Singapore Evacuation 1942

New documentary - Singapore 1942!

2012-01-17T23:08:00.000+08:00

2012-01-12T08:14:00.004+08:00

Winston CHURCHILL attempted to reinforce the RAF at Singapore in late 1941. No.232 Fighter Squadron R.A.F. arrived too late to significantly blunt the blows of the IJAAF. On 7 February 1942, S/Ldr. Lawrence N. LANDELS was killed in action and was succeeded by S/Ldr. Richard ("Rickey") E.P. BROOKER. "Rickey" BROOKER had the squadron leader's pennant painted below the cockpit of his No.232 Squadron Hawker Hurricane Mk.II, BE 208, "O." Flt/Lt. Arthur G. DONAHUE tells the rest of the story.

"The other flight had a combat (Sunday morning, February 8) with an escorted bombing raid, in which they brought down at least two of the enemy. Rickey was shot down in this engagement and force-landed on the airdrome, his machine crashing through the fence on the north side and out onto East Coast Road, where it shed its landing gear in the ditch on one side, slid across the road on its belly, and stopped with its nose in the ditch on the other side. Rickey himself was unhurt - except for his feelings." ("Last Flight From Singapore," The MacMillan Company, New York:1943, page 72).

See above for a photograph of Hurricane II, BE 208, "O." Note the No.232 Squadron insignia ahead of the windscreen. Sq/Ldr. BROOKER surveys the damage!

-Jim Lansdale
Photo Credit: Arthur G. Donahue, D.F.C.
Source Classicwarbirds

Evacuation from Singapore - iconic image of Singapore burning

2012-01-06T15:17:00.002+08:00

Source IWM

British Cartoonist & Changi Artist Ronald Searle Dies - ArtLyst

2012-01-06T15:08:00.000+08:00

British Cartoonist Ronald Searle Dies - ArtLyst

Proud daughter honours war hero - Local News - News - General - Bendigo Advertiser

2012-01-06T15:03:00.000+08:00

Proud daughter honours war hero - Local News - News - General - Bendigo Advertiser

Story on fall of Singapore survivor Alistar Urquhart

2011-11-13T17:25:00.001+08:00

SECOND World War hero Alistair Urquhart from Broughty Ferry has become a television star - at the age of 92.

Mr Urquhart, a former Japanese prisoner of war, became a surprise publishing sensation with his book ‘The Forgotten Highlander’, a number one bestseller and international hit in 2009. It is his account of torture, death and slavery on the Bridge of the River Kwai.

Mr Urquhart celebrated his 92nd birthday on Tuesday by watching a film of this extraordinary story of survival entitled ‘World War Two’s Luckiest Man’ which was screened on Channel 5. He revisited locations from his childhood in Aberdeen for the film, which was an episode of the ‘Revealed’ series.

He enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders in Aberdeen and was sent with his battalion to Singapore where he was captured by the Japanese when they over-ran the colony in 1942. He then spent 750 days in slavery working on the Death Railway in Thailand where 120,000 people died. Mr Urquhart was finally moved from the prisoner of war camp but while being ferried by a Japanese ‘hell ship’ to mainland Japan, a US submarine torpedoed the vessel.

At this point weighing less than six stones, he swam for hours through an ocean ablaze with burning oil until he found a raft, then he drifted on the shark-infested China Sea for five days.

Though he has no recollection of being rescued, somehow he found himself alive on another hell ship, this time bound for Nagasaki, where again he was imprisoned until the US dropped the second atomic bomb on Japan, ending the war for good at the cost of 80,000 lives.

Mr Urquhart said it is not everyone who gets to make a film in their nineties, but he did find it very tiring. One of the reasons for taking part, he stated was so more young people would learn how much the British prisoners of war suffered at the hands of the Japanese army. For many years Alistair kept his astonishing tale to himself only to publish his memoirs in his 90th year. He feels that the response to his book was amazing.

The amazing story of fall of Singapore survivor Fergus Ankorn

2011-11-12T23:15:00.003+08:00

Fascinating video of Fall of Singapore POW survivor Fergus Anckorn. Amazing story - amazing man! Well worth watching.

Tributes paid to fall of Singapore POW Geoffrey Clarke RIP

2011-11-12T23:11:00.000+08:00

Framlingham: Tributes paid to fall of Singapore survivor and later leading businessman

'via Blog this'

Singapore 1942 Pilot Art Donahue

2011-11-12T23:00:00.001+08:00

Article on WWII Pilot Art Donahue who was injured by anti aircraft fire during the battle for Singapore and turns out he was from Minnesota

Former POW pays his respects - Taipei Times

2011-11-12T22:51:00.000+08:00

Former POW pays his respects - Taipei Times:

'via Blog this'

Evacuation of nurses from the Singapore Alexandra hospital 12th February 1942

2011-11-12T22:31:00.010+08:00

The last minute evacuations before Singapore fell was was a disasterous and uncoordinated mess that resulted in the loss of many lives. I came across this account on the web by Sister Catherine P. Maudsley which makes for interesting reading:

PERSONAL ACCOUNTS BY MEMBERS OF QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S IMPERIAL MILITARY NURSING SERVICE and TERRITORIAL ARMY NURSING SERVICE : CROWN COPYRIGHT: THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES WO222/189, Item 1H - LAST DAYS IN MALAYA

Account by Sister Catherine P. Maudsley, Territorial Army Nursing Service. Catherine Phoebe Maudsley initially trained in Fever Nursing at Grove Hospital, London, between 1931 and 1933, and later completed her general nurse training at Smithdown Road Hospital, Liverpool, from 1935 to 1937. Her home was in Wallasey, Cheshire.

Sisters’ Mess, B.M.H. Bangalore, South India

Madam - May I have the honour to recount some of the experiences of Q.A.’s in Malaya, especially those who arrived Singapore November 28th, 1941.

We arrived at Keppel Harbour, Singapore, and were welcomed by a Military Band playing on the dockside, after a few hours we disembarked, seven of us being billeted at the Adelphi Hotel, the rest going to the Alexandra Hospital for accommodation; one week later, four of us from the hotel were posted up country to Tanjong Malim; of the remaining three, two were posted to Taiping, much nearer the border than Tanjong Malim; within ten days of their arrival in Taiping, the hospital evacuated and they found themselves five miles south of Kuala Lumpur.

The 17th Combined General Hospital at Tanjong Malim, consisted of a British and an Indian section, the I.M.N.S. staffed the latter section. We arrived two days before the Malayan war started, and were there for three weeks on temporary duty. Almost immediately, the convoys of wounded began to arrive, when the 20th C.G.H. at Taiping evacuated, we were the nearest General Hospital to the fighting area, doing from 14-16 hours per day, and on call at night for any convoy that might arrive. By December 23rd, all the patients had been evacuated, the hospital completely packed, and ready to be entrained. The four of us who had been there on temporary duty were permanently posted to No.1 Malayan General Hospital, Johore Babru, leaving Tanjong Malim December 24th arriving Johore December 25th. While waiting for our connection at Kuala Lumpur, we found that K.L. was being evacuated of all British and Oriental women and children. We finished the journey on one of the evacuee trains to Singapore, getting off at Johore Babru.

No.1 M.G.H. was staffed by our colleagues and M.O’s with whom we had left England; the hospital occupied the top floors of the new Government Hospital situated on the “Straits of Johore”. The view from the hospital was very similar to that from Netley; we had 500 beds, 180 surgical, 180 medical, the rest being officers, skins, etc.; also an annexe two miles away containing 200 beds, it was used for minor ailments, convalescent cases, staffed by orderlies only. The surgical cases were constantly being transferred in order to make room for casualties which were continually arriving. Our quarters were on the top floor of the “Chinese and Malayan Nurses Hostel”, like the hospital it was very new and modern.

During our spell in Johore Babru, the 20th C.G.H. for the second time evacuated, crossed over to the Island, opening up again at the Gillman Barracks, about half a mile from the Alexandra Hospital; leaving No.1 M.G.H. the only General Hospital on the Peninsula. We received most of the casualties, but not always the worst cases, also patients evacuated by descending C.C.S’s and patients from the Naval Base, which was bombed daily, although on the opposite side of the straits, we were their nearest hospital. Five weeks later, January 25th, we received sudden orders to evacuate, and re-open at the Gordon Barracks, Changi, Singapore Island. All patients were transferred to other hospitals on the Island, all hospital and mess equipment was packed, and by that evening, patients, staff, and most of the equipment had gone; six of us who had been left behind as a rear party, and to follow that night, were compelled to stay behind owing to lack of transport. We crossed over the following day; by this time the front line was very near to Johore Babru, and not many miles away. The Gordon Barracks, Changi, were modern, built 1937, made an excellent hospital. (Changi, sixteen miles from Singapore on the East Coast). We existed at Changi for 16 days, January 26th to February 10th.

At Changi, the Surgical Specialist, devised a new method of dealing with casualties; all casualties were classified in the Reception Room:-
A. Resuscitation ward cases, later for theatre, and then transferred to the casualty clearing ward for 24-48 hours, all colours and sexes admitted.
B. Admitted into the Casualty ward, for theatre, and returned to the C.C. ward for 24-48 hours. All colours and sexes admitted.
C. Acute surgical, admitted only from the C.C. ward, or cases from the Reception Room which did not require either (a) Resuscitation or (b) operative treatment.
The staff of this ward were then free from interruption.

All cases were transferred from the Casualty Clearing ward by 11 a.m. the following morning, leaving only isolated cases that were too ill to move, they then stayed a further 24 hours, and were then transferred to the Acute Surgical wards. From 11 a.m. on, the bomb casualties and gun-shot wound cases poured in; the C.C. ward had 60 beds, 50 in a large ward in rows of 25, 10 in a side ward for the more severe cases, troops of all ranks and colours were admitted, also any females, usually Malayan or Chinese, segregation of the sexes and ranks was impossible; at the end of 24 or 48 hours they were transferred to their respective wards or hospitals. The 17th C.G.H. at the R.E. Barracks, Changi, and ourselves, were two miles apart; in less than a week of reopening, we were again doing 16-18 hours per day, the orderlies sometimes doing longer than that, both hospitals were between the two front lines, the Japanese on the Island of Ubin about ¾ to 1 mile away, and our own 16 inch guns behind us; with the repeated and almost continuous air raids, the number of casualties increased, and our beds rose from 500 to almost 1,000 in one week.

On February 7th, the 17th C.G.H. were bombed and blasted out of their hospital. The next day we received most of their patients, and some of their staff for temporary quarters; also on the 8th, the M.O’s quarters of No.1 M.G.H. were hit, rendering some of the M.O’s homeless. They had to sleep on any empty beds we had in the wards. On the 9th we moved from our quarters (The Gordon Officers’ Mess) over to the hospital for safety. The mess was within mortar range of the Japanese, also, the Japs were aiming at hour heavy batteries behind the mess, as already mentioned. At 4 p.m. on the 9th, just as most of us had finished moving our luggage from the mess, the hospital and mess were heavily bombed, and the mess was damaged. Over in the hospital, the barrack square had craters in the four corners and centre, the administrative block smashed, the rear of the medical ward shattered, only one casualty, a V.A.D. who was out in the grounds at the time. The casualties rolled in that night from the surrounding camps, the day staff on the surgical section came off duty between 11.30 p.m. and 12 midnight, only to be called again at 1 a.m. to pack up the ward equipment, and reclassify patients, prior to our evacuation in the morning. The barracks were so designed that a blackout was impossible, the night staff having to work in complete darkness; during our 16 days at Changi, storm lanterns and torches were not allowed – had it not been for the reflection of the moon, I do not know how any of us could have managed after 7 p.m.

The patients were transferred to various hospitals in and around Singapore, and by 4 p.m. February 10th, the hospital had been completely evacuated, all the hospital and mess equipment being sent to the Cricket Club for us to reopen there (as we then thought). All our own luggage was taken to the Alexandra Hospital as we were going there for temporary accommodation only. As we had been without newspapers and the wireless set out of order for 12 days, we had no idea of what was really happening on the Island. On our arrival at the Alexandra Mess, we were amazed to find most of the Malayan Q.A.’s and I.M.N.S. there, in their units, and, like us, without hospitals. That evening, Miss West, our Matron, asked us if we were willing to go to Java and open up there. All of us agreed to go, but later that same evening, the Principal Matron called a meeting of everyone, told us the situation, and that we would be evacuated as soon as possible. A list of names would appear the next day of those who would go, the rest to follow later, so next day, February 11th, about 30 or so of us left, and sailed on February 12th, the rest sailed February, Friday 13th.

On the night of the 10th, the Alexandra Mess was very near to the front line, firing all night in the surrounding rubber, more of our heavy batteries once again behind the mess, firing intermittently all night. Next day, the 11th, continuous air-raids, dive-bombing, and machine-gunning, and hundreds of troops retreating, and lining the ditches. On our way to the docks, eight miles from the mess, we were constantly in and out of the “Singapore Ditches”, there appeared to be fires everywhere, the sky was almost completely hidden in smoke.

The ship which we boarded had many hundreds on board, including Air force, Australians, some civilians, even babies 12 days old. We were allotted one of the holds, and shared it with Australian sisters. We slept on bare boards, using gas capes, tin hats, or gas-masks as pillows. We only possessed what we stood up in and could carry. The Australian sisters, who had been on board for a day or so before we arrived, had all their kit, and food enough for a week. Our men shared their rations with us. The ship sailed at dawn February 12th, a couple of hours later from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. we were continuously dive-bombed by 100 planes, what lifeboats we had were smashed, and not one lifebelt between us. The ship’s gunners brought down one or two planes. A few of us from No.1 M.G.H. who happened to be up in the limited passenger accommodation at that time, started a C.C.S. in one of the cabins. Most of us had a fairly good supply of morphia in our pockets; it was most useful. Many men were blown overboard, plus 12 killed and 26 injured. The Australian sisters opened a small hospital, but after our C.C.S. had started. The ship itself received four direct hits and had a fire in the stern, but it still sailed on. Had it not been for the Captain and staff of that merchant ship, we should never have reached Batavia.

We anchored off Batavia the evening of Friday 13th, and disembarked on the 14th; as we were not expected, we sat on the dockside for four hours, while the military authorities found billets for us. Eventually we were taken to the Princess Juliana Convent where the nuns were most kind to us. Next day, the 15th, thirteen of us were put on board an evacuee ship bound for Ceylon. Conditions of board this evacuee ship, which could not be helped, resembled those of an emigrant ship of the last century. On boarding the ship, we were handed a plate, bowl and cutlery. Three times a day we lined up for food, having one meal per day which consisted of some kind of meat and potatoes. For breakfast and tea-time supper, we had one slice of bread and some sort of fluid. We were allotted to one of the holds, but after three days at sea, the Purser put some of the civilians out of their cabins and gave them to us.

After seven days at sea, the ship arrived in Colombo Harbour, February 22nd. The A.D.M.S., Ceylon, had been informed of our arrival, he came aboard, and within a very short time we were ashore, temporary billets being found for us at the C.G.H., Colombo. After a few days there, the twelve of us (the 13th being A.I.N.S.R., was sent to India) were sent to Kandy for seven days’ rest; eight of us returned to Colombo, March 5th, for temporary duty with the C.G.H. On our return, we met the survivors of our less fortunate colleagues who left Singapore February 13th. They had had varied experiences, some of them having been in hiding in native huts, also in native sampans on Sumatra Island. March 11th, six left the C.G.H. for India, the other followed at later dates.

I trust this letter is not too long, having only mentioned the main occurrences, and those fit for censorship.

I have the honour to be, Madam, Your obedient Servant, Catherine P. Maudsley, Sister, T.A.N.S.

Old window salvaged from one of the Pompong island ships

2011-11-12T15:26:00.000+08:00

A couple of years ago I met a captain who was once in the salvage business. He told a story of how some 20 years ago he dived on an old wreck some 2.5 miles off Pompong Island that I am guessing could have been the Kung Wo. He said the ship's decks had all collapsed and it was a very difficult challenging and dangerous dive and there was nothing really to salvage. The only thing that they did bring up were two brass windows and one of them has now been converted into a window on a yacht that was originally based in Singapore. I am not sure if it still is. This a photo of one of those windows.

Mystery of Hail Weston’s Albert Page is finally solved - Latest News - Hunts Post

2011-11-10T23:57:00.000+08:00

Mystery of Hail Weston’s Albert Page is finally solved

Final salute to former Far East prisoner of war Bill - Local News - Northumberland Gazette

2011-11-10T23:52:00.000+08:00

Final salute to former Far East prisoner of war Bill Brown RIP - Northumberland Gazette

Caulfield South veteran's vivid memory - Local News - News - Caulfield Glen Eira Leader

2011-11-10T23:30:00.001+08:00

Caulfield South Singapore veteran's vivid memory

’Four PoWs were executed in front of us all... I was only 18’ - Wales News - News from @walesonline

2011-11-10T23:16:00.000+08:00

’Four PoWs were executed in front of us all... I was only 18’ - Wales News - News from @walesonline

Article on a mystery of a memorial

2011-08-27T10:52:00.004+08:00

By JANIS BLOWER
Published on Thursday 25 August 2011 00:01

IT was a war in which a combination of fast-changing events and censorship combined to endow a strange kind of time-lag on the observer.

It was the end of January 1942 and South Shields seaman Thomas Umpleby, of Palmerston Street in the town, is pictured receiving the Lloyds War Medal for an earlier act of bravery at sea.

Yet even as the paper went to press, as the adjacent headline shows, events were building in the Far East that, unbeknown for some time to readers, were already calling for local seafarers to show similar courage.

Among them were the crew of the Empire Star. She had come out of the yard of Harland and Wolff at Belfast half a dozen or so years earlier; at more than 11,000-tons gross, she was a smart, modern addition to the Blue Star fleet.

By the end of the year, she would be gone, sunk by a German U-boat north of the Azores, while in passage from the UK to South Africa.

Among those who went down with her was her first electrician, 29-year-old South Shields man Ernest Dudgeon.

But it was her exploits inbetween that concern us today for, a few months earlier, the Empire Star and her people had played a distinguished role in one of the most nail-biting episodes of the Second World War – the evacuation of Singapore.

In all, she would help more than 2,000 people to safety as the Japanese advanced on Britain’s major military base in south-east Asia.

The story of the ship’s part in the famous evacuation is told in a booklet which has been compiled by Hartlepool writer June Markwell, with Arthur Glendenning, in the hope that it will bring to the fore someone – anyone – who knows why there is a memorial to the Empire Star’s part in this wartime episode in a church, Holy Trinity, in Seaton Carew.

“No trace can be found of the person or persons who gave it,” they say.

Might the family of Sidney Milne know, for instance? He was from Jarrow and was the Empire Star’s carpenter. Aged 40 at the time, he’s unlikely to still be alive.

But, says June: “Hopefully he may have survived the war and his family may have some information.”

The ship’s part in the evacuation is certainly a thrilling one.

Her orders, for instance, had been to take off women and children, together with designated air force personnel and military nursing staff.

As well, though, she found herself invaded by army deserters, many of them Australian.

Also, her crew was added-to by several men classed as DBS (Distressed British Seamen) who had survived the sinking, five days after the headlines here, of the Canadian Pacific passenger liner, Empress of Asia, which had been bombed while carrying more than 2,000 troops from Bombay.

* If anyone has any information relating to the Empire Star memorial at Seaton Carew, get in touch and I’ll pass on contact details.

* S.S. Empire Star: The Mystery of a Church War Memorial, is available, price £2.95 plus p&p, from Hartlepool Maritime Experience (tel 01429 860077), or Atkinson Print, Hartlepool (tel 01429 267849

Battle for Singapore Service Medals

2011-08-24T08:43:00.009+08:00

I recently obtained these original service medals that were awarded to Aircraftsman Herbert Lawrence Yardley 243 SQN RAFVR (Royal Air force volunteer Reserve) service number 1180663 after his death related to the fall of Singapore. Records record his date of death as the 15th of February 1942 which was the day that Singapore formally surrendered. However, as was often the case with these records often the date of death was recorded as the last known day of a confirmed sighting of the person. The four medals include the 1939/45 Service Star, Pacific Star, Defense Medal and War Medal. His name is recorded at the Kranji War Memorial in Singapore. If anyone can add any further information about this serviceman regarding his history or background that would be appreciated. I will add more detail to this site as information comes to hand.

Information on the Aquarius?

2011-08-15T23:12:00.001+08:00

Lynne April Bott of Willenhall UK left this message in my problematic online guestbook sometime back:-

I am trying to source information on the Aquarius, there is a possibility that my Great Uncle may have been on her when she was sunk.He was reported missing on 15th Feb1942 and reported killed in action 26th Feb1942 in Malaya.We know he got onto the wrong ship and it was sunk. My Gt. Grandmother always said it was one of churchill's mistakes. please help

Royal Navy Floating dock Singapore

2011-08-15T23:08:00.001+08:00

Alan Peddell born in Singapore writes:-

Together with my parents and one younger brother aged 2 ( I was nearly 4), we managed to leave Spore on a small ship which took us to Djakarta and then we boarded the ss Plancius which took us to Colombo, where we stayed until the war ended. My father was an electrical engineer working on the Royal Naval Floating Dock. As both my parents are dead now, I would like to have any information regarding the ship that might have taken us to join up with the Plancius. I understand we were delayed from leaving because my father had to assist the demolition of the floating dock, and all other large ships had left Keppel because of the heavy bombing.

HMS Grasshopper

2011-08-15T22:56:00.003+08:00

Thank you to Andrew Miller from Northern Island who wrote in the guest book recently:-

Hi David, this is fascinating. My grandfather was on board HMS Grasshopper when it came down from Shanghai to Singapore in '39; he then left Singapore on the 13th Feb '42 with some 150 nurses, royal marines, women & children (in that order of priority, apparently) swelling their complement of 55 to some 200 on board. Let's just say it didn't end well, in fact he was sunk TWICE, the second time while being transferred back to Singapore from Indonesia in 1944. After 4 weeks in the River Valley Camp the 200 survivors were returned to Sumatra to work on the Pekan Baru railway and remained there until liberated by Lady Mountbatten.

I'd like to recommend the book "The Judy Story" by Edwin Varley, 1973, to add a little colour to the life of a matelot on the gunboats at the China & Singapore Stations, life for Europeans at the brink of war in the Far East, the subsequent evacuation up to the 14th Feb, and the imprisonment of military and civilian personnel after the fall of Singapore. As is often the case with FEPOWs, it is where our family had to go to get the detail of what happened to our grandfather as he and the dog were POW's together! It's an incredibly personal story interlaced with 'the bigger picture' at the time and our family hold it in very high regard for obvious reasons.

Many copies come up on eBay and amazon.co.uk for bargain prices as people clear their parents' houses out.

I work offshore and I am hoping to get detailed onto a project my firm is carrying out in Australia soon. If successful I would very much like to visit Singapore and Indonesia and see the locations that had such a great effect on my grandfather.

World War II hero Tay Ah Soey dies at age 97

2011-08-11T07:42:00.004+08:00

World War II hero Tay Ah Soey dies at age 97

He was amongst a group of 5 who pulled survivors from the water after their ships were bombed escaping Singapore on Friday the 13th "Black Friday" 1942. Rest in peace

Video on the Japanese attack on Indonesia & Singapore

2011-05-22T15:25:00.000+08:00

Why the Japanese Were So Successful in Malaya

Video on the fall of Singapore

2011-04-22T13:50:00.001+08:00

Came across this footage today on the fall of Singapore. The commentary is relatively accurate but some of the footage is a little suspect. As one example it shows British troops riding on a tank when there were no tanks to defend Singapore but the majority of the footage is Singapore 1942 related.

Singapore - The Inexcusable Betrayal by George Chippington

2011-03-20T17:16:00.002+08:00

I have just finished reading this self published book by George Chippington that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was also fascinated to read that the book tells the story of the last stand before the fall of Singapore where George Chippington and his troops took up positions in the bungalows in the vicinity to the old Singapore Harbor Board house where I currently live in Singapore. This added some interesting history to the area that has been vividly captured in this eye eyewitness account.

Published in 1992 the book is based on Chippington's diary where from Dec 41 he took part in close combat against the invading Japanese forces from the Thai border to the streets of Singapore. As per the title of the book the author continously expresses his anger in frustration throughout the campaign of the poor leadership and the folly of the war they were expected to fight with inferior equipment and without the support of tanks or a functioning air force while the Japanese air force bombed at will and dominated the skies over Malaya. A thoroughly good read.

An old image of fortress Singapore

2011-02-28T23:06:00.004+08:00

Not listed as to where the image originated from

Did Singapore have to fall? - Churchill and the impregnable fortress

2011-02-28T22:58:00.004+08:00

I have just finished re-reading Hack & Blackburn's book "Did Singapore have to fall?" It is a most fascinating read and some of the photos of the the building of Singapore's early coastal defenses I have not seen else where. As much as I enjoyed the book I did not feel that the ending pulled it all together to conclusively answer the question that the book so succinctly asks in it's title. Never the less I do recommend it. The photo on the cover of the book is the replica 15 inch wartime gun on location in Changi. The barrel is 54 feet long. It is an interesting visit located close to the Changi Museum.

Fall of Singapore service 15th Feb 2011

2011-02-26T17:47:00.003+08:00

Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) held the 44th memorial service on the 15 February 2011 in commemoration of civilians victims of Japanese occupation during the World War Two. The annual event aims to remind the country's younger generation never to forget the tragedy in which a large number of civilians were ruthlessly slaughtered during the dark days of the Japanese occupation and to make young Singaporeans clearly aware of the hardness to earn peace and the importance to establish total defense. The memorial ceremony was attended by more than 1,200 people, including Singapore Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, representatives from government organs, uniformed services, diplomatic corps, business associations, religious organizations, schools as well as veterans and families of the victims. Wreaths were laid on behalf respectively of the SCCCI, the Singapore Army Forces Veterans' League, the ten major religious organizations, National Cadet Corps', and the students representatives in Singapore to console the spirits of the civilian victims of the Japanese occupation and all participants observed one-minute silence and took three bows in front of the memorial monument. Before the beginning of the service, the Singapore Civil Defence Force sounded the "All Clear" signal through its public warning system to commemorate the fall of Singapore to the Japanese during World War Two. The SCCCI has fixed Feb. 15 every year for a memorial service in commemoration of the civilian victims of the Japanese occupation. On Feb. 15, 1942, Japanese captured Singapore and occupied it for three and half years. According to incomplete statistics, at least 50,000 Singaporeans were slaughtered. On Feb. 15, 1967, memorial monument was built and memorial service was held each year ever since. Source: Xinhua

Final defensive lines before the attack on Singapore 1942

2011-02-22T20:52:00.003+08:00

This interesting map shows the defensive lines around Singapore in preparation to defend the island from the attacking Japanese forces in 1942. History tells us that the diversionary attack on the small island of Pulau Ubin on the North East succeeded in bluffing defending forces command that it was the start of the main attack. However, the full force of the main invasion occurred on the North West side of the island. The rest is history

69th anniversary of the fall of Singapore 15th Feb 1942

2011-02-15T22:15:00.002+08:00

This morning I attended the remembrance services for the thousands of civilians who died as a result of the fall of Singapore 69 years ago today. It was very well attended and it was good to see the number of school children who were in attendance. I have posted a number of photos on my Singapore1942 twitter site which you can access by clicking on http://www.twitter.com/singapore1942

Video footage showing the intensity of artillery fire on Singapore to support the invasion

2011-02-08T23:11:00.001+08:00

Images from the battle for Malaya

2011-02-08T22:57:00.003+08:00

Some more amazing images captured by Time Life Magazine taken during the battle for Malaya and printed in an article "Some Mementos from Malaya" in the March 1943 edition. The top two pictures highlight graphically the tragedy of war.

Photos from the 1st bombing raid in Singapore

2011-02-07T20:04:00.003+08:00

I came across these fascinating images from the 1st bombing raid over Singapore in December 1941 that was originally published in the pictorial magazine "Life" in the January 1942 edition. The first photo on the right hand corner shows the damage from the bombing that occurred in Raffles Place and one of the images shows the injured being evacuated from a classic Singapore shop house. It is the first time I have seen these particular images.

2011-02-05T10:50:00.002+08:00

In February 1942 the island of Singapore was besieged and it would only be a matter of time before the invading forces stormed across to the Island of Singapore itself having taken up positions along the coastline of mainland Malaya. The headlines of this newspaper from the time announces the arrival of Japanese troops on the west coast of the island the paper dated February 9. 1942.

2011-02-04T22:17:00.002+08:00

These headlines are apparently from the English version of the Japan times in 1942. Interestingly it highlights that more vessels have been bombed and mentions "Malay campaign rapidly nearing finale......"

Fascinating images from fortsiloso.com

2011-02-03T15:39:00.005+08:00

This fascinating image is taken from Peter Stubb's website that I have recently come across www.fortsilso.com which is well worth a look. This photo shows the Serapong 6" Battery No 2 Gun which was hit by a Japanese bomb in 1942. It shows a discarded shell on the ground highlighted by the circle from a photo at that time. Another unexploded shell was discovered during an excavation of the site in 1996 and the photo on the left shows the excavation team with their find!

Map of the Invasion of Singapore

2011-02-03T15:27:00.002+08:00

This interesting diagram is taken from the Japanese records of the successful invasion of Singapore Island from Tsuji's book 'Singapore - The Japanese Version' shows the dates and movements of the Japanese troops as they moved across Singapore up until the point of surrender.

Book - While History Passed

2011-01-07T11:35:00.002+08:00

I was pleased to find this book in the Barwon Heads Bookshop in Victoria last week. The book written by Jessie Simons was first published in 1954 and tells the story of the Australian nurses evacuated on the Vyner Brooke on the 12th of February 1942 three days before the fall of Singapore. 65 nurses were evacuated on the ship that was bombed and sunk with the nurses who found their way to Rahdji Beach then machine gunned and bayoneted after surrendering to the Japanese troops on Muntock island. The famous Vivian Bullwinkle was one of those nurses who survived the massacre. Jessie Simons was one of the nurses on the ship and this is her story. I look forward to reading the book. It is amazing what one can find in second hand book shops.

Stanley Saddington Ex RAF, Tien Kwang Survivor & former POW

2010-11-19T14:25:00.005+08:00

While I was in the UK recently I had the good fortune to meet up with 90 year old Stanley Saddington. What an amazing man! Stanley was 21 when in Singapore in 1941 working for the RAF with the early and classified new radar technology that had been set up in Southern Malaya and later moved near Changi before being destroyed to avoid falling into enemy hands before the fall of Singapore. Stanley recalled how the radar picked up two large shadows over the ocean and when he and his colleagues went to a vantage point to investigate they saw the HMS Prince of Wales and the Repulse sailing Northwards. These two capital ships were sunk during that voyage of course and the rest is history. Stanley and his RAF colleagues were evavcuated on the HMS Tien Kwang on Friday the 13th 1942 two days before the fall of Singapore. After sailing overnight the Tien Kwang sought refuge with a second ship the Kuala off Pompong Island. However both ships sank as a result of a japanese air raid with a large loss of life. Stanley and a number of his RAF colleagues eventually made it to Padang Indonesia only to be captured by the Japanese after the Dutch declared it a open city. Stanley then saw out the war on the Thai Burma Railway. Of his many stories one of the most poignant was his description of how just before the end of the war when friendly fire dropped a large bomb on the prison camp that killed 18 of his colleagues ironically not long before surrender and certain freedom. For his age Stanley is incredibly sharp, well read and it was an honor to have spent several hours with him and his family. I was an experience I will never forget. Thank you Stanley.

Remembrance Day Singapore 2010

2010-11-12T18:10:00.005+08:00

It was a wet 11th of Nov 2010 but a special service at the Singapore Cenotaph with approximately 50 people in attendance and a special tribute by Jeya the Director of the Changi Chapel Museum. The service was made special by the attendance of 93 year old D. M Lea veteran of the fall of Singapore (3rd Corps Royal Signals) who had made his first trip back to Singapore since 1945 when he was released after being a POW in both Singapore and on the Thai Burma Railway. I had a fascinating chat with him after the service where he spoke about being on the Thai border during the invasion (Project Matador) but the folly of not being ordered to proceed with the plan until it was too late. He also spoke about the mix up in communications that left them stranded in Malaya at one point and how at Ipoh he caught Malaria and was transferred to the Alexandra Hospital in Singapore. Just prior to the fall he was working in the Fort Canning vicinity keeping communications lines open. He described one moment when he and a colleague started at a telegraph pole and walked in opposite directions with cable only to return to find the pole gone and a large bomb crater in its place as a result of the Japanese artillery shelling. Upon the surrender he was placed in the River Valley POW camp before being railed up to the Thai/Burma Railway. He said he got through it because he always knew that they would win in the end. Of gentle disposition but looking so well for his age he was an inspiring and amazing man and I feel honoured I had the chance to meet him.

Deadly Secrets - the Singapore Raids 1942-45

2010-11-09T20:01:00.004+08:00

In February 1942, when Australian Bill Reynolds escaped from Singapore in a battered Japanese fishing boat, he had no idea that his nondescript vessel would be the catalyst for Operation Jaywick, one of the most daring missions taken behind enemy lines in WW2 - this is is the amazing story captured by historian Lynette Silver in her new book. One of my photos taken on Merapas island in the Rhiau Archipelago is on page 260 which shows one of two stone forts where Riggs and Cameron made their last stand against the attacking Japanese soldiers. It was taken during a memorable trip to the island in 2007.

British 18th Division in Singapore

2010-11-08T22:01:00.005+08:00

Due to problems with the guest book attached to the website I have only just been able to recover some old posts and apologies for delayed replies to your entries where applicable!

David William UK writes....

Researching the British 18th Division at Singapore 1942

An excellent site with a lot of valuable information. I am currently preparing a dissertation on the Fall of Singapore in 1942. The focus is on the men of the British 18th Division who were captured and interned in Japanese camps and working on the Thai-Burma Railway.

I am particularly interested in knowing how these men coped with being pitched into a hopeless military situation and how they were able to continue with their lives after the end of the war. Many were troubled with illnesses and diseases that were contracted during captivity and after the war, many of them were treated at Queen Mary Hospital, Roehampton and studied by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Only last week I attended a conference in Liverpool - the 68th anniversary of the fall of Singapore in 1942 - to meet some of the veterans and hear about some of the pioneering work carried on at this Institute over the past 45 years.

I have also met and interviewed several veterans during the past 20 years and only this weekend was speaking to the sister of a man who was rescued from the Empress of Asia. Some of these interviews were on camera.

If you're wondering about the dissertation then here's the answer. I am just completing the fourth year of a BA history degree at the University of London (Birkbeck). I should have done it years ago. I am now 71.

I would like to hear from anyone who has any links with the British 18th Division and the regiments of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Thank you for giving your time to read this story.

Maurice O'Connell from Ireland writes

2010-11-06T14:01:00.001+08:00

My mother, baby brother and I were put on a ship by my father VERY EARLY in December 1941 after the Japanese invasion. Possibly 10th December. Possibly 'Empress of India'. Most lists seem to deal with 1942 when the evacuation got moving. The word from the high-ups was that Europeans were to stay put to 'show the flag'. My father, Basil (BMB), O'Connell, (1900-1971), a police officer who had been following events for years, and had served in most parts of the Peninsula did NOT agree with their optimistic assessment. He had to stay behind and was in Changi (civilian internee) 1942-1945. We went to Colombo, ( then Ceylon). Thence to Durban. Eventually got back to Ireland. Being only five years old, I did not keep a diary!

The Malayan Volunteers Group

2010-11-06T13:10:00.004+08:00

There were many Malayan volunteers who played a critical role in Singapore's defence prior to the fall and who were killed or captured as a result. There is a Malayan Volunteers Group (MVG) that developed from an informal gathering of a few British Malayans who were Volunteer Veterans. They used to meet for an annual lunch-time get-together, to talk about times past and to enjoy each other's company. As their numbers gradually decreased over the years, the tradition was carried on by their children and families. Now the lunch-time meetings every October are growing in numbers, as new members join the Group.

In January 2005, there seemed to be a need to keep British Malayan families in touch with each other more frequently than once a year, and so the Malayan Volunteers Group was formed, with a quarterly newsletter called "Apa Khabar" in which news and views are exchanged by members around the world. MVG's website is http://www.malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk

Amazing story related to the HMS Kuala sinking off Pompong Island

2010-11-02T21:43:00.002+08:00

I came across this amazing story about HMS Kuala sinking survivor Patsy Li that was published in the Australian Hobart Mercury newspaper after the war. By clinging to a suitcase at the time of the sinking the child Patsy Li was separated from her mother and was eventually found some 4000 miles from where the sinking occurred some years later. It appears to be a an incredible story related to the sinking off Pompong Island and if any one can help add any further to this story I would be keen to hear from you. If the full article can not be read from this page contact me and I can send you a copy via email.

End of the British Empire

2010-10-24T21:13:00.001+08:00

Dr Duncan Anderson talks about how he fall of Singapore was disasterous for British prestige in the Far East and represented the end of the British Empire. Source History Channel

Prof Richard Overy on the fall of Singapore

2010-10-24T21:07:00.001+08:00

Prof Richard Overy talks about how the rapid Japanese conquests in early 1942 were in part made possible because European powers were preoccupied with the war against Germany. Source : History Channel

After the Surrender 1942

2010-10-24T21:02:00.001+08:00

Interview with Lance-Corporal John Wyatt on his internment after the Singapore surrender. Interesting footage of 1000s of POWs in a large group just after the surrender.

Singapore Evacuation Video Footage

2010-10-24T20:52:00.001+08:00

Interesting footage found on the History Channel that shows some of the orderly evacuation of civilians I am guessing approximately one month before Singapore fell. These scenes are in stark contrast to the chaos and mayhem that met the evacueese in the final two weeks before the surrender.

Footage of the attack on Malaya

2010-10-23T23:25:00.003+08:00

This footage shows interesting scenes of some of the civilians evacuated from Malaya and also footage of Japanese air raids and a downed Japanese aircraft. It appears to have been produced not long before the actual fall of Singapore.

Old Ford Factory display of the surrender room

2010-10-23T23:13:00.003+08:00

The original table where Percival signed the Singapore surrender documents with Yamashita now sits in the AWM Canberra (refer post below) but the original room remains in what is now a museum display and well worth a visit. This is how the original room now looks today as part of the display housed in the old Ford factory on Bukit Timah road.

15th February 1942 Surrender Table

2010-10-23T22:47:00.002+08:00

The original table that was used at the Singapore Ford factory for the Feb 1942 surrender meeting is now located in the Australian War Memorial (AWM) Canberra. The Ford Factory that is now an interesting museum has some of the chairs that were used in their display. I have a friend in Singapore who also has one of the original chairs as his old office was in the Ford Factory post war. On this table the British Empire's worst ever defeat was sealed in writing.

Sinking of the Empress of Asia

2010-10-23T10:41:00.006+08:00

The Empress of Asia was requisitioned by the British Admiralty in January 1941, and sailed for Liverpool via the Panama Canal to the River Clyde for refitting as a troopship. For armament she received a 6 inch gun, a 3 inch gun HA, 6 20 mm Oerlikons, 8 Hotchkiss, Bofors guns, 4 PAC rockets and depth charges. In September 1941, the Empress of Asia sailed with the first convoy from North America to England which was escorted by ships of the United States Navy. The final voyage of the Empress of Asia began in November 1941, when she sailed from Liverpool carrying troops and supplies bound for Africa, Bombay and Singapore. She was one of five CPR ships that were taking men and materiel to reinforce Singapore in the face of the Japanese advance. On 5 February 1942, the convoy in which the Empress of Asia was sailing encountered Japanese air attacks near Singapore. Nine Japanese dive bombers focused their attack on the ship and she was extensively damaged and sank near the island of Sultan Shoal in the Western Anchorage of Singapore about 8 kilometres (5 miles) south of the western tip of Singapore Island. Escort vessels HMAS Wollongong, HMS Dana, HMIS Sutlej stood by while the bow of HMAS Yarra was positioned alongside the liner's stern and took off 1804 survivors. There were 16 deaths. Despite rescue efforts organized by Robert Rankin, and in another blow to the island defenders all the military equipment and other supplies were lost. Singapore would fall to the Japanese only ten days later (15 February 1942), which makes it hard to speculate about what difference it could have made if the Empress of Asia had not been sunk. The last convoy of evacuees leaving Singapore included the SS Sing Kheng Seng of the Straits Shipping Company, carrying 45 crewmen from the Empress of Asia along with an unknown number of other. Source - Wikipedia

First bombing raids on Singapore

2010-10-22T18:50:00.002+08:00

Some amazing video footage of the early bombing raids on Singapore and in particular footage from Raffles Place. Video also shows Japanese nationals being interned after the initial attacks on Malaya. The voiceover is from a time well past.

Australian troops arriving in Singapore

2010-10-22T17:59:00.001+08:00

Original footage of Australian troops arriving in Singapore pre war complete with a Kangaroo mascot. Looks like an exciting adventure under the facade of Singapore invincibility at the time

Malayan police in Singapore engage in military practise

2010-10-22T17:50:00.001+08:00

I came across this interesting video on the history channel website that shows some footage of the Malayan police in pre war drills and some footage of Bennett and Australian troops

The Tiger of Malaya General Yamashita

2010-10-13T23:29:00.003+08:00

From a military point of view the "tiger of Malaya" General Yamashita waged a very aggressive effective, sometimes risky but well planned and ultimately successful invasion campaign achieving the ultimate goal of capturing Singapore. After the war he was hung as part of the war crime tribunals. I recently came across this photograph that reputedly shows him somewhere in Malaya during the invasion campaign.

Headlines related to the fall of Singapore

2010-10-13T23:17:00.004+08:00

I have come across some interesting newspapers of the day related to the fall of Singapore and I will share some of the headlines as another way creating a picture of how some of the news was being reported at the time. In many cases the press outside of Singapore was far more accurate re the status of the invasion then the Singapore press that was subject to heavy censorship at the time. In many cases creating a very real false sense of security that Singapore would never fall! Would the evacuation been better managed and more lives saved if the civilian population knew the truth of progress and speed of the Japanese invasion down Malaya?

Final Invasion of Singapore Island

2010-10-13T23:07:00.002+08:00

This diagram by Cl M Tsuji of the IJA shows the key points of attack on the besieged island of Singapore. The brunt of the attacks came on the North West Coast of Singapore island

Allen Delf, RNR

2010-10-09T23:45:00.000+08:00

His Daughter writes - My father, Allen Delf, skipper lieutenant RNR, wrote a brief journal of his experiences in the war and described his arrival at Singapore in September 1939 where his first job was in command of HMS Ludgate. By the 7th December 1941 he was 1st lieutenant of HMS Barricade but for the evacuation of civilians out of Singapore he was transferred to the command of HMS Barlane. He was slow getting up steam and when he reached the straits the other ships had been bombed by Japanese aircraft which were then forced to give up flying because of a sudden mist that fell. He picked up survivors and took them all safely to Batavia in Java.

Jim Hutton PWD on the Kuala

2010-10-09T22:00:00.002+08:00

Major Andrew Duncan, late 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles writes....

My grandfather, A. J. S. "Jim" Hutton was Chief Architect with the PWD in Singapore at the time of the Japanese invasion of WWII. He lived with my grandmother and their three daughters, Barbara, the eldest (my mother) Joan and Marigold at No. 160 Mt. Pleasant Road. My grandfather had seen action in the trenches in France during the First World War as an officer (Captain) of the Royal Engineers. His civilian occupation as an architect led, after the war was over, to his appointment to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to design cemeteries and memorials in France. It was whilst he was living there at Longuenesse, Pas de Calais, that my mother was born.

After a spell with the PWD in Kenya he was posted to Singapore. When the Japanese invasion was imminent his previous military experience led to an Emergency Commission in the army as Lieutenant Colonel. It was his job to organise the civilian evacuation. He sent his family to safety in Australia on one of the early boats to depart Singapore. There my mother joined the WAAAF with who she served as a radio operator, leaving at the end of the war as a Corporal.

My grandfather stayed tio the bitter end, finally boarding the S.S. Kuala on 14 February 1942. Following the sinking of Kuala and with the permission of the other survivors, he and a couple of companions made for Sumatra. Landing on the East coast, they made their way through the jungle, avoiding the advancing Japanese to the West coast of the island where they acquired a fishing boat from a local kampong, planning to sail to Australia. After 3 days at sea they were fortunate to be picked up by an Australian Navy Destroyer and taken to Ceylon. From there my grandfather was at last able to inform his family that he was still alive and had successfully escaped from Singapore.

His adventures did not end there, nor was he able to travel to Australia to rejoin the family. Instead he was ordered to England where he underwent Special Operations training prior to being parachuted into Malaya behind Japanese lines to join Force 136. He was on hand to re-start the civilian government of Singapore after the Japanese surrender and must have been one of the first members of the Singapore government to report for work after the Japanese surrender.

I hope to be in further contact with Andrew in relation to this background and please do contact me directly at daviahope@gmail.com Thank you

Singapore 1942 on Twitter

2010-10-09T21:29:00.004+08:00

Firstly thank you for taking time to view this research website and thank you for the many emails letters and contributions that I have received on the topic from around the globe. As of October 2010 this site has had over 18,000 hits so it highlights the interest about this incredible time in history. I apologise to many of you who have sent me emails of which many I am behind in my follow up due to the shear volume of mail that I have received in relation to Singapore Evacuation 1942 and the fact that despite my interest I am very much a part time historian. In order to support communication and collaboration on the topic I have set up a twitter account http://www.twitter.com/singapore1942 so as to help facilitate and share information and updates on the the topic of the fall of Singapore. Twitter is a useful medium for short information 'tweets' and for quick sharing with a broader group of 'followers' and in this regards I encourage you to take a look at the site and if interested in receiving updates then become a 'follower'. Hopefully this will help speed up the sharing of information. Thank you ....@singapore1942

Tien Kwang Gunnery Officer R.W Heale

2010-05-30T12:34:00.008+08:00

On a recent trip to Hong Kong I was fortunate to have met up with John Heale the son of Reginald Heale who was the gunnery officer aboard the Tien Kwang. John's father survived the bombing and the war after ending up as a Japanese POW on that Thai Burma railway. The Malay Volunteers database managed by Jonathan Moffatt contains the following listing - HEALE R.W. [Reginald William] b.2.7.1913 Brislington, Bristol. To Singapore 1937. Mercantile Assistant. Sub-Lt SS RNVR 1930s. Lt MRNVR HMS Sultan [Singapore Naval Base]. POW Padang, Sumatra. Returned to Changi, Singapore then to Chungkai, Thailand. John is now starting to research his father's history and should anyone have any further specific background about R.W Heale please let me know. The photo shows John Heale on the left and myself in Hong Kong May 2010

Rest in Peace Jim Hall

2010-05-30T08:40:00.006+08:00

Rest in peace Jim Hall of Sunderland who passed away recently. Jim was serving in Singapore with the mobile radar unit (250 MRU) before evacuating Singapore on the Tien Kwang. Jim survived the bombing and after being standed on Pompong Island for 10 days was taken to Sumatra and eventually ended the war as a POW. Stanley Pyke met up with Jim in October 2009 where Jim was able to share his recollections about Stan's father who was killed during the bombing of the Tien Kwang. This was a special moment for Stan who was able to hear about his father directly from someone who was on the Tien Kwang with his father at the time. The photo shows Jim Hall on the left with Stan Pyke at their meeting in October 2009.

A Special Trip to Pompong Island February 14th 2009

2009-09-08T21:51:00.007+08:00

Cprl Stanley Pyke was killed off Pompong Island (believed drowned during the bombing) after evacuating Singapore with fellow RAF radar personnel aboard the Tien Kwang. On the 67th anniversary of the sinking of the Kuala and the Tien Kwang I had the privilege to be part of a group that traveled to Pompong island with his son Stan Pyke in honour of the father that he never met. In fact Stan was born in Scotland after his father had been posted to Singapore and was approximately six months old when his father was killed during the evacuation. It was an emotional but exhilarating trip for Stan and in fact for all of us in the group that joined him on his first trip to Pompong Island. This is an edited version of Stan's recollections of the trip we made on the 67th anniversary:-

As is now well known, due to many cock-ups, lack of equipment etc our forces had been pushed back down Malaya and eventually onto Singapore Island. By the end of Thursday 12th Feb 1942 all the army and RAF radar units had been withdrawn from the East of Singapore Island. On the afternoon of Friday the 13th February (black Friday!!) the AOC ordered all remaining radar equipment to be destroyed and all radar tradesmen to embark in small ships. The first group of 283 personnel, including 17 from the hospital, made their way in groups to Keppel docks and embarked, under continual bombing, onto one of two ships. These were the HMS Kuala and the SS Tien Kwang both of which had been commandeered by the navy during the war. I know that approx 250 radar personnel and their equipment went onto the SS Tien Kwang and that my father was one of them.

The KUALA and the Tien Kwang sailed from Singapore on Friday the 13th February 1942. The HMS Kuala under the command of Lieutenant Caithness had approximately 500 to 600 evacuees on board, mainly nurses but also Public Works Department personnel and various other civilians. The SS Tien Kwang was commanded by Lieutenant W Briggs, RNR and had mainly RAF radar and army personnel with a few civilians on board. They left Singapore at approx 18.15hrs on route to Batavia (now Jakarta), Java via the straits of Rhio, Barbala and Banka. At 05.45hrs on the 14th they anchored off Pompong Island which is approx 70 miles south of Singapore. The Kuala was in front approx 300 yards from the shore with Tien Kwang about the same distance astern and slightly closer to the island. Boats were sent ashore to collect branches in an attempt to camouflage the ships.

At approx 11.00hrs Japanese aircraft were seen bombing the Kung Wo which was about 3 miles behind the Tien Kwang. It was still afloat after being bombed and abandoned the previous night but this time it was sunk. The planes then spotted the two ships off Pompong Island, circled round and attacked the Kuala scoring a direct hit then turned and bombed the Tien Kwang. Many were killed and injured in the bombing and many drowned, trying to get to the island, or were washed away by the strong currents. My father was believed to have drowned even though he was a strong swimmer.

We all got through passport control and aboard the ferry on on our way. This it when it really sunk in that we were definitely going to Pompong Island. Up till them it was like walking in a dream, can it really be happening - now it was!

The day arrived, Saturday the 14th February, and what a difference from that day 67 years ago. Everything was peaceful and quiet (except for the calling of muslims to prayer). We got up and had a leisurely breakfast then got our things packed and met up in the hotel foyer. We left Tangong Pinang behind and headed out into the open seas. The sea was as calm as I have ever seen it, hardly a wave to be seen. The only problem we faced that day was the rubbish floating about in the bay, there were some fairly large pieces of wood etc amongst them. But soon after leaving the bay the sea was clear of debris and we made steady progress.

After almost two hours there it was in the distance - Pompong Island. We were almost there. What would I do, how would I feel after all this time, all this not knowing. All the unknown pent up emotion. The father I never knew was killed here exactly 67 years ago, a place that never existed in reality, a place I had always thought I would never see. We got closer and closer and then as we approached we circled the island to get a better idea of what it was like. Finally we came round the South tip and there was the beach I had read about in so many reports. The beach where so many injured people had sought refuge all these years ago. The beach my father never reached.

We headed towards the beach and ran the bow into the sand. At this point I was about to go ashore when Major Tan put a hand on my shoulder to stop me. I turned to see that in his other hand he had the pole he had been carrying around. As he handed the pole to me I saw there was a Union Jack tied on it. I was to plant the flag on the beach as is customary when you take over a beach during an invasion. And we were taking over the beach again as they did a long time ago. So we went ashore and I planted the flag in the sand. It was a great feeling to be there, on that beach, I felt the emotion, I felt the tears well up. I had managed to come here and put my father's soul to rest after all these years. I felt it for my mother too as she had known and been told so little over these long years. I felt it for his brother Tony and sister Brenda who also knew so little about his death.

The flag was flying on Pompong beach and I placed a memorial notice, I had made to leave on the island, at the foot of the flagpole for the moment.

We all gathered round and Ismi took photos of it and of us beside it with our own cameras. It was a very emotional time and I was glad to have so many good people to share it with. So many new friends who I will never forget.

Once we had taken the photos it was about the time that the bombing had started back then. So Maggie and I went for a swim in the sea. We must have been within a few hundred yards in the same stretch of water where my father drowned at about the same time 67 years earlier. That was such a wonderful feeling, emotional, not so much sad but more exhilarating. Just to be so close to where he had died and to be able to put his spirit to rest after all this time. My dad would know I had come to see him, to give him the send off he deserved. I felt very relieved, almost happy. Yes I was happy.

Maggie and I then went for a walk along the beach and noticed the unusual colour and texture of the rocks. I have seen rocks of a similar colour at St Cyrus but not the same texture. I thought it strange that nobody had mentioned it in any of the stories about Pompong, but them they had more important things on their mind - survival. We explored the trees near the beach and eventually found a suitable tree to put the memorial poster onto. I doubt if there will be anyone, except the local fishers, around to find it but you never know. Anyway if someone does find it they will know he died there and that he will always be remembered.

In the survival stories there were many reports of strong currents just off the shore and many strong swimmers and people on rafts being carried away from the island. While we were there David and Anders went snorkeling to see if they could see the wreck of the Kuala. The shore there has a gentle slope for a bit then there is a steep fall to about 30 meters. While swimming they were ok till they got to the edge of the shelf, when all of a sudden they were being pulled away by the current. Fortunately they are both good swimmers and were on the edge of the current but it still took them a long way before they managed to get back in shore. That just backs up the old stories from back then and they were lucky both of them were ok.

David had taken a metal detector along with him so he went off to see if he could find anything that had been left there. There could have been belt buckles, cap badges, buttons or any other objects lost in the mayhem. Unfortunately he drew a blank on that but had a good look round part of the island. I remember seeing Ollie having a look around the rocks just south or where we landed. We all had a good browse about, interested to see where these poor survivors had marooned. An island with virtually no water and no food to help survival. A very hostile place back then never knowing if the Japs would return or if they would be rescued. After all who would know they were even there?

The boat crew took advantage of their break to collect small cockles which they took home in jars. They also did a bit fishing with lines they threw into the water and Ismi joined in with this also. A few years ago there was an attempt to salvage some parts from the Kuala which isn't too far of shore in about 30 meters of water. There is a wooden framework left that they used to pull the parts onto shore. I have not heard of any attempt to locate the Tien Kwang.

Well all too soon it was time to load up the boat and return to Tanjong Pinang. The return trip was uneventful and KC got us back ok and in good time. We went straight onto the ferry to Singapore and were back late evening, exhausted after a very eventful day - one I will never forget. One very nice thing happened on the way on the ferry. Everyone had signed the chart that KC used to navigate to Pompong and back and this plus the Union Jack were presented to me as a memento of the trip we all made to Pompong Island. I will treasure them as long as I live. I thought it was a lovely thing and typical of Major Tan, he thinks of everything.

On the Monday as a thank you to all who came on the trip I took them all out for a meal . There are some wonderful people in this world and I have been luckily enough to have met probably more than my fair share.

What a wonderful trip - never to be forgotten.

Research regarding the Singapore evacuation ships of 1942

2008-07-19T13:30:00.006+08:00

I have lived in Singapore for the past 14+ years and hold a fascination with Singapore military history and in particular the events related to the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in February 1942.

I am looking to one day publish a book on the topic and my research and focused area of interest is focused around military and civilian evacuation records and I am looking to document stories and recover as many images as possible associated with these records. Should you be able to add any background, share any stories or verify any of the information contained in this website please do not hesitate to contact me at davidahope@gmail.com

I have set up this blog site to serve several purposes. Firstly to assist my research by listing out some specific topics I am following up on but to also use it as a medium concerning my search for information and hopefully as a tool to assist with collaboration and fact finding and verification as there are many inaccurate records with this history due to the incomplete records, haste and confusion that existed in the last days of the Singapore evacuation. Although this is the primary purpose of my research I have also included on my website other stories of interest related to the period and to the general topic about the fall of Singapore as it is such a facinating topic with so history and stories within stories that deserve to be recorded and shared.

I am consolidating stories regarding the specific ships and stories related to the evacuation and specifically the names of the ships and vessels I am researching from a specific Singapore Harbour Board evacuation record of interest which includes:-

BAGAN - Harbour Board ferry Steamer
LABURNUM (refer below on this site)
MATA HARI (refer below on this site)
KUALA (refer below on this site)
TENGARROH
CHARON
M.L 130
SHU KURAIG
KUNG WOH
SHU KWANG
HMS DANAE
HMS KEDAH (refer below on this site)
KPM Steamer HOON HOOA
WU CHANG
Mata Hari (refer below on this site)
CITY of MANCHESTER
ZAANDAM
MALACCA
TANJONG PINANG
VYNER BROOKE (refer below on this site)

As information has come to light or if verification has been provided I have updated the details on this site. In advance I thank everyone who has been assisting me in one way or another with this research.

Original footage of the fall of Malaya 1942

2008-07-19T13:29:00.004+08:00

Images of former military base in Penang

2008-07-19T12:43:00.006+08:00

The island of Penang off Malaysia's west coast remains a controversial chapter in the history of the the fall of Malaya. Primarily as the decision was made to evacuate the island during the battle of Malaya and the evacuation support was primarily supporting the caucasion population leaving the local population feeling isolated and abandoned by the people that that that had been committed too and dependant on for so long.

Located South East of Penang Island is a former British integrated fortress constructed on 20 acress of land in the 1930s on what is now called Bukit Batu Maung. The fort is now a museum and efforts are underway to preserve the underground military tunnels,intelligence and logistics bunkers, halls offices, pill boxes, artilary and anti aircraft firing bays and ammunition storage bunkers. I understand that the fort was abandoned during the Penang evacuation and although there are signs of bomb damage I believe the fort was never used for its primary purpose which was to defend Penang! I have attached some images taken on my recent visit to the fort.

Remnants of battlefields in Singapore

2008-07-08T22:00:00.010+08:00

There are several key battle sites in Singapore that have been well documented in the many books published on the fall of Singapore. Occasionally remnants of war are uncovered in Singapore including an unexploded bomb found during building excavations on Sentosa island in 2007 that was widely reported in the local press. On a recent search in the Adam Road area which was the scene of one of the key battles that took place close to the former combined military headquarters at Sime road I found a number of artifacts related to the battle including several .308 shell casings and bullet heads. Thanks to Mike Ford who identified the shell casing as being made by the Dominion Cartridge Company of Canada in 1940. The headstamp shows it is “DC 40 303 VIIZ”.

Known location of evacuation ships that were sunk

2008-07-08T21:58:00.004+08:00

Approximate location of some of the ships that were sunk during the evacuation are shown below:-

The Vyner Brooke

2007-12-15T20:53:00.000+08:00

This is a photo of a model of the Vyner Brooke taken by Dr. Neil McGregor.

Singapore Harbour Board Flag

2007-10-06T00:01:00.000+08:00

On the 15th February 1942 as Singapore was falling to the Japanese this Australian flag, which flew at the offices of the Singapore Harbour Board (SHB), was taken down during the evacuation by Jack Finlay Stein, an Australian employed by SHB. Before the surrender Stein and 82 other Board members left the port in a vehicular ferry (which exact vessel he was on is being researched) and made their escape south to Jupes then on foot to Batavia. Fortuitously a British B.I. boat the “Modasa” put into Batavia for repairs and collected the escapees and transported them to Bombay via Colombo for on forwarding and eventual repatriation. The original flag is now framed and hangs proudly at one of Jack Stein’s decendent’s homes in Western Australia.

Sinking of HMAS Yarra March 4th 1942

2007-06-16T17:45:00.001+08:00

The sloop HMAS Yarra was launched at the Cockatoo Dockyard, Sydney, on 28 March 1935 and commissioned on 21 January 1936. Displacing 1,080 tons, she was 81.1 metres long with a beam of 11 metres. She was armed with three 4-inch anti aircraft guns, four 3-pounder guns, a quadruple .5-inch anti aircraft machine-gun, and depth charges. She had a speed of 16.5 knots and a complement of 151.

Yarra's initial war service was in Australian waters, on patrol and escort duties. She was commanded by Lieutenant Commander W. H. Harrington, RAN, who was eventually to become Vice Admiral Sir Hastings Harrington, CBE, DSO, RAN, Chief of Naval Staff, 1962-65. In August 1940 she left for the Middle East where she was used on patrol and escort duties. In April 1941 she escorted a convoy from Bombay to the Persian Gulf where she took part in campaigns against Iraq and Iran. This was followed by service in the Mediterranean in November-December 1941.

With the outbreak of war with Japan, Yarra left the Mediterranean for Javanese waters, arriving in January 1942. She carried out escort and patrol duties and on 5 February performed a particularly fine piece of rescue work when she took 1800 survivors off the burning troopship Empress of Asia. On 11 February Harrington was relieved by Lieutenant Commander R. W. Rankin, RAN.

On 27 February orders were given to clear all remaining British auxiliary craft from Batavia (now Jakarta). About midnight Yarra and the Indian sloop HMIS Jumna sailed escorting a convoy to Tjilatjap. Arriving off Tjilatjap at 11 am on 2 March, the ships were warned not to enter harbour. The Yarra was ordered to take the convoy, which consisted of the depot ship Anking, the tanker Francol and the motor minesweeper MMS 51, to Fremantle while the Jumna sailed for Colombo. No time was to be lost, as powerful Japanese forces were known to be operating in the waters south of Java.

Steaming steadily south east at an average speed of 8.5 knots, the Yarra and her convoy made steady progress during the night of 2-3 March. Except for a faintly discerned shadowing aircraft sighted in the evening, there was no sign of the enemy. On the morning of the third two lifeboats were sighted. From these, Yarra picked up a number of exhausted survivors of the Dutch merchant ship Parigi, sunk by the Japanese two days earlier.

At 6.30 am on 4 March, as the sun rose the lookout in Yarra sighted the unmistakable topmasts of a Japanese heavy cruiser squadron to the north-east. The squadron consisted of Atago, Takao and Maya, each armed with ten 8-inch guns, and two destroyers. Immediately Lieutenant Commander Rankin made a sighting report, ordered the ships of convoy to scatter and, placing his ship between them and the enemy, laid smoke and prepared to engage. Yarra was outgunned and out-ranged, and the enemy ships were faster. Against such odds her task was hopeless, yet she kept fighting even as her convoy was overwhelmed and sunk, ship by ship.

Anking, which was carrying many RAN personnel was sunk first. Overwhelmed by many hits she was despatched in ten minutes. By then Yarra was on fire and listing heavily to port but still shooting. MMS 51 was on fire and was put down shortly after by a hail of close range automatic gunfire from one of the cruisers. The Francol took more punishment and still remained afloat, finally succumbing at about 7.30. Yarra, shattered by numerous hits, was the last to go. Soon after 8.00 am, Rankin ordered that the ship be abandoned. Minutes later he was killed when an 8-inch salvo hit the bridge. Leading Seaman R. Taylor, manning the last remaining gun, kept on firing until he too was killed, and the Yarra's guns fell silent. Her end, which came after close-range shelling by the two Japanese destroyers, was witnessed by 34 survivors on two rafts. All, except the Dutch captain of Parigi, were naval ratings.

When Yarra sank, the Japanese made off to the north-east after picking up one boatload of survivors from Francol. A collection of boats, rafts and floats was left scattered over a wide area of sea. Towards evening, a passing Dutch vessel, Tawali, rescued 57 officers and men from Anking. However, in spite of frantic signals, she failed to sight two Carley floats, which held 14 men from MMS 51. For the next two and a half days they drifted about until picked up by the Dutch steamer Tjimanjoek on 7 March. Meanwhile Yarra's men, their numbers sadly reduced by wounds, exposure, and thirst, continued to drift helplessly. On 9 March 13 of the sloop's ratings were picked up by the Dutch submarine KlL. Of the complement of 151, 138 (including the captain and all officers) were killed in the action or died subsequently on the raft.

Singapore Harbour Tug St Breock

2007-06-16T11:23:00.000+08:00

Civilian Evacuation list

2007-06-16T11:16:00.000+08:00

Evacuation of Civilians from Singapore December 1941 - February 1942

Michael Pether has complied a list of Ships/Vessels carrying Civilian Evacuees and the dates of departure from Singapore. He has complied this list only for vessels knwon to be carrying civilians and vessels carrying only servicemen have not been included where known. Michael is keen to add names and details where possible and should you have any further information I would be pleased to put you in contact with Michael.

January 1942;

• 16 Jan. “SS. NARKUNDA” with many passengers including a Mrs. Hosking and her children on board. Reached Australia.
• Some time mid-Jan. a British India steamer with probably over 1000 Japanese women and children internees and some allied civilians including a Miss Norah Inge (a missionary). Went to India.
• 23 Jan. – “ISLAM/ISLAMIC” reported to have reached India ( this could be the ship above)
• 30 Jan. “USS WAKEFIELD” with the “WESTPOINT” and “DUCHESS OF BEDFORD” in same convoy which altogether had 4000 passengers. Including a Mrs. McCormac (wife of “You will die in Singapore” author). Went to Tanjong Priok.
• 30 Jan. “USS WESTPOINT”
• 30 Jan. “SS DUCHESS OF BEDFORD” including Mrs. Pelton and Mrs. Barbara Parnell ( nurse with Malayan auxiliary service MAS in Ipoh)
• 31 Jan. “EMPRESS OF JAPAN “with 1221 evacuees including a Mrs. Dora Gurney plus 3 children, to Tanjong Priok where it left again on 15 Jan.

Some time in either January or February;

• “SS. ANGLO INDIAN” which reached Tanjong Priok on 12 February
• “SS. AUBY” (636 tons) reached Tanjong Priok
• “TIEN KWANG/ TUN KUANG” which had many Government servants on board plus RAF , but was bombed and sunk at Pom Pong Island on 14 Feb along with the “SS KUALA”
• “SS. AQUARIUS”(6094 tons) with 110 passengers but was sunk with possibly only 3 survivors
• “SS. NORAH MOLLER” (4433 tons?) which left with 57 passengers, some were women and children. It was shelled and set on fire. Passengers were rescued by the “HMAS HOBART” and the HMS TENEDOS” ,the latter rescued 28 wounded of whom 6 did not survive the voyage to TP which was reached on possible 4 FEB?
• “SILVER GULL” which was towed from RHIO by the famous Capt Bill Reynolds in his converted Japanese fishing boat (later the “KRAIT”) with women and children (totals vary between 166 and 216people) who were mainly families of Dutch Indonesian garrison soldiers on RHIO; they went to Pom Pong Island and then Rengat
• “MADURA” reported to have later sailed from Batavia (TP) in the last few days of Feb.

February 1942;

• 1 Feb. “ROCHUISSEN” a Dutch cattle boat with no passenger accommodation. Took 200 passengers including 50 Malayan Broadcasting personnel (Enid Innes Ker amongst) and reached Tanjong Priok on 5 Feb.
• 4 Feb. “SEDJATRA” a wooden schooner (30 tons) with 4 civilians on board – later left Tjilitap with 5 civilians and 3 RAF
• 6?? Feb. “SS. CITY OF CANTERBURY” with RAF personnel from 453 sqdn. and women and children
• 7 Feb. “HMS BAN HONG LIONG” (1671 tons) with troops and civilians in company with the “SIN AIK LEE” and reached TP from where it sailed again after two days to an unknown destination
• 8 Feb. “SS. PLANCIUS” which later (15 Feb ) sailed again from Tanjong Priok with 840 evacuees ( principally women and children) from ships that had arrived from Singapore, possibly for South Africa according to some, but more likely to Bombay.
• 8 Feb. “SS. MONARCH” sailed for New Zealand
• ?? Feb. “DOMINION MONARCH” for New Zealand
• 8 Feb. in the evening “FELIX ROUSSEL” (Free French ship) with 110 passengers mainly women and children including Mrs. Marjorie Hudson and Mrs. Dorothy Fawcett.
• 10 Feb. “SS. SILVERLARCH” which reached Java
• 10 Feb. “SS. IPOH” (Straits Shipping Co) left with 200 women and children (many were wives of Survey dept. personnel) plus 300 RAF and reached TP on 14 Feb.
• 10 or 11 or 12 Feb. “BULAN/ BULANG” which arrived TP and then went on to Ceylon
• 11 Feb. “AGAN” (244 tons) with 150 civilians including women and children – it either reached Palembang at midday on 13 Feb. or was sunk with the survivors being picked up by the “TENGORRAH”
• 11 Feb. “GIANG BEE” (1200 tons) a Chinese owned coaster with 200-300 old men, women and children on board. It was sunk by Japanese navy and 200-240 passengers were killed or drowned after getting in lifeboats
• 11 Feb. “PING WO” a pre War Yangste steamer of 200 feet in length and with only a 6 foot draft. Had 200 civilian passengers and ended up towing the destroyer “VENDETTA” all the way to Freemantle where it arrived on 4 March.
• 11 Feb. “KLIAS” which reached Palembang

- the next group of ships probably left in the major convoy of up to 40 vessels which actually departed from Singapore harbour (perhaps in groups according to their speed) early on 12 February ,

• 11 Feb. “SS. JALAVIHAR/ JALIBAHAR” ( 5330 tons) suffered heavy bombing through the Durian straits but passed through TP and finally reached Colombo
• 11 Feb. “SS. JALAKRISHNA” sailed at 1700 hours, possibly clearing the harbour on 12 Feb, in the convoy with the “DELAMORE”, “EMPIRE STAR”,”JALIBAHAR” and “LI SANG”. It was damaged by bombing in the Sunda Straits and via TP reached Colombo. Some reports say it carried no passengers but there was a Mrs. Francis Clarke who, with other evacuees from Singapore later boarded the “PLANCIUS” from TP.
• 11 Feb. “EDANG” left with 11 other vessels to form the slower part of the convoy heading for TP
• 11-12 Feb. “LI SANG” sailed about 1730 hours on 11 Feb (might have actually cleared the Harbour on the 12 Feb.)
• 11-12 Feb. “SS. JALRATNA” (3942 tons) sailed on the night of 11 Feb. and reached Tjilitap from where it left again on 19 Feb.
• 11-12 Feb. “ SS. GORGON’ ( 3533 tons0 a Blue funnel Line ship with 358-380 passengers ( the same convoy as the “DURBAN’, “KEDAH”, “STRONGHOLD”, “EMPIRE STAR” and “YOMA”)and reached TP and later Freemantle, Australia.
• 11-12 Feb. “SS. HONG KHENG” ( 6167 tons) which sailed on the night of 11 feb
• 12 Feb. SS. EMPIRE STAR” with 2000 RAF ground crew and service families, it reached Batavia (i.e. TP) on 15 Feb and then sailed on to Freemantle.
• 12 Feb. at daybreak, “HMS. SCOTT HARLEY” with 170 women and 30 men on board including,
o Michael Ashe
o Roland Braddell
o Miss Linda Brash
o Mrs. Annie L Clark ( wife of Norman Clark engineer Govt. Rice Mills)
o Mrs. Elliott / Mrs. Sharpe – Elliott ( a canteen worker with MAS whose husband was a engineer at the Naval Docks)
o Mrs. W.F. Joyce Fitzpatrick ( husband with Singapore Cold Storage)
o Eliza Martin / Mrs. Eric Martin
o Mrs. Enid Miller
o Mr. & Mrs. Pery
o Nessie Rhodes / Mrs. “Dusty” Rhodes of KL
o Winifred Sinclair
o Dr. J. W. Scarff, his wife, two daughters (Elizabeth and Jopin) and 2 boys
o Joan Winchester / Mrs. V. A. Winchester (wife of a vet and whose brother in law was a doctor)
o A Russian mother and daughter (the latter had a hairdressing shop in Raffles Hotel, Singapore)
o The Secretary to the Governor of Singapore – she is described as about 35 years and 16 stone.
o A naval policeman
o Plus possibly a Mr. Potts, Melvin Thompson, Mrs. Duke, and Mrs. Ray “..of the Municipality” and one child
- most of the “SCOTT HARLEY” European passengers on shipped from Batavia on 21 Feb. to Bombay on the “PLANCIUS”. Some then went on to Australia on the “JOHAN DE WITT”. For a full story of the “SCOTT HARLEY” see the item on the COFEPOW website.
• 12 Feb. “SS. REDANG” (531 tons) of the Thai Navigation Co. with 89 passengers including 6 women and 3 children. It was shelled in the Berhala Straits and sunk – some 30 passengers including 4 women and 2 children got away by boat but were captured by the Japanese.
• 12 Feb. “SING WO” a Yangste river boat (2500 tons) left with 230 passengers including Rohan Rivet who authored “Behind Bamboo” ,it was bombed and ran aground at Muntok where passengers were taken prisoner.
• 13 Feb. “FANLING” a motor launch with 47 passengers which was sunk with only 4 survivors in the Banka Straits
• 13 Feb. “HMS CHANG TEH” sunk in the Durian Straits
• 13 Feb. “SS. KUALA” (at the same time as the “MATA HARI and the “VYNER BROOK” mentioned below) with about 500 people on board including a large group of nurses who had been ordered to leave Singapore. It was sunk on 14 Feb at anchor off Pom Pong Island. The following were on board,
o Nurse Brenda Macduff (who today lives in NZ)
o Nurse Jean Smith
o Nurse Edith wood
o Nurse Olive MacFarlane (killed whilst the ship was at anchor in Singapore)
o Nurse “Paddy” Corke (killed in the bombing at Pom Pong Island)
o Nurse MacPherson (who left Pom Pong Island on the “TANJONG PINANG” which was sunk on the way to Sumatra with almost total loss of life)
o Matron Margot Turner
o Nurse Paddy Clarke
o Nursing Sister Marjorie de Malmanche
o Mary Cooper (Irish)
o Mrs. Doughty
o Miss Doughty
o Jenny Doughty (27 years who lost her leg in the bombing and died later in Padang)
o Dr. Elsie Crowe (Singapore Obstetrician)
o Dr. Marjory Lyon (Johore Government Obstetrician and Surgeon)
o Mrs. Madden
o Olga Neubronner
o Mr. Bruce – Smith (a NZer)
o Group Capt. Nunn and his wife (later died in the sinking of the “ROSENBOOM”)
o Mr. G. T. O’Grady a Public works engineer
• 13 Feb. “SS. SING KHENG SENG” of the Straits Shipping Co with 45 crew from the “EMPRESS OF ASIA” and unknown others.
• 13 Feb. “MATA HARI” with 320 passengers including a large group of nurses. It was captured by the Japanese in the Banka Straits and taken into Muntok harbour. Passengers included Nurse Phyllis Briggs who lives today in the UK.
• 13 Feb. “SS. VYNER BROOK” with 200 evacuees, mainly civilians and nurses. Attacked and sunk in the Banka Straits with heavy loss of life. A large group of the nurses were later murdered by the Japanese on a beach with only Vivian Bullwinkle surviving..
• 13 Feb. HONG KWANG” later abandoned in Java on 9 March
• 13 Feb. a small coaster with 12 British men and a woman named Mary Jenkins
• 13 Feb. in the evening “RELAU” a palm oil tanker of the Straits Shipping Co (75 tons) with 66 passengers. It picked up shipwreck survivors along the way ( including 13 from “SCORPION”) but was captured by the Japanese
• 13 Feb. in the evening “BLUMUT” a small craft of the Johore Marine Dept. with 29 passengers. It was captured by the Japanese off Banka around 16-17 Feb.
• 14 Feb. in the early hours, “HMS. KEDAH” a small costal ship of the Straits Shipping Co. with possibly about 750 men, women and children. It reached Batavia. Mrs. Muriel Reilly, a cipher officer to the Governor, was on board.
• 14?? Feb. “SS. BARLINE / BARLANE” with ships named “BARRIER” , BARRICADE” and “FASTNET” – this one may be an inaccurate piece of info .

What happened to the flags on Percival's car?

2007-06-16T11:08:00.000+08:00

Thank you to Mike Stein who shared a photo of of the flags that were removed from the mudguards of the car of British Lt-Gen. Arthur Ernest Percival, the officer in charge of Allied forces at the fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942. According to the recounts by Mike Stein's father Jack - on that day as surrender became imminent Percival ordered that as many vehicles as was possible be driven into the harbour to impede the Japanese fleet from an easy berthing and to stop the vehicles falling into Japanese hands.

An Australian Singapore Harbour Board employee, Jack Stein, took the opportunity to remove the flags from Percival’s car for posterity before pushing the car off the wharf as he had been instructed.Later that day Percival surrendered to his Japanese counterpart Ganeral Yamashita at the Ford Motor Factory on Bukit Timah Road.

Jack Stein then with other Harbour Board members escaped to Java and that story will be documented further in this website. The historical flags are now framed and hanging on display in Western Australia.

SS Kuala sunk off Pom Pong Island

2007-06-16T11:04:00.002+08:00

The Kuala was sunk off Pom Pong Island and Michael Pether sent me a note that he met with an elderly lady, Mrs. Brenda Macduff, (now 95 years old but with a sharp mind and memory) recently whom he has come to know well in his research.

She was a British nurse, married to a British lawyer who was serving in the Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces, working in Ipoh who ended up nursing in Alexandra Hospital as the Allies retreated into Singapore. She and other Alexandra nurses were strictly ordered to evacuate on 13 February 1942 from Singapore and boarded the "SS Kuala" which was bombed and machine gunned (with about 500 people on board) as it tried to camouflage itself a day later off Pom Pong Island in the Rhio Archipelago. Many (possibly 100-150) were killed in this cruel event and then another 200 (mainly women ,children and wounded) of the complement died when they were "rescued " from Pom Pong island a few days later by the "SS Tanjong Pinang" which was sunk by the Japanese on its way to Sumatra.

Brenda was rescued with the remainder (by the famous Capt Bill Reynolds and his converted Japanese fishing boat - the one that was later renamed the "Krait" and which took the Australian Commandoes to Singapore to blow up Japanese shipping) and continued nursing the wounded on the escape trail across Sumatra to Padang so as a result arrived at Padang after the last evacuation ship had left there - she ended up in a Japanese POW camp in Sumatra for the remainder of the War.

HMS Scorpion

2007-06-16T11:03:00.001+08:00

Motor Launches 'Osprey' and 'Mary Rose'

2007-03-20T16:19:00.006+08:00

On the evening of February 13th, Captain George Mulock was ordered to report to Fort Canning, where he was informed that his tenure as Extended Defences Officer was complete, because within hours there would be no colony to defend. Although unwilling to abandon the colony, Mulock had important work to carry out and his knowledge of naval and military intelligence, including the MAGIC/ULTRA machines made him a potential Japanese target.

He was ordered to requisition the Osprey, a motor launch, and convey key Australian diplomatic personnel to safety. The Osprey was designed to seat ten persons, but when the party arrived it numbered nearly forty. At the party’s head Australian Commissioner Vivian G Bowden CBE, and his staff. Bowden had refused to leave, but on Percival’s urging he finally decided to leave. However, in the early hours of February 14th the group was confronted by a mob of Australian deserters armed with Tommy-guns and hand grenades.

The party, led by Captain Mulock, eventually was able to make their way onto the Osprey, but because of the large number of persons aboard, transferred to the motor launch Mary Rose, anchored in the middle of Keppel Harbour. The Mary Rose, a forty-foot motor launch would fittingly be probably the last ship out of the colony. According to Richard Gough’s The Escape from Singapore’ the launch was skippered by an elderly RN officer ordered to take it through the Banka Straits to Pulembang in Sumatra. The launch carried some 38 passengers including Mr Vivian Gordon Bowden (Australian Commissioner to Singapore), Mr A.N. Wootton (Commercial Secretary) Mr J.P. Queen (Political Secretary), Lt. Colonel John Dalley (Commanding Officer, SOE 101st Special Training School), Captain C. Corry, Wayne of Special Branch and a Policeman.

Captain Mulock’s main priority was the safe passage of key personnel, however at his side also lay a secondary and more important duty. Boarding the Osprey and later the Mary Rose, Mulock carried a large case carrying a vital component of the Allied war effort. Mulock had received orders from Admiral Spooner, to take the top-secret de-coding machine, used to decipher and re-assemble Japanese naval ciphers, and throw it into the harbour once clear of the colony. It was vital that this piece of technology not fall into Japanese hands less they discover that the Allies had been able to decipher the so-called ‘Emperor’s Codes’ for some considerable time.

From his new headquarters at the Ford Motor Factory on Bukit Timah Road, General Yamashita warned the Japanese Navy and Air Force to comb the seas around Singapore for a possible Expeditionary force. A large naval force anchored at the head of the Banka Straits was now positioned directly in front of the ships carrying evacuees. General Percival would write “I regret to have to report that the flotilla of small ships and other light craft which left Singapore on the night of 13-14 February encountered a Japanese naval force in the approaches to the Banka Straits. It was attacked by light naval craft and by aircraft. Many ships and other craft were sunk or disabled and there was considerable loss of life. Others were wounded or were forced ashore and were subsequently captured.”

On 17 February 1942 the Mary Rose was caught in a searchlight by two Japanese patrol vessels that threatened to open fire. In the absence of a white flag, a pair of underpants was hoisted. The craft was escorted to Muntok harbour, Banka Island in the East Indies.

The prisoners were held in a cinema-hall at Muntok where Bowden informed his captors in their own language of his diplomatic status and remonstrated with guards who attempted to remove his personal possessions. Soldiers punched him and took him outside. During the struggle, Captain Mulock, himself only two years younger than Bowden had his nose broken by a rifle butt. A local resident saw 'an elderly white-haired gentleman' forced to dig a shallow grave and stand at its edge before being executed.

This insight was kindly provided by

Mr R B D Hughes
Nephew of Captain George Mulock DSO, RN, FRGS
Head of Extended Defences/Extended Defences Officer for Singapore August 1939-February 1942

Last boat away from the bomb damaged Kung Wo

2007-03-20T16:19:00.005+08:00

Yangstze Steamer Wu Chang

2007-03-20T16:19:00.003+08:00

Civilian Evacuation list by Michael Pether

2007-03-20T16:19:00.001+08:00

Evacuation of Civilians from Singapore December 1941 - February 1942

Michael Pether has complied a list of Ships/Vessels carrying Civilian Evacuees and the dates of departure from Singapore. He has complied this list only for vessels knwon to be carrying civilians and vessels carrying only servicemen have not been included where known. Michael is keen to add names and details where possible and should you have any further information I would be pleased to put you in contact with Michael.

January 1942;

• 16 Jan. “SS. NARKUNDA” with many passengers including a Mrs. Hosking and her children on board. Reached Australia.
• Some time mid-Jan. a British India steamer with probably over 1000 Japanese women and children internees and some allied civilians including a Miss Norah Inge (a missionary). Went to India.
• 23 Jan. – “ISLAM/ISLAMIC” reported to have reached India ( this could be the ship above)
• 30 Jan. “USS WAKEFIELD” with the “WESTPOINT” and “DUCHESS OF BEDFORD” in same convoy which altogether had 4000 passengers. Including a Mrs. McCormac (wife of “You will die in Singapore” author). Went to Tanjong Priok.
• 30 Jan. “USS WESTPOINT”
• 30 Jan. “SS DUCHESS OF BEDFORD” including Mrs. Pelton and Mrs. Barbara Parnell ( nurse with Malayan auxiliary service MAS in Ipoh)
• 31 Jan. “EMPRESS OF JAPAN “with 1221 evacuees including a Mrs. Dora Gurney plus 3 children, to Tanjong Priok where it left again on 15 Jan.

Some time in either January or February;

• “SS. ANGLO INDIAN” which reached Tanjong Priok on 12 February
• “SS. AUBY” (636 tons) reached Tanjong Priok
• “TIEN KWANG/ TUN KUANG” which had many Government servants on board plus RAF , but was bombed and sunk at Pom Pong Island on 14 Feb along with the “SS KUALA”
• “SS. AQUARIUS”(6094 tons) with 110 passengers but was sunk with possibly only 3 survivors
• “SS. NORAH MOLLER” (4433 tons?) which left with 57 passengers, some were women and children. It was shelled and set on fire. Passengers were rescued by the “HMAS HOBART” and the HMS TENEDOS” ,the latter rescued 28 wounded of whom 6 did not survive the voyage to TP which was reached on possible 4 FEB?
• “SILVER GULL” which was towed from RHIO by the famous Capt Bill Reynolds in his converted Japanese fishing boat (later the “KRAIT”) with women and children (totals vary between 166 and 216people) who were mainly families of Dutch Indonesian garrison soldiers on RHIO; they went to Pom Pong Island and then Rengat
• “MADURA” reported to have later sailed from Batavia (TP) in the last few days of Feb.

February 1942;

• 1 Feb. “ROCHUISSEN” a Dutch cattle boat with no passenger accommodation. Took 200 passengers including 50 Malayan Broadcasting personnel (Enid Innes Ker amongst) and reached Tanjong Priok on 5 Feb.
• 4 Feb. “SEDJATRA” a wooden schooner (30 tons) with 4 civilians on board – later left Tjilitap with 5 civilians and 3 RAF
• 6?? Feb. “SS. CITY OF CANTERBURY” with RAF personnel from 453 sqdn. and women and children
• 7 Feb. “HMS BAN HONG LIONG” (1671 tons) with troops and civilians in company with the “SIN AIK LEE” and reached TP from where it sailed again after two days to an unknown destination
• 8 Feb. “SS. PLANCIUS” which later (15 Feb ) sailed again from Tanjong Priok with 840 evacuees ( principally women and children) from ships that had arrived from Singapore, possibly for South Africa according to some, but more likely to Bombay.
• 8 Feb. “SS. MONARCH” sailed for New Zealand
• ?? Feb. “DOMINION MONARCH” for New Zealand
• 8 Feb. in the evening “FELIX ROUSSEL” (Free French ship) with 110 passengers mainly women and children including Mrs. Marjorie Hudson and Mrs. Dorothy Fawcett.
• 10 Feb. “SS. SILVERLARCH” which reached Java
• 10 Feb. “SS. IPOH” (Straits Shipping Co) left with 200 women and children (many were wives of Survey dept. personnel) plus 300 RAF and reached TP on 14 Feb.
• 10 or 11 or 12 Feb. “BULAN/ BULANG” which arrived TP and then went on to Ceylon
• 11 Feb. “AGAN” (244 tons) with 150 civilians including women and children – it either reached Palembang at midday on 13 Feb. or was sunk with the survivors being picked up by the “TENGORRAH”
• 11 Feb. “GIANG BEE” (1200 tons) a Chinese owned coaster with 200-300 old men, women and children on board. It was sunk by Japanese navy and 200-240 passengers were killed or drowned after getting in lifeboats
• 11 Feb. “PING WO” a pre War Yangste steamer of 200 feet in length and with only a 6 foot draft. Had 200 civilian passengers and ended up towing the destroyer “VENDETTA” all the way to Freemantle where it arrived on 4 March.
• 11 Feb. “KLIAS” which reached Palembang

- the next group of ships probably left in the major convoy of up to 40 vessels which actually departed from Singapore harbour (perhaps in groups according to their speed) early on 12 February ,

• 11 Feb. “SS. JALAVIHAR/ JALIBAHAR” ( 5330 tons) suffered heavy bombing through the Durian straits but passed through TP and finally reached Colombo
• 11 Feb. “SS. JALAKRISHNA” sailed at 1700 hours, possibly clearing the harbour on 12 Feb, in the convoy with the “DELAMORE”, “EMPIRE STAR”,”JALIBAHAR” and “LI SANG”. It was damaged by bombing in the Sunda Straits and via TP reached Colombo. Some reports say it carried no passengers but there was a Mrs. Francis Clarke who, with other evacuees from Singapore later boarded the “PLANCIUS” from TP.
• 11 Feb. “EDANG” left with 11 other vessels to form the slower part of the convoy heading for TP
• 11-12 Feb. “LI SANG” sailed about 1730 hours on 11 Feb (might have actually cleared the Harbour on the 12 Feb.)
• 11-12 Feb. “SS. JALRATNA” (3942 tons) sailed on the night of 11 Feb. and reached Tjilitap from where it left again on 19 Feb.
• 11-12 Feb. “ SS. GORGON’ ( 3533 tons0 a Blue funnel Line ship with 358-380 passengers ( the same convoy as the “DURBAN’, “KEDAH”, “STRONGHOLD”, “EMPIRE STAR” and “YOMA”)and reached TP and later Freemantle, Australia.
• 11-12 Feb. “SS. HONG KHENG” ( 6167 tons) which sailed on the night of 11 feb
• 12 Feb. SS. EMPIRE STAR” with 2000 RAF ground crew and service families, it reached Batavia (i.e. TP) on 15 Feb and then sailed on to Freemantle.
• 12 Feb. at daybreak, “HMS. SCOTT HARLEY” with 170 women and 30 men on board including,
o Michael Ashe
o Roland Braddell
o Miss Linda Brash
o Mrs. Annie L Clark ( wife of Norman Clark engineer Govt. Rice Mills)
o Mrs. Elliott / Mrs. Sharpe – Elliott ( a canteen worker with MAS whose husband was a engineer at the Naval Docks)
o Mrs. W.F. Joyce Fitzpatrick ( husband with Singapore Cold Storage)
o Eliza Martin / Mrs. Eric Martin
o Mrs. Enid Miller
o Mr. & Mrs. Pery
o Nessie Rhodes / Mrs. “Dusty” Rhodes of KL
o Winifred Sinclair
o Dr. J. W. Scarff, his wife, two daughters (Elizabeth and Jopin) and 2 boys
o Joan Winchester / Mrs. V. A. Winchester (wife of a vet and whose brother in law was a doctor)
o A Russian mother and daughter (the latter had a hairdressing shop in Raffles Hotel, Singapore)
o The Secretary to the Governor of Singapore – she is described as about 35 years and 16 stone.
o A naval policeman
o Plus possibly a Mr. Potts, Melvin Thompson, Mrs. Duke, and Mrs. Ray “..of the Municipality” and one child
- most of the “SCOTT HARLEY” European passengers on shipped from Batavia on 21 Feb. to Bombay on the “PLANCIUS”. Some then went on to Australia on the “JOHAN DE WITT”. For a full story of the “SCOTT HARLEY” see the item on the COFEPOW website.
• 12 Feb. “SS. REDANG” (531 tons) of the Thai Navigation Co. with 89 passengers including 6 women and 3 children. It was shelled in the Berhala Straits and sunk – some 30 passengers including 4 women and 2 children got away by boat but were captured by the Japanese.
• 12 Feb. “SING WO” a Yangste river boat (2500 tons) left with 230 passengers including Rohan Rivet who authored “Behind Bamboo” ,it was bombed and ran aground at Muntok where passengers were taken prisoner.
• 13 Feb. “FANLING” a motor launch with 47 passengers which was sunk with only 4 survivors in the Banka Straits
• 13 Feb. “HMS CHANG TEH” sunk in the Durian Straits
• 13 Feb. “SS. KUALA” (at the same time as the “MATA HARI and the “VYNER BROOK” mentioned below) with about 500 people on board including a large group of nurses who had been ordered to leave Singapore. It was sunk on 14 Feb at anchor off Pom Pong Island. The following were on board,
o Nurse Brenda Macduff (who today lives in NZ)
o Nurse Jean Smith
o Nurse Edith wood
o Nurse Olive MacFarlane (killed whilst the ship was at anchor in Singapore)
o Nurse “Paddy” Corke (killed in the bombing at Pom Pong Island)
o Nurse MacPherson (who left Pom Pong Island on the “TANJONG PINANG” which was sunk on the way to Sumatra with almost total loss of life)
o Matron Margot Turner
o Nurse Paddy Clarke
o Nursing Sister Marjorie de Malmanche
o Mary Cooper (Irish)
o Mrs. Doughty
o Miss Doughty
o Jenny Doughty (27 years who lost her leg in the bombing and died later in Padang)
o Dr. Elsie Crowe (Singapore Obstetrician)
o Dr. Marjory Lyon (Johore Government Obstetrician and Surgeon)
o Mrs. Madden
o Olga Neubronner
o Mr. Bruce – Smith (a NZer)
o Group Capt. Nunn and his wife (later died in the sinking of the “ROSENBOOM”)
o Mr. G. T. O’Grady a Public works engineer
• 13 Feb. “SS. SING KHENG SENG” of the Straits Shipping Co with 45 crew from the “EMPRESS OF ASIA” and unknown others.
• 13 Feb. “MATA HARI” with 320 passengers including a large group of nurses. It was captured by the Japanese in the Banka Straits and taken into Muntok harbour. Passengers included Nurse Phyllis Briggs who lives today in the UK.
• 13 Feb. “SS. VYNER BROOK” with 200 evacuees, mainly civilians and nurses. Attacked and sunk in the Banka Straits with heavy loss of life. A large group of the nurses were later murdered by the Japanese on a beach with only Vivian Bullwinkle surviving..
• 13 Feb. HONG KWANG” later abandoned in Java on 9 March
• 13 Feb. a small coaster with 12 British men and a woman named Mary Jenkins
• 13 Feb. in the evening “RELAU” a palm oil tanker of the Straits Shipping Co (75 tons) with 66 passengers. It picked up shipwreck survivors along the way (including 13 from “SCORPION”) but was captured by the Japanese
• 13 Feb. in the evening “BLUMUT” a small craft of the Johore Marine Dept. with 29 passengers. It was captured by the Japanese off Banka around 16-17 Feb.
• 14 Feb. in the early hours, “HMS. KEDAH” a small costal ship of the Straits Shipping Co. with possibly about 750 men, women and children. It reached Batavia. Mrs. Muriel Reilly, a cipher officer to the Governor, was on board.
• 14?? Feb. “SS. BARLINE / BARLANE” with ships named “BARRIER” , BARRICADE” and “FASTNET” – this one may be an inaccurate piece of info .

SS IPOH

2007-03-19T23:19:00.001+08:00

Edward Marriott writes that in relation to the SS IPOH that an ex POW was interviewed and he is adamant he sailed on the SS IPOH from Singapore to Sumatra. Captain Jannings (IPOH) last report apparently doesnt mention stopping at Sumatra, but mentions the voyage to Batavia.

The memoirs "LIFE OF RILEY", can be found on the Far East Heroes page of the FEPOW FORUM and the relevant section is the chapter Escape from Singapore onwards. The relevant extract is:-

Ahead of Dennis, on Jan 30th, a convoy of small ships had left with troops and equipment heading for Pladjoe and Palembang in Sumatra. Sam was aboard this convoy. I haven’t yet found out if my dad was with him or Dennis.

The next day, still in Singapore, Dennis’ group came across the 100ft “SS.IPOH,” the only vessel moored up at the quayside lying empty and idle. Dennis heard the captain shouting to the men that he had no fuel (coal), no crew and would not be able to put to sea.

The soldiers looked about the quayside and saw heaps of coal ready to be loaded for ships boilers. Within minutes orders were given and men toiled to shovel the coal aboard as fast as possible. A few soldiers jumped aboard and started stoking up the boiler. The troops on the quayside made their way along the decks, but being so many the boat began to list heavily. Immediately the order was given for a more orderly dispersion of weight across the deck and men were sent below as the decks became crowded.

Eventually the New Zealand Steamship Company’s little ship cast off and slowly steamed away from the hell of Singapore. Building up speed she headed towards Sumatra, everyone on board praying that the ship would not turn turtle with so many aboard.

Above them a lone Jap bomber had spotted them and released three bombs. Already patched up from previous damage, Dennis wondered just how much more this craft could take as he held his breath watching the line of bombs heading toward them.

Fortune was smiling on them as the bombs hit the water yards away exploding in a line and showering the huddled troops with water. A lad from Bridgenorth, *Jimmy Green of the 6th HAA, suffered an injury to his leg from shrapnel. Dennis did not know if any other injuries occurred to the rest of the men.

* Eventually, Jimmy would have to have the leg amputated in the P.O.W. camp and Dennis would make him crutches.

The picture of the SS IPOH was provided by Edward and is from an an oil painting kindly sent to him from Alex Norrie. His grandfather owned the painting after serving as an engineer aboard her in the 1920’s.

Another ship that Edward is looking for information on is a ship named the SS DARVEL that left Singapore on the 31st Jan 1942. If anyone has any information about the SS IPOH or can verify this information relating to the IPOH and Sumatra and or information relating to the SS DARVEL I would be happy to pass the information on. Thank you Edward for this contribution!

HMS Scott Harley

2007-03-12T18:41:00.000+08:00

Michael Pether from New Zealand shared with me this facinating insight into a story related to the HMS Scott Harley.

There are well documented accounts of some of the ships that fled the chaos of Singapore as the Japanese troops were advancing across that small island in the final days before its surrender - these include the tragic story of the SS 'Vyner Brooke' which left on the night of 12 February and, earlier, the SS 'Empire Star' which had left at dawn on that day with a convoy that is variously described as ranging from six to thirty two vessels.

Other vessels mentioned as being in this convoy are 'Gorgon', 'Yoma', 'Delamore', 'Jalibahar/Jalibar', 'Jalakrishna /Jalikrishna' and 'Li sang/Lee sang'. This convoy was apparently accompanied by the light cruiser HMS 'Durham', HMS 'Stronghold' and possibly the HMS 'Kedah'.

No published accounts, however, seem to record the fact that at dawn that day the Royal Navy requisitioned auxiliary minesweeper HMS 'Scott Harley' (620 tons, built 1913) also departed (possibly with the convoy) and was one of the few ships leaving at that time which successfully reached the safety of Batavia (now Jakarta).

Some authors have estimated that only two or three of the approximately 40 ships (i.e. not including small craft such as junks and launches) that left Singapore during 11 - 13 Feb 1942 actually made it to safety and that only about one in four evacuees/escapees during the last week before the surrender reached sanctuary. Our family's recollections include the statement that eight out of the thirty two in the convoy mentioned above safely made it to Batavia, but this cannot be proven.

On the 'Scott Harley' was my grandmother Annie Clark, a New Zealander in her fifties, who had been living in the Far East (as it was called at the time) for some years with her husband and children. This is also a slice of the story of Annie Clark and her daughter Kathleen who both experienced the war as wives of men in Japanese POW camps.

To make it easier to understand the context of her following account of the harrowing last week before surrender and (with the benefit of knowing the massive loss of life and ships escaping Singapore at this time) the very lucky voyage of the HMS 'Scott Harley' I will include some information on the family she refers to in Singapore at the time.

Annie was a gentle lady who, in the decade leading up to the fall of Singapore, had travelled and lived with her husband as he worked in Siam, Borneo, Shanghai, and by 1940 in Malaya. In 1941 they moved to Singapore where her husband Norman "Nobby" Clark (also a New Zealander) was an engineer in the Government Rice Mills. Nobby was a NZ Artillery veteran of the First World War campaign at Gallipoli. Also in Singapore by 1940 were my father Harold Pether (an Englishman and a manager with C.C. Wakefield & Co. - now known as Castrol Oil), mother Kathleen (who was Annie's daughter) and their baby daughter Maureen. Harold wisely put his wife and daughter on a ship to New Zealand in Dec 1941 when the Japanese invaded Malaya.

In 1940 Nobby and Annie had left behind in Kuala Lumpur their 17 year old son John "Jack" Clark, fresh out of boarding school in New Zealand and in his first job as an Assistant with ICI. Malaya Ltd. In 1941 Jack joined up with the Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces, where he was a Private in the 2nd Selangor Battalion.
Nobby Clark and Harold Pether were to become civilian internees after the fall of Singapore - firstly in Changi and then Sime Road Camp. Jack Clark went missing (some recollections point to him being executed by the Japanese) whilst escaping from Singapore's island fortress of Blakang Mati after the surrender on 15 February 1942. He is remembered on the Singapore War Memorial at Kranji (his last days and the FMSVF are the subject of ongoing research by our family).

Michael has sent me an account of Annie's experience during the last days prior to the fall of Singapore and her evacuation to Batavia on the HMS 'Scott Harley' - from Batavia she spent many weeks on ships to India, Ceylon and Australia, before reaching New Zealand in June 1942.The account was written by Annie and her husband (probably in 1961) - According to Michael it seems they are referring to a diary for much of the content.

If anyone can help Michael with any further information related to this ship or to any of the pople mantioned in this contribution Michael would be pleased to hear from you and I can put you in touch with him. I can also forward further information related to Annie Clark's experience that Michael has shared with me if it would help garner more information.

I am also keen to obtain a photo of the HMS Scott Harley should anyone know where I can find one.

Evacuation and Rescue Ships 1942

2007-02-16T18:02:00.000+08:00

This is a list created by Arthur Lane ex-FEPOW as listed on COFEPOW website. It is not complete but but it does give an overview of what happened to some of the ships and vessels that I am researching.

16.1.42 Motor Launch KELANA (R, 88t) - Sunk by aircraft Malaya
21.1. 42 Collier ZANNIS L CAMBANIS (R, 5317t, 1920) - Mined off Singapore
22.1.42 Armed Trader LARUT (R, 894t, 1927) - Sunk by aircraft off E Coast of Sumatra
22.1.42 Armed trader RAUB (R, 1161t, 1926) - Sunk by aircraft off E Coast of Sumatra
27.1.42. Destroyer THANET (1000t, 1919) - Sunk in action with Japanese surface craft off Malaya.
2.42. Auxiliary anti-submarine vessel TIEN KWANG (R, 787t, 1925) - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into enemy hands Singapore area.
2.42. Boom defence vessel DOWGATE (290t, 1935) - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into Japanese hands at Singapore.
2.42. Boom defence vessel LUDGATE (290t, 1935) - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into Japanese hands at Singapore.
2.42. Examination vessel SOLEN (R) - Presumed lost at Singapore.
2.42. Landing craft personnel (Large) LCP (L) No 180-185 (Total 6, 8 - 11t each) - Lost at Singapore.
2.42. Motor launch ML PENGHAMBAT - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into enemy hands at Singapore.
2.42. Motor launch ML PENINGAT (R) - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into enemy hands at Singapore.
2.42. Patrol vessel GIANG BEE (R, 1646t, 1908) - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into enemy hands - Singapore area.
2.42. Small craft SHUN AN (R) - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into Japanese hands at Singapore.
2.42. Tug WO KWANG (R, 350t, 1927) - Assumed lost at Singapore.
11.2.42. Armed trader LIPIS (R, 845t, 1927) - Believed lost by enemy action off Singapore.
13.2.42. Auxiliary anti-submarine vessel SHU KWANG (R, 788t, 1924) - Sunk by aircraft Dutch East Indies.
13.2.42. Auxiliary anti-submarine vessel SIANG WO (R, 2595t, 1926) - Bombed and beached Dutch East Indies.
13.2.42. Boom accommodation ship SUI WO (R, 2672t, 1896) - Lost or destroyed to prevent falling into Japanese hands at Singapore.
13.2.42. Minesweeper HUA TONG (R, 280t, 1927) - Sunk by aircraft in Palembang River, Sumatra.
13.2.42. River gun boat SCORPION (700t, 1938) - Sunk by gunfire from Japanese surface craft Banka Straits after aircraft attack on 9.2.42.
14.2.42. Armed trader VYNER BROOKE (R, 1670t, 1928) - Sunk by aircraft off Banka Straits, Sumatra.
14.2.42. Auxiliary anti-submarine vessel KUALA (R, 954t, 1911) - Sunk by aircraft Dutch East Indies.
14.2.42. Minelayer KUNG WO (R, 4636t, 1921) - Sunk by aircraft bombs near Lingga Archipelago, Singapore area.
14.2.42. Minesweeper CHANGTEH (R, 244t) - Sunk by aircraft bombs, Singapore area.
14.2.42. Motor launch ML No. 311 (73t, 29.11.41.) - Sunk by Japanese gunfire Banka Straits, Sumatra.
14.2.42. River gunboat DRAGONFLY (625t, 1939) - Sailing from Singapore and sunk by aircraft bombs.
14.2.42. River gunboat GRASSHOPPER (625t, 1939) - Sailing from Singapore and sunk by aircraft bombs.
14.2.42. Tug PENGAWAL - Sunk by aircraft Durian Straits, Singapore.
14.2.42. Tug ST BREOCK (810t) - Sunk by aircraft bombs off Sumatra.
14.2.42. Tug ST JUST (810t, 1919) - Sunk by aircraft Durian Straits, Singapore.
14.2.42. Whaler TRANG (R, 205t, 1912) - Fired and abandoned Cooper Channel, Singapore.
15.2.42. Minesweeper KLIAS (R, 207t, 1927) - Scuttled at Palembang, Sumatra.
15.2.42. Tug YIN PING (R, 1914) - Sunk by gun fire.
16.2.42. Motor launch ML No. 1062 (40t) - Sunk by gunfire Banka Straits, Sumatra.
17.2.42. Minesweeper JARAK (R, 208t) - Sunk by Aircraft bombs Singapore area.
18.2.42. Minesweeper MALACCA (R, 210t, 1927) - Scuttled in Tjemako River, Sumatra.
27.2.42. Destroyer ELECTRA (1375t, 1934) - Sunk by surface craft gunfire Java Sea.
27.2.42. Destroyer JUPITER (1760t, 25.6.39.) - Sunk by torpedo Java Sea.
28.2.42. Auxiliary anti-submarine vessel MATA HARI (R, 1020t, 1915) - Sunk by aircraft in Sunda Strait, Java Sea.
2.3.42. Minesweeper FUH WO (R, 953t, 1922) - Lost by enemy action or destroyed at Singapore.
2.3.42. Minesweeper LI WO (R, 707t, 1938) - Lost by enemy action or destroyed at Singapore.
2.3.42. Minesweeper SIN AIK LEE (R, 198t, 1928) - Lost by enemy action or destroyed at Singapore.
2.3.42. Minesweeper TAPAH (R, 208t, 1926) - Lost by enemy action or destroyed at Singapore.
3.42. Whaler JERAM (R, 210t, 1927) - Presumed lost, Sinngapore area.
1.3.42. Cruiser EXETER (8390t, 1931) - Sunk in action with Japanese surface craft, Java Sea.
1.3.42. Destroyer ENCOUNTER (1375t, 1934) - Sunk in action with Japanese surface craft, Java Sea.
1.3.42. Motor launch ML No. 1063 (40t, 1.42.) - Sunk in action, Tanjong Priok, Java.
1.3.42. Tanker/Oiler WAR SIRDAR (5518t, 1920) - Lost on reef NW Batavia.
1.3.42. Whaler RAHMAN (R, 209t, 1926) - Lost or destroyed Batavia.
2.3.42. Destroyer STRONGHOLD (905t, 1919) - Sunk in action with Japanese surface craft, south of Java.
2.3.42. Whaler GEMAS (R, 207T, 1925) - Scuttled Tjilatjap, Java.
3.3.42. Minesweeper SCOTT HARLEY (R, 620t, 1913) - Sunk, probably by surface craft Indian Ocean.
3.3.42. Tanker Oiler FRANCOL (2623t, 1917) - Sunk by gunfire of Japanese surface craft south of Java, Indian Ocean.
3.3.42. Base ship ANKING (R, 3472t, 1925) - Sunk by gunfire of Japanese surface craft, south of Java, Indian Ocean.
4.3.42. Motor minesweeper MMS No 51 (226t, 26.11.41.) - Scuttled south of Java to prevent capture by Japanese.
8.3.42. Whaler JERANTUT (R, 217t, 1927) - Scuttled Palembang, Sumatra.
25.12.42. Landing craft personnel (Large) LCP (L) No 36 (8211t) - Lost by fire at Chittagong, India. Date given as 24th/25th.

Black Friday - 13th of February 1942

2007-02-15T22:50:00.000+08:00

HMS Kedah in her wartime colours

Captain George F A Mulock, D.S.O., R.N., F.R.G.S. (1882-1963) served as Extended Defences Officer at Singapore from August of 1939 until the colony’s fall on February 15th, 1942.

It is believed that Captain Mulock and his staff at Extended Defences, under the in-direct command of Admiral EJ Spooner, co-ordinated the evacuation of some sixteen vessels which sailed from Singapore at dawn on the 12th February, or ‘Black Friday’ as it would later be known.

The exact size of the so-called ‘Empire Star Convoy’ is unknown and numbers range from six to over thirty, but included the Empire Star, Gorgon, Yoma, Delamore, HMS Scott Harley. The light cruiser HMS Durban, HMS Stronghold and HMS Kedah would escort the convoy. It is estimated that only two or three of the dozens of ships to leave Singapore during 11 - 13 Feb 1942 actually made it to safety.

Three ships, which he personally oversaw the evacuation of were Blue Star cargo ship SS Empire Star (which left on the 12th February), the SS Vyner Brooke (left on the night of 12th February), and the SS Malacca (which left on the morning of the 13th February 1942). The Empire Star and HMS Kedah were two of those who did make it without being sunk by the Japanese.

Evacuation of Rear Admiral EJ Spooner & Captain GFA Mulock

2007-02-13T20:51:00.002+08:00

Photo of Rear Admiral Spooner and his wife Megan at Admiral House in Singapore

Mr RBD Hughes provides this fascinating insight regarding his Uncle and the evacuation:-

I have been provided with your e-mail address by very helpful members of the FEPOW community in Britain. I have also viewed your blog relating to the evacuation from Singapore. My uncle Captain George F A Mulock, DSO, RN, FRGS (1882-1963) served as Extended Defences Officer at Singapore until the colony's fall in February 1942. He personally arranged the 'evacuation?!' of Rear-Admiral Jackie Spooner aboard a motor launch, and when the Admiral left Singapore, my uncle was in effect SNO, he being the most senior naval officer to be captured at Singapore. I write to you as I know that it is an area of some interest to you.

I believe, from the limited papers relating to my uncle's time at Singapore, that he assumed some control over the evacuation of civilians from the colony, as the government there had more or less let people pursue their own passage. I know that he arranged the evacuation of women, children and a selection of naval officers aboard the Blue Star cargo ship SS Empire Star. Nevertheless, it was the sight of women and children left to fend for themselves in Singapore that haunted my uncle for the rest of his life. He believed, perhaps unfairly given the apathy displayed by the Straits Settlement Government, that he did not do enough.

I would very much like to contribute a small piece for your blog, relating to my uncle, who was the nephew of British Poet Laureate Sir Alfred Austin, and served under Captain R F Scott during the 1901-1904 British National Antarctic Expedition and at Gallipoli in 1915-1916, winning the DSO for saving lives from HMS Ocean and the evacuation form Suvla Bay and the Cape Helles.

I hope that some more information can be gleaned from interested parties, as I know nothing about his time as Extended Defences Officer, except for his brief memoirs, in which he devotes little time to Singapore. I am hoping to re-write and publish his memoirs under the title White Ribbon, White Flag.

With thanks
Mr R B D Hughes
Nephew of Captain George Mulock DSO, RN, FRGS
Head of Extended Defences/Extended Defences Officer for Singapore August 1939-February 1942

If anyone can help with any further information relating to Captain GFA Mulock I would be happy pass the information on.

Christopher Thorne has kindly shared the information below relating to the passenger list of ALL those on the Fairmile M/L 310

KEY: A = Reached Java / B = Died Tjebia / C = PoW / D= Survived / E = Missing / F = Dcd Singapore.

Lt J Bull RNZVR CO A, Rear Admiral EJ Spooner RAMY B, LLt Henderson XO 310 B, Air Vice Marshal CW Pulford ACC Far East B, Mne Day C, Act Lt Brough Coxwain 310 A, Cdr. PL Frampton RN B, StSgt Lockett RE EAB Hill A, Wing Cdr. PA Atkins RAFVR C, StSgt Ginn RE EA B, Oldenall C Lt RAW Pool RN C, StSgt Davis RE BA B, Johnstone C Lt IW Stonor Argyll/Sutherland Highlanders C, Sgt Wright RMP C, AB Flower B, Mr. Richardson, Warrant Bosun RN C, L/C Shrimpton RMP F, AB Hayward B, P/O Keeling B, L/C Turner RMP C, AB Russell B, P/O Firbank C, L/C Schief RMP C, Teleg'st Tweedale C, P/O Sto. Bale B, L/C Stride RMP C, P/O Motor Mech Johncock C, Telg'fst Smithwick RN C A, A/C Smith RAF C, Sto Tucker C , Sgt. Hornby RM B, A/C Bettany RAF C, Sto Paddon C , Mne Sully B, Sto Townsend B, Mne Robinson C , Sto Scammell RN B, Sto Little B, Mne Smith C, Pte Docherty Gdn Hi'l'ers B, Cook "Charlie" Chinese D, Mne Sneddon C , Mr Dimmert RN D'yd S'pre B.

This makes a total of 47 bodies on a boat built for a crew of 6/7

Artist's image of the last moments of the Li Wo

2007-02-06T22:45:00.001+08:00

What finally happened to the "Mata Hari"?

2007-02-06T22:22:00.000+08:00

What was the background behind the sinking of the MATA HARI?

There are possibly conflicting records I hope that someone maybe able to verify what actually happened to the vessel.

An Account by H. WALKER, M.B.E., a Civilian Engineer at the Naval Dockyard, Singapore, who stayed behind to destroy the Naval Fuelling Installations gives a very interesting personal account and states that the MATA HARI was captured 10 miles S.E. of Muntok by the Japanese. The captain surrendered because the passengers were mostly women, children and nurses, there was also a few Argylls and Royal Marines on board. They were taken ashore at Muntok on Banka Island

The MATA HARI originally left Singapore on the 12th February 1942 preceded by the VYNER BROOKE and when captured there were apparently no casualties despite the fact that ship had apparently been attacked by over 80 Japanese planes.

The voyage included the rescue of five sailors who were survivors from the gunboat HMS Scorpion who had been swimming about in the dark for five hours and had almost given up hope of rescue. Later that night they reached the mouth of the Moesi river which runs into Palembang but a hitch occurred - a pilot was required and there wasn't one available so the MATA HARI anchored.

H. Walker stated it was a very dark night and during the dark suddenly shells began to 'zip' overhead with two Japanese vessels appearing from behind the shadows of the mangroves and the Captain of the MATA HARI formally surrendered upon the realisation that they were sitting ducks and owing to the large numbers of civilians including women and children who were on board.

When daylight broke the two dark shapes in the night were shown to be a big four-funnelled Japanese cruiser and a Japanese destroyer. The captain of the MATA HARI was instructed to lift anchor and follow the Japanese vessels to Muntok Bay, Banka Island. I understand most of the passengers were then subsequently interned in prison camps.

In http://www.naval-history.net it states the fate of the MATA HARI as being:- MATA HARI, Auxiliary anti-submarine vessel (R, 1,020t, 1915) Sunk by aircraft in Sunda Strait, Java Sea, 1942, February 28.

As the eye witness account states that the MATA HARI was "captured" I am looking to understand if the Japanese then sunk the vessel after capture and if so - why?

What happened to the HMS Laburnum?

2007-02-04T23:02:00.000+08:00

In a number of evacuation records the ship "LABURNUM" is referenced. However I could not track down any records of this ship having actually left Singapore. In my request for information I was kindly provided with the following summaries:-

HMS Laburnum
Acacia Class Sweeping Sloop.
Launched by Charles Connell & Company Scotstoun, Yard No: 375, on 10/6/1915 and lost in 1942 Singapore.
1200t normal
76.2m x 10.1m x 3.4m
1 shaft TE, 2 boilers, 1800ihp giving 16.5 knots
2 x 12pdr, and 2 x 3pdr AA guns
Crew 90

1935 became the drill ship in Singapore.
1942 scuttled during the Japanese takeover.

From a another reference on SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY:-
LABURNUM - Sloop 'Acacia' class - Connell (shipbuilders)-10/6/1915. Became a drillship 1935 - Lost 2/1942 Singapore
LABURNUM -(EX WAKATAKA) Drillship, 1890 tons Japanese minelayer seized 17/10/1947, renamed 1949

SHORE ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE ROYAL NAVY
LABURNAM - Singapore Drill Ship
1) Sloop (1915)- Reserve Drill Ship - Straits Settlement 1935, arrived 10/03/1935, lost 2/1942 Singapore Paid Off 28/02/1942
2) Ex Japanese WAKATAKA, Minelayer seized, renamed LABURNAM as drill ship 09/1949 to 1951

This excerpt from a Royal Malaysian Navy website that I was kindly provided is also interesting:

On 18 January 1935, the British Admiralty presented Singapore with an Acacia-class sloop, HMS Laburnum, to serve as the Reserve's Headquarters and drill ship. It was berthed at the Telok Ayer Basin. HMS Laburnum was sunk in February 1942, prior to the capitulation of Singapore at the beginning of the Pacific Second World War.

In Ralph Armstrong's book "Short Cruise on the Vyner Brooke" where he documents his personal experiences during the evacuation he stated "We were told to report to the HMS Laburnum at the wharves. It turned out to be a land station by that name......"

Ralph Armstrong and family ended up being allocated to the "SS Vyner Brooke" so I assume that based on his description the "Laburnum" it seemed that a number of evacuees were told to report to the "Laburnum" but upon arrival were allocated to other ships.

Various sources have confirmed that the vessel was used as a Navy "land station" and that she was scuttled during the Japanese takeover and so may also have been damaged while berthed. Thank you also for the lead with the photo!

William A Choppin interned in Changi Prision

2007-02-04T22:48:00.000+08:00

WA Choppin b1898 in Greenwich was living in Harbour Board accommodation in Bukit Chermin Road at the time of the fall of Singapore. His wife Nora Olive evacuated to UK on the second last ship out of Singapore according to relatives and lost a number of close friends on the last ship out that did not make it.

WA Choppin was the son in Law of AL Lawrence (father of Nora) and voluntarily decided to stay in Singapore for the surrender (aged 43 in 1942) despite being given the opportunity to escape on a Harbour Board Steamer with many other harbour Board Staff. He was interned at both Changi and Sime Road jails and after the liberation he continued to live in Singapore up until around 1949 when this photo was taken.

I was kindly provided with the following Singapore directory record:

CHOPPIN W.A. [William Augustus] b.1898 Greenwich. Ironworker,Dockyard Staff, Harbour
Board Singapore. Aged 43 in 1942. Lived at 20 Bukit Chermin Rd, Singapore. Wife Nora Olive evacuated to UK. Changi and Sime Rd internee. Died 1985 Gloucestershire.

Changi Prison records state that his cell number was 3 2 26 (which he shared with A Lawrence) and his camp reference number was 318. I am looking for any information related to WA Choppin's Changi or Sime Road Prison internment or information related to his tenure with the Singapore Harbour Board.

Alfred Lawrence interned in Changi Prison

2007-02-04T22:05:00.000+08:00

Alfred Lawrence arrived in Singapore in 1898 and worked for the Civil Engineer's Dept of the Singapore harbour Board. He reported to HK Rodgers, Chairman of the Harbour Board and spent his years in Singapore primarily focused on the building and construction of the docks in Keppel Harbour. This photo of GW Lawrence was taken around 1933 or 1934.

In the last days before Singapore capitulated he was given the opportunity to evacuate on the Harbour Board Steamer ferry the "Bagan" but refused to do so and made the personal decision to stay in Singapore which had been his home for some 44 years at that point. His son in law, WA Choppin who was responsible for the Dockyards at Keppel harbour (also reporting to HK Rodgers) made the decision to stay behind and not escape despite also being given the opportunity to also depart on the "Bagan".

Upon the official surrender both men went to one of the Harbour Board houses on Bukit Chermin Road which was tenanted by WA Choppin and waited for the Japanese to intern them. Both gentlemen subsequently spent the occupation years in Changi Prison where they shared the same cell and survived to see the liberation but I understand that Alfred Lawrence died not long afterwards having never being able to fully recover from the interment.

WA Choppin on the other hand returned to the Harbour Board after the liberation and continued to live in the same Harbour Board house on Bukit Chermin road up until 1949.

I was kindly provided the following information relating to Alfred Lawrence who was listed in the Singapore directories in 1933 and 1940:-

LAWRENCE A. [Alfred] Foreman of Works, Civil Engineering Dept , Singapore Harbour Board. Aged 62 in 1942. Changi and Sime Rd internee. Wife E. evacuated to UK.

I am looking for any further information on these two gentlemen and in particular any stories, accounts or photos relating to their interment in Changi Prison and Sime road and or during their employment with the Singapore Harbour Board.

HK Rodgers & Cliff House

2007-02-03T13:18:00.000+08:00

I am looking to establish where HK Rodgers, Chairman Harbour Board, Straits Settlements lived before his escape from Singapore in February 1942.

I believe that he may have lived at “Cliff House”on Bukit Chermin Road which is located in walking distance from Keppel Harbour and where some other housing that were originally occupied by senior staff from the Harbour Board still stand today.

Cliff House apparently burnt down or was demolished in the mid 1960s but the site shows that it would have had a very prominent view of the Harbour and as it was actually listed in a 1913 town map of Singapore it would no doubt have been a very prominent house at the time.

Does anyone have any information concerning the history of Cliff House and can confirm that HK Rodgers did in fact live there before the evacuation? The 1938 Malaya Who's Who only gives his address as Bukit Berlayer, Singapore.

HK Rodgers – Chairman Harbour Boards, Straits Settlements

2007-02-03T13:08:00.000+08:00

HK Rodgers was the Chairman, Harbour Boards, Straits Settlements based in Singapore who escaped on the "TENGARROH" (There are several different spelling versions of this ship but I believe this spelling is the correct one) on the 14th of February at 1.30 am under heavy shelling. He survived the evacuation and ended up in Fremantle, Western Australia

I am keen to know more about HK Rodgers including his tenure in Singapore, where he lived (Cliff House on Bukit Chermin Rd?) and hopefully track down a photo of him for my research. I was kindly provided with the following information being complied for a 1941 "who's who of Singapore":

RODGERS H.K.[Henry Knight] AMICE b.1900 Glasgow. Educated Sir Joseph Williamson’s School and Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Singapore Harbour Board Chairman 1937-42. Evacuated 14.2.42 on Tengarah. Left Tjilitjap on the coastal steamer Khoen Hoea 26.2.42; arrived Fremantle WA 9.3.42.

Other details include:

1923 Assistant Manager, Messrs Clover, Clayton & Co Ltd, Birkenhead.

1924-1927 Assistant General Manager, Messrs William Beardmore & Co.Ltd

1928-1931 General Manager, the Shalimar Works Ltd, Calcutta

1932-1933 Technical Advisor, Messrs Alcock Ashdown & Co. Bombay

1934 Assistant to Chairman, Singapore Harbour Board

1935 Assistant General Manager, Singapore Harbour Board

Clubs: Royal Societies
Recreations: Cricket, Tennis