J Cross DCM

Ms. radio log (70pp) and station record book (205pp) compiled between March 1942 and May 1945 by Cross and other members of Station A, a party of one British officer and three other ranks who were left behind the lines in Johore with a radio transmitter during the Japanese invasion and occupation of Malaya. The documents include particulars of radio watches kept by the station, a diary of major events, minutes of weekly meetings, details of ration scales, maintenance of radio and other equipment and correspondence and contacts with the Malayan Communist Party and Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Forces, who sheltered them in their jungle camps. With these documents is a ts. draft (334pp) of Red Jungle, Cross's published account of his experiences from 1942 to 1945.

Unrestricted

From early 1942 untilthe end of May 1945 John Cross served in a Special Party, designated Station A, comprised of one British officer and three other ranks, which was left behind the lines in Johore with a radio transmitter during Japan's invasion and occupation of Malaya. With the assistance of the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Forces, essentially the military wing of the Malayan Communist party, the personnel of Station A lived in various jungle camps and evaded capture by the Japanese, but, in consequence of the general military situation, a long time elapsed before they were to establish contact with the other left-behind parties or with detachments from Force 136 that were landed in Malaya. Cross, originally a signalman, was promoted in the field to the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant and, when the officer, Major L P T Canvin (alias James Barry), left in April 1944 on a mission to contact some influential Johore Malays during which he became seriously ill and committed suicide, Cross assumed command of the Special Party, which was eventually withdrawn from Malaya by submarine on 30 May 1945. The documents described below were extensively used by Cross when he wrote Red Jungle, an account of his experiences during the Second World War, which was published by Robert Hale in 1957.