CANADIAN ARMY
OPERATIVES
ASSIGNED TO SRD DURING WWII
During WWII a number
of Canadian Army operatives of Chinese descent were selected
by the Service Reconnaissance Department SRD for two
operations in SE Asia.
SEMUT III
The following Canadian Army
operatives of Chinese descent were part of the Semut III party
along with Chinese civilian Gee Teck Hin. The area of
operation of Semut III was the Rejang River basin, in the
third division of Sarawak.
The Canadian Army personnel were as follows:-
Capt R.K. Cheng
VCK69286 Sgt Shiu J.
VCK69908 Sgt Chan R.S.T.
K 49895 Sgt Low N.M.
K 50207 Sgt King L.
There were 36 "Z Special
Unit, 4 British Army and the above 5 Canadian Army personnel
in Semut III party.
The objectives of Semut
III was:-
to collect
intelligence data on the Japanese movements and
dispositions;
to organise the
medical care and rehabilitation of the natives and food
supplies in the area;
Maj Sochon (the Party
Leader who had served in the Sarawak Constabulary prior to
the war) was to reform the Sarawak Rangers, recruiting old
hands and any persons who wished to serve.
It was also considered
necessary to control the river as far west as Kanowit before
operation Hippo could commence the penetration of the Kuching
area based on Semut III.
On 11 Aug 1945, Capt.
Cheng, Lt. McCallum, Sgts Shiu, King, Low, Chan,
Philpot and Cpls Foster and Heron were inserted by Catalina at
Kapit as the nucleus for operation Hippo.
OBLIVION
Oblivion
Project was conceived by Major F.W. Kendall of the Canadian
Army. He had recruited and trained the party in Canada and was
to become its Party Leader.
The objectives of Oblivion were:-
to introduce a trained
Special Operations party into the immediate area of Hong
Kong;
to make contact with
Chinese Communist guerilla elements;
to initiate and
encourage subversive activity primarily in the Hong Kong
area and later in any suitable area of the China Coast from
Hainan to Swatow;
and to have in the
Hong Kong area a British sponsored party available for any
duties immediately after the liberation of the Colony.
The
operation was to be primarily the responsibility of Force 136
but was to be mounted, despatched and maintained by SRD. Force
136 was the far eastern branch of the British Intelligence
Organisation Special Operations Executive SOE.
Major Kendall and his original party, which
consisted of thirteen Chinese Canadians reached Australia at
the end of Nov 44. All stores, which included a great deal of
special equipment, scarce drugs, and specially prepared gold,
were packed and ready by the middle of Dec 44. Major D.R.
Holmes and Sgt Vincent Young (both of Force 136) were added to
the party on account of their special knowledge of the target
area and of Communist elements in that area. Major Holmes had
previously served in Hong Kong as an officer of the Colonial
Administrative Service.
By Dec 44, the party was ready to go into the
field. The two outstanding requirements were
orders from London and
from Force 136 that the operation should proceed, and
provision of submarine
transport.
These two considerations were closely connected
with each other. SWPA could probably have provided submarine
transport, but might well have objected to the whole operation
on political grounds. Therefore, although the target area was
not within South East Asia Command SEAC, it was proposed if
possible to insert the party by Eastern Fleet submarine
transport.
During Jan 45 it became clear that all operations
in the China theatre were subject to the approval of General
Albert Wedemeyer (US Army) who had recently been appointed
Theatre Commander. London discussed Oblivion with General
Wedemeyer who pointed out that since all operations to China
Coast would be carried out by China Command with its own
resources including aircraft, it would be appalling waste to
attempt to land a party on the China Coast by long-range
submarine haul from Australia. London's remarks on this were:
"This seems unanswerable and Oblivion must be regarded as
cancelled".
It seemed likely that General Wedemeyer's
attitude in the matter was influenced by high level political
considerations. At this stage the discussion was carried on in
a series of personal telegrams and letters between Australia,
London and India. All possible ways of launching Oblivion
despite the difficulties mentioned above were discussed, and
political issues at the highest level were involved. It became
clear that General Wedemeyer was not prepared to approve any
operation that would be unacceptable to Generalissimo Chiang
Kai Shek, and that the Generalissimo would not countenance any
operation involving contact with the Chinese Communist party.
On 25 April 1945 a signal was received from Force
136 as follows: "It has now been decided in London that
H.M.G. is not prepared to press for British controlled
paramilitary operations in China. In view of this, no chance
of getting Wedemeyer agree to British operations in China as
such would have Communist connections".
During the above protracted negotiations,
Oblivion party was held in Australia awaiting a final
decision. Training and briefing continued over the whole
period and every effort was made to maintain the party's
morale. On receipt of the above signal from SEAC Headquarters
in Kandy in Ceylon all training and preparation ceased, and
arrangements were put in hand for disposal of the party and
its stores.
The party leader of Oblivion was Major Kendall,
Canadian Army. His second in command was Major Holmes, British
Army. Others in the party, all Canadian Chinese were:-
Capt Cheng
Sgt Shiu J.
Sgt Low N.
Sgt Lowe R.
Sgt Bong J.K.
Sgt Chan R.S.T.
Sgt Chow E.
Sgt Jong D.
Sgt King L.
Sgt Lock G.T.
Sgt Wong H.A.
Sgt Wong N.D.
Sgt Wong W.L.
Sgt Young V.
