My rough diary of the time indicates that the 'headquarters' building at the strip was destroyed on 12 February by some Blenheims veering off the runway on take off during a violent storm. Lives and aircraft were lost in this appalling night accident and I don't know how it could have occurred. On 13 February Doug Forder and I had most of the day off, so we hitched a ride into Palembang town and back on some available transport.

On the next day, 14 February 1942, 260 Japanese paratroopers were dropped near PI aerodrome. British A/A artillery and RAF ground crew put up a good effort in defending PI against the enemy until they ran out of ammunition and food, and withdrew into the jungle. At PII, we were ordered to destroy all our equipment and personal belongings by fire and other means; and then we were ordered to withdraw to Lahat, a place about 160km towards the west of Sumatra.

The only personal gear taken with us was what could be carried in a knapsack, with a water bottle; so I left behind and destroyed the tin trunk, and still have a list of its contents in my rough diary of the time. (Officers and NCOs had been issued with Smith and Wesson revolvers, which were not very effective weapons. I didn't get a Smith and Wesson at the embarkation depot, because they didn't have one left, and was told that I would get one in Singapore—but there I received a rifle instead. I carried this rifle all the way back to Fremantle, and there at last I swapped it for a revolver on posting to Broome). So we set off down the road, not having any transport, marching in rank, and the food, consisting of cases of bully beef tins, was carried two men to a case on a litter. An armed rearguard was left behind at PII, and Andy Murfett was with them.

Bureau of Meteorology