Jack Wong Sue
Encyclopedia
Jack Wong Sue, OAM
, DCM
, JP
also known as Jack Sue (12 September 1925 – 16 November 2009) was a Chinese Australian
from Perth, Western Australia
. Wong Sue served as a member of the commando/special reconnaissance
section, Z Special Unit
.
After the war, Wong Sue was a businessman, owning a diving
store in the Perth suburb of Midland
. He was also an author, a guide for tours of Borneo and a musician, who performed with bands in Perth for about 60 years.
(RAAF). During 1945, Wong Sue was among members of Z Special Unit who landed in Borneo
, as part of Operation Agas 3. He reached the substantive rank of Leading Aircraftsman, but acted as a Sergeant
for an extended period and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
(DCM).
In 2010, Australian military historian Lynette Silver disputed claims made by Wong Sue in his memoirs and said that official archives prove that he "lied". In particular, she questioned Wong Sue's claims that he:
In early 2011, Jack Wong Sue's son, Barry, released a report which he stated refuted the claims made by Silver against his father.
, the first such store in Western Australia.
His published works include two books published circa 2001: a memoir of his military service, Blood on Borneo, and a collection of anecdotes regarding a 1963 shipwreck, Ghost of the Alkimos
. In 2006, Wong Sue was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
, "For service to the community, particularly through the preservation and recording of military and maritime history." He died in a Perth hospice, aged 84, on 16 November 2009.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
also known as Jack Sue (12 September 1925 – 16 November 2009) was a Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian
Chinese Australian is an Australian of Chinese heritage. In the 2006 Australian Census, 669,890 Australian residents identified themselves as having Chinese ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry....
from Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Wong Sue served as a member of the commando/special reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
section, Z Special Unit
Z Special Unit
Z Special Unit was a joint Allied special forces unit formed during the Second World War to operate behind Japanese lines in South East Asia...
.
After the war, Wong Sue was a businessman, owning a diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
store in the Perth suburb of Midland
Midland, Western Australia
Midland is a suburb in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Great Northern...
. He was also an author, a guide for tours of Borneo and a musician, who performed with bands in Perth for about 60 years.
War service
On 25 September 1943, Wong Sue joined the Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF). During 1945, Wong Sue was among members of Z Special Unit who landed in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, as part of Operation Agas 3. He reached the substantive rank of Leading Aircraftsman, but acted as a Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
for an extended period and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
(DCM).
In 2010, Australian military historian Lynette Silver disputed claims made by Wong Sue in his memoirs and said that official archives prove that he "lied". In particular, she questioned Wong Sue's claims that he:
- single-handedly killed a group of Japanese soldiers at TerusanTerusanTerusan is a town or settlement in Sabah, Malaysia. It is about three feet above sea level, and the approximate population within a seven-kilometer radius was 818 as of 2004....
, Borneo in May 1945, thereby saving the life of Lieutenant Don Harlem, as there were no enemy personnel in the area at the time; - took part in a raid on the Japanese garrison at PitasPitas, SabahPitas is a town and a district in the Kudat Division of Sabah, east Malaysia, on the northern part of the Borneo island. Its estimated population in 2006 is 38,600. The ethnic composition is mainly ethnic Rungus and Orang Sungai ....
on 13 June 1945, as he is not named in records of the action, and; - witnessed the last Sandakan Death March as he was in hospital when it occurred and was elsewhere when the other marches took place.
In early 2011, Jack Wong Sue's son, Barry, released a report which he stated refuted the claims made by Silver against his father.
Return to civilian life
Wong Sue was discharged from the RAAF on 21 January 1946, after which he returned to Perth and subsequently opened a retail store devoted to diving equipment in MidlandMidland, Western Australia
Midland is a suburb in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Great Northern...
, the first such store in Western Australia.
His published works include two books published circa 2001: a memoir of his military service, Blood on Borneo, and a collection of anecdotes regarding a 1963 shipwreck, Ghost of the Alkimos
Alkimos (ship)
The Alkimos was a merchant shipping vessel which was wrecked on the coast north of Perth, Western Australia in 1963. The wreck is a diving venue, but is also of interest to ghost hunters.- History :...
. In 2006, Wong Sue was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, "For service to the community, particularly through the preservation and recording of military and maritime history." He died in a Perth hospice, aged 84, on 16 November 2009.