Is anyone able to help with information on M Special.There is the infamous photo of Sgt L Siffleet before execution but I cannot find any detail of what or where the unit operated. There is big mobs of info on Z Special,many books on unit history etc,so hopefully someone can suggest a source of reading on M Special. Thanks Rob.
Wiki has some info about it: M Special Unit, was part of the Services Reconnaissance Department, a joint Australian, New Zealand and British military intelligence reconnaissance unit, which saw action against the Empire of Japan during World War II. Unlike its counterpart, Z Special Unit (Z Special), M Special Unit's role was to gather intelligence by sending small teams behind enemy lines via infiltration by sea, air or land. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M_Special_Unit Members of M Special Unit with New Guineans in August 1945
Thanks for that Ivan, Doesn't tell you much about where they operated or anything does it. Even when you try and get unit infomation it is blocked,so guess it is still classified. Have you ever seen anything abouy M Special in a book? Cheers Rob
Yeah, I read a couple of books partly focusing on special operations in the Pacific theatre as well, but none of it did even mention this unit. Other British and American forces were covered in great detail.
Thanks for that Ivan, Doesn't tell you much about where they operated or anything does it. Even when you try and get unit infomation it is blocked,so guess it is still classified. Have you ever seen anything abouy M Special in a book? Cheers Rob Hi Rob This book looks like a good start. I agree not not much out their on M Special Unit. Soldiers of M Special Unit By Neil C. Smith Regards Anthony
G'day Anthony, Fantastic, thanks for that, have ordered one so looking forward to receiving it. Have you read it and if so what did you think? Cheers Rob
G'day all Received my copy of "Soldiers of M Special Unit" Only about 40 pages, a short history of the unit's involvement in the war in the islands and nominal roll of members who served. It seems most of those killed was by execution so it did not pay to be captured. But along with the help of friendly guerillas, over 5000 of the enemy were killed so no wonder they were not very popular. There were also many awards for gallantry. I was able to fill in a few gaps of info I was looking for so that was great. Anyway, a Merry and Safe Christmas to all. Cheers Rob
Hello Troopietraveller: I have just registered today so am not familiar with the protocol. Are you still wanting info on M special Unit? I am a Canadian who was seconded to M special in 1945 at Newman House, Caboolture, Queensland and Melville Island, Northern Territory. I was a technician on the transmitters but knew a little about some operations, in Indonesia. If you are interested I will be glad to enlarge somewhat or answer questions if I can. hanesterry
Hi Hanesterry, I am very interested in some information on M Special Unit as I have recently acquired a tunic to an Aussie digger who was in it. I have some details of his service however the details of his service with M Special Unit are quite sketchy as the records are sealed. If I email you his name could you perhaps let me know if you knew of him? He also joined M Special Unit in 1945 in Queensland. - Chris
Yes Chippo I would be glad to see whether I knew of this chap. To fill you in a bit Newman Hoouse was in Caboolture, a large home with extensive grounds owned by Malcolm Newman, a wealthy entrepreneur with connections to the Australian Govt. He made this estate available to the Armed Forces and M Special Unit took it over as their communications centre. The term South East Asia Communications Unit was also used. There were several transmitters in the transmitter shack in the back garden with a bank of receivers in the "sun room" upstairs. The surrounding paddocks had antennas for the transmitters. Regular communications schedules were maintained around the clock with London, Karachi, Chunking and some points in Australia. My job with a couple of other Canadians was to run the transmitters at the request of the receiver operators re frequencies to establish best communications conditions. Major Sears a British Army officer was in charge and there were several other officers, Australian, British and sometimes Canadian. There were various other ranks, Australians Army and Air Force there, some of whom would lead small intelligence operations into the Japanese occupied Indonesian Islands. Their on-the-ground operatives were Indonesians who had been picked up in Mecca having run out of money making their Moslem pilgrimage. These Indonesian personnel were stationed at Camp Freeman and were trained in using code and radio transceivers and in spy craft of various sorts. They then went back to their home island with one or two M Soecial men who had to keep out of sight of any Japanese (for obvious reasons). The Indonesian would pretend to be just back from Mecca and would try to ascertain information about the Japanese installations in their area. They has small transceivers which they used to contact their M Special controllers who would be in so-called safe locations on their island or perhaps a neighbouring island. We did not know much about the details of these operations I hope that this is not redundant info for you. See Peter Dunn's Oz at War Our headquarters was at Craigroyston at 160 Bowen Terrace, Brisbane. We also had an operation at Snake Bay , Melville island. I hope that this is useful to you. Do you want to use ordinary E-mail? Will be glad to check the name of your Australian Army chap. I might have know him. Terry Hanes
Have posted this elsewhere, training film M/Z Special Unit. YouTube - WWII Z Special Unit Fraser Commando School Training Film Trailer Spider
Although SGT Siffleet is listed as being a member of M Special Unit, he was captured while on an ISD (Inter-Allied Services Department) Operation code-named WHITING. A member of Z Special Unit, he was transferred to "M" whilst in the field. For more information on WHITING, see ISD Ops NG - WHITING | Special Operations Australia | Special Operations Australia . As with Z Special Unit, M Special Unit was an administrative holding unit for Australian army personnel and had no war establishment. Australian Army personnel who on paper were members of Z Special Unit may more accurately be called ISD or SRD personnel, while those assigned to M Special Unit were actually members of FELO, SIA, AIB's Combined Field Intelligence Section or even NEFIS III (Dutch field intelligence). No such thing as a Z Special Unit or M Special Unit operation, rather, they were ISD, SRD, FELO, CFIS, or SIA operations. Both M & Z were established for administrative convienience and cover. It was far more security-conscious to have a soldier's record simply state that he was "transferred to Z Special Unit" rather than "transferred to Services Reconnaissance Department Group A LMS Darwin". The structure of Z and M also allowed civilians be to inducted directly into SRD for special tasks. Several SRD Operatives were recruited straight off civvy street and commissioned as officers, causing a major kerfuffle when the AMF Headshed dictated that they attend officer training at Duntroon while they were actually out on operations. At the end of the day, cooler heads prevailed and these men weren't required to go to Duntroon, but were discharged pronto at war's end simply to get them out of the system. Interestingly, the British army had two units in Australia identical in function to Z and M Special Units. They were ME100 and ME101 - administrative holding units for British Army personnel assigned to SRD or FELO/SIA/CFIS respectively. Lots of Brits served with these units, especially after the war in Europe ended. Dozens and dozens of SOE operatives ended up transferred to SRD as well as with SOE's Force 136 in Malaya for operations against the Japanese.
Have just bought from Amazon... "Australian Commandos - Their Secret War against the Japanese in WW2" - this suggests info about the M and Z units... However, have not yet read it to know how accurate the data is... but did notice one caption had the word "grateful" spelt "greatful"... so am hoping this is not a sign of things to come. Tim
G'day Tim, If you have that book don't buy one titled Commando, as it is the same book. I found out the expensive way. Possibly the best reference for Z Special is Silent Feet by G B Courtney. Lists all operatives and the operations they were involved in. Soldiers of M Special Unit by Neil Smith also has a nominal roll. One of our Canadian forum members is listed. Enjoy the read. Cheers Rob
Terry I understand there's going to be a reunion for M and Z section veterans in Australia this VJ day... am told there will be around 40 veterans attending from all over the world - are you going ? Tim
Hi All, Sound just like the SAS or SBS or even LRDC... Small groups behind the lines action... Cheers Tom
