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| Keywords: AWM P03953 004.jpg LargeImage en Informal portrait of four of the crew members of Motor Launch ML 1321 and NX73110 Sapper Spr Edgar Thomas 'Mick' Dennis Z Special Unit the only survivor of the ill fated raid on Muschu Island off the coast of New Guinea at Brisbane dockyard Identified left to right Spr Dennis; Leading Seaman Clayton; 25630 Stoker John Francis Sevenoaks; S/6992 Sub Lieutenant Russell Frederick Smith Second in Command ; Able Seaman Aitken Eight Z Special Unit commandos landed on Muschu Island on 11 April 1945 their mission being to capture a prisoner reconnoitre the island's defences and locate two concealed naval guns then rendezvous again with the launch The men were NX82924 Lieutenant Lt Alan Robert Gubbay; VX6078 Lt Thomas Joseph Barnes; NX45386 Sergeant Malcolm Francis Max Weber; NX202843 Lance Corporal L Cpl Spencer Henry Walklate; NX73110 Sapper Spr Edgar Thomas 'Mick' Dennis; NX92651 Private Pte Ronald Edward Eagleton; VX66698 Pte Michael Hagger and WX27629 Pte John Richard Chandler Their collapsible dinghies overturned while landing and all signal equipment and some weapons were lost They continued on their mission which was all but complete when they took a wrong turn on their march back to their base and encountered an Japanese patrol The commandos' prisoner slipped off his gag and shouted The men escaped this enemy patrol and later attempted unsuccessfully to put to sea on a raft losing many more of their weapons in the process Lt Gubbay Lt Barnes L Cpl Walklate and Pte Eagleton then put to sea on logs in an attempt to make contact with aircraft or patrol boats They were never seen again The remaining men remained on the island and by 14 April had approached bomb craters knowing they contained fresh water They ran into a Japanese patrol and all except Spr Dennis were killed Spr Dennis managed to escape further detection then swam 10 miles through shark infested waters to the mainland of New Guinea pushing a heavy board on top of which he carried his Austen gun and ammunition After beaching he walked some 20 miles through enemy territory before being picked up by an Australian patrol near Aitape approximately 10 days after the original landing Spr Dennis was later awarded the Military Medal for his 'great courage and initiative' P03953 004 R Reynolds 1945-05 Image to be used in articles on Wikimedia and Wikipedia PD-Australia Battles of the Pacific War Military history of Australia during World War II Black and white photographs Z Special Unit | ||||
