Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Private Fred Quod sprays the group with a full magazine. Ten Japanese recently disporting themselves along the bank of the Genga River, Bougainville, had a rude shock when a hail of lead cut short their jabbering. Three fell victim to a burst from an owen gun handled by Private Fred Quod; of Proserpine, Queensland. Pte Quod sprayed the group with a full magazine. His section was the 1st to cross the Genga River, which is in the northern sector of the Bougainville operations, where lately there has been bitter fighting. As soon as a perimeter across the river was established, Quod & 3 other men from his section went out on a patrol to see if the area war clear of the enemy. The patrol followed a track & noticed signs of recent Japanese movement on it. Quod & his 3 companions followed the track until it wound to within 5 yards of the river bank. The 10 Japs were grouped at the rivers edge. They had no time to grab their arms before Australians cut loose with automatic weapons. Those Japanese who were not killed by the 1st burst dived into the water, but no further traces of any of them was seen. Quod’s tally from his initial burst was at least 3. Despite this & other surprise attacks by Australian patrols, the Japs resisted every yard of the Australian advance. For 8 successful nights the perimeter the Australians had established across the Genga River was attacked. Often in water feet deep in their weapon pits, our men maintained their position & enacted a heavy toll of the enemy during their nightly fanatical “banzai” charges. Quod was wounded in the leg when returning from a 2nd patrol. When seen in hospital he was well on the way to complete recovery. He was only 100 yards from his units perimeter when he was hit. As they were nearing their base, the patrol surprised 3 Japs. The leading scout killed 2 of the enemy, but the 3rd Jap wounded Quod. However 1 of the Owen gunners made him pay deadly for it by riddling him with a burst. With the fall of Tsimba Ridge, which lies south of the Genga River & upon which the Japanese defied us for 20 days, the Australians have pushed forward."