CHAPTER FIVE
AMBUSHED
Michael once again was called into the Commanders office and given a new brief. That of a patrol in an area that had not seen any activity during the past few months. In fact very little was known about the area. Apparently a high level recognisance air craft had spotted what was believed to be several long columns of enemy troops passing through the area. The information certainly needed investigating as the war boundaries were constantly changing on their maps.
As was usual Michael was granted full permission to take out all of his team. They wasted no time in setting off with Geordie and a Nard leading the way. Followed closely by Michael and Hoi, they being very hard to separate. As was usual Don dropped back and took up the position of tail end charlie. Michael had decided to stick to known tracks for the first part of the trip and to make up his plans as he went along, not knowing what he may find.
The first part of the patrol was uneventful and could almost be classed as boring. Although that's something that military personnel should never contemplate and a bad habit in thinking that way. All team members must be alert at all times, never knowing what's around the next corner until it hits you.
Just as the light began to fade they found themselves in a small clearing and so Michael called a halt for the day. To play safe two guards were posted a couple of hundred meters up each track. Where they set up a couple of trip flares as a signal to all, if by chance they broke the rules and nodded off during the night. It would be tough with very little sleep being enjoyed by the team that night. "Better to be safe than sorry," as Michael always added in situations like this. Although it was well known that most military personnel are used to getting very little sleep. However, what little they do get is deep and enough to keep them going for many days. Of cause there are those that could sleep during a full scale battle, but they can be counted on the fingers of both hands.
In the morning they were not in a hurry to get started as they had no targets to reach during the day, other than a couple of kilometers. It was still a case of see what turns up. However, Michael did have the map reference of the enemy columns that had been sighted earlier. Although they were still another days march from that destination.
Halfway through the day they were suddenly surprised to find that the track was rising out of the jungle while hugging a sheer rock face of what could best be described as a rock face to their left. While to the right it dropped away about fifteen meters, although the forest canopy at this point still towered above them by a few meters.
later they came across a deep rock ravine across the track in front of them. There was a single large log laying across the ten meter gap of the ravine. Michael called a break and the team took up a defensive position. As Hoi pointed out to Michael there were fresh tracks leading to and from the log. It had definitely been used within the past few hours.
Michael hand signalled to Don and Geordie that he wished to talk. He had come up with a plan of setting up an ambush on the log. "What better place," he told them, and with plenty of cover for the whole team to be able to concentrate their field of fire onto the log. There certainly would be no place for the enemy to escape accept to retreat. However, if it were set up correctly it could reap a much better result. Don pointed out that they would only be able to take out maybe one or two on the log. As the log was not long enough to accommodate anymore. However, Michael also pointed out that on the other side it disappeared back into the jungle. Here on their side they were actually standing with their back to a small rock face, only about four meters high above them. If some of the team were to lay on the top facing on to the log and the other side of the ravine. Then some could lay on the track they were standing on, but about ten or more meters further back. This way they could let several enemy across the log and along the track towards the team on the track, before they all hit their targets. It was an unusual plan, but Michael thought it just might work.
The evening meal was forgotten as Michael was wanting to use the last of the day light getting his team into position.
Michael ordered the team to take up positions that he indicated. He was in a hurry and as they were already on the track there was no need to approach lying areas from the rear. However, he did use a couple of the Nards to try and camouflage the area the best that they could. A hand operated trip flare was set up just in front of the log where it perched on their side of the ravine by the rock face. A large rock was place by the side of the flare facing the team on the track. So as not to blind them when it was detonated. Although Michael would be laying on the rock face directly above it. He gave the trip wire detonation job to the team laying back along the track. This was done so that as many of the enemy as possible would be allowed in to the trap. It was felt that the area would be quite dark and hard for Michael to judge the best time to pull the trip wire. Whereas the guys laying on the track would be able to see the enemy walking up towards them. They were only to detonate when the enemy was almost on top of them. As Don put it "Until they could see the whites in their eyes." That detonation would be the signal for all hell to be let lose.
By the time it was completely dark all was in place, and now it was just a case of laying in wait. Whoever was to walk into this trap, were only going to be carried out in black bags. Michael had the luxury of knowing that the locals did not normally move around at night. So providing he was right, whoever walked into this trap were bound to be the enemy.
The wait seemed to drag on as there was no sign of anybody moving. Furthermore there was nothing happening to take their mind off the wait. Mind you if Michael were to know that some one's mind was wandering, he would let them know in what he called a server military dressing down.
Sometime during the early part of the night a slight noise could be heard far away in the distance. Although nobody seemed to know in what direction, let alone what it was. Very slowly it gradually grew a little louder, and seemed to be getting closer. Next minute it seemed to be on top of then, only now it was a very loud roar. Michaels first reaction was to think it was a land slide of some description, and that they might be in danger. All of a sudden the trees in the jungle canopy around them started swaying and bending over to an alarming angle. While at the same time it started to rain very hard. Later Michael could only describe the downpour as the heaviest he had heard and witnessed for many years. The rain fell so hard that the noise was by now deafening. It was so loud that the guys lying down below Michaels position where shouting at him that they were in danger of drowning, but he could not hear them. Both were tugging frantically on their vine, and after a few minutes it snapped. Michael then broke his own golden rule, and in the dark he climbed down from the rock he was lying on. Slowly and cautiously he made his way to where the three guys were lying on the track. In the hope that they would recognise him and not shoot. Unaware that the position was in a low spot on the track and by now it was full of water. Only their heads and weapons could be seen above the water.
Now Michael had no contact with those up on the rock, but realised that he had to call off the ambush, and to somehow move these guys to higher ground. However, at this moment in time dry ground was totally out of the question. He indicated to them to follow him, to the position he had just left. While all the time hoping that the guys he had earlier left up on the rock would not shoot him by mistake as it was dark. The climb on wet rock and in the dark was hard and a couple of times two of them slipped back to the ground hurting themselves. It took almost half an hour, but in the end all were safely on top of the rock face. As for getting dry that was out of the question. They all had to spend the rest of the night shivering with cold. While it continued to rain very heavy for a several more hours.
The early morning day light did not show them in a good photographic pose. All were be-draggled, still very wet and tired. Michael decided to get them as far away from this spot as was possible, hopefully to a clearing where the morning sun could help dry their cloths. He decided to cross the log br
idge rather than go back and have to find another way ahead. In doing that he might have lost a whole days march. Although a little bit of care had to be taken on the log as it was still very wet and slippery.
Once clear of the ravine they dropped into a routine like they had been trained and all of a sudden it became a normal patrol. As they started to pay attention to what was happening around them.
However, they were out of luck with the first clearing they came upon, as it gave no cover for a defensive position. So some could guard, while others tried to dry their clothes. Michael was a hard task manager and kept them going until he found a better spot. However, by then most of their cloths had already dried upon their bodies. In fact they were just starting to get wet again with their sweat. The spot was ideal for a night stop over. Michael set about posting guards and picking spots where everybody could settle down for the night. This night all of them received a little light sleep, that was most welcome.
An hour after day break Michaels team set off on an existing track. Looking for signs that it had been used by many of the enemy. This was the area where the suspected intelligence information had originated from. This was where the patrol would have to slow up in order that they did not miss anything. They would also have to be on full alert at all times. Knowing that the enemy would want to protect their hidden highway supply routes across the country.
The first couple of hours were un eventful. However, the pains taking slow pace that they were advancing along the track was rewarded. When the patrol was suddenly halted and Michael was signalled to silently go up front. At the same time other signals were also passed back that dead silences was required, and that their lives depended on it. Slowly the lead man took a couple of careful steps back to meet Michael. Then getting as close to his ear as possible he then very quietly spoke, "There is a trip wire across the track up ahead."
It only took a few seconds for the patrol to very carefully meter by meter move backwards along the track. Michael was determine to put as much space between them and the trip wire as possible.
It was almost half an hour before Michael stopped the patrol and signalled Don and Geordie towards him. Michael told them what had been spotted and it was his believe that it was a trip wire for an ambush. However, lady luck was once again with them, as they had approached if from the wrong side. It's possible that the ambushers were laying in wait on the other side of the wire. Although they had no way of knowing. However they had a little silent chuckle at the enemies expense. Especially if they had heard them approaching on the track, but could do nothing about their retreat.
The patrol back tracked for over an hour until they arrived at a junction, and then set off in another direction. After an hour they took a short break while Michael had a look at his map and talked to Don of what he was planning. After the ill fated patrol in which they had lost one of the team while crossing a river. Michael had changed the rules by allowing Don to also carry a map. It was a lesson leant the hard way, and although they could not turn back the clock. They could at least learn a lesson from it. Whereas it was not necessary for all the members of the team to carry maps. However, in Dons case being the second in command there was no reason why he could not carry a set. Although, it had to also be appreciated that the more who carried maps, the more chance there was of them dropping into enemy hands. It was for this reason that any comments that members of the team added to the map had to be a code.
This time when they set off Chuck was on point duty with Michael close behind. With the thought in the back of their minds that they had just survived an ambush. They did not need to be reminded that they had to be vigilant and alert at all times. There was no doubt that they were definitely in enemy held territory. Slowly they made their way along the track making sure that they did not miss any tell tale signs. At times like this some of the team can become a little apprehensive and nervous about what might be ahead. However, this is human nature and has to be overcome at all costs. Otherwise the surprise of any contact would affect the teams planned response.
After a further hour had passed, once again they took a break. In which Michael made his way up to the point position followed very closely by Hoi. It had been some time since they had taken a turn in this position, but wanted to share the work. After all it was his motto to lead from the front, so he had to be seen doing just that.
Once on the move again, slowly they made their way along the track. About thirty minutes in, Michael noticed that the jungle seemed to go quiet. However, before he could think of what it might be. A shot rang out behind him and to his left. His immediate response was to take a pace forward and to his right and to dive into the undergrowth and the base of a large tree just off the track. Then almost immediately as another couple of shots rang out. Somebody landed on top of him, knocking the wind from his chest. It could only have been Hoi as he was right behind him. It was as if he was trying to protect him. Then a couple more shots rang out. Michaels first thoughts were of an ambush, and that he had just walked into one. And that his executioners were not very well trained, using far too much ammunition for the hit. It was only then that he realised that he could possibly be killed if he were to make a wrong move.
Hoi was quite heavy and Michael felt uncomfortable with him laying on his back. At first Michael thought that Hoi was dead, but after a few seconds he realised that he could hear him breathing close to his right ear. However, there was no noise coming from the ambush position. There was an eerie silence and Michael was not sure what to do next. Not wanting to make any movement in case the enemy were watching for tell tale signs that their prey were still alive. If they were, it was a fore gone conclusion that a further bullet would be pumped into their body.
It was hard for Michael to know what to do next, not having been in this situation before. Although he had taught others during their training. Now was the time for him to practice what he had preached so many times. He decided to stay frozen for as long as possible.
After what seemed like a life time, while in fact it was just a few minutes he started to realise that the ambushers had not left their position to check the condition of the bodies. That he knew were probably laying behind them on the track. With luck they might be trying to move from their position just in case the ambushed patrol was longer than they had first thought. The truth is he really had no idea of what lay behind them on the track.
After about fifteen minutes, Hoi who had not moved a muscle at any time suddenly spoke into his right ear. Saying "Now we move into the jungle." With that he slid off Michaels body and slowly managed to move a little further into the jungle. Once Hoi was clear of him Michael followed for about ten meters. Then both got up onto their knees and crept deeper into the virgin jungle. About ten minutes later they stopped and finally looked at each other and talked very quietly. To their amazement neither had been hit. As for the other members on the team they had no idea.
However, they both realised that they had probably been allowed through the trap in order to catch the main body of the patrol following.
Unbeknown to Michael and Hoi, six members of the team in line behind them had been killed.
While Don and Geordie had both survived having been at the back of the patrol. However, the team had been trained in what to do in a situation like this. After dropping back from the ambush position Don regrouped what was left of the patrol. After a head count he realised that there was just ten of them still alive from the original eighteen. He quickly assessed the situation as to whether he could help the members of the team that were down.
Don knew the orders from the Commander had been to see and not be seen. However, this was different. There were eight members down, their position had been compromised. So nothing was to be gained by running away and to possibly leaving wounded comrades to die in agony. The prospect of having to deal with wounded did not even cross his mind at this moment in time. Wherever possible Michael would do his best to help the wounded if he was in change. Wasn
't it him who had told the Nards that nobody will be left behind.
Don sent two members up the track and to take up defensive position while just in view of the first member they could see lying on the track. Their job was to cover the track and kill anybody who tried to use it to escape. That they were to be prepared for an attack upon the enemy's position, which would be from their right hand side. Quietly he told them to make it up as they went along. Briefing the rest of the team he told them that he intended to go into the jungle fan out and advance along towards the enemy who he hoped with still in a laying position. That under no circumstance were they to end up going on to the track. If they did, then the two guys he had just dispatch to go back up the track would probably take them out.
Dons team had spread themselves out within seeing distance of each other while on unknown ground. Making their way slowly towards where they believed the ambushers were still laying. Trying to be silent and not to make a giveaway sound of their position. Something that's very hard to do in the jungle as there are always dead vegetation waiting to be stepped on. That would give their position away. One of the Nards was the first to see where he thought the enemy were, and managed to notify Don and a couple of the others with hand signals. Don made the decision that they were not to get any closer giving their position away to the enemy. He needed surprise to make this attack work. As he raised his riffle up to his shoulder, the other members of the team did likewise knowing what was about to take place.
As soon as Dons shot rang out, other members of his team also pumped shots into the ambusher laying area. They also had the advantage that the ambushers were laying across their arc of fire, Don and his team advance towards them still shooting. Some of the enemy had to almost stand up in order to turn to their left to fire. And some ended up firing across their fellow soldiers. However, some did not make it and were hit before they realised what was happening. It was believed that two might have escaped, but nobody really knew for sure. To the amazement of Don not one of the team had been hit. Don shouted out to the two guys he had left on the track. Telling them that he was about to check the body's of their friends lying on the track. Realising before he reached them that none of them were alive, and he was correct. He quickly shouted to the two guards again. Telling them to turn around and to now guard the track from the opposite direction. While dispatching to other members of the team to guard the other end of the tack facing outwards. Close to the where Michael and Hoi had been lying.
It was only now that Don realised that there were two bodies missing. That of Michael and Hoi, and asked remaining members of the team to look out for them. However, they could not be found. After the fire fight it was a fore gone conclusion that anybody with in ear shot of the position would have been pre warned that a short skirmish had taken place. For once Don did not need to be worried and about noise, as he shouted out very loud "Michael Michael" but there was no answer.
Mean while both Michael and Hoi had heard the fire fight and wondered what was going on. Followed by the calling but did not understand what was being said. Playing it safe they chose to stay where they were. While Hoi found a large nearby tree that had very large roots that fanned out a couple of meters into the ground. While the other end joined the tree about a meter and a half up the trunk. He picked up a stick and started hitting on the root, that was only about 100 millimeters thick. To Michaels amazement a high pitched tapping noise could be heard. Hoi told Michael that his people use it as a means of contacting each other. When struck it sounds like a drum and travels through the jungle great distances. As Michael sat there listening he was surprised to hear an answer not too far away. It suddenly gave Michael an idea and he asked Hoi if he could have a go. Michael had decided to use Morse code and to tap out who he was. He started with the most common of messages, that of S.O.S. Dit-Dit-Dit, Dah, Dah, Dah, Dit-Dit-Dit. After a few moments an answer came back that it was Don. Adding that if they were to hurry it would be safe to return. Realising that if they could hear the tom toms as he called it, so could everybody else within the vicinity. With Hoi's help they managed to retrace their steps, and after half an hour they found themselves very close to the track, and called out to Don letting him know they were in the area. Within minutes they were shaking each other's hands, and giving an account of how they had managed to escape.
Don had given orders for the team to drag the body's off the track and to try and bury them best they could, after stripping them of anything useful, especially ammunition and weapons. One identification tag had to be taken from around their neck leaving the second one on the body. In case at a later date somebody was to find and want to identify them. The position of the shallow make shift graves was then marked on a map for later reference, and would be given the camp intelligence officer. Who would deal with any recovering of the body's at a later date when the area was secured.
Considering that they had been in the area now for more than a hour. Michael made the decision to move as fast as they could. However, they would still have to be on their toes in case the enemy were to try and catch them out. Although they had passed along the track earlier, it was not to say it was still all clear. The enemy might have pre-empt their strategy, and be laying in wait for them. They had not really gathered much information on the enemy, other than to say that at least they were very active in the area, and were a force to be reckoned with.
Michael realised that he had to end the patrol and to make their way back to base camp, having lost six members of the team.
Even though they were making their way home. It did not mean that they would not walk onto more trouble. They would have to be alert just like any other time when they were on patrol. The journey back was uneventful and took them much longer than they had first thought. Finally arriving safe and sound back at base camp after a four day march.