Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

After his discharge Arn returned to Gympie and became involved in sport again. He had always been interested in sport having started playing cricket when he was nine; three years later he scored the first century for the Traveston primary school competition under 14s. Over the years high scores littered the score books – 101 not out, 209 not out, 164, 171, 191 and a magnificent 229 on 10 October 1948 (the first double century scored in Mt Isa). As well as being an outstanding player he also held many executive positions associated with cricket, rugby league, vigaro, basketball and bowls. He also enjoyed tennis and hockey.

Leaving Gympie he went to work with Mt Isa mines. Later he worked on the Snowy River Scheme and thought about going to Canada. Instead he decided to go to Tasmania where he worked for Utah Australia Ltd on the construction of a mile long tunnel at Wayatinah, an important link in the State hydro system. He then returned to Mt Isa.

By 1994 he was visually impaired with glaucoma which necessitated his retirement from sporting activities. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2001 which seemed to have been successfully removed but returned again in 2004. Just as he had fought for survival during his six years' war service Arn fought to overcome his illness. Finally, he lost the battle. He has gone from this earth but we will always remember him with love.

Thank you for your service Uncle Arn. Lest we forget.

~ Written by Bruce Burkhardt, April 2020.

QX9690 Cpl Arnold Lisle Francis
2/11 Aust Fd Coy RAE

Born on 4 May 1915 at Bangalow, NSW.
Enlisted on 21 June 1940 at Kelvin Grove, Qld.
Discharged 18 January 1946 Brisbane Qld.
Died 2 December 2004.

Arn came from a large family - three brothers and five sisters - farming at Traveston, 20 minutes or so south of Gympie, Qld. It was a sad day for them when he enlisted in the Army in June 1940. He trained in Infantry but became part of 2/11 Field Company RAE when volunteers were called for. By March 1941 he was in the Northern Territory with D Sub-Section where he spent the next nine months. He returned home on leave on 10 November 1941 intending to spend a couple of days with his family before heading to Liverpool, NSW for a special course. However he was recalled to Darwin on 19 December when Japan joined the war. His unit had already left for Timor as part of Sparrow Force so those remaining who had been on leave embarked on the Koolamon on 22 January 1942 to join them.

Arn later wrote an account of his time in Timor which he called “Some Sparrows In Timor” - a wonderful legacy. He lists all the members of his unit, No. 2 Section, describes some of their day-to-day tasks and other recollections including his strong feelings about the support of the Timorese locals, particularly his 'creados' Thomas and George, and most poignantly the loss of his best mate Les Moule on the day before they were due to be evacuated to Darwin. The graphic on the front page of his account includes a stack of 12 sticks of gelignite with a burning fuse; he clearly had a talent for blowing things up which came to the fore in his post-war years working with Mount Isa Mines, on the Snowy River Scheme and in Tasmania on the hydro works.

One of 2/11's first tasks in Timor was to prepare the Penfoei aerodrome and three important bridges for destruction. They used AN 60 gelignite, TNT and Throttle on the bridges. He says: “We did not spare the use of these deadly explosives as we all were aware of our fate when the battle eventually came.”

Then came his first lucky break. D Sub-Section was given the task to upgrade all bridges to carry 25 tons so they were relocated to Tjamplong some 12 to 15 miles up in the ranges. The task was completed on the day before “Invasion Day” (20 February 1942). They never saw their remaining mates in Koepang again until war's end.

The Japanese had overcome the defending forces so D Sub were ordered to blow up their given objects. Arn together with his Sergeant Frank Healy, Archie Bowman and truck driver Jim Lee was tasked with destroying the steel Meanar River bridge which they blew as a Jap truck approached. They moved on to the masonry Benane bridge over a deep gorge and blew that as well. He says in his account: “The illumination from the Meanar bridge was alarming whilst the Benane was just a thud and a cloud of dust. I believe the gorge was out for months.” A third bridge was intended but it was decided it would not prove of value in the retreat. They then made their way to Atomboa where Arn says he slept for 24 hours not hearing a sound, even three air raids. They then had to destroy two more bridges between the coast and Atomboa which they did successfully.

When the surrender order came Brigadier Veal gave the order “Every man for himself”. All Aussies were to disperse in small groups of 10 to 15 to points of their choice. The 2/11 decided to move to the north west coast, “hijack” a fishing vessel and sail to Australia. At Badaputi they “found” a small canoe and rigged a sail out of a blanket. Then came his second lucky break.

Two men armed with Tommy Guns and revolvers made four unsuccessful attempts to cross to Flores Island clearly visible across the strait. However storms each night capsized the “wonder boat”. Fortunately the tides when they turned drifted the boat back to home again. On the fifth and final attempt they awoke with no sign of the boat. Jubilantly they waited for a week but never saw the boat again. At the war's end they learned that a submarine plucked the two “sailors” off their canoe and into a POW camp. The method of crew selection was each day they would draw straws. Arnie was due on the next trip.

They also had visions of retrieving a damaged Kitty Hawk fighter from a swamp a few miles down the coast. They had with them a pilot who believed he could fly it back to Darwin; they even managed to move it closer to dry ground. However a runner arrived ordering them back to Mape where Brigadier Veal had established a headquarters after making contact with 2/2 Commando who had been sent to Dili. The 2/11 group were attached to the Engineer Section of 2/2 Commando under Lt. Don Turton although his HQ was some 40 miles away and they saw him only twice during their stay on Timor. They were effectively the decision makers in their area.

For several weeks they carried out a big map plotting scheme around Atsabi. Some would map, some would patrol. The country being very open they would do much night patrolling. When the mapping was completed they moved into a routine of patrolling, observing and harassing. The Japanese came to call them “Phantoms”; they would strike and run to fight another day. It seems appropriate that Paul Cleary should title his book about the Timor campaign “The Men Who Came Out Of The Ground”.

While all this was going on communications with Darwin were non-existant. Nothing had been heard from Sparrow Force since 22 February; consequently Arn and his mates were officially listed as “Missing” and their next of kin advised. For months his family did not know where he was.

Meanwhile everyone had been scrounging parts allowing construction of a wireless set to contact Australia. Nicknamed “Winnie the War Winner” contact was made on 20 April and communication and resupply resumed. “Winnie” is now in the Australian War Memorial museum. As a result Arn's service record shows an entry on 18 June 1942 “With unit and well”.

Each Aussie had his “creado” (personal native servant boy). They would carry packs, scrounge for food and prepare meals if needed. Arnie was the 2/11 Bren gunner so he had two boys Thomas and George, one for the pack, the second to carry his Bren gun when not in action. They always safeguarded their boys when in action but sadly were forced to leave them behind when the Aussies were evacuated in December. After the war an Australian survivor of the year long guerilla campaign commented that without the help of the creados the guerilla campaign could not have been conducted the way it was. Another said, "they were so good, the creados, they risked their lives all the time for us, it shamed you really." Years later when Timor L'este was fighting for independence they had strong support from ex-Sparrow force members, Arn included.

A significant battle took place in mid-August near Bobanaro. The Japanese had massed 600/700 troops against 60/80 Sparrows. Arn with his Bren gun and Sgt Healy were posted to guard the left flank. It was while they were retiring from this engagement that time almost caught up with him. He came face to face (only a few metres) with two Japanese scouts. His Bren was slung over his shoulder so he drew his 45 Colt revolver to face the two who had each drawn Samurai swords. He says: “In the process of disposing of them I had dropped my gun and been wounded.” In fact he sustained a severe laceration to his left hand which permanently damaged his little finger and ring finger.

Sgt Healy heard the shooting, came to his aid and they headed for the Base RAP (Regimental First Aid Post) – this was at 10.30 am – and they eventually arrived there some 12 hours later. He recalled “at about 5 pm when I was rested briefly an earthquake shook the area. I looked up, I could no longer walk – weakened by the loss of blood. I thought 'Son this is it!'. The natives carried me to the RAP. I have no further recollection until the next day.” He spent the next seven weeks in the Base hospital recovering.

By December the decision had been made to evacuate 2/2 Commando. Arn's unit were in the first evacuation but in a cruel blow his best mate Sapper Les Moule was shot and fatally wounded. They had been on outposts in Sami opposite a church the night prior and during the whole 6 pm to 6 am Les had a premonition. He would sweat and look at the sky. He was restless, he could not settle even though the enemy to all intents was some 20 miles away.

“Approximately 8.30 am was to prove the loss of a great “Hero” our mate Les Moule. God bless his soul. We all paid tribute when we eventually arrived in Darwin.”

In the early stages Les who had the unit's only Tommy gun was one of Brigadier Veale's bodyguards. He was buried in the church yard at Sami and is commemorated with a memorial in the Ambon War Cemetery.

Those of 2/11 Fd Coy to return with Arn from Timor on being evacuated were Archie Bowman, John Campbell, Les Collins, Alf Corbie, Dick Crisp, Doddy Clark, Bluey Cochrane, Mark Dennis, Col Crebert (or Gilbert - Researcher's note), Frank Healy, Jim Lee, Reg McCubbin, Bluey Reid, Des Sagar and Tom Thick.

“ Truly they were a Grand Bunch of real Heroes and Gentlemen.”

Back in Australia Arn was in various hospitals for some months during which time he had bouts of malaria, dengue fever and also had surgery on his injured hand. He finally re-joined the 2/11 in August 1943 and by 21 October was back in the thick of things in New Guinea at Buna and Lae until the end of February 1944. He was back in Australia again for the next 13 months before embarking for the final campaigns of the war in Moratai, Tarakan and Balikpapan. (My father-in-law Lt Bree Douglas also participated in these last campaigns with 2/15 Inf Bn – researcher's note.)

Two days before Christmas 1945 having seen the Japanese surrender in September he boarded the “Kings Point Victory” at Balikpapan arriving for demob in Brisbane on New Year's Eve. 18 days later he was discharged but his affection for his mates never left him. In 1999 a Gympie Times article reported as follows:

“It was a poignant moment at the dawn Anzac Day parade at the Memorial gates in Mary St as two diggers struggled through the huge crowd to lay a wreath at the Gates.

World War II diggers Arnie Francis and his mate Roy Arthy struggled to the front to honour fallen comrades in the 2/2 Commandos, the 2/11 Royal Australian Engineers and the 2/25 Battalion.

Arnie, 84 in May, visually impaired and relying on a white cane and the helpful shoulder of Roy, later led the main contingent of diggers down Mary Street.”

~ Written by Bruce Burkhardt, April 2020.