This history written by Jennie yan khoon Soh from her blog http://jenniesyk-spices.blogspot.com/2012/08/jack-tredrea-only-survivor-from-z.html....credit for her ^^
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| Jack Tredrea was among the 8 parachutis - The drop on Flight 20 |
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| Jack Tredrea with several other "Z" members and the local natives fighters - Belawit,May 1945 |
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| Jack Tredrea - he is currently 92 years old (2012) |
GOING BACK TO HISTORY – SEMUT 1 OPERATIONS
Those who like history would probably like to know about people or their descendants linked to Sarawak.
When I read the book WORLD WITHIN, a borneo story by Tom Harrison, I never dream that I have the chance to interact with Jack Trevor, one of the survivor of the 8 parachutist who volunteered for “Z Special Unit” under Semut 1 operation. I also met David Sanderson, the son of the late Charles Frederick Sanderson , also one of the parachutist who first landed in Bario in 1945. Through David Sanderson, I have interviewed him about his father, Charles Frederick Sanderson and he generously shared with me bits and pieces about the operation of Semut 1 .I actually spoke to Jack Trevor over the phone at David’s place at New Castle during my visit in Australia.
About Semut 1 Operation
The Z Special Unit’s operation SEMUT (which means ants) was an operation to drop parachutists on a special mission to Bario. The first mission failed when the plane crashed at East Timur, killing all 13 crew on board, trying to land from 6,000 ft into a boggy area cleared for paddy planting crashed. However, Tom Harrison and his met managed to survive and scrabbled through the jungle. They were met by the Penghulu or Headman of the village who came up the path towards them with a white flag in hand. A handful of warriors dressed in headgear, loincloth and leopard fangs protruding from their ear lobes welcomed them into their longhouse. And that gesture of welcome led Tom Harrison to bring another team to parachute in bringing with them
The war lasted another year from the date, 26th March 1945 when the SEMUT unit parachuted into Bario. In that year, the SEMUT platoon scoured the entire length and breadth of the Ulu Baram area plus into areas of Sabah and Kalimantan in search of Japanese troops. Tom recruited a number of local people ~ warriors from the kelabit, kayan, penan and other tribes as well as villagers living along the river. These recruits were the eyes and ears of the SEMUT unit, helping the Allied Forces build an intelligence network in north- central Borneo. The recruits expressed desire not only to act as spies but also as guerrilla fighters. Their expertise and dedication to the cause of ridding the area of the enemy was to be admired. Despite having outlawed head hunting during Rajah Brooke’s rule of Sarawak, the war discounted such rules and Tom allowed the activities to occur. The warriors’ overzealousness in head collecting did get a little out of hand according to reports and were duly controlled. There was even an incident where a Japanese patrol was ambushed and were killed and beheaded, including their Chinese informant.
In gratitude to the peoples’ dedication to the allied forces, Tom and his troops remained in the highlands and continued fighting for the people even months after ‘peace’ was declared. They were determined to ensure that the people were safe from the straggling Japanese troops still patrolling the lands, unbeknownst to them that the war had ended and that Japan had already surrendered.
As the war wore on and food became a shortage, the orang ulu (the interior people) down in the lowlands were ordered to provide the Japanese soldiers with rice and livestock. The war however, had not affected the highland people much, as they were too far upland to make it worthwhile for the Japanese to venture into. However, imports from the coast were blocked and the people living on the Plains of Bah could not trade with the villagers down in the lowlands and across the Kalimantan border.
About from Jack Trevor
Jack Tredrea (real name is Jonathan Tredrea) was a former Australian commando was one of the few surviving members of Z-Special unit, the group of Special Forces that assisted the drowned American airmen and helped with their rescue. Jack was a member of Semut 1 ((Semut means Ant in Malay) a group of undercover allied operatives lead by the eccentric English Major Tom Harrisson. Jack joined the army in November 1938 and learned Malay during training prior to the Semut missions in Borneo. Jack Tredrea was involved in allied secret operations against the Japanese in Borneo in 1945. He spent over seven months in the jungle, training and fighting with a party of thirty Iban guerrilla warriors. Jack gathered intelligence from all over the Kelabit Highlands and Kayan Territory, this information which was radioed back to the Northern Territories in Australia. Jack left Borneo after the end of the war and arrived in Australia in mid November 1945. He was discarded in April 1946 and returned to South Australia to take up his former employment as tailor. He retired at age 65. He has a daughter, 4 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Brief interview through slow mail with Jack Trevor (2010)
JS : Jennie Soh JT : Jack Tredrea
JS : How many of you under SEMUT 1 Operations? Are all of them Australians?
JT : There were 8 in the lst Parachute Drop. Tom Harrison , Leader o English Army was chosen because he was in Borneo in 1934 Oxford expedition. See his book on “The World Within”
JS : How many still alive?
JT : Regrettably only myself.
JS : Jack Tredrea, how old were you when you signed up this operation?
JT : I was 24 on May 15th, 1945.
JS : What makes you decide to come to Borneo?
JT : When I volunteered for “Z Special Unit”, we did not know until the morning of our Jump that our D.Z. was Bario, Borneo.
JS : Duration of period in Borneo?
JT : Jumped in 25th March 1945, left Tanjong Selor, Dutch Borneo. 3rd Week, October for Tarakan Island, then Liberator , back to Australia.
JS . : After the Semut 1 Operation, what happened to you after the war is over?
JT : Started work at Adelaide’s top Bespoke Tailors. Joined army out break War returned to my former job in 1946. Retired in 1985. Spent 3 months in hospital for treatment of Malaria, hookworm and amoebae dysentery.
JS : There was a come back in 1994 to Sarawak to trace the root? You came back, can your shared your coming back? How many actually came back?
JT : There were about 25 on 1994 trip but of these only Reith Bernie and I were Semut 1. However, it was a wonderful return but unfortunately we did not get to Bario.
JS : Is there any reunion or contact among those who are still alive or their children who lived to keep their legacy of their connection to their contribution to Sarawak?
JT : I kept in contact with Dan Ilterich , an American, one of the 6 we rescued, he is the only one still alive. Keith Barrie had 2 daughters, returned to Bario in March in 2010 , also my grand daughter in March with me.
JS : Updates of your family?
JT : I had 2 daughters one born while I was in Borneo (now deceased), 4 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. I lost my wife in 2006. We were married for 64 years. I am still alive in my home and as of now I am quite happy , fit and aged 90. (when I interviewed him.)
JS : Any chance of your children coming back to Sarawak to trace your roots?
JT : I am sure having spent 9 days in March this year (2010) with me, my grand daughter, Samantha will encourage the others to go. My daughter, Lynnette and husband went over 3 years ago (2008) for the Sandakan Wreath March Comma ration.
I am computer illiterate, so I will post this letter to you.
Regards
Jack Tredrea
I wrote him another short letter on 06 June 2011, he replied me on 27 June 2011 , sending lots of photographs and even a funeral service of Joy Dawn Barrie,wife of Keith Barrie, an American who is one of the 6 rescued and is the only one alive.
Recently, I wrote Jack another letter September 07, 2011 and have not heard from him since then. My only contact is David Sanderson, son of the late Frederick Sanderson who is a member of the famous “Z” Force and one of the eight men who comprised a party known as “Z” Special.
By Jennie Soh
Date : August 25, 2012
