Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Rarely did this strategy work and the small and largely defenceless vessels fell easy prey to enemy air attacks. In addition, there were two British machine-gun battalions, one Australian, and a British reconnaissance battalion. Singapore controlled the main shipping channel between the Indian and the Pacific Oceans. 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. The 18th Division has a chance to make its name in history. [68] The assault was received by the 2/18th Battalion and the 2/20th Battalion. Categories: [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. [161], Nearly 85,000 British, Indian and Commonwealth troops were captured, in addition to losses during the earlier fighting in Malaya. 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. [134], Throughout the night of 14/15 February, the Japanese continued to press against the Commonwealth perimeter, and though the line largely held, the military supply situation was rapidly deteriorating. Pether, Michael, Extensive research papers & web sites,Auckland, 2018. 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. 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. 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. At dawn an island could be seen with Malay fishermen who came to help, and with a rising tide they were once again afloat and, seemingly with little damage, again underway. 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. Grasshopperwas hit twice and set on fire but her captain managed to beach her on nearby Sebayer Islands. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, some military at the point of a gun, forced their way on board. [78] Many of the Hurricanes were destroyed on the ground by air raids. In seeking help LEUT Bull and two others eventually made Java where they became POWs. A boarding party discovered a small weighted bag destined to have been thrown overboard. Arrival was on Sunday 22 February; while this was only a week after leaving Singapore, it felt like a lifetime. The battalion, consisting of poorly trained and equipped replacements, advanced to an assembly area near Bukit Timah. 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. They had a crew of 15 and up to 60 passengers could be crammed onboard. 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. Showing one featured edition. Arrival at the RAF Base was timely as with enemy advances it was due to be evacuated with personnel and aircraft transferred to Java. The island was re-occupied in Operation Tiderace by British, Indian and Australian forces following the surrender of Japan in September. To compound matters, Percival had ordered the Australians to defend forward so as to cover the waterway, yet this meant they were immediately fully committed to any fighting, limiting their flexibility, whilst also reducing their defensive depth. 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. on the Internet. Twenty-two others escaped the island after rebuilding a native vessel but were captured and returned to Singapore as POWs. 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. 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. He joined the AIF in WWII; post-war he became General Manager of the ABC and was knighted. [154], A classified wartime report by Wavell released in 1992 blamed the Australians for the loss of Singapore. Fortunately a perceptive captain holds his fire, and permits them to board. 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. [46] Also under Bennett's command was the 44th Indian Infantry Brigade. Some died during the night as a result of their treatment. 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. Table of Contents Of the few survivors eight were picked up by the Japanese and later six more were found by the steamer Mata Hari. Taking effect from 8.30 pm, control of this mighty fortress and its garrison was handed over to the Imperial Japanese Army. [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". This gave rise to great excitement with the Army men sensing salvation just over the horizon. 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. Japanese forces quickly isolated, surrounded and forced the surrender of Indian units defending the coast. Loading interface. I think many of us felt at the time that it was yet another example of the lack of firm leadership. 3 Charles Moses served in the British infantry during WWI. They last since the fall of Singapore. [157] About 5,000 men were killed or wounded, a majority of whom were Australian. A smaller version was the Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML). Survival at sea after the fall of Singapore. These recordings can be accessed through Apple iTunes or for Android users, Stitcher. Many of those aboard the ships perished. The Japanese held Singapore until the end of the war. "Bennett singled out Indian troops but did not confine his remarks to them. Within hours, with a small naval escort Perak was amongst the last Allied ships to sail from Batavia. Weintraub, Robert, No Better Friend: One Man, One Dog & Their Extraordinary Story of Courage & Survival in WWII, Little Brown & Company, Boston, 2016. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Major Geoffrey Rowly-Conwy of the Royal Artillery refuses to obey an order to surrender to the Japanese as they close in on Singapore. In these circumstances the defenders must greatly outnumber Japanese forces who have crossed the straits, and in a well-contested battle they should destroy them. [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. Percival made plans of his own for the counter-attack, detailing a three-phased operation that involved the majority of the 22nd Brigade, and he subsequently passed this on to Bennett, who began implementing the plan, but forgot to call X Battalion back. The Indians reached Bennett around noon. Something went wrong. [118][119] The Japanese captured the water reservoirs that supplied the town but did not cut off the supply. , Publisher There must at this stage be no thought of saving the troops or sparing the population. [41] The newly arrived 18th Infantry Division (Major-General Merton Beckwith-Smith)[42][43]was at full strength but lacked experience and training. A company from Dalforce fought alongside the 22nd Australian Brigade. [45] This included the naval base at Sembawang. [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. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. [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. [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. [115] Elsewhere, the 22nd Brigade continued to hold a position west of the Holland Road until late in the evening when it was pulled back to Holland Village. Although buzzed by enemy aircraft she was unmolested and made the safety of Tanjung Priok1. 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. [172] An unknown number were taken to Japanese-occupied areas in the South Pacific as forced labour. [136][j] At 09:30, Percival held a conference at Fort Canning with his senior commanders. Yamashita's prediction was correct; despite being observed by Australian artillery, permission to engage the palace was denied by Gordon Bennett. This contained top secret British Cabinet papers addressed to Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Commander-in-Chief Far East. Special Operations Executive--History World War, 1939-1945--Secret service--Singapore Singapore--History--Siege, 1942 Wars History Publisher Raffles, 2000 Digital Description application/pdf, 39236 KB, 264 p. : ill., maps, port. Percival had expected a crossing in the north and failed to reinforce the defenders in time. The war establishment, the paper strength, of an infantry division from 1941 to 1944, was 17,298 men. 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. Six of the United Kingdom battalions (in the 54th and 55th Brigades of the British 18th Infantry Division) had only just landed in Malaya, and the other seven battalions were under-manned. Singapore was the foremost British military base and economic port in SouthEast Asia and had been of great importance to British interwar defence strategy. 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. [22] The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force was more numerous and better trained than the second-hand assortment of untrained pilots and inferior Commonwealth equipment remaining in Malaya, Borneo and Singapore. [56] The two Australian brigades were subsequently allocated a very wide frontage of over 11mi (18km) and were separated by the Kranji River. Reynolds had other ideas and as a skilled sailor and engineer he borrowed a vessel. 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. I knew that if I had to fight for long for Singapore, I would be beaten. Brigadier Archie Paris with Major Angus Macdonald commandeered a private yacht Celia, skippered by Captain Mike Blackwood, and together with a number of other Highlanders made their way to Padang, only to join the ill-fated SS Rooseboom. 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). 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. Buy Escape from Singapore, 1942; the story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters. They get split up en route, but make it to Sumatra, where there are loads of other escapes and refugees. Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number). He was convicted and hanged in the Philippines on 23 February 1946.[176]. The ship was powered by temperamental German diesel engines, their operation needing specialist engineering knowledge. Selarang Barracks was built between 1936 and 1938 to house an infantry battalion. 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. The faithful old Kembong and her attendant naval launches were left to the Dutch authorities. [77] Operated by the four squadrons of No. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PARAGON (VHS, 1985) *ESCAPE FROM DEATH ROW* VCR FILM RE SEALED RENTAL MOVIE at the best online prices at eBay! 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. A further requirement was that the Japanese Rising Sun Flag be hoisted over the Cathay Building, the tallest building in Singapore. [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. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. : When the first bombs fell on Singapore the evacuation began in earnest with torrents of people desperately seeking passage in the next available ship. Of the Australian battalions, three had drawn heavily upon undertrained recruits, new to the theatre. While they were overflown by enemy aircraft, who possibly had other things on their minds celebrating their great victory, the small craft was unmolested. In Haifa she was converted to a hospital ship and later served in the Burma campaign before being returned to her owners in 1945. This would see landings in Malaya and Hong Kong as part of a general move south to secure Singapore, connected to Malaya by the JohorSingapore Causeway and then an invasion of the oil-rich area of Borneo and Java in the Dutch East Indies. (31st January 1942 British and Commonwealth forces withdrew from the mainland to Singapore) My mother and two younger sisters (Audrey and Ann) left Singapore on December 22nd (the same day as. 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. [167][168] The other ethnic groups of Singaporesuch as the Malays and Indianswere not spared. Escape From Singapore, 1942 by Skidmore, Ian. However, Robinson was aware of the derelict Kembong. Malaya Tribune: Colombo Man as Deputy Master Attendant, 24 November 1936. Of the defensive forces only one British regiment and the Indians were prepared for operational service against a superior battle hardened force. ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE - 1942 [Skidmore, I.] With the Japanese now within gun range on the opposite side of the Causeway a few thousand more persons escaped in an organized convoy on the night of 11/12 February. Japanese authorities asked that she be moved away from the proximity of legitimate shipping targets. Silver, Lynette R., KRAIT The Fishing Boat that went to War, Cultured Lotus, Singapore, 2001. 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. [169] Numerous British and Australian soldiers taken prisoner remained in Singapore's Changi Prison and many died in captivity. station45.cebu Following Japanese atrocities in Hong Kong as many female nurses as possible were to be evacuated. Robinson, Stephen, False Flags Disguised German Raiders of World War II, Exisle Publishing, Wollombi, NSW, 2016. But help was at hand. Britain responded, sending the battleship HMS Prince of Walesand the battlecruiser HMS Repulseplus four destroyers to intercept the invasion force. [138], In analysing the campaign, Clifford Kinvig, a senior lecturer at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, blamed the commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Duncan Maxwell, for his defeatist attitude and not properly defending the sector between the Causeway and the Kranji River. According to Woodburn-Kirby the majority of deserters were from administrative units or were men who had only recently arrived in Malaya and were inadequately trained. HMS Panjiwas also sunk by enemy gunfire at Singapore. As they had destroyed all code books the Rear Admiral Malaya was thereafter unable to read signals. Please try again. 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. The June 2019 edition of this magazine contained an article The Naval Evacuation of Singapore - February 1942which lists MV Kembongamongst forty-five vessels that escaped. [99] On the evening of 10 February, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, cabled Wavell, I think you ought to realise the way we view the situation in Singapore. Communication and leadership failures beset the Allies and there were few defensive positions or reserves near the beachhead. An important ship to reach Padang was the cruiser HMS Dragonwhich embarked many evacuees. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. After settling in Australia he became known as a sportsman and journalist. A British lieutenantacting as an envoy with a white flagapproached Japanese forces but was killed with a bayonet. They dug in and throughout the night fierce fighting raged on the northern front. Stalag Luft I was a German World War II prisoner-of-war (POW) camp near Barth, Western Pomerania, Germany, for captured Allied airmen. Doctors and nurses were also killed. 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. 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. [152] According to another source, Taylor cracked under the pressure. The infantry positions were reinforced by the recently arrived Australian 2/4th Machine-Gun Battalion. [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. [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. 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). Dutch officials were appalled at their unruly behavior and could not wait to be rid of their unwelcome guests. [101] This order was passed on to Bennett, who allocated X Battalion. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Escape from Singapore, 1942;: The story of an incredible voyage through enemy waters at Amazon.com. 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. Try again. [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. No. 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 bombers struck the city centre as well as the Sembawang Naval Base and the northern airfields. [71] The initial fighting cost the Australians many casualties, the 2/20th, losing 334 men killed and 214 wounded. 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. Two municipal engineers (James Reid, plus another, name unknown), who had someknowledge of diesel engines, were also found. The British erroneously considered the jungle terrain impassable, leading to a swift Japanese advance as Allied defences were quickly outflanked. We have new and used copies available, in 1 editions - starting at $3.98. NONFICTION. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. The book starts by recounting the events leading up to the Japanese conquest of British Singapore. That is why the surrender had to be at once. As the wreck of Kung Wowas still afloat bombers returned and sank her. 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. Kung Woalthough hit with considerable damage there was only one casualty, a Chinese stoker killed by shrapnel. [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. [25], Although more Commonwealth unitsincluding some from the 8th Australian Divisionjoined the campaign, the Japanese prevented them from regrouping. Search the history of over 778 billion The General, accompanied by his ADC, Lieutenant Gordon Walker, and staff officer Major Charles Moses3plus some Malaysian officers arranged to hire a junk. Discover more of the authors books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more. Print length 198 pages Language English Publisher Scribner Publication date January 1, 1974 On 13 February ML311was attacked and destroyed by enemy surface ships and two days later ML432 was captured when beached off Banka Island. Navy List December 1941, Admiralty, London. Lieutenant Geoffrey Brooke served in the battleship Prince of Waleswhich sank on 10 December 1941. [174] British forces had planned to reconquer Singapore in Operation Mailfist in 1945, but the war ended before it could be carried out. 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. A little after 7.30 pm Kembongs engines were coaxed into life and at 8 pm the anchor was raised. This old steamer, built in 1906, was now lying abandoned in Tandjong Priok, her native crew having deserted. [58], Yamashita had just over 30,000 men from three divisions: the Imperial Guards Division (Lieutenant-General Takuma Nishimura), the 5th Division (Lieutenant-General Takuro Matsui) and the Japanese 18th Division (Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi). Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. The surrender of Singapore was the largest single wartime tragedy that shook the morale of Australians. [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. Major Geoffrey Rowly-Conwy of the Royal Artillery refuses to obey an order to surrender to the Japanese as they close in on Singapore. [43], Percival gave Major-General Gordon Bennett's two brigades from the 8th Australian Division responsibility for the western side of Singapore, including the prime invasion points in the northwest of the island. Here there was a small Dutch Customs Station who advised them to proceed about 12 hours up river to Pekanbaru where there was an RAF Base. He admitted that towards the end it was all but impossible to return men to their units. 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. They also bombed the other vessels which were set on fire and sank, suffering numerous casualties. Kung Wowas able to disembark personnel on Pompong Island and afterwards found their two companions Kualaand Tien Kuanganchored close inshore. Locals revealed his presence and he was captured by the Japanese and subsequently shot by firing squad. [92] During the initial assault, the Japanese suffered severe casualties from Australian mortars and machine-guns and from burning oil which had been sluiced into the water following the demolition of several oil tanks by the Australians. 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. When the first bombs fell on Singapore the evacuation began in earnest with torrents of people desperately seeking passage in the next available ship. With that in mind, thoughts of evacuation were therefore unnecessary. Includes bibliographical references. Commanders and senior officers should die with their troops. Then it gets more murky because the initial escape from Singapore is made in two boats by the members of an anti-aircraft battery. Brooke, Geoffrey, Singapores Dunkirk, Leo Cooper, London, 1989. Wah Suiembarked a further 300 wounded, plus nurses, and sailed on 10 February. Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry 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. 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". Many ships and other craft were sunk or disabled and there was considerable loss of life. Only two vessels were thought to have made their intended destinations. 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