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[Page 35]
Lieut. Colonel W.W. Russell Watson, V.D.
Acting under your instructions I left Herbertshohe for the wireless station on the 17th September at 5-0 p.m. taking with me Lieut. Sherbon and 65 N.C.Os and Men of H. Coy. and rations for 3 days and 100 rounds of ammunition per man. No blankets or waterproof sheets were taken. I reached Gire Gire at 7-0 p.m. bivouacked for the night, Reveille at 3-0 a.m., moved off at 4-30 a.m; three miles the other side of Toma met a party of armed Germans and 72 Native Police; I did not know the terms of capitulation so detained them until their Commanding Officer came up, who had a letter from Major Heritage on which were conditions of surrender; they were then allowed to proceed on their way to Herbertshohe. Col. Sergt Langtry called for Cyclist Orderly to bring up the Maxim Gun and he immediately went full sped back to Herbertshohe. I sent a mounted Orderly to try and catch him, but no chance. Fortunately no notice was taken of him at H.Q.
The O.C. German Troops sent a man back with me to direct me along the road. Arrived at Tauliel Camp (9 miles from Toma at 10-45 a.m.; good water there, had light lunch and reached Place A. (7 miles) at 2-45 p.m. Place A is as far as oxen can go. Coolies being used from here on. Reached Place B (5 miles from Place A) at 5-20, had tea and bivouacked for the night; four Germans here and Native Police, some stores and the wireless plant, left some men to dismantle the wireless station and collect stores and pushed on with Mr Sherbon to Place C (3 miles) the residence of the Governor. The track form Place B to Place C (can only be traversed in Indian file and is very rugged and mountainous through thick jungle. Met the Governor and his Staff, who helped us all they could; took delivery of 10 boxes of bullion, no stores here, left tents for the use of the Governor and came back to Place B., took over 40 more boxes bullion and wireless plant (carried by 200 Kanakas) at 3-0 p.m. Arrived place A. at 6-30 through heavy thunderstorm, everybody wet through. Left place A with 20 waggons and 150 Kanakas at 7-0 p.m.; had a lot of trouble with some oxen and waggons. Told Mr Sherbon to push on to Tauleil Camp with bullion; he arrived at 3-0 a.m.
Travelled all night with waggons and covered three miles before daylight. Four waggons broke down completely and had to be left on the road. Last waggon reached Tauleil Camp at 3-45 a.m. on 20/9/14 in another heavy thunderstorm - everybody wet through. Left Tauleil immediately last waggon arrived. Mr Sherbon pushed on to Paparatara, where he sent back word to me that 40 Germans had landed on the other side of the Island and were making towards Toma, and the Governor asked me to push on to Toma that night as the new force had no knowledge of the capitulation. Had more trouble with the waggons on the road, finally reaching Toma at 9.30 p.m. with 10 waggons. Bivouacked at Herr Woolf's place, Toma, for the night, first sleep we had since leaving Gire Gire. Left 6-0 a.m. next morning, 21/9/14, to bring in waggons. Got instructions from Major Heritage not to go beyond Toma till the new German Force was located, so came back to camp.