Hill 170, Part II: early on 23rd January, C Tp advanced to the next objective, a steep jungle covered hill known as 'Pinner', close to the Kangaw Road. They reported no enemy present, so the remainder of 44 Cdo followed shortly after. Unbeknownst to them, the 1/ #VJDay75

afternoon of the 23rd would be the calm before the storm. The objective was within sight, and the Cdos believed their speed had knocked the Japanese for six, especially when they discovered 2 carefully concealed artillery 2/ #VJDay75

Veterans at the foot of Pinner, 2005

positions dug into the steep banking which had seemingly been hastily abandoned. From their positions, the Cdos looked across to Kangaw and for the first time could see the heights at which the Japanese defences guarded the road. The scene was lifeless but 3/ #VJDay75

for jungle surrounding them. Then, at 2000 hours beneath the bright moonlight enemy artillery ranged in on Pinner, and mortar opened up on 44's northern flank. The Japanese had been carefully following 3 Cdo Bde's movements and far from surprised were well aware 4/ #VJDay75

of their positions.3 men from 44 were wounded then the silence returned, but in the paddy fields below the Cdos could hear the braying of mules as the Japanese advanced from the Kangaw Road. Ted and the others could see nothing, the thick foliage obscuring their view 5/ #VJDay75

but soon could hear commandsgiven in Japanese. A red verey light shot up suddenly and then all hell broke loose, as the Japanese launched a vicious counter attack. Machine gun fire swept the forward trenches and artillery from the paddy field blasted the Marine's 6/ #VJDay75

at point blank range. The noise was deafening and soon the area was thick with smoke. The first infantry attack hit quickly, the Japanese frantically advancing through their own shelling. As trees splintered, Marines guarding the forward slope were killed by an enemy 7/ #VJDay75

who knew the terrain well, even in the darkness. Amid the chaos, the Japanese were also quietly advancing on 3 Cdo Bde's flanks. But this was no surprise, and, silently the Cdos waited at the ready, until the cries went out and the Japanese attacked. 8/ #VJDay75

The Cdos opened fire and there was fierce hand to hand fighting before the attack was repelled only to be repeated relentlessly throughout the night. In between attacks the Japanese would call out in English 'Johnny, I'm wounded, help' as they had done before, only 9/ #VJDay75

to pull a pin on a grenade. But 3Cdo were wise to this, and their discipline apparent the Japanese changed tactics and attempted instead to infiltrate the Marine's position with small parties. In spite of 80 casualties and more hand to hand fighting they failed to do 10/ #VJDay75

so. The only intruder was a porcupine who staggered into a trench alongside the RSM, promptly expelling all his quills before leaving. After one last attack,a voice called out 'We'll be back in the morning' at 0300 on the 24th, silence returned. 11/ #VJDay75

'Pinner', 2005