Captain Bill Sherlock was in charge of the small group of about 100. They were expecting to defend themselves against a Japanese patrol of 300. Allan Smith was a message runner for Captain Sherlock and remembers hearing the initial Japanese mortars fired before first light on 28 January 1943: “Sherlock said to me ‘better go forward and see what’s happening’, so I went with him. If the Japs had lowered their sights a bit they would have cut us in half.” Sherlock then withdraw the company to a defensive spot 300m down the ridge. Estimates
of the number of Japanese who attacked Wau were 2,200, not the expected 300. One soldier noted
the Japanese were coming over the hill above the Australian position in such numbers that they looked like ants. The battle raged all day with ammunition and mortar bombs running critically short and casualties mounting. Captain Sherlock with a section of the newly arrived 10 platoon and some commandos, immediately
led a bayonet charge and recaptured 9 Platoon’s overrun position.
