Also on hand was the elite Indian manned Hong Kong and Singapore Regiment of Royal Artillery (HK&SRRA) and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force. (Private Dudley Athelstan Annear, WX13457 of 2/4 MGB was killed in action at Singapore on 14 February 1942. This was the greatest known defeat of British forces in the distant Far East. Categories: [45] This included the naval base at Sembawang. Though his mind had been gradually prepared for its fall, the surrender of the fortress stunned him. The British destroyed the causeway, forcing the Japanese into an improvised crossing of the Johore Strait. My attack on Singapore was a bluffa bluff that worked. [32][33][34] On 31 January, the last Commonwealth forces crossed the causeway linking Johor and Singapore and engineers blew it up. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I could not help wondering why such an outflow of civilians, Europeans as well as Asians, should have been allowed at this late hour. Signaller lucky to escape from Singapore Signaller lucky to escape from Singapore Name: Allan Quick Date: 1942 Unit: L Section, 8 Division Signals Location: Singapore, Ceylon For someone who was a signaller trained to keep things short and to the point, Allan Quick wrote remarkably thoughtful and detailed letters home from the war. Its free and takes less than 10 seconds! Their greatest challenge was transiting the Sunda Strait, now controlled by the Japanese, but somehow hugging the coast they remained undetected. Shaw, Ian W., On Radji Beach, Macmillan, Sydney, 2010. Danae offloaded them at Tjilatjap, a small port now crowded with ships, on the south coast of Java. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. There were only seven survivors and Lieutenant Wilkinson was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. This podcast series examines Australias Naval history, featuring a variety of naval history experts from the Naval Studies Group and elsewhere. [19][20], At the start of the campaign, the Commonwealth forces had only 164 first-line aircraft in Malaya and Singapore and the only fighter type was the sub-standard Brewster 339E Buffalo. His father and grandfather were interned. Print length 198 pages Language English Publisher Scribner Publication date January 1, 1974 No community reviews have been submitted for this work. They get buzzed by a Zero that inexplicably doesn't fire, they get fired upon by a Zero who inexplicably doesn't finish them off, they meet a drunken Dutchman, they eat poorly (but not _that_ poorly), tempers fray, etc. There must at this stage be no thought of saving the troops or sparing the population. At last the small convoy was in the open sea and made for the west coast of Australia, but Perak stoically continued alone for Colombo, reaching this destination safely on 4 March 1942. Property of the Rajah of Sarawak, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty, lightly armed andgivenacoatofgreypaint.Sheretainedher civilian crew who were given naval reserve ranks, commanded by Captain Richard Borton. [122][123], The Australians occupied a perimeter of their own to the north-west around Tanglin Barracks, in which they maintained an all round defence as a precaution. Yamashita and his officers stationed themselves at Istana Bukit Serene and the Johor state secretariat buildingthe Sultan Ibrahim Buildingto plan for the invasion of Singapore. Blackburn and Hack give a total of 226 for British artillery pieces captured during the siege of Singapore itself, including fortress guns (172 without them), Two brigades from the 8th Australian Division had been dispatched to Singapore and then Malaya in February 1941, while its third brigade had been dispersed to garrison. These Dalforce officers were keen to attempt an escape to Sumatra where they might reform. With the option of surrender or attack Wilkinson, with the support of his crew, chose the latter and sank one transport and damaged another before Li Wowas sunk. In the first few minutes of 13 February the headquarters ship Laburnum, signaling by Morse light,gave orders to sail. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. They also bombed the other vessels which were set on fire and sank, suffering numerous casualties. Shop now. [164] The city was renamed Syonan-to ( Shnan-t; literally: 'Southern Island gained in the age of Shwa', or 'Light of the South'). The Commonwealth having thought the terrain made them impractical, had no tanks and only a few armoured vehicles, which put them at a severe disadvantage. These were MLs 432and 433and HDMLs 1062and 1063. Something went wrong. [102] In the early hours of 11 February, the Japanese, who had concentrated significant forces around the Tengah airfield and on the Jurong Road, began further offensive operations: the 5th Division aimed its advance towards Bukit Panjang, while the 18th Division struck out towards Bukit Timah. Early on 8 December 1941, Singapore was bombed for the first time by long-range Japanese aircraft, such as the Mitsubishi G3M2 "Nell" and the Mitsubishi G4M1 "Betty", based in Japanese-occupied Indochina. Another well-known escape was of 65 Australian nurses aboard HMS Vyner Brooke which sailed on 12 February. The bombers struck the city centre as well as the Sembawang Naval Base and the northern airfields. A month later they were washed ashore having returned to within a hundred miles of their departure point. This contained top secret British Cabinet papers addressed to Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Commander-in-Chief Far East. Malaya and Singapore had an ample supply of defending forces, with a British Army supported by Australian and Indian troops, however, many of these had been hastily put together and quantity was not matched by quality. Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack, Sydney Harbour in War and Peace: Bradleys Head Tour, Garden Island Northern Hill and Garden Tour, Night of the midget subs Sydney under attack, D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN Part 1, D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN Part 2, D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN Part 3. [80], By the time of the invasion, only ten Hurricanes of 232 Squadron, based at RAF Kallang, remained to provide air cover for the Commonwealth forces on Singapore. [96] The Japanese were given a firm foothold to "build up their force unopposed". About 80,000 British, Indian, Australian and local troops became prisoners of war, joining the 50,000 taken in Malaya and many died of neglect, abuse or forced labour. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. While Dutch officials did what they could the local people, fearing reprisals by new masters, were not always helpful. Date 8-15 February 1942 Location Singapore, Straits Settlements [10] On 11 November 1940, the German raider Atlantis captured the British steamer Automedon in the Indian Ocean, carrying papers meant for Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, the British commander in the Far East. [135] Little work had been done to build air raid shelters, and looting and desertion by Commonwealth troops further added to the chaos in the area. [50][51] Although his military advisors judged that Istana Bukit Serene was an easy target, Yamashita was confident that the British Army would not attack the palace because it belonged to the Sultan of Johor. Only two vessels were thought to have made their intended destinations. The Japanese were also almost at the end of their supplies and Yamashita wanted to avoid costly house-to-house fighting. [d] The Japanese overran cities and advanced toward Singapore, which was an anchor for the operations of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM), the first Allied joint command of the Second World War. Here they met a Chinese who for payment agreed to take them to Sumatra. [29] Of over 3,000 men from these units only around 500 men escaped. Previous ed. Much is known of this and the vain attempt by the Prince of Walesand Repulse to halt the Malayan invasion and, the subsequent incarceration of troops and civilians at Selarang and Changi. [12][13] Following these attacks, a period of consolidation was planned, after which the Japanese planners intended to build up the defences of the captured territory by establishing a strong perimeter from the IndiaBurma frontier through to Wake Island and traversing Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, New Guinea and New Britain, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. [129][117] At about 13:00, the Japanese broke through and advanced towards the Alexandra Barracks Hospital. She also towed a motor launch Eureka, manned by a petty officer and two ratings. [83], Air battles went on for the rest of the day and by nightfall it was clear that with the few aircraft Percival had left, Kallang could no longer be used as a base. Much less is known about the planned escape of thousands of servicemen, civilians and women and children over the last few days leading up to the surrender. Alices nephew is CMDR Mike Storrs RAN Rtd. 198 p. 23 cm. [90][89], To the north, the 27th Australian Brigade had not been engaged during the Japanese assaults on the first day. Free shipping for many products! HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites, Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications, Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT, 81st. He was 31. Arrival at the RAF Base was timely as with enemy advances it was due to be evacuated with personnel and aircraft transferred to Java. Dragonflyand Grasshoppersailed in company on 13 February with about 325 troops, bound for Sumatra. The report also contained an order of battle for the defence of Singapore and the roles to be played by Australian and New Zealand forces should Japan enter the war. Colonels and brigadiers, civilians and civilservants,battle-hardenedwarriorsandarmy deserters intent on escape at any price, left in launches, junks, rowing boats, naval craft, in fact anything that floated. Over the course of a day, they found large concentrations of troops, although they were unable to locate any landing craft. The British outnumbered the Japanese but much of the water for the island was drawn from reservoirs on the mainland. published under title: Escape from the rising sun. 4 Bill Reynolds, later working for American Intelligence, was landed behind enemy lines in Malaya in November 1943. This brave man had refused to kneel in order to be beheaded. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. An element of some 6000 men departed Sydney in the liner Queen Maryas part of Convoy US9 on 4 February 1941, arriving in Singapore two weeks later on 18 February. [88] Throughout the day, the 44th Indian Infantry Brigade, still holding its position on the coast, began to feel pressure on its exposed flank and after discussions between Percival and Bennett, it was decided that they would have to retire eastwards to maintain the southern part of the Commonwealth line. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. [126], The following day, the remaining Commonwealth units fought on. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. [157] While impressed with Japan's quick succession of victories, Adolf Hitler reportedly had mixed views regarding Singapore's fall, seeing it as a setback for the "white race" but ultimately something that was in Germany's military interests. [173], Commando raids were carried out against Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour in Operation Jaywick (1943) and Operation Rimau (1944) to varying success. Her captain is unknown and she sailed with 4 crew and 25 passengers. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society and the RAN Seapower Centre. When the junk did not arrive the ADC swam to a sampan and guided her inshore, allowing the party to cross to Johore. Robinson, Stephen, False Flags Disguised German Raiders of World War II, Exisle Publishing, Wollombi, NSW, 2016. Shortly afterwards Percival allocated the composite 6th/15th Indian Infantry Brigade to reinforce the Australians from their position around the Singapore racecourse. About 40,000, mostly conscripted, Indian soldiers joined the Indian National Army and fought with the Japanese in the Burma campaign. [94], Communication problems caused further cracks in the Commonwealth defence. With the prevailing primitive instincts of escape and survival there were few heroes, with the exceptions of LEUT Thomas Wilkinson VC of HMS Li Wofor fearlessly engaging the enemy, and the courageous Captain Bill Reynolds4with his ironically named Kofoku Maru. How came 100,000 men (half of them of our own race) to hold up their hands to inferior numbers of Japanese? At the same time, bowing to Japanese political pressure and possibly compounding foreseen weakness, Britain withdrew from its Chinese based garrisons at Shanghai and Tientsin and repositioned these regiments in Singapore, leaving the last east Asian outpost at Hong Kong alone and vulnerable. Over the course of an hour, intense fighting took place on the right flank of the 2/19th Battalion, until its positions were overrun, the Japanese then advanced inland concealed by the darkness and the vegetation. They were malnourished and frightened, with morale and discipline at a low ebb. This boat was badly holed and with constant bailing could only accommodate four passengers at a time. Preview Book This old steamer, built in 1906, was now lying abandoned in Tandjong Priok, her native crew having deserted. [81] On the morning of 9 February, dogfights took place over Sarimbun Beach and other western areas. They fell upon X Battalion, which had camped in its assembly area while waiting to launch its counter-attack, and two-thirds of the battalion was killed or wounded. This left Rear Admiral Spooner with three river gunboats, Dragonfly, Grasshopper andScorpion, under the command of retired Commander J. Hoffman RN and a squadron of seven motor launches (MLs) under the command of Lieutenant Commander H.Campey, RANVR, plus sundry other small craft. LEUT Wilkinson came through the ordeal of captivity as a POW. This is without a doubt the most boring WWII book I've come across. The Malay battalions had not been in action, and the Straits Settlements Volunteers were only sketchily trained. Escape from Singapore, 1942: the story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters. Brooke writes of his experiences in Singapores Dunkirk(Brooke 1989), but tragically this episode did not emulate the success of the English Channel crossing. Since then further interesting information has come to light. [98] Throughout 10 February further fighting took place around along the Jurong Line, as orders were formulated to establish a secondary defensive line to the west of the Reformatory Road, with troops not then employed in the Jurong Line; misinterpretation of these orders resulted in Taylor, the commander of the 22nd Brigade, prematurely withdrawing his troops to the east, where they were joined by a 200-strong ad hoc battalion of Australian reinforcements, known as X Battalion. The surviving garrison was marched into Japanese prison camps, some never to return. Japanese aircraft continuously bombed the civilian water supply which was expected to fail within days. His relations with senior British commanders and staff in Malaya were, at times, strained, as he grappled to maintain control of the Australian troops. [76][h] From 27 to 30 January, another 48 Hurricanes arrived on the aircraft carrier HMSIndomitable. [145], Bennett's party eventually made its way back to Australia while between 15,000 and 20,000 Australian soldiers were reportedly captured. [153][136] Yamashita, the Japanese commander, laid the blame on the British "underestimating Japanese military capabilities" and Percival's hesitancy in reinforcing the Australians on the western side of the island. The ship later sailed to Colombo and served as a hospital ship in Burma. Of the defensive forces only one British regiment and the Indians were prepared for operational service against a superior battle hardened force. [79] The lack of an effective air early warning system throughout the campaign meant that many Commonwealth aircraft were lost in this manner during Japanese attacks against airfields. [84] A squadron of Hurricane fighters took to the skies on 9 February but was then withdrawn to the Netherlands East Indies and after that no Commonwealth aircraft were seen again over Singapore; the Japanese had achieved air supremacy. While the presence of a Japanese Fleet, bound for Sumatra, was known to the Dutch it was nolongerpossibletopassthisinformationto Admiral Spooner. Escape from Singapore, 1942;: The story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters Ian Skidmore 4.00 3 ratings0 reviews Want to read Buy on Amazon Rate this book 198 pages, Unknown Binding First published January 1, 1974 Book details & editions Loading interface. Copyright 2023. Lieutenant Geoffrey Brooke served in the battleship Prince of Waleswhich sank on 10 December 1941. [91] Late on 9 February, the Imperial Guards began assaulting the positions held by the 27th Brigade, concentrating on those held by the 2/26th Battalion. Reynolds had other ideas and as a skilled sailor and engineer he borrowed a vessel. The Japanese authorities were suspicious of the Chinese because of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and murdered thousands of citizen "undesirables" (mostly ethnic Chinese) in the Sook Ching massacre. [53][54][g] Percival incorrectly guessed that the Japanese would land forces on the north-east side of Singapore, ignoring advice that the north-west was a more likely direction of attack (where the Straits of Johor were the narrowest and a series of river mouths provided cover for the launching of water craft). [155] At Gemas, Bakri and Jemaluang, "they achieved the few outstanding tactical successes" of the campaign in Malaya and although the Australians made up 13 per cent of the British Empire's ground forces, they suffered 73 per cent of its battle deaths. It is believed 32 survivors, some wounded, came ashore which included the captain; his wife Alice had been killed during the attacks. ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE - 1942 NONFICTION. They were witnessing the beginning of the end of the British Empire with the whole city lying under a pall of smoke, lit up by the glow of fires, as the once rich and powerful garrison surrendered to the Japanese. [141] They returned with orders that Percival himself proceed with staff officers to the Ford Motor Factory, where Yamashita would lay down the terms of surrender. She was later sold to Chinese shipping interests. [23] Although outnumbered and outclassed, the Buffalos were able to provide some resistance, with RAAF pilots alone managing to shoot down at least 20 Japanese aircraft before the few survivors were withdrawn. 3 Charles Moses served in the British infantry during WWI. [85][86] That evening, three Fairmile B motor launches attacked and sank several Japanese landing craft in the Johor Strait around its western channel on the evening of 9 February. [11], Japanese oil reserves were rapidly depleting due to its military operations in China and by industrial consumption. Dutch officials were appalled at their unruly behavior and could not wait to be rid of their unwelcome guests. No more is known of the fate of Kembong but with a new lease of life the venerable Perak sailed for the Mediterranean. The initial wave was concentrated against the positions occupied by the 2/18th and 2/20th Battalions, around the Buloh River, as well as one company from the 2/19th Battalion. Controversially, the commander of Australian forces on the island, Major General Gordon Bennett, escaped the island with two staff officers on the night of the surrender. These recordings can be accessed through Apple iTunes or for Android users, Stitcher. Escape from Singapore, 1942;: The story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters [71] The initial fighting cost the Australians many casualties, the 2/20th, losing 334 men killed and 214 wounded. An exception to the fighting force was the Second Battalion of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, part of the Indian 12thBrigade, who had been positioned in Malaya in late 1939 to bolster the local forces. [62] The Australians requested the shelling of these positions to disrupt the Japanese preparations but the patrol reports were later ignored by Malaya Command as being insignificant, based upon the belief that the real assault would come in the north-eastern sector, not the north-west. With the aid of a Dutch pilot they then followed Kembong in convoy. [82] The Hurricanes shot down six Japanese aircraft and damaged 14 others for the loss of a Hurricane. Survival at sea after the fall of Singapore. He proposed two options: an immediate counter-attack to regain the reservoirs and the military food depots around Bukit Timah, or surrender. [151][137] Elphick also claims that Australians made up the majority of stragglers. Please try your request again later. [108][109][110] With the vital water supply of the reservoirs in the centre of the island threatened, the 27th Australian Brigade was later ordered to recapture Bukit Panjang as a preliminary move in retaking Bukit Timah. Here another bit of luck came the way of the Dalforce party as they heard of another abandoned ship in need of their newfound recovery skills. He was indeed a hero. This perimeter would be used to block Allied attempts to regain the lost territory and defeat their will to fight. He could only say "The bloody bastards will never think of looking for me in the open, and I want to see a bloody plane brought down". [159] Churchill's physician Lord Moran wrote, The fall of Singapore on February 15 stupefied the Prime Minister. The escape was not well thought of by other senior Army officers, and in parliamentary circles it was politely termed unwise. It comprised about 2,000 Chinese under (mainly retired) British reserve officers, and was only in existence for a matter of weeks. Lord Langford, who has died aged 105, was one of Wales's most colourful characters; during the Second World War he was involved in a daring escape from Singapore after the Japanese took control of the island, an adventure described by Ian Skidmore in Escape From the Rising Sun in 1973. [118][119] The Japanese captured the water reservoirs that supplied the town but did not cut off the supply. [6][7] During 1940 and 1941, the Allies imposed a trade embargo on Japan in response to its campaigns in China and its occupation of French Indochina. Over the final five-day period before surrender on Sunday 15 February 1942, about 5000 souls escaped but less than one in four made a safe landing, the rest being killed or captured. Little is known about their escape but it appears unauthorised. Escape from Singapore, 1942;: The story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters Hardcover - January 1, 1974 by Ian Skidmore (Author) 1 rating See all formats and editions Hardcover $8.00 6 Used from $8.00 Survival at sea after the fall of Singapore. Communication and leadership failures beset the Allies and there were few defensive positions or reserves near the beachhead. All these had considerable armed forces at their disposal, so a move by the Japanese to gain control of their oil, rubber and minerals was a dramatic undertaking without guarantee of success. 232 Squadron RAF was formed and No. There was considerable loss of life and casualties from both vessels, and most survivors were captured. Copyright 2023. This is without a doubt the most boring WWII book I've come across. Some did make landfall on a number of islands including Pompong Island (about 80 miles south of Singapore) where they escaped the wrath of their attackers. Burroughs, Walter, The Naval Evacuation of Singapore February 1942, Naval Historical Review Vol 40 No 2, June 2019, Naval Historical Society of Australia, Sydney. [m] Thompson wrote that the 22nd Australian Brigade was "so heavily outnumbered that defeat was inevitable" and Costello states that Percival's insistence on concentrating the 22nd Australian Brigade at the water's edge had been a serious mistake. After seeking cover in mangrove river estuaries he worked with local Dutch officials in helping rescue many other evacuees from sunken ships who had become stranded on remote islands. Grasshopperwas hit twice and set on fire but her captain managed to beach her on nearby Sebayer Islands. Spotlights had been placed on the beaches by a British unit to illuminate an invasion force on the water but many had been damaged by the bombardment and no order was made to turn the others on. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Eventually it becomes clear that Skidmore must have reconstructed it all from interviews with and diaries of those involved, but it makes for an awkward beginning. [130] After Japanese troops entered the hospital, they killed up to 50 soldiers, including some undergoing surgery. [44] The rest of the force was of mixed quality, condition, training, equipment and morale. [178] Yearly observances on that day include: On Singapore, the Japanese captured 300 field guns, 180 mortars, 100 anti-aircraft guns, 54 fortress guns, and 108 1-pounder guns, as well as 200 armoured vehicles (Universal Carriers and armoured cars) and 1,800 lorries. In addition, HMS Laburnumwas badly damaged by bombing and she, together with HDMLsPenghambat(LEUT F Man RNVR) and Penyengat were scuttled at Singapore to prevent them falling into enemy hands. Another unfortunate consequence leading to confusion was that naval personnel responsible for coding and decoding signals were approved to leave the island aboard HMS Jupiterin the early hours of 12 February. Preview. Then it gets more murky because the initial escape from Singapore is made in two boats by the members of an anti-aircraft battery. [101] This order was passed on to Bennett, who allocated X Battalion. Michael Pether (Pether 2018) has identified another twenty or so small craft which attempted the treacherous crossing. We are sorry. In the interwar years, Britain had established a naval base in Singapore after the Anglo-Japanese alliance had lapsed in 1923. A latter British War Ministry report described the behavior of troops as deplorable, having particular harsh words for a group of Australians, many of whom were deserters from Singapore (Weintraub 2016). Military analysts later estimated that if the guns had been well supplied with HE shells the Japanese attackers would have suffered heavy casualties but the invasion could not have been prevented by this means alone. [146][147][148] Bennett blamed Percival and the Indian troops for the defeat but Callaghan reluctantly stated that Australian units had been affected, towards the end of the battle, by many desertions. [139][135] Post-war analysis has shown that a counter-attack might have succeeded. Then it gets more murky because the initial escape from Singapore is made in two boats by the members of an anti-aircraft battery. In February 1942 Geoffrey Charles Whitaker was a retired RN officer on the Emergency List living in Singapore. Naval Historical Review, Ship histories and stories, WWII operations, History - WW2 Singapore, Ship losses, Australian Naval History Podcasts [59] Also in support was a light tank brigade. The presence of the prison camp is said to have shielded the town of Barth from Allied bombing. - News Of The World - February 10, 1942 - Gordon Skene Sound Collection - Ominous day, this February 10th in 1942. [56] This was encouraged by the deliberate movement of Japanese troops in this sector to deceive the British. able aboard ahead anchor arms army arrived asked attack battery became began better boat bobby bombs british broke broome brought called ceylon chance climbed coast command craft crew danger dark. One evening, months later, when he was sitting in his bathroom enveloped in a towel, he stopped drying himself and gloomily surveyed the floor: 'I cannot get over Singapore', he said sadly. The airfields at Tengah, Seletar and Sembawang were in range of Japanese artillery at Johor Bahru. Fairmile Motor Launches (MLs) were versatile small craft produced in their hundreds and served in most theatres during WWII. In the first encounter, the last ten Hurricanes were scrambled from Kallang Airfield to intercept a Japanese formation of about 84 aircraft, flying from Johor to provide air cover for their invasion force. Singapore was no more, it would now be renamed Syonan-To or Light of the South. To avoid capture, the senior officers came ashore before she was examined by a Japanese boarding party and her engines disabled. The 18th Division has a chance to make its name in history. The Highlanders, who had trained in jungle warfare, fought well against the Japanese, until they too were overwhelmed. Available copies. An early relief ship was the small Dutch steamer SS Rooseboomwhich loaded about 500 refugees, mainly British troops but some civilians. For the first time this momentous 20th century battle, and its equally dramatic aftermath, will be told from a multi . No. REEL 1 Account of Japanese invasion of Singapore and her escape from Malaya, 2/1942: blackout; procession of Chinese and Malays taking to woods; work of civil defence; arrival of evacuees from Malayan Peninsula; daily Japanese air raids; behaviour of civilians under air raids; ordered to leave Singapore; problems getting to ship; having to leave ship during air raid prior to departure. Along the way, the severe class-conciousness of the British Army in WWII becomes quite clear, and not a whole lot happens. A yarn of adventure in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. An important ship to reach Padang was the cruiser HMS Dragonwhich embarked many evacuees. The converted riverboat Wah Sui,not an internationally registered hospital ship, but painted white with large red crosses on both sides, had already been used to evacuate wounded from Singapore to Java and was now anchored in the harbour. [127] The civilian authorities began to fear that the water supply would give out; Percival was advised that large amounts of water were being lost due to damaged pipes and that the water supply was on the verge of collapse. The main weight of the Japanese force, about 13,000 men, from 16 assault battalions, with five in reserve, attacked the 22nd Australian Brigade. [27][e], At Bakri, from 18 to 22 January, the Australian 2/19th and 2/29th battalions and the 45th Indian Brigade (Lieutenant Colonel Charles Anderson) repeatedly fought through Japanese positions before running out of ammunition near Parit Sulong. On the morning of 12 February naval personnel were told they would be embarking in half-a-dozen small ships later that evening. Each Japanese division had 150 barges and collapsible boats, sufficient for lifts of 4,000. Doctors and nurses were also killed. For the second time since the battle began, Yamashita demanded unconditional surrender and that afternoon, Percival capitulated. Rarely did this strategy work and the small and largely defenceless vessels fell easy prey to enemy air attacks. A further requirement was that the Japanese Rising Sun Flag be hoisted over the Cathay Building, the tallest building in Singapore. The passage of Kung Woas described by LEUT Brooke may be regarded as typical: After passing through our own minefield at first light we were soon discovered by enemy dive bombers. : Having decided to face the inevitable with a last bottle of bubbly, they were interrupted by some Dalforce officers2. The Japanese were considered unprincipled in the conduct of war and there are many stories of survivors being killed, but there is another side to this story. Over a period of 15 hours, starting at 23:00 on 8 February 1942, Yamashita's heavy guns fired a bombardment 88,000 shells (200 rounds per gun) along the straits, cutting telephone lines and isolating forward units. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Only six were alive including Corporal Walter Gibson of the Argylls, who wrote of this ordeal (Gibson 2007), and we again meet the resolute Doris Lim, plus four unnamed Javanese crew. The Japanese were at the limit of their supply line and their artillery units were also running out of ammunition. When the first bombs fell on Singapore the evacuation began in earnest with torrents of people desperately seeking passage in the next available ship. I rely on you to show no mercy to weakness in any form. Many European and Eurasian women and children were evacuated before the end of December. But help was at hand. Escape from Singapore, 1942;: The story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters [Skidmore, Ian] on Amazon.com. Residents suffered great hardships under Japanese rule over the following three-and-a-half years. Those ashore on Pompong, with some supplies, were estimated at about 200 women and children, 30 to 40 civilian men and 400 from the three services, which included many with severe injuries. Scorpionmade her escape on 9 February and suffered air attacks but was able to continue until encountering the Japanese cruiser Yuraand two destroyers when she was sunk. An apt description of the commander, Major General Henry (Gordon) Bennett, found in a Veterans Affairs publication, (Moremon & Reid 2002) reads: A prominent citizen soldier, he had proven himself in World War I to be a fierce fighter and leader, but he was well known for his prickly temperament, argumentative nature and proneness to quarrel. The 2/20th managed to concentrate three of its four companies around the Namazie Estate, although one was left behind; the 2/18th was only able to concentrate half its strength at Ama Keng, while the 2/19th also moved back three companies, leaving a fourth to defend Tengah airfield. Government authorities had been tardy and inefficient in the evacuation of civilians until only a few days before and now, as the last vessels that could be remotely called ships prepared to leave, chaotic scenes were taking place at the Singapore wharves as dozens of European and Eurasian civilian men, together with hundreds of servicemen from the UK, Australia, India and New Zealand scrambled onto any vessel departing that would take them. Captain K. R. King and Sergeant J. E. Iliffe, who were with an Ordnance auit in Malaya, met the other day for the first time since the fall of Singapore. About 6,000 survived until they could be liberated by Australian and US forces in 19431945, as the war in the Pacific turned in favour of the Allies. Copyright 2023 Kirkus Media LLC. Geoffrey Alexander Rowley-Conwy Langford Baron (1912-). McKerron, P.A.B., Escape from Singapore Dalforce, Journals 65-67 of the Overseas Services Pensioners Association (OSPA) April 1993 April 1994, London. The survivors who reached Padang had suffered greatly. [70], Fierce fighting raged throughout the evening but due to the terrain and the darkness, the Japanese were able to disperse into the undergrowth, surround and overwhelm pockets of Australian resistance or bypass them exploiting gaps in the thinly spread Commonwealth lines due to the many rivers and creeks in the area. From there the Japanese launched two concerted attacks against the 2/18th, which were met with massed fire before they overwhelmed the Australians by weight of numbers. Many ships and other craft were sunk or disabled and there was considerable loss of life. [157] About 5,000 men were killed or wounded, a majority of whom were Australian. Ying Pingwas first bombed with some damage but continued to the Banka Strait where she was shelled by an enemy cruiser. A smaller version was the Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML). Opposed to them were about 8,000 men comprising two battalions of British infantry, two battalions of Indian infantry, and recently arrived, two battalions of Canadian infantry. The faithful old Kembong and her attendant naval launches were left to the Dutch authorities. With the decision taken to relocate major royal naval assets to Java, most naval personnel were evacuated in MV Empire Staron 12 February. The gunswhich included the Johore Battery, with three 15in (380mm) guns and one battery with two 15in (380mm) gunswere supplied mostly with armour-piercing shells (AP) for anti-shipping use and few high explosive (HE) shells. This edition doesn't have a description yet. Urgent requests for fire support were made and throughout the night the 2/15th Field Regiment fired over 4,800 rounds. ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE, 1942 The Story of an Incredible Voyage through Enemy Waters Skidmore, Ian 3 ratings by Goodreads ISBN 10: 0684136384/ISBN 13: 9780684136387 Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1974 Hardcover Save for Later FromRare Book Cellar(Pomona, NY, U.S.A.) AbeBooks Seller SinceNovember 24, 2001 Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack, Sydney Harbour in War and Peace: Bradleys Head Tour, Garden Island Northern Hill and Garden Tour, Night of the midget subs Sydney under attack, D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN Part 1, D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN Part 2, D-Day commando on Sword Beach by Commander Jim Speed DSC, RAN Part 3. This helps enormously in piecing together the still very unclear picture of what happened to women and children of all ethnicities, who tried to get away when Singapore fell on Sunday 15th February 1942. The next day the irrepressible Bill Reynolds arrived in Kofoku Maru and took off a further 70 walking wounded. At this time, the Japanese began bombing Singapore. The Japanese then proceeded overland across the ThaiMalayan border to attack Malaya. He admitted that towards the end it was all but impossible to return men to their units. Nearly all were captured by the Japanese and 21 nurses were summarily executed with a further eight dying in captivity (Shaw 2010). The Captain anchored near the mouth of the Siak River, a large estuary on the east coast of Sumatra, where she was sheltered from prying eyes. Kung Woalthough hit with considerable damage there was only one casualty, a Chinese stoker killed by shrapnel. A least one ship put up a gallant fight against overwhelming odds, she was the converted ferry cum armed patrol boat, HMS Li Wo, under command of Temporary Lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson RNR. By this time, Kallang Airfield was, according to author Frank Owen, "so pitted with bomb craters that it was no longer usable". . [105][106] The fighting strength of the 22nd Brigadewhich had borne the brunt of the Japanese attackshad been reduced to a few hundred men and the Japanese had captured the Bukit Timah area, including the main food and fuel depots of the garrison. Army officials were instructed that passes should go to men of outstanding ability with the intention of integrating this nucleus with Javanese troops in Batavia. Three small patrols were sent on the evening of 6 February, one was spotted and withdrew after its leader was killed and their boat sunk and the other two managed to get ashore. It is a familiar war story: jungle, disease, thirst. Her passengers included the skippers wife, a civilian nurse Alice Wilkinson, and 12 Dockyard personnel, plus 50 from the RAF and Army. Japanese fighters were superior to the Commonwealth fighters, which helped the Japanese to gain air supremacy. web pages Life on the Line Podcasts [131] The next day, about 200 male staff members and patients who had been assembled and bound the previous day,[131] many of them walking wounded, were ordered to walk about 400m (440yd) to an industrial area. Many European and Eurasian women and children were evacuated before the end of December. HMS Panjiwas also sunk by enemy gunfire at Singapore. [12], The Japanese 25th Army invaded Malaya from Indochina, moving into northern Malaya and Thailand by amphibious assault on 8 December 1941. A US submarine S-39was sent to look for the survivors but they could not be found. [124] For the most part, there was limited fighting around the perimeter, except around Pasir Panjang Ridge, 1mi (1.6km) from Singapore Harbour, where the 1st Malaya Brigadewhich consisted of a Malayan infantry battalion, two British infantry battalions and a force of Royal Engineersfought a stubborn defensive action during the Battle of Pasir Panjang. With the Japanese stranglehold over the Malay Peninsula there was no land exit, and after the last few RAF aircraft evacuated on 10 February the enemy controlled the skies. The capture of Singapore resulted in the largest British surrender in its history. ALSO INCLUDES CORRESPONDENCE TO HIS FAMILY AND LATER NEWS CUTTINGS Early in February, 1942, Professor G. A. Ransome spoke to me about his plans to try and escape to the Dutch East Indies if the Japanese should capture Singapore. On reaching Padang on Wednesday 18 February they joined similar parties that had been arriving over the past few days. on January 13, 2021, There are no reviews yet. [158] Churchill called the fall of Singapore to the Japanese "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history". The Japanese let the other survivors go ashore and the wreck was used for occasional bombing practice. [172] An unknown number were taken to Japanese-occupied areas in the South Pacific as forced labour. Please try again. By the end of January 1942, British Empire forces were driven back onto the island of Singapore itself, cut off from further outside help. After a full and frank exchange of views, all present agreed that no counter-attack was possible, and Percival opted for surrender. Britain responded, sending the battleship HMS Prince of Walesand the battlecruiser HMS Repulseplus four destroyers to intercept the invasion force. Commandeering a small launch and a junk, he and some fellow British soldiers head for Dutch Sumatra, where -- in return for a commission to operate a Dutch craft -- they rescue survivors of Japanese bombings. One young Indian prisoner with a Bengaluru connection was. ORIGINAL NOTEBOOK AND REPORT WRITTEN BY WO2 FISHER OUTLINING THE ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE ON 15 FEB 1942 OF MEMBERS OF THE UNIT UNDER LT K R KING, THEIR PASSAGE TO SUMATRA, EVENTUAL DEPARTURE FOR CEYLON ABOARD THE S S DE-WIERT AND RETURN TO AUSTRALIA ABOARD THE "STIRLING CASTLE". All Rights Reserved. Kathleens brother, Jack Clark, a member of the Malay State Volunteer Forces was killed in action. Major Geoffrey Rowly-Conwy of the Royal Artillery refuses to obey an order to surrender to the Japanese as they close in on Singapore. For the rest of December there were false alerts and several infrequent and sporadic hit-and-run attacks on outlying military installations such as the Naval Base but no raids on Singapore City. The Japanese attacked the weakest part of the island defences and established a beachhead on 8 February. They get buzzed by a Zero that inexplicably doesn't fire, they get fired upon by a Zero who inexplicably doesn't finish them off, they meet a drunken Dutchman, they eat poorly (but not _that_ poorly), tempers fray, etc. By 5 pm a scratch crew and passengers, which now included LTCOL McKerron, had been assembled, totaling about 30 men. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Kembong stopped and luckily remained undiscovered. Later they were flown to Batavia and from there to Australia. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. by Ian Skidmore. They were supported by seven obsolete aircraft, one elderly destroyer, two gunboats and eight motor torpedo boats (MTBs). The once proud naval base, HMS Sultan,was evacuated at the end of January and set on fire with personnel relocated to a hutted camp at Seletar. The British troops left in the city of Singapore were basically garrison troops. on the Internet. The Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse soon after the Japanese landings on Malaya, the fall of Singapore and other defeats in 1942, severely undermined British prestige, which contributed to the end of British colonial rule in the region after the war. Singapore was considered so important that Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered Percival to fight to the last man. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. [68] The assault was received by the 2/18th Battalion and the 2/20th Battalion. When ordered to leave Singapore she was heavily laden with 14 crew and 62 passengers. He joined the AIF in WWII; post-war he became General Manager of the ABC and was knighted. The Australian Army 8th Division in Malaya eventually reached about 15,000 men. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. [124][125] The Japanese largely avoided attacking the Australian perimeter but in the northern area, the British 53rd Infantry Brigade was pushed back by a Japanese assault up the Thompson Road and had to fall back north of Braddell Road in the evening, joining the rest of the 18th Infantry Division in the line. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Despite their numerical inferiority, they advanced down the Malayan Peninsula, overwhelming the defences. Prior to the main assault, the Australians were subjected to an intense artillery bombardment. Financial constraints had hampered construction efforts during the intervening period and shifting strategic circumstances had largely undermined the key premises behind the strategy by the time war had broken out in the Pacific. This gave rise to great excitement with the Army men sensing salvation just over the horizon. Yamashita's prediction was correct; despite being observed by Australian artillery, permission to engage the palace was denied by Gordon Bennett. With the Russians fighting as they are and the Americans so stubborn at Luzon, the whole reputation of our country and our race is involved. Singapore in World War II, National Heritage Board, Singapore, 2011. A number of MLs and HDMLs had completed building at Singapore within weeks of the evacuation. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Later that day as they were passing close to and masked by the Karim Islands a Japanese destroyer was sighted. After ML310was attacked by enemy ships she grounded on Tjebia Island about 30 miles north of Banka Strait. In the early hours of 1 March, while crossing the Indian Ocean, she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-159. [63][64], Blowing up the causeway had delayed the Japanese attack for over a week. On 11 November 1940 the German raider Atlantisencountered the Blue Funnel liner Automedon. Conventional British military thinking was that the Japanese forces were inferior and characterised that the Malayan jungles as "impassable"; the Japanese were repeatedly able to use it to their advantage to outflank hastily established defensive lines. Need help? 226 Group RAF, they flew from an airfield code-named P1, near Palembang, Sumatra in the Dutch East Indies, while a flight was maintained in Singapore. Only 24 Australian Army nurses survived the bombings, massacre and POW captivity. , Unknown Binding I think many of us felt at the time that it was yet another example of the lack of firm leadership. [144] Following the surrender, Bennett caused controversy when he decided to escape. [73] The next recorded raid on the city occurred on the night of 29/30 December, and nightly raids ensued for over a week, accompanied by daylight raids from 12 January 1942. With his assent, the remaining flyable Hurricanes were withdrawn to Sumatra. [78] Many of the Hurricanes were destroyed on the ground by air raids. [155], The Japanese had advanced 650mi (1,050km) from Singora, Thailand, to the southern coast of Singapore at an average rate of 9mi (14km) a day. Uploaded by Against all odds, and crammed like sardines, they were underway. While particulars of all vessels involved in the exodus are incomplete the following participated. Although the 25th Army was outnumbered by Commonwealth forces in Malaya and Singapore, they did not take the initiative with their forces while Japanese commanders concentrated theirs. The Buffaloes were operated by one Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and two Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons. From Padang they set out for Ceylon in a frail proa: During the 36-day voyage, they are gunned by the Japanese, buffeted by turbulent seas, and they lose half their water supply. Loading interface. These explained the inadequacy of British forces to withstand a Japanese attack in the Far East and the Royal Navys inability to send a fleet in defence. Another vessel to escape from Singapore was SS Ban Ho Guanof about 1,700 tons with a crew of 10 and over 200 passengers including two officers and 100 other ranks from the AIF. [167][168] The other ethnic groups of Singaporesuch as the Malays and Indianswere not spared. A further 5000 troops in Convoy US111B arrived at Keppel Harbour on 15 August 1941. [39][f] Of this figure, 15,000 men were employed in supply, administrative, or other non-combatant roles. After settling in Australia he became known as a sportsman and journalist. From the composite Plymouth Argylls, 52 Highlanders and 22 Marines finally reached Colombo. A further 1500 women and children left early in the New Year and a final large contingent of 4000 departed in four passenger liners in late January 1942. While the harbor was alive with troops trying to find anything that would float in which to make their escape all seaworthy craft had long gone. Japanese land-based aircraft found and sank the two capital ships on 10 December,[24] leaving the east coast of the Malayan Peninsula exposed and allowing the Japanese to continue their amphibious landings. A British lieutenantacting as an envoy with a white flagapproached Japanese forces but was killed with a bayonet. About the author Ian Skidmore 24 books Ratings &Reviews The artillery and air bombardment strengthened, severely disrupting communications between Commonwealth units and their commanders and affecting preparations for the defence of the island. [85], The opening at Kranji made it possible for Imperial Guards armoured units to land there unopposed, after which they were able to begin ferrying across their artillery and armour. Air cover was in a worse state with 158 obsolete aircraft, including four RAAF squadrons, two of Brewster Buffalo fighters and two of Lockheed Hudson bombers. The Japanese held Singapore until the end of the war. [165][166] The Japanese sought vengeance against the Chinese and anyone who held anti-Japanese sentiments. They get split up en route, but make it to Sumatra, where there are loads of other escapes and refugees. A yarn of adventure in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. He had been arrested on 10 December and court-martialled in January. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-45), it was used by the Japanese Imperial Army to hold Australian and British prisoners-of-war (POWs). Two municipal engineers (James Reid, plus another, name unknown), who had someknowledge of diesel engines, were also found. Since 2015, the timing for the sounding of the sirens has been shifted to 6.20 p.m., corresponding with the actual time of the surrender of Singapore in 1942. Survivors from this closely knit unit stayed together and some managed to escape whilst others were taken into custody. A trio of old Yangtze river steamers Kung Wo, Kualaand Tien Kuangwere crewed as naval auxiliaries: RNR officers Brooks and Terry, plus 100 men, embarked in the largest of these, Kung Wo.Others aboard Kung Wo were a five strong media contingent which included an attractive budding Chinese film actress, Doris Lim. After some boring to-ing and fro-ing, a small band of some twenty or so British officers are selected to escape to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on a dubious native craft. Bypassed elements tried to break out and fall back to the Tengah airfield to rejoin their units and suffered many casualties. The "1942" appears to have been added to the title to avoid confusion with a book by the same name written by S.C. George in 1946. , Publisher Crowds now formed at the embarkation areas, some with passes and others without. Bennett had urged for specific territorial responsibility for his Division, and this resulted in an area which included Johore and Malacca, coming within his responsibility. Twenty-two others escaped the island after rebuilding a native vessel but were captured and returned to Singapore as POWs. [16], The 25th Army was resisted in northern Malaya by III Corps of the British Indian Army. [85] On the evening of 10 February, General Archibald Wavell, commander of ABDA, ordered the transfer of all remaining Commonwealth air force personnel to the Dutch East Indies. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Post war she returned to Hong Kong. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! That afternoon the Admiral called a meeting in his office at Fort Canning and told us that the decision that Singapore could not hold out had been agreed and orders had been given for the remaining naval and Air Force personnel, as well as selected Army technicians, to leave that evening (Pool 1987). There was a problem loading your book clubs. It is also the site of the infamous Selarang Barracks Square Incident during the war, in which some 15,000 Allied soldiers were interned at Selarang Barracks under very . Padang was an important town serving the southwest coast of Sumatra, and the adjacent port was known as Emmahaven. [87], Believing that further landings would occur in the northeast, Percival did not reinforce the 22nd Brigade until the morning of 9 February, sending two half-strength battalions from the 12th Indian Infantry Brigade. ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE -- 1942 by Ian Skidmore RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1974 A yarn of adventure in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. [90] The authority for this withdrawal would later be the subject of debate, with Bennett stating that he had not given Maxwell authorisation to do so. [100], In the early afternoon of 10 February, on learning of the collapse of the Jurong Line, Wavell ordered Percival to launch a counter-attack to retake it. In January 1941 a large component of the Australian Armys recently raised 8th Division was posted to Malaya. Of those forces that had seen action during the previous fighting, the majority were under-strength and under-equipped. She was similar in size to a Navy HDML but narrower in the beam. Show all copies. Having demonstrated their abilities as matelots many of the ex-Kembong crew were offered berths and were part of about 50 men and a dozen women and children taken aboard. The book is insignificant, but unobjectionable, and, fortunately, free from gratuitous outbursts of patriotic zeal. In Haifa she was converted to a hospital ship and later served in the Burma campaign before being returned to her owners in 1945. The three set off in a motor car bearing a Union Jack and a white flag of truce toward the enemy lines to discuss a cessation of hostilities. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Further fighting followed in the early morning of 9 February and the Australians were pushed back further, with the 2/18th being pushed out of Ama Keng and the 2/20th being forced to pull back to Bulim, west of Bukit Panjong. By late February 1942 thousands of men, women and children were crowded here where they were prioritised for transshipment by the occasional merchantman and warships that called. Be the first one to, Escape from Singapore, 1942; the story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters, Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, Langford, Geoffrey Alexander Rowley-Conwy, Baron, 1912-, urn:lcp:escapefromsingap0000skid:lcpdf:bf2d9dfa-0c20-45fe-97ed-d4c56878c7fe, urn:lcp:escapefromsingap0000skid:epub:a253b070-87ef-4c4e-a760-97c84d59027b, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). [174] British forces had planned to reconquer Singapore in Operation Mailfist in 1945, but the war ended before it could be carried out. This information, coupled with its own appreciation, convinced the Japanese War Office of the weakness of the British position (Robinson 2016). 488 Squadron RNZAF, a Buffalo squadron, had converted to Hurricanes; 232 Squadron became operational on 20 January and destroyed three Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscars" that day, for the loss of three Hurricanes. Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. I refer back to the original statement of "Left Singapore for Java in February 1942; escaped from Java by ship for Australia, but two ships were sunk and his ship turned and headed for India, arriving in Karachi March 1942". "Bennett singled out Indian troops but did not confine his remarks to them. In recognition of their importance these documents were entrusted to the prize crew of a recently captured Norwegian tanker, Ole Jacob, and immediately sent to Japan. Malaya Tribune: Colombo Man as Deputy Master Attendant, 24 November 1936. Michael Pether (Pether 2018), whose parents were in Singapore2, also describes the scene: On the evening of 13 February 1942 as the Japanese Army tightened its encirclement of the central area of the city of Singapore the Allied troops and civilians endured constant bombing and artillery shelling the city was in flames; thousands of dead bodies littered the streets and much of the city lay in ruins.

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