The story of

The Sparrows

–Battle of Britain gunners

who defended Timor​​​

as part of ​Sparrow Force

during World War II.​​

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Sjt. Hepburn, James Robert 1427448

Sjt. Hepburn, James Robert 1427448

I knew my father was a prisoner of war in the Far East and that at the end of the war he was repatriated back to the UK via Canada. He...

Pte. Val 'Powerful' Richards TX6412 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

This is one of the earlier unedited research interviews conducted by Grant McLachlan for his book Sparrow: A Chronicle of Defiance, which...

Pte. Ron Cassidy TX3949 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

This is one of the earlier unedited research interviews conducted by Grant McLachlan for his book Sparrow: A Chronicle of Defiance, which...

SURVIVORS: Pte. Claude Longey TX4802 and Pte. Arthur Richardson TX3872 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Location: Philippines. Date: September 15, 1944. ​If ever there was a story of survival to encapsulate the true grit of Sparrow Force,...
The Chilcott family - two generations and two wars

The Chilcott family - two generations and two wars

(From left to right) Dvr. Chilcott, Thomas T23066 (Wilfred's father who served in WW1 at Gallipoli and served in the 10 Auxiliary Horse...
Reinforcements, 40th Battalion, 2nd A.I.F., Brighton, 16 December 1941

Reinforcements, 40th Battalion, 2nd A.I.F., Brighton, 16 December 1941

(click on photograph to view PDF format version of this photograph with captions.) BACK: ?, F.Jarvis TX8314, ?, ?, E.Poke TX5917,...

L/Cpl. Clyde McKay TX4763 & Dvr. Lloyd Harding TX3675 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion AIF

This is the first unedited research interview conducted by Grant McLachlan for his book Sparrow: A Chronicle of Defiance, which is about...

Pte. Bert Price TX2781 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion & 2/2 Independent Company AIF

This is the first unedited research interview conducted by Grant McLachlan for his book Sparrow: A Chronicle of Defiance, which is about...
Cpl.	William E. Garlick TX2759 - 4 Platoon (Carriers, HQ Co.) 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Cpl. William E. Garlick TX2759 - 4 Platoon (Carriers, HQ Co.) 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Scott Jones, the grandson of William Garlick, sent these photos of William's display at The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum in...
Maj. Adanto D'Amore & Louis Zamperini

Maj. Adanto D'Amore & Louis Zamperini

Frank Tinker, Louis Zamperini, Pete Zamperini, Adanto D'Amore & Leroy Schneider in the Persian Room, Hotel Sir Francis Drake, San...
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Sjt. Hepburn, James Robert 1427448

Sjt. Hepburn, James Robert 1427448

Pte. Val 'Powerful' Richards TX6412 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Pte. Ron Cassidy TX3949 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

SURVIVORS: Pte. Claude Longey TX4802 and Pte. Arthur Richardson TX3872 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

The Chilcott family - two generations and two wars

The Chilcott family - two generations and two wars

Reinforcements, 40th Battalion, 2nd A.I.F., Brighton, 16 December 1941

Reinforcements, 40th Battalion, 2nd A.I.F., Brighton, 16 December 1941

L/Cpl. Clyde McKay TX4763 & Dvr. Lloyd Harding TX3675 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion AIF

Pte. Bert Price TX2781 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion & 2/2 Independent Company AIF

Cpl.	William E. Garlick TX2759 - 4 Platoon (Carriers, HQ Co.) 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Cpl. William E. Garlick TX2759 - 4 Platoon (Carriers, HQ Co.) 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Maj. Adanto D'Amore & Louis Zamperini

Maj. Adanto D'Amore & Louis Zamperini

Liberated Sparrow Force soldiers in Singapore, Sept 1945

Liberated Sparrow Force POWs in Sumatra, September 1945

Liberated Sparrow Force POWs in Sumatra, September 1945

Fl/Lt. Jack Lyle MacAlister RAAF MBE DFC

Fl/Lt. Jack Lyle MacAlister RAAF MBE DFC

Major-General Timothy Cape VX74788, CB, CBE, DSO - Sparrow Force HQ

Capt. Rolf Baldwin VX50054 - 2/2 Independent Company

Spr. Ken Hickey NX38704 - 2/1 Fortress Engineers

Spr. Ken Hickey NX38704 - 2/1 Fortress Engineers

Activities at 2/2 Commando Squadron camp, Rabaul, 5-8 October 1945.

2/2 Australian Cavalry Commando Squadron, Faita

Australian guerrillas on Timor, 8-24 November 1943.

Pvt. Edward Francis Saunders TX8342 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Pvt. Edward Francis Saunders TX8342 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Maj. Adanto D'Amore - USAAF Doctor

Lt. John Strickland TX1559 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Lt. John Strickland TX1559 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Gnr. Lionel 'Curley' Freeman NX39392 - 2/1 Heavy Battery RAA (& 2/2 Independent Company)

Gnr. Lionel 'Curley' Freeman NX39392 - 2/1 Heavy Battery RAA (& 2/2 Independent Company)

Bdr. Arthur 'Jock' Compton #1552186 - 79th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery RA

Bdr. Arthur 'Jock' Compton #1552186 - 79th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery RA

L/Cpl. Maxwell Page TX4089 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

L/Cpl. Maxwell Page TX4089 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion

Cpl. Maxwell Arthur Kerkham TX3735 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion AIF

Cpl. Maxwell Arthur Kerkham TX3735 - 2/40 Infantry Battalion AIF