Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Lot 3309    SESSION 12 (11.30AM THURSDAY 1ST AUGUST)    Other Properties - Aust. Groups

Estimate $200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,600

GROUP OF FOUR TO Z SPECIAL KIA: 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. VX81605 C.B.Cameron D. All medals are engraved replacements. Court mounted, extremely fine.

The original issue of four medals was sent to Sgt Cameron's father at Wedderburn on 12 November 1951.

Colin Barclay Cameron VX81605 (V25918), power house attendant, born 31Dec1922 at Wedderburn, Vic; Enl.18Dec1940 at Wedderburn, Vic; Departed for service outside Australia 11Sep1944; MIA 22Feb1945; 12Dec1945 MIA but deceased, presumed died 05Nov1944 with Z Special Unit on Operation Rimau which was an attack on Japanese shipping in Singapore harbour; commemorated at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

In a letter to Sgt Cameron's father dated 30 November 1945 the Lieutenant-Colonel commanding Z Special Unit wrote in part, 'after reading through all available reports on searches carried out that the position is serious and I must be frank with you and say that the chances of your son's recovery are very slight.....Sgt. Cameron was a member of a specially selected and highly trained party of English and Australians who left Australia in September 1944 on an operation with the object of sinking enemy shipping in Singapore harbour.

The party was unlucky enough to be surprised by a Water Police patrol when nearing Singapore and were forced to make a rapid withdrawal, splitting up into small groups. These groups received instructions to make their way back to an island base some 70 miles from Singapore. Whilst carrying out this fighting withdrawal, several skirmishes occurred with the enemy, in which we know some of our personnel were killed. The party succeeded in inflicting many casualties on the Japanese but the latter, under interrogation, were unable to produce identification. We cannot therefore establish which group your son was with.

Some of the party were picked up and taken back to Singapore but he was definitely not amongst those.....This operation was one of the most gallant and courageous feats ever attempted in the Pacific and we, as a Unit, are proud to have been associated with your son and the other members of his group.'

Following news reports of some members of this raiding party being executed, the commanding officer of Z Special Unit advised Mr Cameron in a later letter that Sgt Cameron definitely was not amongst those executed in Singapore.

With copy of Service File and other research fitted into a plastic file cover.