Operation Gustavus was a series of raids conducted from Ceylon (Sri Lanker) on the Japanese controlled Andermus Islands.  This was a series of raids designed to locate a base between Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Malaya for submarine operations, to locate any surviving members of the ill fated STS101 school in Singapore, to create a viable intelligence network and finally to create a resistance movement in Malaya that SOE could control.

The operation was planned in three parts, the first in May 1943 “Gusavus” being a landing by foldboat on the West coast of Malaya. Two of the survivors of STS101, Davis and Broom landed at Pangor-Lumut area on the 24^th May 43, with five Chinese agents who had been selected by one of SOEs best-known Chinese agents in Malaya Lim Bo Seng.   In the mean time Davis located a Junk (Chinese ship) in which he was able to locate the following month the second landing party “GustavusII” on the 25^th June 43, in that party was Claude Fenner (Sir).

“GustavusIII” arrived on the 4^th August 43, and it resulted in the use of the former folboats being disregarded. It was soon established that an active resistance movement was already in place lead by Wong Man Wa in Perak. Along with it the AJA (Anti Japanese’s Army) formed the largest resistance movement in Malaya and was communist in nature

“GustavusIV” Chen Ping one of the AJA members took Davis and Broome to the Perak hills to be nearer the Chinese guerrillas. It was noted that SOE at that time distrusted any Malay, as they were more likely to inform the Japanese of any SOE agents.

On the 25^th December 1943 Davis Broom met up with Spencer Chapman on of the only survivors to stay in Malaya after the Japanese took over.

On the 31^st December Chang Hung representing the MCP (Malay Communist party) and the leader of the AJUF (anti Japanese Union and Forces) met with Davis who had been authorised by Mountbatten.  To negotiate to aid and strengthen the movement, by supplying them with arms, money and medical equipment.

Operation “Zipper” the code name that Mountbatten gave for the liberation of Malaya was the signal for Force136 to go into operations and the final push.

Taken from Charles Cruickshank's "SOE in the Far East" records in the National Archives and Freddie Spencer-Chapman's "The Jungle is Neutral"