The infantry positions were reinforced by the recently arrived Australian 2/4th Machine-Gun Battalion. About 40,000, mostly conscripted, Indian soldiers joined the Indian National Army and fought with the Japanese in the Burma campaign. [k][l] The Kappe Report, compiled by Colonels J. H. Thyer and C. H. Kappe, concedes that at most only two-thirds of the Australian troops manned the final perimeter. A company from Dalforce fought alongside the 22nd Australian Brigade. This is without a doubt the most boring WWII book I've come across. A further requirement was that the Japanese Rising Sun Flag be hoisted over the Cathay Building, the tallest building in Singapore. Singapore was no more, it would now be renamed Syonan-To or Light of the South. [157], The Japanese occupation of Singapore started after the British surrender. Fortunately a perceptive captain holds his fire, and permits them to board. One survivor, Private Arthur Haines from the Wiltshire Regiment, wrote a four-page account of the massacre that was sold by his daughter by private auction in 2008. Categories: 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. [120] Earlier that day, Percival had issued orders to destroy all secret and technical equipment, ciphers, codes, secret documents and heavy guns. The number of Japanese killed and wounded is disputed. She also towed a motor launch Eureka, manned by a petty officer and two ratings. We are sorry. Straits Times: Malayas Fishery Ice-Box, 28 July 1937. influencers in the know since 1933. To prevent the remaining ships falling into enemy hands the senior naval officer, Rear Admiral Ernest Spooner, decreed that these must sail by 13 February. Naval Historical Review, WWII operations, History - WW2 Japanese operations, Singapore, Ship losses, Australian Naval History Podcasts [136][j] At 09:30, Percival held a conference at Fort Canning with his senior commanders. Born into a lively Iraqi-Jewish family who rose from humble beginnings to create a thriving business, Rosie's days are filled with the love of her amusing and exasperating relatives and servants. Further, losses on the mainland had resulted in a general shortage of equipment. His relations with senior British commanders and staff in Malaya were, at times, strained, as he grappled to maintain control of the Australian troops. [49] From aerial reconnaissance, scouts, infiltrators and observation from high ground across the straits (such as at Istana Bukit Serene and the Sultan of Johor's palace), Japanese commander General Tomoyuki Yamashita and his staff gained excellent knowledge of the Commonwealth positions. What the British refer to as the Far East and Australians South East Asia was mostly dominated by the colonial powers of Britain, France and the Netherlands, with the ex-Spanish Philippines controlled by the United States. [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. Uploaded by Please use a different way to share. [167][168] The other ethnic groups of Singaporesuch as the Malays and Indianswere not spared. The escape from Singapore Creator Gough, Richard, 1956-Subject Great Britain. Escape from Singapore, 1942;: The story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters, ASIN [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. This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 01:56. [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. The survivors who reached Padang had suffered greatly. Singapore was considered so important that Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered Percival to fight to the last man. ML 433and HDMLs1062 and1063and Panglima were sunk by enemy gunfire off Banka Strait. The most positive escape concerns the ex-Japanese fishing vessel Kofoku Maruskippered by Australian master mariner turned mining engineer, William (Bill) Reynolds. 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. A British lieutenantacting as an envoy with a white flagapproached Japanese forces but was killed with a bayonet. In early December 1941 Malayan Police rounded up about 1200 Japanese and impounded their fleet of fishing vessels. By the end of January 1942, British Empire forces were driven back onto the island of Singapore itself, cut off from further outside help. The final naval evacuation from Singapore in February 1942 was a tragedy of epic proportions, resulting in death and misery with few redeeming features except the eventual safety of the few survivors. LEUT Wilkinson came through the ordeal of captivity as a POW. In the early afternoon McKerron and the Vlielands were joined by an old friend, Commander C. P. Robinson, the Deputy Master Attendant (Deputy Harbour Master). Silver, Lynette R., The Heroes of Rimau, Leo Cooper, London, 1990. The June 2019 edition of this magazine contained an article The Naval Evacuation of Singapore February 1942 which lists MV Kembong amongst forty-five vessels that escaped. 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. [114] The withdrawing troops received harassing attacks all the way back. [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. 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. Although buzzed by enemy aircraft she was unmolested and made the safety of Tanjung Priok1. Stalag Luft I was a German World War II prisoner-of-war (POW) camp near Barth, Western Pomerania, Germany, for captured Allied airmen. 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. 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. [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. 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. Bennett, Lt General Henry, Gordon,Why Singapore Fell, Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1944. [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. [76][h] From 27 to 30 January, another 48 Hurricanes arrived on the aircraft carrier HMSIndomitable. [117] With the Commonwealth still losing ground, senior officers advised Percival to surrender in the interest of minimising civilian casualties. 2 Michael Pethers mother (Kathleen) and her baby daughter were evacuated from Singapore on Christmas Eve 1941 and his grandmother escaped on 12 February 1942, all reaching the safety of home in New Zealand. The battle must be fought to the bitter end at all costs. 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. Churchill called it the worst disaster in British military history. [164] The city was renamed Syonan-to ( Shnan-t; literally: 'Southern Island gained in the age of Shwa', or 'Light of the South'). An important ship to reach Padang was the cruiser HMS Dragonwhich embarked many evacuees. 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. The lower deck was taken up with refrigeration equipment and brine tanks. There's nothing particularly thrilling or gripping in the whole book, and it's time poorly spent. This shows nine sunk by aerial bombing, 13 sunk by ship gunfire, three scuttled, 13 captured and seven unaccounted for. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. 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. Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. The British Lieutenant-General, Arthur Percival, commanded 85,000 Allied troops at Singapore, although many units were under-strength and most units lacked experience. As part of the Singapore strategy, the base formed a key part of British interwar defence planning for the region. , Language Most women and children who wanted to escape by ship had already gone albeit that most of the ships which had left in the previous couple of days were doomed to be sunk. on Amazon.com. Robinson, Stephen, False Flags Disguised German Raiders of World War II, Exisle Publishing, Wollombi, NSW, 2016. With copies of charts supplied by CMDR Robinson they picked their course past minefields but suddenly, late at night when navigating reefs, they went aground. Print This Page. Buy Escape from Singapore, 1942; the story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters. This boat was badly holed and with constant bailing could only accommodate four passengers at a time. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. Copyright 2023. HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites, Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications, Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT, 81st. The artillery and air bombardment strengthened, severely disrupting communications between Commonwealth units and their commanders and affecting preparations for the defence of the island. How came 100,000 men (half of them of our own race) to hold up their hands to inferior numbers of Japanese? Can you add one? Only 24 Australian Army nurses survived the bombings, massacre and POW captivity. Three other HDMLs for the Straits Settlement Volunteer Reserve (SSVR) were given names in lieu of numbers, Panglima, Penghambatand Penyengat. 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. 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. He was convicted and hanged in the Philippines on 23 February 1946.[176]. During the battle for Singapore the battalion was engaged in heavy fighting for 20 hours before being overrun by the enemy. About the author Ian Skidmore 24 books Ratings &Reviews [74] As the Japanese army advanced towards Singapore Island, the day and night raids increased in frequency and intensity, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties, up to the time of the British surrender. [149] Many British units were reported to have been similarly affected. Navy List December 1941, Admiralty, London. [116], On 13 February, Japanese engineers repaired the road over the causeway and more tanks were pushed across. [17][18] Prior to the Battle of Singapore the most resistance was met at the Battle of Muar which involved the 8th Australian Division and the 45th Indian Brigade. Russell-Roberts, Denis, Spotlight on Singapore, Times Press, Douglas, IOM, 1965. Many European and Eurasian women and children were evacuated before the end of December. Her captain is unknown and she sailed with 4 crew and 25 passengers. A US submarine S-39was sent to look for the survivors but they could not be found. [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. 30 January, another 48 Hurricanes arrived on the aircraft carrier HMSIndomitable 1990. 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