Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Letter from 2/19 Battalion A.I.F. Association – 29 Oct 1982
to Col’s father Winifred John Taylor enquiring about his brother (Massey) Edward Taylor’s death as
there was no grave allocate..

Dear Mr Taylor,
Your letter of 15 Sept addressed to Bert Donaldson of Temora in reference to your brother “Massey” has been forwarded to me for attention. I apologise for the belated reply but have been checking all of the B Coy chaps who were with the good lad and I report as follows;

1. Massey was always solid reliable with considerable inititive and more than most did show out with distinction in the fighting at the Battle of the MUAR? 18-23 Jan 1942.

2. During the final stage, 2 ambulances went forward to the parit Sulan bridge to try and prevail upon the Japs to allow the free passage of vehicles laden with seriously wounded but they refused and kept the two vehicles on the approach to the bridge. They held the Bridge and we could not break through the Jap defence. During the night, two of our chaps of B Coy. Lieut Dick Austin and Massey Taylor crept forward to the ambulances and released the brakes allowing the vehicles to row backwards to the bottom of the slope, started the motors, turned the vehicles and brought them back inside our perimeter, this done at considerable risk to themselves and a very brave action.

3. On the Singapore Island B Company caught the full force of the 5 Battalion Japanese landing on our front. Massey was with Lieut BUDERUS as his runner as BUDERUS was a new reinforcement officer who had never seen action but was deemed advisable to put a senior infantry with him in section and platoon tactics. Massey apparently carried out a ….? until the platoon was over-run and overwhelmed. Only 3 chaps survived out 30 and those who were last would not have known anything of the wounds sustained, for the whole position was criss-crossed with extensive machine gun fire from the Japs. It was quick at least. After the cesation of hostilities, our own chaps were taken back to the positions and the bodies were transferred to Changi Cemetery & then Kranji.
I am sorry I cannot be more precise in this report, for time dims memory in many cases and there are not too many of the chaps still around, but the few I have managaed to contact have given me a very clear picture of happenings on B/Coy., front on the night of the Japanese landing.
When I say the position was overrun and our chaps were overwhelmed, it must be borne in mind that the Japs were pouring 3500 troops onto a Company of 150 strong and reloading of light automatics & the heavy machine gun magazines & belts became physically impossible, apart from the breaks to put another clip of 5 into the rifles. So the chaps had no chance and the only consolation is that the end was speedy and no pain or lingering on.
I hope I have not been too morbid in my comments, but you can rest assured that all was merciful for young Massey in his demise.
Thank you for putting up with me in my comments & this report.
Sincerely
Reg Newton