SPECIAL OPERATIONS, AUSTRALIAN SECTION
OPERATED UNDER THE COVER NAME OF
INTER-ALLIED SERVICES DEPARTMENT (ISD)
SECTION "A" OF ALLIED INTELLIGENCE BUREAU
REPLACED BY SPECIAL OPERATIONS AUSTRALIA (SOA)
OPERATED UNDER THE COVER NAME OF
SERVICES RECONNAISSANCE DEPARTMENT (SRD)

In 1939 Special Operations Executive SOE was established in the United Kingdom to:- 

• to hinder the enemy's regimentation of conquered nations by promoting disaffection, passive resistance, active revolt, and guerilla warfare among the peoples of the occupied countries;
• to hamper the enemy's war production by sabotage, propaganda and other subversive activities in enemy and enemy occupied countries;
• to deny the enemy access to outside resources by anti-Axis and pro-Allied activities of a similar, but less drastic nature in neutral countries

In the UK, SOE was controlled by the War Cabinet through the Minister of Economic Warfare, and not by the War Office. This ensured a greater measure of security and more freedom of action.

In 1942 an organisation similar to SOE was set up in Australia. The Special Operations SO tasks which were envisaged included:-

• harassing enemy lines of communication;
• attacking enemy shipping and small craft in harbours and rivers;
• organising resistance by local inhabitants;
• establishing secret communications;
• disseminating anti-Axis propaganda;
• sabotage;
• subversion;
• and all forms of fifth column activity.

In March 1942 the Prime Minister of Australia, the Right Honourable John Curtin, gave his approval for the establishment of a bureau for the purpose of:-

• undertaking espionage in enemy-occupied territory,
• the dissemination of propaganda amongst the native races of occupied territories and
• the issue to the enemy of misleading information.

In October 1941, SOE ordered Captain A. Trappes-Lomax to proceed from Singapore to Australia in view of the likelihood of war with Japan and the possibility of extensive initial Japanese successes. However, as Captain Trappes-Lomax was at this time commanding the Service Component of SOE Far East Mission, it was not possible for him to leave Malaya until after Singapore Island was captured by the Japanese when it was decided to withdraw all compromised SOE personnel from the island. After working in Java, Captain Trappes-Lomax arrived in Perth on 11 March 1942 and since his orders to remain in Australia were still standing, he was at once called to Australian GHQ, Melbourne by the Chief of the General Staff CGS.

On 17 March 1942 Major G.E. Mott arrived in Australia from Java after the occupation of that country by the Japanese. He had been head of SOE in Java. Since he was a member of the Civil Component of SOE Far East Mission he, too, was retained in Australia and being the senior to Trappes-Lomax became the principal adviser to the Director of Military Operations, Colonel Hopkins, on Special Operations SO matters.

Mott and Trappes-Lomax were given a small office in Victoria Barracks, in Melbourne, and they worked directly with the Director of Military Operations DMO and were also in close contact with the Director of Naval Intelligence DNI, Commander Rupert Long. The DMO knew very little about SO activities, but the DNI was aware of Major Mott's work in the Far East having met him in Singapore.

Cdr Long, continued to show an interest in SO activities. He and Maj Mott were working to set up an SO organisation under civil cover, to be backed by the Prime Minister. In the meantime, however the DMO asked that a memorandum on SO possibilities based on Australia be submitted to the CGS for consideration by War Cabinet. Mott did not have any direct contact with the CGS, Lt-Gen Vernon Sturdee, until the middle of April 1942.

On 7 April 1942 Mott conferred with Generals Blamey and Sturdee. General Thomas Blamey stated that the formation of an SO organisation was imperative and should be set up immediately under the operational control of the C-in-C SWPA.

Major Mott prepared an outline of the proposed SO organisation and a preliminary budget which showed a provisional estimated expenditure of £100,000 for 12 months. These were submitted to General Blamey who, after conferring with the Prime Minister, submitted them to the Supreme Commander, SWPA, General Douglas MacArthur. The scheme was approved by General MacArthur on 17 April 1942, whereupon Mott was instructed by General Blamey to set up the HQ of the organisation immediately, and to act on behalf of the General Staff in contacting the Dutch authorities. Mott was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and he understood that the C-in-C would eventually appoint a senior Staff Officer to control the organisation. General MacArthur had issued no general directive, and no arrangements had been made at that time to provide the necessary funds.

On 26 April 1942 General Blamey advised the War Office that:-

• General MacArthur had agreed to the establishment of an SO organisation in Australia under his own direct control;
• it was in the process of formation in conjunction with the US and NEI forces;
• the financial provisions were being considered by the governments concerned;
• Lt-Col Mott had been instructed to set up the Organisation which, for security reasons was to be known as ISD – Inter-allied Services Department;
• the existence of the organisation was to be known only to the Prime Minister, and the High Command.

• set up and temporarily to control the proposed organisation;
• apply for funds and to arrange the necessary financial control;
• engage civil staff;
• make recommendations for service commissions;
• apply for qualified Service Officers;
• purchase stores, equipment and transport;
• arrange for the training of operatives,
• use the AMF jungle training establishment at Foster;
• arrange accommodation for the organisation; and
• arrange for staff or assistance from Allied Forces, RAN and RAAF.

It was not until 17 May 1942 that Lt-Col Mott was able to get suitable office accommodation. Until then he and Maj Trappes-Lomax worked together in the small room in Victoria Barracks. At this stage no funds had been provided but London had permitted Mott to use the SO funds that he had brought from Java, and had it not been for this, he would have been unable to purchase office furniture or to pay salaries and out-of- pocket expenses.

At the end of May 42 it was agreed that each of the participating Governments should subscribe £15,000 as an initial payment towards ISD. This was computed on the basis of £45,000 for six months. The section dealing with propaganda had been dropped, as neither the Australian nor the US authorities were at that time enthusiastic about subversive propaganda. Apart from this, the estimated budget of £100,000, for twelve months prepared by Mott had been accepted. At the beginning of June 1942, the Netherlands authorities paid £15,000 and the Australian government made a taken payment of £2,000 pending the definite payment of £15,000 which had been approved by the Prime Minister.

On 17 May 42, two months after arriving in Australia, Lt-Col Mott started ISD in its own premises at “Airlie”, at 260 Domain Road, South Yarra, Melbourne. The staff then consisted of:-

Lt-Col Egerton Mott, Director
Major A.E.B. Trappes-Lomax, Training and Stores
Lt-Cdr J.J. Quere, NEI Section
Captain J. Jansen, NEI Section (Wireless Telegraphy and Communications NEI) 
Major S.S. Caporn, Administration and Personnel
Captain J.K. McCarthy, New Guinea and Islands Sections 
Captain J.L. Chipper, New Guinea and Islands Section
3 Secretaries

Before the end of May, Headquarters staff had been extended to include the following members:-

Major A.R. Harvey, Stores and Equipment
Lieutenant L.G. McGowan, RNVR, Finance Director 
Lieutenant H.W. Traynor, RANVR, Intelligence Section
Major A.G. Oldham, Deputy Director 
Major M.S. Israel, Communications Officer
Mr H.B. Manderson, Timor Section

By June 1942, ISD was established on a proper basis, and planning for special operations began to get underway. Early in June 1942, ISD communications within Australia were set up. This system consisted of

• a Beam Station at Craigieburn, outside Melbourne, run by the Dutch;
• a station at Cairns (later became ZES Cairns), for dealing with New Guinea and the Islands to the north-east, (a joint venture with SIS but manned by ISD personnel);
• a station manned with Dutch personnel at Darwin for dealing with the NEI.

Planning of operations in New Guinea, Timor, and the Aroe Islands and Java began and personnel suitable for these operations were brought into the unit.

Training of operatives presented a difficult problem. The arrangements made with The Director of Military Training DMT for use of the Guerilla Warfare School at Foster were not satisfactory for several reasons:-

• Security was difficult to police;
• there were no holding arrangements for operatives waiting for the regular course to start;
• and the climatic conditions at Foster were a danger to men who had returned from long service in tropics.

It was thus considered necessary to establish a separate school, and with General Blamey's consent a new camp under the cover name of Z Experimental Station (ZES) was set up at Cairns, in North Queensland.

Most of the personnel for ISD were being recruited from the three Australian services, but mainly from the AMF and the question of posting military personnel and arranging military cover for civilians was at first a big problem. This was overcome by the creation by the CGS in June 1942 of a special unit, known as ‘Z Special Unit’ which was duly added to the Order of Battle. This unit had no War Establishment and no War Equipment Table. It had a ‘carte blanche’ authority to draw from Ordnance, and as it was controlled, run, and paid by ISD, it held a unique position in the Australian Army. Its formation increased security, and was of great assistance in stabilising ISD’s stores arrangements with the maximum of security.

On 6 July 1942 the Allied Intelligence Bureau AIB was established to:-

• obtain and report information on the enemy in the SWPA outside of Australia
• where possible weaken the enemy by sabotage and destruction of morale
• aid local efforts against the enemy in occupied territories.

Colonel C. G. Roberts was appointed Controller, and Maj Allison W. Ind, US Army, Deputy Controller.

AIB comprised:-

·              Section A  - Special Operations, Australian Section (Inter-allied Services Department ISD)

·              Section B - Secret Intelligence Service, Australian Section SIS - Later known as Secret Intelligence Australia SIA

·              Section C - Combined Field Intelligence Section

·              Section D - Military Propaganda Section (later known as the Far Eastern Liaison Office FELO)

It was not understood by the Director of ISD that the transfer of ISD to Section A of AIB would alter the status of ISD. Colonel Merle-Smith, G2 GHQ commented on more than one occasion that the original ISD no longer existed. AIB now called it "Special Operations, Australian Section".

In September 1942, it was clear that Brig-General C.A. Willoughby, Col Merle-Smith and AIB had a different view to Lt-Col Mott as to the role of ISD which AIB now called "Special Operations, Australian Section"..

With the ongoing friction with GHQ and AIB and issues with financing, Mott was relieved of his position in February 1943 and ISD was liquidated. Mott returned to London.

When Lt-Col Mott was relieved of his position, Admiral Coster informed GHQ SWPA that the NEI authorities had been entirely satisfied with ISD as originally constituted.

Lt-Col Chapman-Walker who had come to Australia to advise on Special Operations SO, entered into negotiations in an endeavour to preserve SO in Australia, and was able to establish a new organisation with the secret name of SOA (Special Operations Australia). This organisation was to be responsible to the C-in-C Allied Land Forces, General Blamey. It was established for the dual purpose of operating outside the Southwest Pacific Area SWPA in co-operation with SOE (UK) and of advising and assisting GHQ in operations within the SWPA. General Blamey arranged with SOE that Lt-Col Chapman- Walker remain in Australia in charge of SOA.

AIB training schools and facilities were made available to SOA in connection with operations, whether these operations were to take place in the SWPA or not. Facilities of AIB's Lugger Maintenance Section at Darwin were made available to SOA. Additional expenses in connection with operations outside the SWPA were borne by SOA. Space was made available in Australia for an SOA School if desired. The approval of the appropriate theatre commander was to be obtained and submitted to GHQ prior to the operation of SOA in any adjacent theatres of war.

No SOA activities in the SWPA were to be undertaken without the prior approval of GHQ, supplemented by the concurrence of Allied Land Forces in the North East Area, and, for activities in the Netherlands East Indies by the NEI government.

The selection of personnel for activities in the SWPA, and the plan of operation were to be approved by the Chief of the appropriate regional section of AIB. These were Col Spoor, Comd NEFIS, for NEI and Capt McManus, RAN, SIO NEA, for the NEA.

All information and reports received from SOA parties operating in the SWPA were to be transmitted immediately to GHQ through the appropriate regional section of AIB. Transmission of these reports to SOE London was to be subject to the approval of GHQ. Direct communication with SOE in technical matters was permitted, but communication with SOE regarding SOA operations in the SWPA were to be submitted to GHQ for perusal before dispatch.

The channel of communications between SOA and GHQ was to be Col Roberts, the Controller of AIB. Lt- Col Chapman-Walker, in addition to his duties as Director SOA, was to be placed on the staff of the Controller AIB as adviser on SO matters in the SWPA.

In May 43, by arrangements with the Chief of General Staff, SOA was given the overt cover title of SRD - Services Reconnaissance Department. This was done because of the similarity of the initials SOA to SOE, the affiliated secret organisation in London whose security was likely to be compromised. The initials SOA, it was decided, were most secret, and should be used only on the highest levels, and when the cover description SRD would be inappropriate.

It was intended under the new arrangements, that Z Special Unit be retained by AIB for administrative convenience, SOA making use of its facilities if desired. However it was subsequently decided that this unit be transferred to SRD, and that a similar holding unit - M Special Unit - be created for AIB.

Col Chapman-Walker established a small Brisbane office to maintain permanent contact with GHQ SWPA and SIO NE Area who was maintaining a number of parties in the Islands, and with FELO, the propaganda organisation.

ISD had been a section of AIB, and as such, Australian personnel for Z Special Unit were obtained through AIB channels. SOA, however, was not a section of AIB, and application for personnel was always made to the CGS, or at his request to the BGS or DSD.

HQ SRD was set up as follows:-

• Director SRD - Col Chapman-Walker (DU)
• Deputy Director (V/DU) - Maj Oldham.
• Adviser on technical matters, special stores and training - Maj C.V. Holland (see Note below)

Note:-  Major Holland’s duties were temporarily carried out by Major P.H. Moneypenny of the Royal Engineers, until Major Holland, who was Australian Exchange Officer to SOE, returned from London.

Beneath them, the following subsections operated:-

• Reproductions and the Timor Section - Mr. Manderson.
• Communications and W/T Assembly, Signal Training, Cypher Staff and Registry. -Major Israel (D/Sigs)
• Intelligence Officer - Lt W. D. Wilson RANVR.
• Brisbane Office  - Maj H.A. Campbell of the King's Own Scottish Borderers
• Intelligence Officer at the AIB Training School at Cairns (later directed the Intelligence Section - Captain R.O.D. Noone
• Finance and Administration - Lt-Cdr McGowan
• Stores - Major A.R. Harvey
• Malayan Section  - Captain I.S. Wylie, assisted by Major F.I. Tremlett.

Various Directorates were established from December 1943. Further reorganisations occurred from January 1944 onwards.

SRD took over “Harbury” at 39 Acland Street, South Yarra as its Melbourne Headquarters. Subsequently a store and office accommodation was obtained at the Engineers Depot, Batman Avenue, where the Stores, Medical, Technical, Finance and Administration Sections were housed.

In July 1944, SRD and FELO, while remaining separate entities began to work in close collaboration and where possible combined their field activities.

Col P.J.E. Chapman-Walker's duties were the overall direction of SRD, and discussions with highly-placed government officials and Allied Service Chiefs. He submitted reports periodically to London, to War Cabinet, and to the C-in-C AMF concerning SRD activities. He was continually advised by London of aspects of higher strategy. He kept in touch with details of Allied forward planning in the Pacific, and planned for SRD accordingly. He paid periodic visits to SRD establishments in Australia, to SO India, to SOE London, holding together the concept of Special Operations as a world-wide organisation.

In November 1944, a re-distribution of all the Operational Sections was necessary. The Operational Sections of SRD were reconstituted into Area Groups, to operate as self-controlled units in their allotted areas subject to general direction from SRD HQ and to the provision of supplies and services from SRD Rear HQ:-

·              Group A covered the Northern Celebes, Macassar Strait, Borneo, China Seas (excluding Malaya), French Indo-China, and the China Coast. OC was Maj Courtney.

·              Group B covered the Moluccas, and Celebes.

·              Group C was the SRD NEA Component already operating at Lae as part of a Special Force under Cdr McManus, RAN, of AIB.

·              Group D was established at Darwin on 25 Dec 44 with Maj S. Bingham in charge.

·              Group E was planned to control operations in Siam, Malaya and Sumatra.

The role of SRD in early 1945 became entirely para-military and almost the whole existing effort was turned in support of 1 Aust Corps operations in Borneo.

Since these operations were within the SWPA, the operational control by AIB became increasingly effective and troubles similar to those experienced by Lt-Col Mott were being experienced by Col Chapman-Walker. The fact that HQ SRD was accommodated in the AIB camp at Morotai made a clash of personalities difficult to avoid and eventually the climax was reached when in early July 1945, at the request of Brig K.A. Wills who had become controller AIB, General Blamey ordered Col Chapman-Walker to hand over his command at Adv HQ SRD to Lt-Col H.A. Campbell and to return to Rear HQ SRD Melbourne to await a final decision as to the future. This handover occurred at 1200 hours on 21 Jul 45.

On 24, 25, 26 Jul 45 a conference was held between Brig Taylor, Brig Wills, Lt-Col Campbell, Lt-Col Champion and Lt-Col Locke, at which the whole question of the scope of SRD activities was debated. It was agreed to abandon all targets or areas which had become strategically unimportant and to concentrate the whole strength of the organisation in two groups as follows:-

·              Group A - China Seas, British North Borneo, Sarawak;

·              Group B - Dutch Borneo, Western coast of Celebes, Java.

SUMMARY OF KEY EVENTS FOR ISD/SOA/SRD

Below are the various Headquarters and administrative locations, training establishments, Camps and bases, Forward Operational bases, and Communications locations used by ISD and SRD:-

ISD/SRD Headquarters and Administrative Locations

ISD/SRD Training Establishments

Z Experimental Stations Cairns or ZES Cairns

Fraser Commando School FCS, Fraser Island, QLD

School of Eastern Interpreters SEI, Melbourne

Careening Bay Camp CBC, Garden Island, near Perth, WA

Camps 6 & 8, Mount Martha Research Station MMRS, near Melbourne, VIC (Technical Research & Training)

Advanced Training Camp, Morotai

Advanced Training Camp, Darwin, NT

Camp Z, Refuge Bay, NSW (Training Camp for Operation Jaywick)

Additional Australian Army training establishments used by SRD

Guerilla Warfare School, Tidal River, VIC (near Foster)

Parachute Training Unit, Richmond, NSW

School of Military Engineering, Liverpool, NSW

Signals Training Centre, Bonegilla, VIC

ISD/SRD Camps and Bases

Careening Bay Camp CBC, Garden Island, WA

Healy Road Camp, Fremantle, WA

Naval Base Camp, Fremantle, WA (also HQs for SRD Western Base)

Lugger Maintenance Section LMS, near Darwin, NT (Operatedby AIB)

Peak Hill, near LMS, NT

Urangan Staging Camp, Hervey Bay, QLD (Staging Camp for FCS)

Leyburn - 2 camp areas near Leyburn Airfield, QLD

Forward Operational Bases

Communications

Craigieburn Beam Station, VIC

Cairns Wireless Station (established by ISD, then became site for ZES)

SRD PROVISIONAL WAR COMPLEMENT

1    Commander
1    Lieutenant Commander
2    Lieutenant Commanders or Lieutenants
45  Lieutenants or Sub. Lieutenants
1    Chief Petty Officer
2    Chief Petty Officers or Petty Officers
26  Petty Officers (Mostly N.A.P. Mates)
19  Leading Seamen
84  Able Seamen or Ordinary Seamen
4    Telegraphists
37  Motor Mechanics (Include 2 Senior M.M.'s)
2    Leading Stokers
26  Stokers
2    Shipwrights
1    Leading Writer
2    Cook (s)

255  Total

MELBOURNE HEADQUARTERS

1    Commander        Department of the Navy
1    Lieutenant or Sub. Lieutenant    Assistant Staff Officer
1    Lieutenant or Sub' Lieutenant    N.I.O.
1    Leading Writer

4  Total

S.R.D. CAMP AT FRASER COMMANDO SCHOOL

1    Lieutenant or Sub. Lieutenant
1    Chief Petty Officer
1    Shipwright

3   Total

NAVAL OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, HORNBILL

1    Lieutenant

FREMANTLE BASE

1    Lieutenant Commander
1    Shipwright
1    Motor Mechanic
1    Leading Seaman

4  Total

DARWIN BASE

1    Lieutenant

The Naval Section of SRD was established in January 1944. Initially, the Naval Section had only two vessels:-

Krait - 70 foot, 68 gross tons Japanese fishing vessel originally called Kofuku Maru.

Alatna - 62 foot Australian Army launch used as a tender

History of ISD/SOA/SRD - Operations Volume 2
Detailed history of the Operations listed below

ISD/SOA/SRD OPERATIONS

Timor - Lesser Sundas - Java

Mackerel
Tiger I
Tiger II
Tiger III
Tiger IV
Tiger V
Tiger VI
Lion
Flounder
Ambon -23 A2
210 Avoe Is (Walnut)
Walnut 1
Walnut 2
Walnut 3
Lizard I
Lizard II
Lizard III
Portolizard
Lagarto
Cobra
Adder
Mugger
Hornet
Bat
Apache
Wasp
Gnat
Flea
Louse
Sounder
Sunfish
Sunable
Sunbaker
Suncharlie
Starling - Sundog
Sundog Raid
Blackfish
Blackbird
Sunlag
Lagartout
Brim
Pigeon
Suncob
Cobrexit
Salmon
Carp
Cod
Starfish
Binatang
Anchovy
Groper
Demo

New Guinea

Cockroach
Beetle
Ladybird
Spider
Wasp
Tick
Bug
Locust
Whiting (21A-Hollandia)
Scorpion
Mosstroops
Menzies
Perch
Reaper
Silver (Oak)
Gold (Oregon)
Copper (Ash)
Vokeo
Crayfish
Falcon
Phoenix I
Phoenix II
Roc
Dodo
Moa
Lennons
Socrates
Flathead
 

Borneo

Python - Phase II
Python - Phase II
Agas I
Agas II
Agas III
Agas IV
Agas V
Semut I
Semut II
Semut III
Semut IV
Squirrel
Stallion - Phase I
Stallion - Phase II
Stallion - Phase III
Stallion - Phase IV
Stallion Phase V (Gelding)
Stallion - Phase VI (Mare)
Stallion - Phase VII
Stallion - Phase VII (Filly, Colt & Foal)
Platypus I (Robin)
Platypus II
Platypus III
Platypus IV
Platypus V
Platypus VI
Platypus VII
Platypus VIII
Platypus IX
Platypus X
Platyous XI
Platypus XII
Toad
Vulture 

Celebes and Moluccas

Giraffe I
Giraffe II
Giraffe III
Crane I
Crane II
Shrill
Magpie I
Magpie II
Magpie III
Raven
Garfish
Opossum
Swallow
Swift
Finch I
Finch II
Finch III
Finch IV

China Sea and Malaya

Jaywick
Rimau
Politician - Optician
Gunard
Crocodile
Carpenter I
Carpenter II
Carpenter III
Carpenter IV
Period
Oblivion

In December 2002, the one surviving member of the SRD Directorate was Sir John Holland, who post WWII formed John Holland Constructions.

NOTE:- Richard J. Aldrich in his book titled "Britain's Secret Intelligence Service in Asia during the Second World War" on page 192 states "Similarly SOE went by the local name of 'Force 136' in this part of the world, while the MI9 escape organisation chose the name 'E Group'". A search of the NAA files show a number of digitised files when you search for "Force 136". A close look at one of the files on page 17 shows that Force 136 Headquarters was at Kandy (Ceylon) on 18 July 1945 and discusses stores drops to parties in Malaya. So it would appear that SOE (the Brits) operating under the cover name Force 136 were co-operating with SOA (the Aussies). Another one of the Force 136 files has a number of photos including one of the men training at Fraser Island.

Operation Hornbill

REFERENCES

"Silent Feet - The History of "Z" Special Operations 1942 - 1945"
by G.B. Courtney, MBE, MC

"The Story of the Krait - Tigers & Snakes"

"Britain's Secret Intelligence Service in Asia during the Second World War"
by Richard J. Aldrich

"Special Operations Australia being the History of Inter-Allied Services Department and Services Reconnaissance Department", NAA file

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Graham McKenzie-Smith for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 7 August 2001

This page last updated 18 September 2026