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Story of the 34th
Japanese Diary
Japanese Diary
These are a few extracts from a Japanese diary captured on the Treasury Islands.
| Oct. 27 4.40 am | All hands to battle stations. | ||
| 5.45 | Received attack from enemy ships. | ||
| 6.10 35 | large and small landing barges entered western entrance. Engagements. Bombardments fierce. | ||
| 6.30 | All along vicinity of the point and river No a landed and fought. HQ was CP for battle. | ||
| 7.15 | Guns destroyed. Retreated to vicinity of dispensary. | ||
| 7.23 | Mountain artillery attack began. Severe fighting at various places. | ||
| 8.25 | Retreated to line of mountain artillery positions. Caused fire on medium sized transport. | 10.25 | Battle gradually became fierce. |
| 11.25 | Run out of mountain artillery ammunition. Enemy artillery fire fierce. | ||
| 11.57 | Enemy pursuit very rapid. | ||
| 12.00 | Battle line became confused.page 140 | ||
| 1.13 pm | Large number of troops advanced from three directions. Explosions at Falamai still fierce. Decided to retreat. | ||
| 6.25 | This point completely surrounded. Went into hills. Participated in night fighting. | ||
| 11.50 | About this time assembled strength and headed towards northern coast. Decided to enter into a decisive battle. | ||
| Oct. 28 11.30 am | Friendly fighter activity seen. Our spirits were strengthened. | ||
| Oct. 29 3 am | Sent signal to friendly plane. Believe they understood. | ||
| 8.00 | Reached northern coast. Enemy signalling by whistle fierce. Reconnoitred terrain. | ||
| 4.55 pm | Ran into enemy trench mortar attack. | ||
| 5.15 | Sent out patrols everywhere. | ||
| Oct. 30 10.45 am | Patrols discovered enemy defence line. We are not yet discovered. | ||
| 10.57 | Decided to attack 'A' point. Sent out many more patrols. Reconnoitred enemy guns. | ||
| 4.25 pm | Enemy defence line is circular in shape from shore to mountains. Rations gone. | ||
| 4.50 | While planning on decisive penetration on an niversary of Emperor Meiji's birthday, considering strength of personnel and morale, decided to penetrate tomorrow night. | ||
| Oct. 31 8.30 am | Rations gone, but all hands ate roots of trees and weeds and caught a few fish. Morale did not drop. | ||
| 9.00 | As a result of contact with planes last evening, decided to penetrate 'A' point tomorrow night. | ||
| Nov. 1 6.0 am | Saw four cruisers and seven destroyers heading towards Shortlands. They are thought to be friendly. | ||
| 7.0 | Guns still firing at Shortlands. Activity of enemy PT boats fierce. (This is the last entry). |
The diary also contains sketches of the defences at Soanotalu, and the plan for the Japanese attack on the garrison there, which occurred on the night of 1 November.