2/15 Field Regiment

 Association

 

 

A Gunner's Story of Service and Courage

in two World Wars. Sergeant Walter Ernest Brown, VC, DCM

"No Surrender For Me"

With these words, Sgt Wally Brown, aged 56, of the 2/15th Field Regiment, armed with a machine-gun, revolver and grenades, left the Regiment's headquarters and walked off into the darkness leading a small group of Gunners toward the Japanese positions. This event occurred on the evening of the 15th of February, 1942, a few hours before the surrender of the ill-fated 8th Division on Singapore Island.

Dr Rowley Richards, RMO of the 2/15th Field Regiment, in his book, "A Doctor's War", recalls: "It was later reported that Wally Brown and his followers did escape from Singapore. Wally apparently reached Sumatra, Indonesia, where he was separated from his group - who managed to return to Australia - and he was not heard of again."

Almost a quarter of a century earlier, during World War 1, Corporal Walter Ernest Brown of the 20th Battalion, AIF, had been awarded the Victoria Cross for valour at Villers- Brettoneaux, in France. Grenades also played a key role in Wally's single-handed capture of a German strong point. One year earlier, in the vicinity of Passchendaele, Cpl Brown had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for "attending to the wounded of his company under heavy shellfire. Later in the action he took charge of his section after its sergeant had become a casualty and showed a fine example of courage and leadership to the men."

The 2/15th Field Regiment entered Changai with a strength of 556 officers and men. Of those who were taken prisoner, two hundred and ninety four died in captivity (53%). The Commanding officer of the Regiment was Lieutenant Colonel J. W. Wright, DFC, who had served in the Light Horse and the Australian Flying Corps during World War 1. The collection is fortunate to have the ID tags of LtCol Wright and the 2/15th's rare unit history, "Gunners in the Jungle." We also plan to tell Sgt Brown's unique story in a Museum display soon. Russell Braddon, also a 2/15th Field Regiment Gunner, graphically tells the story of the 8th Division prisoners of war in his excellent book, "The Naked Island." This book is recommended if you have an interest in this chapter of Aussie Gunner history.

R.A.A. Coastal Gunners at Koepang, East Timor and Rabaul, New Britain, fought the Japanese invaders and many became POWs, including Bombadier Tom Uren. Tom's experiences as a Gunner and POW are detailed in his excellent biography "Straight Left". The late David Selby, a former Museum volunteer, was a Coastal Gunner officer at Rabaul. In his book "Fear Drive My Feet," David tells the amazing story of his group's escape overland from Rabaul following the Japanese invasion. Another fascinating story of Gunner history.