. He had a Z Force officer friend who visited twice during thar time and they were generous in their engagement. I do not remember a lot of detail, but the quality of their personalities was striking. My patient I do recall telling me, had a long career as an executive with Shell Oil after his de-mob (until his retirement).

[@martynmurray8927]

Love hearing about erlay special forces from ww2 respect from Scotland

[@margaretscharf1682]

My RAAF Dad serviced the Liberators for the Borneo missions, based in Leyburn QLD. He never told us about his assignment all his post-war life. He suffered from dementia later in life so when he could finally talk about, sadly, he couldn't. It wasn't until recently that I saw on his War records that he was in Leyburn, and so started the research journey. He died in 1998. Thanks for the info on the Z Force.

[@kingsman6074]

My grandfather was the doctor to the Z forces but he couldn’t tell anyone what he did until 50 years after the war .

[@stevenobrien557]

Lol what a load of shit

[@DavidJones-pv8zu]

The black & white photo on the left from 2:10 - 2:18 is known as "The House on the Hill" in Cairns, Far North Queensland. Originally built & named "Fairview" by Cairns's first Mayor, William Smith; the grandfather of renowned aviator Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith. Dad (b.1932 & still alive) remembers it being a "no-go" area for the local kids but rumours abounded as they trained in the Barron River and conducted training exercises in the Cairns area where they WERE noticed by the locals. (All very "hush-hush".) A very popular nightclub from the 70's, (I had my 18th birthday there), it was destroyed by fire in the 1990's.

[@zonkponk8562]

I really appreciate you making this video especially because of the whole Australia China thing

[@axle.australian.patriot]

You will note the cross hairs on CN in my profile pic ;)

[@sjay67]

I can only admire that sort of bravery and selflessness.

[@RivynPlays]

last thing you hear before an aussie commando kills you, is the Vegemite Song additionally, the story of the Light Horse Brigade is a great one, unless you've already covered it on here

[@axle.australian.patriot]

Last thing the Japanese solder heard before X was his own breath. Z Special, silent but deadly.

[@docw1819]

There are so many amazing memories which should not be forgotten. Zed force, a small group, really did some amazing and courageous operations. Lest We Forget

[@paulcool4384]

There was a war movie with a young Mel Gibson about the Z forces.

[@crow0012]

Attack force Z

[@csbkota]

And there was a tv show too about them, I remember the kayaks.

[@buttsniffa7469]

It was called Braveheart I believe

[@noneck3099]

@@buttsniffa7469 lol

[@jamesholbrook3648]

I scrolled the comments specifically to see if anyone else knew of that movie.

[@jazzadz6885]

My Grandfather was part of this unit, a badge of honour amongst the survivors even after 50 years not to tell their stories. We know some and there was a reunion we attended in Queensland with the remaining members in 2019 where most of us relatives heard some of their exploits for the first time, with one of the main stories (Which my Grandfather didn’t take part in as he was in new guinie) that Z special forces rescued a young JFK when his boat was torpedoed by the Japanese.

[@stevenobrien557]

Get your bullshit straight, wasn't Zforce that rescued jfk and yeah the had an interstate reunion for a bunch of 100 year olds

[@TreeBarkSide]

Merry Christmas!

[@TheFront]

Merry Christmas!

[@TreeBarkSide]

@@TheFront Being honest, I would have expected you to do something more “Christmasy.” Keep up the great work!

[@N0M0RENAME]

A good video, definitely deserving of a comment. Have never heard of Z Special Unit before.

[@Ryan-lx6oh]

What an epic story and I have never herd of them, somebody has to make the movie based on Z squad.

[@TheAussief1]

Quite sure there is.

[@jacka1472]

@Ryan look up 'Attack force Z'

[@covenantor663]

There was a mini-series made on the attacks on Singapore - can’t remember the name though.

[@OldFellaDave]

There were two TV series in the 90's - Heroes (about the first attack on Singapore called Operation Jaywick) and Heroes 2 (about the second attack called Operation Rimau). There was also a Bryan Brown movie called 'The Highest Honour' which dealt with the War Crimes committed by the Japanese on those poor Z Force blokes they captured during Operation Rimau. The story is told at the War Crimes trial and is told in a series of flashbacks what happened to them.

[@visi7754]

Awesome plus Informative and Intriguing! Cheers

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

I always imagined the Z unit being a pack of hungry crocodiles in New Guinea

[@davidcleary9510]

Seriously, you need to read the story of the Battle of Ramree Island. Go, Google it now.

[@paddymccarthy6212]

As an aside to Z Force, how about a mention of the coast watchers. Cheers

[@mattallen2801]

I do have a relative who was in the Z special unit, I'll have to track down his name one day

[@Horatio411]

Nice work. My Dad was part of a British SAS force in the Malayan Emergency. He is still on the official secrets act and still wakes up screaming sometimes in the middle of the night. he is now 86 and the 'Jungle Ghosts' are impossible to find info on as, officially, they never existed.

[@auscam6666]

It wasn't because they "swore an oath" they were under the DEFENCE ACT 1903 which had them keep their silence for over 35 years.

[@stevenobrien557]

Lol what a load shit

[@auscam6666]

@@stevenobrien557 correct, these guys could not say anything about any missions of training for 40 years

[@stevenobrien557]

@@auscam6666 other than the fact that they were all talking to the author Ronald McKie in the 1950s, great point!

[@axle.australian.patriot]

I Back you with what you said.. ~30 years. Even then few spoke out in public.

[@greg49908]

I have visited the Z-force training camp site 2 times, and was actually on Frazer island yesterday. So watched your video, and I didn't know about the other Z operatives covert operations. My Grandfather served in the islands as an Australian engineer, I have his actual photos. He told me stories, very interesting, but none about death. Awesome video, thanks. 👍 Liked and subscribed.

[@paulflorence8459]

There’s a book ... ‘Silent feet’ that lists and summarises all ZSU activities

[@crackiechan4432]

Double Diamonds is another good one if you are interested

[@lychan2366]

British General Archibald Wavell's disparaging report about Australian soldiers' behaviour and performance during the Malayan campaign, has not negated Australians' contributions to the overall allied effort in other theatres of war such as the Middle East and the South Pacific. Thank you for your sacrifices in defending freedom against tyranny and oppression. We will never forget you. Rest in peace.

[@johntom_fnq]

Yo you should dedicate a whole vid to the Aussie Owen gun. Its whole conception and prototyping by a random 21 year old kid is awesome considering it ended up beating out the Thompson and other widely used semi automatics

[@allangibson2408]

The Owen was full auto - and the commando versions were silenced.

[@johntom_fnq]

@@allangibson2408 even better

[@covenantor663]

Forgotten Weapons has a video on the Owen gun and another on the F1 sub-machine gun - it’s successor.

[@wufongtanwufong5579]

It's a miracle some kiwi isn't in here trying to take credit for the Owen gun.

[@moy_moy85]

I think this is what you're looking for: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZCWcqJ6m5x2m6c&ab_channel=ForgottenWeapons

[@Shilo-fc3xm]

The Krait still operates every day as the Ferry between Church Point and Scottland Island on Pittwater on Sydney's Northern Beaches as it has since the end of the war. I grew up in the 70s catching it to the school bus on the mainland.

[@indianajones4321]

Merry Christmas

[@TheFront]

Same to you!

[@mrobins1974]

My grandfather was a member of Z special. Really enjoyed this video. 👌

[@gustajuy5983]

Everybody gangster till the trees start speaking vegemite.

[@hazchemel]

About a mile from my family's house rose a rather abrupt and singular hill from the surrounding coastal, verging on estuarine, cane fields, Cairns, far north Queensland. A big beautiful Queenslander house stood on the hilltop and I heard from my father's and grandfather's generations that it was an intelligence/commando unit headquarters. Perhaps this was connected to Z. Amazing beautiful photos btw and appreciate the solid research;)

[@AnnieOliveri]

Yes, House on the Hill burnt down. I visited it in the 80s. There is a memorial on The Esplanade in Cairns. They also trained on K'Gari (Frazer Island)

[@hazchemel]

@@AnnieOliveri right, thanks for that. yes it burnt down unfortunately. my sisters frequented the place in it's nightclub identity.

[@admiralradish]

Aussies and Americans have always been good at guerrilla tactics.

[@TheFront]

Yup! It simply has to do with geography and history!

[@chiapets2594]

Americans learned it from the Native Americans during the times of the revolutionary war actually before that where George Washington learned it fighting the French

[@sithlordjeffbledsoe651]

@@chiapets2594 the French and Indian war and way before about the time of Roanoke. The scotts were good at it to the highlands way.

[@papaversomniferum2365]

So were Polish. In AK (Armia Krajowa) they even had a half native american Sat Okh and this guy was amazing. He could go into the river brearhing through a straw (obviously AK had no diving suits) to put explosives on a brigde, then blow it up and simply vanish leaving no trace at all using techniques that that his tribe taught him. And this is just one of many actions that Sat Okh did against germans.

[@mileskerr5649]

Well nam didn’t help