In deference to his Chinese crew Bill renamed his vessel Suey Sin Fah,and armed her with a machine gun before sailing with refugees from Sumatra to southern India. Singapore controlled the main shipping channel between the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. 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. Discounts, promotions, and special offers on best-selling magazines. There's nothing particularly thrilling or gripping in the whole book, and it's time poorly spent. [114] The withdrawing troops received harassing attacks all the way back. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. After settling in Australia he became known as a sportsman and journalist. [78] Many of the Hurricanes were destroyed on the ground by air raids. Little is known about their escape but it appears unauthorised. Pool, Richard, Course for Disaster From Scapa Flow to the River Kwai, Leo Cooper, London, 1987. 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. 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. He proposed two options: an immediate counter-attack to regain the reservoirs and the military food depots around Bukit Timah, or surrender. [28] According to John Coates, the report "lacked substance", for though there had undoubtedly been a lack of discipline in the final stages of the campaignparticularly among the poorly trained British, Indian and Australian reinforcements that were hurriedly dispatched as the crisis worsenedthe 8th Australian Division had fought well and had gained the respect of the Japanese. He was attempting to escape with several others of the Platoon who had been trapped behind Japanese lines. [95] As parties of Japanese troops began to infiltrate the brigade's positions from the west, exploiting the gap formed by the Kranji River, the 2/26th Battalion was forced to withdraw to a position east of the Bukit Timah Road; this move precipitated a sympathetic move by the 2/30th away from the causeway. [45], The III Indian Corps (Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis Heath) including the 11th Indian Infantry Division under Major-General Berthold Key with reinforcements from the 8th Indian Brigade,[47] and the 18th Infantry Divisionwas assigned the north-eastern sector, known as the "Northern Area". Blackburn, Kevin & Chew Ju Eru, Daniel, Dalforce at the Fall of Singapore in 1942: An Overseas Chinese Heroic Legend, Journal of Chinese Overseas 1, 2 (Nov 2005), NUS Press, Singapore. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-45), it was used by the Japanese Imperial Army to hold Australian and British prisoners-of-war (POWs). Arrival at the RAF Base was timely as with enemy advances it was due to be evacuated with personnel and aircraft transferred to Java. Lynette Silver (Silver 1990) is more precise: Rather than face the prospect of spending the rest of the war in prison, many chose to take the perilous journey across the sea to Sumatra, the only escape route now open. His relations with senior British commanders and staff in Malaya were, at times, strained, as he grappled to maintain control of the Australian troops. [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. ML 433and HDMLs1062 and1063and Panglima were sunk by enemy gunfire off Banka Strait. Following Japanese atrocities in Hong Kong as many female nurses as possible were to be evacuated. SSPerak, a 1,200-ton passenger/cargo steamer of the Straits Steamship Company, had sailed from Singapore a few days before the surrender with personnel from No 36 Squadron RAF embarked. Finally, on sighting a friendly vessel, they hoist an improvised distress signal, not realizing that the one they select is a warning of their intention to attack. 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. [48], From 3 February, the Commonwealth forces were shelled by Japanese artillery, and air attacks on Singapore intensified over the next five days. 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. Both ships were attacked by aircraft in the Banka Straits with Dragonflyhit three times, sinking quickly. He was indeed a hero. With the ships engines irreparable and taking on water the Captain ordered abandon ship. However, Robinson was aware of the derelict Kembong. 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. Since 1998, Singapore has observed Total Defence Day on 15 February each year, marking the anniversary of the surrender of Singapore. With his assent, the remaining flyable Hurricanes were withdrawn to Sumatra. Amazon has encountered an error. The Jurong Line eventually collapsed after the 12th Indian Brigade was withdrawn by its commander, Brigadier Archie Paris, to the road junction near Bukit Panjang, after he lost contact with the 27th Brigade on his right; the commander of the 44th Indian Brigade, Ballantine, commanding the extreme left of the line, also misinterpreted the orders in the same manner that Taylor had and withdrew. Survival at sea after the fall of Singapore. Possessing only the 2/26th and 2/30th, following the transfer of the 2/29th Battalion to the 22nd Brigade, Maxwell sought to reorganise his force to deal with the threat posed to the western flank. That is why the surrender had to be at once. Since then further interesting information has come to light. 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. [59] Also in support was a light tank brigade. Crowds now formed at the embarkation areas, some with passes and others without. 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. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. It is a familiar war story: jungle, disease, thirst. Thailand resisted landings on its territory for about 5 to 8 hours; it then signed a ceasefire and a Treaty of Friendship with Japan, later declaring war on the UK and the US. He survived this ordeal and when the opportunity came he and a number of his shipmates escaped in the river steamer Kung Wo. Civilian casualties mounted as a million people crowded into the 3mi (4.8km) area still held by the Commonwealth and bombing and artillery-fire increased. As of 13 February they had been told to disband and form an underground guerilla force to escape Japanese reprisals. [111] The counter-attack was repulsed by the Imperial Guards and the 27th Australian Brigade was split in half on either side of the Bukit Timah Road with elements spread as far as the Pierce Reservoir.[112]. 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. I rely on you to show no mercy to weakness in any form. [12], The Japanese 25th Army invaded Malaya from Indochina, moving into northern Malaya and Thailand by amphibious assault on 8 December 1941. 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. [143], Under the terms of the surrender, hostilities were to cease at 20:30 that evening, all military forces in Singapore were to surrender unconditionally, all Commonwealth forces would remain in position and disarm themselves within an hour, and the British were allowed to maintain a force of 1,000 armed men to prevent looting until relieved by the Japanese. She was known locally as The Ice-Box, therefore in taking passengers she was of limited value, only able to use the upper deck. 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. [61], In the days leading up to the Japanese attack, patrols from the Australian 22nd Brigade were sent across the Straits of Johor at night to gather intelligence. [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. [175] Yamashita was tried by a US military commission for war crimes but not for crimes committed by his troops in Malaya or Singapore. On 10 December both capital ships were lying on the sea bed off the east coast of Malaya with 840 dead and 2000 survivors seeking help from the beleaguered garrison. They get split up en route, but make it to Sumatra, where there are loads of other escapes and refugees. 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. [131] The remainder were bayoneted the following morning. Naval Historical Review, WWII operations, History - WW2 Japanese operations, Singapore, Ship losses, Australian Naval History Podcasts Ying Pingwas first bombed with some damage but continued to the Banka Strait where she was shelled by an enemy cruiser. [157], The Japanese occupation of Singapore started after the British surrender. One young Indian prisoner with a Bengaluru connection was. About 40,000, mostly conscripted, Indian soldiers joined the Indian National Army and fought with the Japanese in the Burma campaign. In the first few minutes of 13 February the headquarters ship Laburnum, signaling by Morse light,gave orders to sail. RAF Kallang was the only operational airstrip left; the surviving squadrons and aircraft had withdrawn by January to reinforce the Dutch East Indies. Percival refused but tried to get authority from Wavell for greater discretion as to when resistance might cease. 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. Now with a critical shortage of vessels volunteers were called for to see if Perak could be readied to make another voyage. Denis Russell-Roberts (Russell-Roberts 1965), an Indian Army officer and later POW in Singapore, whose wife Ruth died on Banka Island, provides an analysis of 47 vessels that escaped from Singapore. The British Lieutenant-General, Arthur Percival, commanded 85,000 Allied troops at Singapore, although many units were under-strength and most units lacked experience. By the end of January 1942, British Empire forces were driven back onto the island of Singapore itself, cut off from further outside help. Yamashita also accepted full responsibility for the lives of the civilians in the city. 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. It comprised about 2,000 Chinese under (mainly retired) British reserve officers, and was only in existence for a matter of weeks. It is expected that every unit will be brought into close contact with the enemy and fight it out. But help was at hand. Robinson, Stephen, False Flags Disguised German Raiders of World War II, Exisle Publishing, Wollombi, NSW, 2016. The most positive escape concerns the ex-Japanese fishing vessel Kofoku Maruskippered by Australian master mariner turned mining engineer, William (Bill) Reynolds. Intelligence gained in late 1940early 1941 did not alter that plan but confirmed it in the minds of Japanese decision makers. His forces consisted of elements of the 1st Malaya Infantry Brigade and the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force Brigade with the Indian 12th Infantry Brigade in reserve. Brooke writes of his experiences in Singapores Dunkirk(Brooke 1989), but tragically this episode did not emulate the success of the English Channel crossing. Retrieve credentials. 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. The island was re-occupied in Operation Tiderace by British, Indian and Australian forces following the surrender of Japan in September. Two municipal engineers (James Reid, plus another, name unknown), who had someknowledge of diesel engines, were also found. , Unknown Binding The capture of Singapore resulted in the largest British surrender in its history. Arrival was on Sunday 22 February; while this was only a week after leaving Singapore, it felt like a lifetime. Of the defensive forces only one British regiment and the Indians were prepared for operational service against a superior battle hardened force. They last since the fall of Singapore. Singapore a bastion of the British Empire, an impregnable fortress, fortified to withstand attack and prevent siege. [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. [30][31] A determined counter-attack by the 5/11th Sikh Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel John Parkin) in the area of Niyor, near Kluang, on 25 January and an ambush around the Nithsdale Estate by the 2/18th Australian Battalion on 26/27 January bought valuable time and permitted East Force, based on the 22nd Australian Brigade (Brigadier Harold Taylor), to withdraw from eastern Johor (formerly Johore). No hero's welcome greets them in Ceylon -- just some red tape. In addition, there were two British machine-gun battalions, one Australian, and a British reconnaissance battalion. [21] The aircraft were, according to historian Peter Dennis, "not considered good enough for use in Europe" and major shortcomings included a slow rate of climb and the fuel system, which required the pilot to hand-pump fuel if flying above 6,000ft (1,800m). Thousands of others were transported by sea to other parts of Asia, including Japan, to be used as forced labour on projects such as the SiamBurma Death Railway and Sandakan airfield in North Borneo. Lieutenant Richard Pool RN, a survivor from Repulse,had been allocated to ML 310 and writes of his experiences (Pool 1987): All day long columns of evacuees filed patiently along the approach road and on the wharf and gradually found spaces in the miscellany of craft which now thronged the dockside. According to author Alan Warren, the Fall of Singapore shattered "the British Empire's illusion of permanence and strength", ultimately making "European empires in Asia unsustainable beyond the short term" and presaging the end of colonialism in the region in the post war period. [129][117] At about 13:00, the Japanese broke through and advanced towards the Alexandra Barracks Hospital. The presence of the prison camp is said to have shielded the town of Barth from Allied bombing. [158] Churchill called the fall of Singapore to the Japanese "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history". Rarely did this strategy work and the small and largely defenceless vessels fell easy prey to enemy air attacks. 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. Loading interface. No. 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. Only after cross-checking the message with the Automedon papers did the Japanese accept it to be genuine. When ordered to leave Singapore she was heavily laden with 14 crew and 62 passengers. : For the first time this momentous 20th century battle, and its equally dramatic aftermath, will be told from a multi . The survivors who reached Padang had suffered greatly. This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 01:56. The British destroyed the causeway, forcing the Japanese into an improvised crossing of the Johore Strait. 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. [67], Shortly before 20:30 on 8 February, the first wave of Japanese troops from the 5th Division and 18th Division began crossing the Johor Strait. Hitler reportedly forbade Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop from issuing a congratulatory communique. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, some military at the point of a gun, forced their way on board. Free shipping for many products! Those remaining of the ships companies from Prince of Walesand Repulse after successive drafts had been sent to other ships, among them two officers, LEUT G. Brooks and LCDR A.H. Terry, with about 200 men. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! When you buy books using these links the Internet Archive may earn a small commission. 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. [11], Japanese oil reserves were rapidly depleting due to its military operations in China and by industrial consumption. [139][135] Post-war analysis has shown that a counter-attack might have succeeded. [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. . Along the way, the severe class-conciousness of the British Army in WWII becomes quite clear, and not a whole lot happens. 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