What Happened to Uncle Sam ?

The fate of Captain Samuel Templeton

Officer Commanding ‘B’ Company

Without doubt, one of the 39th Battalion’s most revered senior officers was Captain Samuel Victor Templeton. On joining the Battalion at Darley as a Lieutenant, Templeton was posted to B Company, which later after further promotion he would become its Commanding Officer. He was like many of the original officers of the Battalion a veteran of the First War in which he had served with the Royal Naval Reserve as a junior gunnery officer with the Adriatic Squadron during 1918-19. Aside this service he had also been involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1917 and after the First War experienced action during the Spanish Civil War as a member of the International Brigade, a band of volunteers from all nationalities who had made their own passage to Spain to fight the Communists.

He gave his age when joining the Australian Army in 1940 as thirty-nine, this was a common ploy by those who were over age for active service during the Second War. The age requirement for enlistment stipulated one had to be thirty-nine or under to gain entry, hence the term of the day ‘Thirty-Nine Liars” as many First War Veterans in their Forties or at times older reduced their true age to fulfill the requirements to join up. He was actually well into his Forties at the time of his attestation, having been born on the 12th of April, 1900 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Sam immigrated to Australia in the 1920’s where he gained employment with the Victorian Railways, later leaving this to become Manager of Corns Pastry-cooks. In 1931 he joined the 5th Battalion, the Victorian Scottish Regiment with whom he gained his Commission on the 25th October 1939. On his enlistment he was a married man, with one son residing in East Brighton, a bayside suburb of Melbourne.

After training at Darley he along with the rest of the Battalion sailed aboard the ‘Aquitania” bound for Port Moresby. Whilst on board, Lieutenant Templeton was one of those officers of the Battalion who volunteered to assist in instructing personnel in Gunnery Training, drawing from his experiences with the Royal Navy during the previous War, as the ship had no trained crew to man its armourerments defense.

After arrival in Moresby he like the rest of his comrades suffered the daily gruel of life in the tropics. Over the next months the Battalion gradually lost its more senior aged members as once at their action station the realities of service in such conditions took its toll on the First War veterans in the ranks. Many were either sent to non-combatant units or sent back to Australia marked as ‘B’ Class. Templeton was one of the few that remained. He gained his Captaincy and was made Commanding Officer of B Company.

All those who have been interviewed over the years who served under him speak highly of his professionalism and soldering qualities. He was a strict disciplinarian but as well was very fatherly to those under his command. By the time B Company had been earmarked to be the first of the Battalion to go over the mountains to face the Japanese Army he had gained from all under his command, from Privates to the Commissioned ranks, their total respect and loyalty.

During the seven-day hike across the Owen Stanley’s Captain Templeton had made himself an inspiration to his men, who in the majority were half his age. Some of those of B Company recall how he would go up and down the line of men as they toiled under their equipment, encouraging them as they went, helping others who were finding the going tough by carrying their rifles to give them momentary relief.

Jack Wilkinson, who was amongst those of the first Company to cross the mountains noted in his diary. 7/7/42, “Made Iorabaiwa. Had carriers for our packs and just as well. Felt the trip more then the first day. Two long hills to climb. Missed out on tea as I was with last of the troops. Had a job to get some of them to make it. ‘Uncle Sam’ came back and helped me about half way up the last hill. Was carrying four rifles and three packs and had doubts about making it myself. ‘Uncle Sam’ insisted on carrying all my gear as well as that of others”. Another member of B Company recalled seeing Sam at one time during the trek with at least four rifles over his shoulders. It was thought by some of those under his command, that given the fact he was continually going from front to rear of the column to keep the men going that he did the journey twice as many times as the rest of the Company. After seven days B Company arrived at its destination, Kokoda.

After arrival at Kokoda Captain Templeton set off for Buna to make sure that the Company’s stores and heavy equipment had arrived safely. Prior to the Company’s departure for Kokoda an advanced party had boarded the schooner “Gili Gili' under the supervision of B Company’s Quarter Master Sergeant Allan Collyer. After his return to Kokoda the sounds of battle could be heard coming from the North. The Japanese had started their invasion of New Guinea by accomplishing landings at Buna and further around the coast at Gona and Sananada.

Templeton sent out his 11 Platoon under Lieutenant Mortimore forward, 12 Platoon under Lieutenant Seekamp was to follow and 10 Platoon under Lieutenant Garland were ordered to remain at Kokoda to defend the small air strip which was needed to allow reinforcements to be landed.

Lieutenant Seekamp’s 11 Platoon had been posted to hold the village of Awala, whilst 12 Platoon were ordered to protect the track between Awala and Kokoda near the village of Gorari. The Battalion’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Bill Owen arrived by plane at Kokoda where Captain Templeton was waiting to meet him. After the CO’s arrival both officers then headed off to join the two advanced Platoons of B Company. Meanwhile these Platoons had been engaged in rear guard actions, aside a successful ambush which Seekamp’s men had laid on the unsuspecting Japanese at Awala. By the time Templeton and Owen turned up 11 Platoon had fallen back on the village of Gorari. Reinforcements had been requested and these were expected at any moment. Owen before leaving to return to Kokoda to meet these ordered the advanced Platoon’s of B Company to make a stand 800 yards East of Gorari. After dispersing his men Owen left to meet the reinforcements.

After his departure the ambush of advancing Japanese at Gorari was effected. However given the overwhelming force of Japanese which were almost about to over whelm the 39th’s positions these two Platoons had to be withdrawn to a new defensive position. The two Platoons broke contact and fell back on the little village of Oivi, to await what was hoped to be at least one fresh Company of the 39th to reinforce the depleted ranks of B Company. Instead of a Company the plane which arrived at Kokoda carried only half of one Platoon of D Company, this was 16 Platoon under Lieutenant McLean. Owen quickly ordered these to go forward to join 11 and 12 Platoon, which were now holding grimly onto their positions at Oivi. The Japanese made the first of their assaults on the 39’s men at Oivi in the mid afternoon just after Lieutenant McLean’s men had arrived and been dispersed. It was believed that the other half of 16 Platoon had already been landed at Kokoda and it was with the aim of meeting up with these that Captain Templeton left the defensive position at Oivi to guide in the rest of 16 Platoon under Sergeant Morrison.

He left his Second in Command Captain Stevenson as well Major Watson (the Commanding Officer of the P.I.B) to take control of the three Platoons in his absence and set out alone to meet the rest of 16 Platoon.

which he believed were about to arrive at any moment.

It has been mentioned in several books that within moments of Captain Templeton leaving that ‘a burst of fire’ was heard from the direction he had gone and that that was the last that wa ever seen of him. However its been discovered that this burst of fire was a single pistol shot probably fired by Templeton himself. Sergeant Martorana of 12 Platoon recalled that at the time it was heard he had just approached Major Watson to ask where Templeton had gone. On being told he had gone to bring in the rest of 16 Platoon he remarked that “that doesn’t sound like Sam”, at least two other members of B Company as well heard the single pistol shot and felt certain that Captain Templeton had walked straight into a group of Japanese along the track and that he must of fired on them. They did not hear any return rifle fire, and assumed he had been captured. A member of B Company who went out after Captain Templeton and followed him a short distance was ordered by Templeton to return to the position as he wanted no escort. Within moments of this man doing as ordered he heard the single shot and then heard the Japanese calling out ‘Corporal White”. Sergeant Martorana as soon as he heard the shot believed his Captain was in trouble and asked their guide Sonopa, along with Privates Evans and Luxmoore to come with him to see if they could find Captain Templeton. After getting near to the spot where the single shot had come from Sonopa halted them saying he “could smell them”. Within moments of the four dispersing to the side of the track they could see large groups of Japanese advancing towards them. Without hope of out gunning these Sergeant Martorana ordered all to return to Oivi. This they did and made it safely back unmolested.

Captain Templeton’s body was never located. The Japanese advanced on masse, and the defensive perimeter of the 39th which was threatened with being outflanked was hastily withdrawn to fall back on the Kokoda Plantation where it engaged the Japanese in the first real Battle of Kokoda.

Head Quarters Southern Command received news of the disappearance and probable death of Captain Templeton. An official Telegram was sent to his wife Doris at East Brighton and later followed his personal effects, which had been left at Kokoda prior to his last actions at Gorari and Oivi. For a time his Army file was closed. The search for his body had been officially abandoned and his official fate was amended to read Missing in Action 27th July 1942 and for Official purposed Presumed Killed in Action.

During the later campaigns in the North of Papua an amount of Japanese Intelligence Reports were captured, these included references to the Yokyama Advanced Force’s operations during August at Kokoda. One of these summaries caused the fate of Captain Templeton to be re-examined and a new investigation to be started.

When one of these captured reports was translated it read in part:-

‘Yokayama advanced groups entered battle with 39 Aust Bn led by Capt. Templeton. 2 Prisoners. One of them was Capt. Templeton, 5 more Prisoners.

This report was received by Queensland L of C Area Records Office in February 1943. As well as this report another Japanese Intelligence Report was entitled ‘Enemy Terrain Situation”, and included details which had been taken during the interrogation of a captured Australian Captain taken prisoner in the Kokoda area . This information included the number of Australians, which confronted the Japanese advance, and in part read ‘that a battalion of about 1000 men, commanded by a Colonel had arrived in that area some 10 days before. In addition there were believed to be 500 to 600 Papua New Guinea troops with European Officers along the Mambare River”

There is no doubt that the captured officer was Templeton and it would be assumed that after his capture he endeavored to bluff his captors into believing that the strength of the Australian force in the Kokoda area was vastly larger then it was. It was his last effort to delay the Japanese from totally overwhelming the 39th’s positions at Kokoda. He had given them a totally false estimate, which was some ten times the amount that there really was and by doing so forced the Japanese to re evaluate their position. Effectively buying his comrades some little time to regroup and be reinforced. This was a brave move on his behalf as he was totally on his own and had little if any chance of making good an escape but did what ever he could to assist those of his men and fellow officers who were still defending the Kokoda area against largely superior force.

It has been assumed that after his capture the Japanese dispensed with him after gathering all the useful information his captors felt they would obtain. There are certainly several instances when the Japanese executed their prisoners soon after interrogation. How ever there was one more sighting of him shortly after this period. When the 39th Battalion Association returned to New Guinea for one of they’re first pilgrimages to the former battle ground in 1967. A local villager who had lived in the area during the campaign of 1942 approached one of its members. The villager spoke of an Australian Captain who was a prisoner and was in a cage on his own at Oro Bay on the coast. It was presumed that the captive was waiting to be transported to Rabaul which was then an advanced operational Base for the Japanese and it is certain that other captured officers from the New Guinea area had been taken back there over 1942. There is no captured Japanese documents to prove or disprove this but it must be remembered that captured officers were of great interest to Japanese Intelligence. It is unlikely that an officer would be so quickly done away with if there was any chance of securing more information which would assist the Japanese at a later date. It would be more likely that the first interrogation, which he was submitted to was to gather information about the immediate area and the Australians that confronted them and that he was possibly taken back for transportation to Rabaul for more thorough interrogation after this. He however definitely did not survive captivity and his official date of death to this day is still unknown.

Army Records kept his file open and marked it Missing in Action and Believed Prisoner of War until July 1945, where it was amended to read Believed Deceased on or after the 27th July 1942.

Captain Templeton faced his captivity as he commanded his Company, with great resilience and placing the welfare of his men and fellow officers in front of his own, right to the end. He no doubtly assisted the rest of those of his comrades at Kokoda by slowing down the Japanese, by making them more cautious of what lay ahead of them at Kokoda. This in its self may have saved the lives of many of those still defending Kokoda as had the Japanese advanced swiftly and with the knowledge that only a mere hundred or more Australians were before them then it is quite definite that the two thousand or more Japanese would have had a swift victory.

What of the other Prisoners whom the Japanese had claimed to have captured ? The soldier, which is reported to have been captured at the time Captain Templeton was taken Prisoner, is more then likely Private Sydney Moffatt who disappeared the night prior to Templeton being taken. He had been sent out as a runner from the advanced Platoons, to report back to Kokoda during the action at Gorari and of whom no trace was ever found. For the other five, of whom all are undoubtedly B Company men, there is two explanations. After Templeton went missing it is said a small patrol was sent out to locate him, these again were never seen again. Although this may be confused with Sergeant Martorana’s small group who went out after him and were forced back. The second theory is that when the beleaguered Platoons at Oivi extracted themselves to regroup at Kokoda that maybe some did not get the message to break contact. This was a belief that Sergeant Martorana held when he was interviewed some sixty years after the battle. The order to withdraw had been passed around from man to man, but he believed that a few may never of got the message and were thus left behind in the confusion.

Close examination of the Battalion’s Nominal Roll reveals that eight of B Company were missing believed dead, and who have no known graves. At least one of these (Private David Preistley) can be discounted completely as he was believed to have been blown clear over the escarpment at Kokoda when his weapon pit received a direct hit. What is known is that the Japanese have made no mention of them by name and having already captured a senior officer would have had little use for those Private soldiers who fell into their hands. An advancing army, fighting in such a terrain, has little resources for prisoners, and it must be presumed that these members of B Company were put to death soon after capture, maybe in the site of Captain Templeton in an attempt to extract the information which they knew he must have had knowledge of.

These men all lived to the high ideals of their country and died in its defense. They faced their foe with staunch courage and it can only be hoped what ever their end transpired to be, that such was swift and merciful.

This article on Captain Sam Templeton has been reproduced with the full permission of the author Carl Johnson from the original text of Mud over blood .
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