Alone on Guadalcanal: A Coastwatcher's Story

369 Pages·1998·4.18 MB·English

by  Martin Clemens

Alone on Guadalcanal
This book has been brought to publication with the generous assistance of
Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest.

Alone on Guadalcanal
A COASTWATCHER’S STORY
Martin Clemens
BLUEJACKET BOOKS
Naval Institute Press
Annapolis, Maryland
This book has been brought to publication by the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest.
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
© 1998 by Martin Clemens
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
First Bluejacket Books printing, 2004
ISBN 978-1-6125-1203-7
The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows: Clemens, Martin, 1915–
Alone on Guadalcanal : a coastwatcher’s story / Martin Clemens.
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. Clemens, Martin, 1915– –Diaries. 2. World War, 1939–1945–Campaigns–Solomon Islands–
Guadalcanal. 3. World War, 1939–1945–Personal narratives, British. 4. Military service, Voluntary–United
States. 5. Intelligence officers—Great Britain—Biography. I. Title.
D767.98.C53 1998
940.54’26–dc21
[b]
98–34092
Frontispiece: Martin Clemens’s bomb-battered diary
FOR ANNE AND OUR CHILDREN,
CHARLOTTE, VICKY, ALEX, AND MARK
Vouchsafe to those who have not read the story,
That I may prompt them; and of such as have,
I humbly pray them to admit the excuse
Of time, of numbers, and due course of things,
Which cannot in their huge and proper life
Be here presented.
—Shakespeare, King Henry V, act 5, prologue
CONTENTS
Forewords, by Gen. Alexander Archer Vandegrift and Sir Philip
Mitchell
Preface
Guadalcanal and Martin Clemens, by Allan R. Millett
1“And there we were . . .”
2In Harm’s Way
3Clearing the Decks
4Visitors, Welcome and Otherwise
5A Watcher in the West
6A European Murdered
7In Which We Prepare for the Worst, and the Enemy Arrives
8The Battle of the Coral Sea
9Some Unexpected Guests
10“The district officer has gone.”
11“Japan ’e come ’long Guadalcanal”
12“When creeping murmur. . . !”
13“Devil b’long Chimi sing out!”
14Retreat to Vungana
15“Oh! Lord, how long?”
16Watch and Pray
17The Marines Have Landed
18Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire:
The Battle of the Tenaru
19Attacked on All Sides
20Backs to the Wall
21Nip and Tuck
22Advance to the Rear
23Hammer and Tongs
24All’s Well That Ends Well
Epilogue
Maps
Notes
Glossary
Index