50M's (Mike's) Tour of Timor

Crew

Cpl Andrew Earnshaw- Crew Commander

Cpl Jason Barker- Medic

Pte Damien Stilwell- Driver

On the 8th Oct 1999, 50M loaded onto the Singaporean transport ship 'Intrepid' to begin it's journey to East Timor. Usually employed as the unit's Medical Officer's vehicle, 50M had been tasked as the Ambulance for Patrols Company. This Company was created to provide the Battalion with a 4th Rifle company and was based on a rerolled Support Company using the Unit's Mortar and Recon platoons in a conventional Mech. Platoon role.

Three days later, 50M rolled onto East Timor soil amid the busy port of Dili.

"The boat pulled into Dili Harbour before dawn and we had to wait until sunrise to get our first look at Timor. Smoke billowed from several fires around the city but from out in the harbour there was little sign of the destruction and the many naval vessels that sat anchored around us soon had our attention as we tried to identify which nations they belonged to. Soon a landing craft came along side and two vehicles at a time were ferried to the shore, 50M was one last off the ship and we had to climb down the side of the ship to the landing craft as the vehicle was lifted across by the crane.

After a quick ride ashore we rolled onto the shore and into a waiting area off to one side where we waited most of the day for with several other vehicles as the Battalion sorted out into the city. This was one of the most nerve racking days we spent in country, as we still didn’t have a clear picture of what was happening or how friendly the locals were. Due to last minute changes in movements, 50M and several others with us had no Ammunition on board as we had been told to expect a Civilian boat, we had no maps as none were available prior to leaving and radio frequencies had to be issued in country. Finally the Company Sergeant Major found us we moved off into the city; it was then that we were able to see the scope of the destruction for the first time."

Initially tasked for operations in and around Dili, Patrols Company was retasked within 24 Hours of arriving and two days later were heading West to the town of Liquica. After a month of patrolling and securing the town and surrounding countryside, Patrols Company conducted a relief in place with Bravo Company and returned to Dili.

"Liquica was a village on the northern coastline, about 20km west of Dili. Before the Malitia arrived it was a well populated town that even boasted a beach side tourist resort. When we moved into the town at the beginning of October it was in ruins and was deserted except for some die hard families who had remained behind.

The Company split into platoon positions in and around the town, Company Head Quarters (of which 50M was a part of) took up residence in a compound that had a two metre concrete wall around it and several buildings with varying degrees of fire damage. The platoons started patrolling into the surrounding hills in an effort to find and reassure the local population that the town was safe as well as gain information on the Malitia. Our biggest enemy in the town was the large number of mosquitos, several members of the Company fell ill to Dengue Fever and had to be returned for treatment in Dili.

By the time that we left the town the population had all but returned and with their help several mass graves were discovered in the surrounding countryside."

Although tasked to push back out to the South West, the Company remained in Dili providing security tasks around the Western end of Dili until the end of November. It was during this time that 50M reacted to it's first serious CasEvac when a member of Mortar Platoon was burnt while burning off some of the mountains of rubbish around the city.

Finally the word to move came and the Company headed out to the town of Gleno. Gleno provided ample opportunities for 50M to get out and do Business with a large number of out lying settlements in the hills surrounding the Gleno Valley. A Medical Clinic was provided to the locals each morning and in the afternoons, 50m would accompany patrols into the surrounding hills.

"The township of Gleno had faired slightly better than Liquica with many houses still in a repairable state. We moved into a lightly damaged telecom compound with CHQ while the Company Q Store moved into the heavily damaged bank building next door.

One of our first tasks was to inspect the hospital building with the intention to run a medical clinic for the locals. The building required a good clean and the area around was littered with needles and syringes that had to be removed before we could start. Once we opened for business the word soon got around and it wasn’t unusual for a large crowd to gather. We also got several opportunities to travel into the surrounding hills to conduct clinics with patrols from Mortars and Recon platoons.

This was the most rewarding time of the whole deployment for us and it was with disappointment that moved on."

Gleno also saw the companies Christmas celebrations and on New Years Eve the Company packed up and moved back to Dili in preparation for a move to the Border Region.

On the evening of the 3rd Jan 2000, 50M was back on the water again traveling the 6 hour boat ride down the coast to Batugade and then a road move to a new home in the town of Adabeleten as the Battalion’s reserve. Here any ideas of doing business as in Gleno were dashed as Civilian aid agencies demanded control over Medical clinics and the treatment of the local townspeople. even so 50M was able to get out into the more inexcessable hamlets of the area to conduct several clinics.

"After our time at Gleno, Adabeleten proved to be disappointing. A small fishing township, Adabeleten seemed to have more damage caused by locals looting building materials than Malitia activities.

We occupied an old school, which the locals had removed the roofing and anything else of use, with the majority of the Company while a platoon was deployed to the other side of the AO. We fashioned a roof over the existing building frame with the tarps from our vehicles and walls using cam nets to give some privacy from the ever present local children. This worked well untill we found that the tarps had many small holes and the Timor wet season tended to send the rain in side ways. Near the end of our stay the Engineers came and the roof was finally replaced.

Early attempts to offer our assistance to the aid agencies that operated in the town where hampered by their inability to see past the fact that we were armed.We helped the locals when we could but were never able to look upon the work of the aid agencies favourably again."


A Battalion rotation occurred on the 3 Feb and the Company moved to a much busier area in and around the town of Maliana. Once again aid agencies had a firm grip on the area but the presence of an Army Treatment section had 50M acting as the ambulance for the Company and the Treatment Section.

"Maliana saw the Company move into a well established compound complete with field kitchen and a Treatment section, the work load increased but the fresh meals made up for the discomfort. Telstra also came to the show installing telephones and internet services."

On the 21st Feb saw the Company make the transition to UN Command as the Battalion became the first Battalion of the Regiment to wear the UN colours since Korea.

"After several months of operating apart the Pipes and Drums gathered at Battalion Head Quarters before traveling back to Dili to participate in the hand over parade from Interfet to UN control. Upon returning to the border we once again regrouped to play for the Battalion's hand over parade before returning to our Companies to play for their formalities."



Whilst in Maliana the Company came under fire for the first time at the section sized observation post at the border town of Memo. Luckily no casualties occurred and on the 2nd Mar the next rotation saw the Company move a short distance to the town of Tonabibi.

"Tonabibi was little more than a bus stop between Maliana and Balibo with a small township of people who worked the surrounding rice fields. The first companies into the town had found a compound filled with mud and many of the tracks to the posts on the border had become so bad that the carriers were begining to have trouble travelling on them. With new roofs for the buildings and some gravel in the compound life at Tonabibi HQ had dried out some by the time we arrived however the tracks remained a problem."

On the 17 Mar a cross border market place saw Malitia and local East Timorese clash resulting in one death and two serious injuries, 50M transported all three to Maliana where one was later detained as a Malitia member. The remaining time at Tonabibi, although busy, passed without any other serious casualties and on the 2nd Apr Patrols Company made it’s last rotation in the border region to occupy the coastal town of Batugade.

This new area of operations had limited access for the vehicles and the Company set out on platoon size foot patrols into the largely unpopulateted border area. For the crew of 50M this was a quiet time with members taking turns at going out with the patrols as Combat First Aiders.

On the 25th Apr the Company completed it’s hand over to 6 RAR and boarded a transport ship for the return journey to Dili. Leaving 50M in the hands of contracted cleaners, the crew returned on the 2nd May 00, 50M followed on the 21st May after clearing Customs.

Click on the Tiger's Eyes for my Timor Gallery

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