2/19 Battalion Short Snorter

by James Wilson

 

The banknote is an emergency issue note dated 15^th August 1940 with a portrait of King George VI. It is printed on white watermark paper. The note is crisp, but circulated with a centre fold and some stains. It was printed by the Survey Department, F.M.S. [The Federated Malay States (FMS) was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula —Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang — established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay States, formed the Malayan Union. Two years later, the Union became the Federation of Malaya and finally Malaysia in 1963 with the inclusion of Sabah (then North Borneo), Sarawak and Singapore.] Actual size is 104mm x 55mm.

Research into the names on the note revealed that they were members of the 2/19 Battalion which served in Singapore. There is a brief history of the 2/19th Battalion at the here at the Australian War Memorial site.

The following table is a summary of information about the servicemen. This was found from the World War 2 Nominal Roll. Details of this information follow the summary along with photos from the Australian War Memorial site. Entries which are highlighted are possibly incorrect or no information has been found yet.

As per a conversation with Bob Pink of 1/19 RNSWR Association Inc. (incorporating the 2/19 Battalion Association), the servicemen above were in 16 Platoon D Company. Charles Edwards, George Mann and Allan Brideoake are still alive (as of 3^rd August 2009, the entries are highlighted). He was also able to provide some missing details. Charles Edwards rang and while he couldn’t remember signing the note he thinks it would have been signed while in Seremban (see group photo below). He was one of 3 runners for D Company. He is 91years 4 months old without a trace of waver in his voice.

Also read about the Parit Sulong Memorial.

Definition from the Short Snorter Project: “A short snorter is a banknote upon which signatures were exchanged between those travelling together or meeting up at different events. The tradition was started by bush pilots in Alaska in the 1920’s and subsequently spread through the growth of commercial and military aviation. If you signed a short snorter and that person could not produce it upon request, they owed you a dollar or a drink (a “short snort”, aviation and alcohol do not mix!).”

Details on Note	Given Names	Service Number	POW	Date of Death	Comment
Obverse (Front)
A C Page, Harden	Allen Charles	NX35784	Y
D Philpott, Gymea Bay	Donald Thomas	NX35210		12/02/42	Enlisted Wagga Wagga not Gymea Bay
E Campbell, Griffith	Ernest Edward	NX35309	Y
No 1 Sniper Roy Mulholland		NX35319			Not sure, can’t check service number
???					Can’t decipher, over “LEGAL TENDER FOR”
Charles Edwards	Charles Arthur	NX35590	Y
L W Curtis	Leslie William	NX35490	Y
R Graham	Robert	NX35547	Y
Geo Hanson, 2/19, Wagga	George Linton	NX35594	Y
G R Mann, Leeton	George Robert	NX35541	Y
G Chandler, Wagga	George Alexander	NX35250	Y	21/04/52
???					Can’t decipher, over king George
???					Can’t decipher, over king George
K Tunney, Young	Keith Joseph	NX35542	Y
K Travers, Harden	Keith	NX35205	Y	13/09/44
L Parks, Woy Woy | Domino Champ	Leslie Rawson	NX52135	Y	30/12/44
Reverse<
Frank McGrath, Whitton	Ernest William	NX35742	Y
Austin Galvin, Wyobong	Austin Mannix	NX35510	Y
Chris G Terry, Wagga Wagga	Christopher George	NX36181
W Bostock, Woolly Bull, Sydney	Walter Richard	NX34111	Y	13/09/44
Roy Dowd, Harden	Roy Kenneth	NX35204	Y
T. A. Matheson	Thomas Arthur	NX35169	Y
John Rae, Binalong St, Murrumburrah, N S Wales		NX35466	Y	13/07/45
Hec Martin, Griffith	Hector Arthur	NX53833	Y	18/06/43
Gur Gerhard, Temora	Raymond Francis	NX56110	Y
Alan R Turner, Arraglen, Bonee Creek, NSW	Alan Rounseville	NX35475	Y
A Hugh, Griffith	Arthur	NX35510	Y
C Davidson, Temora	Charles	NX35490	Y
J. Mercer, Sydney NSW	James Todd	NX55943	Y
F Irving, Kikoira NSW	Fredrick Albert	NX25802	Y
L R Sheather, Tumut	Laurence Roy	NX56104
A R Brideoake, Tallimba	Allan Robert	NX36061	Y
G Bousie, Barellan	George	NX35472	Y	26/01/45
Pte M Hull, Goolgowi NSW	Mervyn	NX35212	Y
C Dunstone, Paddington Sydney	Colin Robert	NX27254	Y
H McClure, Narrandera	Harry	NX35964		09/02/42
Geo Winter, 158 Forsyth St Wagga	William George	NX36180		09/02/42

The following images are from the Australian War Memorial web site and are found doing a search on “2/19 BATTALION (ALL WORDS) SECOND WORLD WAR”

Group picture with some of those who signed the note: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00102.016. There ia a larger image at the end of this document.

Seremban, Malaya. August 1941. Group portrait, at St Paul’s College, of members of `D’ Company, 2/19th Battalion. Back row: Private (Pte) C. Leslie; NX35718 Pte K. B. Pettit; NX35319 Pte N. M. Mulholland; NX35628 Pte J. N. Dare (believed to be one of 145 men massacred at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942); NX35764 Pte J. P. Gorham; NX35223 Pte K. G. Cheney; NX35769 Corporal (Cpl) W. E. Ferguson (killed in action (KIA) in Malaya on 16 January 1942); NX55943 Pte J. T. Mercer; NX55196 Pte L. D. Thomas; NX35468 Pte C. R. T. Butt; NX35760 Pte A. Howard; NX35204 Pte R. K. Dowd; NX34111 Cpl W. R. Bostock (missing at sea and presumed dead on 13 September 1944 after the sinking of the Rokyu Maru); NX35537 Pte R. Graham; NX52481 Cpl V. G. Winbank; NX35656 Pte Roger Graham (died of illness as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Borneo on 27 March 1945); NX52135 Pte L. R. Parks; NX35937 Pte M. Nimmo (KIA in Malaya on 22 January 1942). Second row: NX35415 Cpl B. V. McGinley (KIA in Malaya on 22 January 1942); NX35345 Pte J. A. Sommerville; NX35787 Cpl D. T. Redgate; NX35679 Cpl C. R. Cavanagh (died of illness as a POW in Borneo on 25 June 1945); NX32987 Pte W. Thompson; NX35918 Pte A. J. Tonacia; NX35156 Pte P. Hall; NX58246 Pte C. D. Dilley; NX35472 Pte G. Bousie (died of illness as a POW on 26 January 1945); NX36060 Pte A. M. Galvin; NX35949 Pte A. G. Robbins; NX35961 Pte R. Dale (died of illness as a POW in Siam on 30 September 1943); NX35212 Pte M. Hull; NX35503 Pte J. Costello; NX35590 Pte C. A. Edwards; NX35513 Pte W. G. Watts; NX35747 Pte C. H. Wilkinson; L. Lees. Third row: NX35788 Pte A. G. Hill; NX56047 Pte S. H. Platt (died accidentally as a POW in Borneo on 26 May 1945); NX12522 Lieutenant (Lt) R. Wilson (KIA in Malaya on 11 February 1942); NX56177 Cpl D. S. Hampstead; NX35203 Pte T. C. Verdon (KIA in Malaya on 16 January 1942); NX35671 Pte F. J. Wilson; NX32358 Pte S. J. Langham; Pte (Snowy) Collins; NX35591 Pte R. T. Taber (died of wounds in Malaya on 21 January 1942); NX35466 Pte J. Rae (died of illness as a POW in Borneo on 13 July 1945); NX35810 Cpl I. T. C. Campbell; QX13798 Pte J. J. Tully; NX35442 Cpl K. J. Tunney; NX35191 Pte S. S. Burgun; NX35231 Pte Les W. Curtis (KIA in Malaya 19 January 1942); NX35396 Pte Danny O’Connor; NX35541 Pte G. R. Mann; NX35262 Cpl P. J. Verdon. Fourth row: NX35970 Pte E. V. Litchfield; Pte (Shorty) Burden; NX35164 Pte J. N. (Duck) Mayes (missing in action, presumed dead on 11 February 1942); NX50961 Pte D. A. McDonald (KIA in Malaya on 19 January 1942); NX35245 Pte A. J. Hopkins; NX55569 Pte G. E. Broderick; NX35802 Pte J. W. Wasley (KIA in Malaya on 16 January 1942); NX35587 Pte A. G. Harvey; NX35583 Pte E. H. Dore; NX35610 Pte G. A. Rosetta; NX35563 Pte C. B. Rosetta; NX26993 Pte R. Tydeman; NX67801 Pte W. Geelan (died of illness as a POW in Borneo on 4 January 1945; NX30059 Pte R. Finigan (believed to be one of 145 men massacred at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942); NX35765 Pte L. G. Wilder (KIA in Malaya on 16 January 1942); NX35964 Pte H. McClure (KIA in Malaya on 9 February 1942); Pte W. Baird. Fifth row: NX35409 Pte C. H. Orme (missing in action, presumed dead in Malaya on 15 February 1942); NX53584 Cpl A. R. Oag (KIA in Malaya on 16 January 1942); NX35742 Sergeant (Sgt) E. W. McGrath; NX56104 Sgt L. R. Sheather ; NX36180 Sgt W. G. Winter; NX52530 Staff Sergeant S. E. Cameron Company Quartermaster Sergeant; NX60090 Lt J. A. Varley; NX34771 Lt K. L. Westbrook, Second in Command; NX34967 Captain T. G. Vince; nt Officer Commanding (KIA in Malaya on 9 February 1942); NX60208 Lt D. Wilson; NX60112 Warrant Officer Class 2 J. J. (Sonny) Loy, Company Sergeant Major; NX55098 Sgt O. J. Layton ; NX56216 Sgt H. J. (Burt) Donaldson; NX58438 Sgt J. T. Garvin, Orderly Room Sergeant; NX52483 Lt W. G. Hunt; NX56157 Cpl L. H. McAleer (KIA in Malaya on 21 January 1942); NX35238 Pte W. McGeachie; NX35887 Sgt W. W. Spring. Front row: NX25254 Pte C. R. Dunstone; NX35594 Pte G. Hanson; NX25894 Pte J. S. Pearce (died of illness as a POW in Borneo on 7 June 1945); NX56122 Cpl Robert Leslie Irvin (believed to be one of 145 men massacred at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942); NX35169 Pte T. A. Matheson; NX33005 Pte R. C. Tisdale (KIA in Malaya 9 February 1942); NX35510 Pte A. Hugh; A. Turner; (Jock) Mitchell; NX35192 Pte J. M. Bailey; NX35217 Pte M. T. Menz; NX35550 Pte T. J. Kelly (died of illness as a POW in Siam on 8 July 1943); NX63101 Pte L. J. Harrison (believed to be one of 145 men massacred at Parit Sulong on 22 January 1942); NX52481 Cpl V. G. Winbank. (Donor R. Newton)

 

 

Alphabetical Listing of names
Name as written on note (Given names and service details) Service details WW2 Nominal Roll link Picture at Australian War Memorial link	Picture if available. Right-click on picture and select “View Image” (Firefox) for larger image or click on link to left
W Bostock, Woolly Bull, Sydney (Walter Richard, NX34111, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 13/9/44)
G Bousie, Barellan (George, NX35472, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 26/1/45)
A R Brideoake, Tallimba (Allan Robert, NX36061, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
E Campbell, Griffith (Ernest Edward, NX35309, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
G Chandler, Wagga (George Alexander, NX35250, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 21/1/42)
L W Curtis (Leslie William, NX35231, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 19/1/42) https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P03243.009
C Davidson, Temora (Charles, NX35490, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
Roy Dowd, Harden (Roy Kenneth, NX35204, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
C Dunstone, Paddington Sydney (Colin Robert, NX27254, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) Photo http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00102.057 At sea. 1941-02-03. Members of ‘D’ Company, 2/19th Battalion, line up wearing life vests during boat drill on the first night at sea on HMT Queen Mary after departing Sydney, NSW, en route to Malaya. Identified: Private (Pte) K. G. (Knobby) Cheney (partly obscured); Pte J. P. (Jim) Gorham, Sergeant O. J. (Spider) Layton, Pte W. (Bill) McGeachie, Pte A. (Sandy) Hopkins, Pte Fred Wilson, Jim (?Pte N. M.) Mulholland, Pte C. R. (Col) Dunstone. Officers on right are: Lieutenant (Lt) Keith Westbrook, Lt Dal Wilson, Lt R. W. L. (Dick) Austin and Lt Gordon Walker. (Donor R. Newton)
Charles Edwards (Charles Arthur, NX35590, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) Photo http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P01410.001 Ohama, Japan. 1944-09-16. Official Japanese identification photograph of prisoner of war No. 364 at No. 9 prisoner of war camp, Ohama. The soldier is NX35590 Private Charles Edwards, 2/19th Battalion, who was captured near Darit Sulong 1942-01-22 at the end of the battle of Muir (Malaya). (Donor: C. A. Edwards)
Austin Galvin, Wyobong (Austin Mannix, NX36060, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) Photo http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00102.034 Seremban, Malaya. 1941-06. Members of the 2/19th Battalion Rugby Union Football Team. In the background is the King George V School where part of the Battalion was quartered. Left to right: Pat Reynolds, Captain 5/8, of Cumnock; George Winter, Vice Captain, Breakaway, of Wagga; Alf Rumph, Front row, of Bombala; Ken Burt, Breakaway, of Wagga; Bill Loughrey, front row of Wagga; Austin Galvin, Centre of Tallimba; Roy Welsh, Wing, of Harbord; Alan Oag, 2nd Row, of Griffith; Joe Tully, Hooker, of Quilpie; Jack Merchant, Lock of Orange; Fred Harris, 2nd row, of Tumut; George Mann, Half, of Leeton; Les Parkes, Wing, of Temora; Jim Byron, full-back, of Beckom; Errol Conlon, Centre, of Coogee. (Donor R. Newton)
Gur Gerhard, Temora (Raymond Francis, NX56110, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
R Graham (Robert, NX35547, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) Photo http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00102.043 Endau Johore, Malaya. 1941-12. An informal group portrait of members of 17 Platoon, 2/19th Battalion. Standing: Private (Pte) F. J. (Fred) Wilson; Pte R. (Bob) Graham; Corporal (Cpl) “Bricky” Winbank; Pte J. P. (Jim) Gorham; Pte N. M. (Roy) Mulholland; Pte G. M. (Glen) Scriven (Transport), Lieutenant J. A. (John) Varley; Pte J. D. (John) Fuks. Front: Cpl D. S. (Dick) Hampstead; Pte K. B. (Ken) Pettit; Ern Rae; Pte D. J. (Dal) Thompson. (Donor R. Newton)
Geo Hanson, 2/19, Wagga (George Linton, NX35594, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
A Hugh, Griffith (Arthur, NX35510, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) (see picture M Hull below)
Pte M Hull, Goolgowi NSW (Mervyn, NX35212, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) Photo http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00102.005 Wagga Wagga, NSW. 1940-07. Group portrait of members of the Griffith, Leeton, Yenda Contingent to 2/19th Battalion. Left to right: Back row: Private (Pte) A. Piesley; Pte J. D. Fuks; Pte Ledwidge; Pte Watson; G. Wells; Corporal (Cpl) L. W. Robb; Woods; Cpl A. S. Robb; ? Thompson; ? Godfrey; Pte W. G. Watts; Pte P. Cregan; Pte O’Brien; Pte P. Dowell; Pte H. W. L. Sams. Centre row: Pte E. V. Litchfield; Pte Bloomfield; Cpl T. McGrath; Pte T. A. Jiggins; B. Wells; Pte J. McInness; Pte Costello; F. McGrath; Cpl W. F. Scobie; Sergeant (Sgt) J. R. Perfect; Borland; Pte D. T. Maggs; Anstee (? Cpl L. M. Anstice); Pte A. Hugh; Pte M. Hull. Front row: Pte Byron; ? Campbell; Cpl A. A. Small; Pte E. Turner; Pte Williams; Sgt M. W. Leaver; Sgt J. J. Loy; Lieutenant F. C. Beverley; Sgt M. J. Brennan; Pte M. C. Justice; Cpl D. W. Isles; Corporal Taylor; Cpl W. G. Hunt; ? Tucker. (Donor R. Newton)
F Irving, Kikoira NSW (Fredrick Albert, NX25802, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
G R Mann, Leeton (George Robert, NX35541, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) (see picture Austin Galvin above)
T. A. Matheson (Thomas Arthur, NX35169, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
Hec Martin, Griffith (Hector Arthur, NX53833, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 18/6/43) Photo (on left) http://cas.awm.gov.au/
H McClure, Narrandera (Harry, NX35964, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, D 9/2/42)
Frank McGrath, Whitton (Ernest William, NX35742, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) (see picture Pte M Hull above)
J. Mercer, Sydney NSW (James Todd, NX55943, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
No 1 Sniper Roy Mulholland /N M (Roy) (NX35319) (see picture R Graham above)
A C Page, Harden (Allen Charles, NX35784, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW) Photo http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00102.048 Malaya. 1941. Private Allen Page (third from left) and Sergeant George Winter (second from right), both of 2/19th Battalion, with some of the local crew from SS Kalang which carried iron ore from the Japanese mine at Bukit Langhap to Singapore. (Donor R. Newton)
Woy Woy, L Parks, or Woy Woy, L Parks (Domino Champ) (Leslie Rawson, NX52135, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 30/12/44) (see picture Austin Galvin above)
D Philpott, Gymea Bay (Donald Thomas, NX35210, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, D 12/2/42)
John Rae, Binalong St, Murrumburrah, N S Wales (NX35466, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 13/7/45) Photo http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02467.319
L R Sheather, Tumut (Laurence Roy, NX56104, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion)
Chris G Terry, Wagga Wagga (Christopher George, NX36181, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion)
K Travers, Harden (Keith, NX35205, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW, D 13/9/44)
K Tunney, Young (Keith Joseph, NX35542, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
Alan R Turner, Arraglen, Bonee Creek, NSW (Alan Rounseville, NX35475, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, POW)
Geo Winter, 158 Forsyth St Wagga (William George, NX36180, 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, D 9/2/42) (see pictures A C Page and Austin Galvin above)

This article first appeared in the QNS Monthly Magazine, August 2009.