...commanded 2/1st Infantry Battalion during the Australian advance. He recalls witnessing hand-to-hand combat at Oivi-Gorari.
PAUL CULLEN: And again we encircled the Japanese position. And with another battalion from 7th Division...we killed over 300. And one of the extraordinary sights I've ever seen, when we encircled these Japs so we could capture the position and kill them all, and vast stores of rice and things...a Japanese officer raced out with his sword - drawn sword, samurai sword - and...Lieutenant St George Ryder - great name - one of our lieutenants...grappled with him, and his weapon had jammed. Just luck of the game, you know. It happens in every battle, I suppose. And they grappled together. And any rate, someone else came up, one of our chaps, and shot this Japanese who had so gallantly and bravely raced towards us waving his sword. You know, extraordinary sight. You wouldn't think you'd see it in this 1942 war, would you?
