Hi On 15th February next month will be the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore. There will be a few documentaries on those days, one of it is this [YOUTUBE]SINGAPORE 1942 END OF EMPIRE: Episode 1 SBSOne Fri 10 February, 2012 - YouTube[/YOUTUBE] Regards Zaf
[FONT="]Wednesday, 8 February 2012 [/FONT] [FONT="]Australian Government Department of Veterans Affairs [/FONT] [FONT="]Media Release [/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT][FONT="]The Repatriation Commissioner for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Major General Mark Kelly, AO, DSC, [/FONT][FONT="]announced today that six Second World War veterans will return to Malaysia and Singapore to remember their service, and those who fell 70 years ago during the fall of Singapore. [/FONT] [FONT="]“This was a campaign which brought great suffering and sacrifice to Australians and was one of the defining moments in Australia’s efforts during the war in the Pacific,” [/FONT][FONT="]MAJGEN Kelly[/FONT][FONT="] said.[/FONT] [FONT="]“The Malayan Campaign, which ended with the fall of Singapore, lasted just 68 days from 8 December 1941 to 15 February 1942,” he said.[/FONT] [FONT="]“It was one of the most costly campaigns in which Australians were involved, with over 20,000 directly affected.[/FONT] [FONT="]“Following the surrender of the Allied forces to the Japanese, an unprecedented 15,000 Australians became Prisoners of War (POW). Sadly close to 8000 Australians lost their lives at camps including Changi and Sandakan, while others perished working on the Thai-Burma Railway.[/FONT] [FONT="]“POW deaths in the Second World War accounted for nearly a quarter of Australia’s fatal casualties.” [/FONT] [FONT="]MAJGEN Kelly said Australian troops suffered harsh conditions while in captivity but were renowned for their great fortitude, resilience and humour as prisoners of the Japanese.[/FONT] [FONT="]“This will be an emotional journey for the veterans, retracing their steps through Malaysia and Singapore, including visiting Changi where many of them were held as prisoners,” he said.[/FONT] [FONT="]The six veterans will represent all Australians who served and died during the campaign. They will visit wartime locations including Gemas and Parit Sulong in Malaysia and Changi and Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore.[/FONT] [FONT="]An Australian Memorial Service will be held at Kranji War Cemetery on 15 February – 70 years to the day when Allied forces laid down their arms and Singapore fell to the Japanese.[/FONT] [FONT="]The mission party will depart Sydney on Monday 13 February. [/FONT]
I've just, briefly, listened to a vet on BBC Radio 2 describing some of his time as a POW of the Japanese; particularly the murder of a friend for smoking. Jeremy Vine commented that it must be difficult to remember that event. The veteran's response was that that memory was just 'one of hundreds. I don't know if my memory is a blessing or a curse.' Roxy
The defence and fall of Malayia Singapore was a total farce.Ill equipped,the Imperial forces were out manoeuvred by weaker Japanese numbers down to the Straits.Learning from the successful use of RN airpower against the Italian fleet,the Japanese caught capital ships without air cover with the same strategy. Reinforcements disembarking in Singapore at the point of surrender went straight into the bag.I had a friend who as an 18 year old experienced this and he could never understand why the force wasn't instructed differently. As regards brutality,a POW could be beaten to death on parade for being the tallest of the group. Russell Braddon's, The Naked Island gives a good account of the dynamic events taking place in late 1941 and early 1942.Can't be beat for the level of POW humour under adversity which Russell portrays.
As Owen will testify - There was a great section on this subject on the Jeremy Vine show. The veteran they interviewed was first class. He even got away with saying 'Bastards' live on the radio
From Air Force Museum of New Zealand Facebook page: "Today marks the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore. This was the greatest British military defeat in 150 years, and resulted in over 80,000 British troops being captured as prisoners of war by the Japanese. Two New Zealand Air Force units also found themselves caught up in the Battle – one in the air, the other on the ground. The kiwi pilots of 488 Squadron RAF fought in outdated Buffalo... aircraft in the defence of Singapore, while No. 1 Aerodrome Construction Squadron RNZAF tackled mud and machinery to build new fighter air strips for the RAF in Malaya and Singapore. Their efforts were in vain, however, and both units were forced to escape Singapore before it fell to the Japanese, each having sustained casualties. If you are interested in finding out more about either of these units, or the men who served in them, please contact a member of our research team, at info@airforcemuseum.co.nz"
From file WO361/329 at The National Archives, with the usual apologies and acknowledgements. Lt. Colonel E.C. Pratley to Lt. Col. Lord Burghley by Airgraph from Karachi, India Date 7.8.1942 " With regard to the lack of authentic official news re our local troops now locked up in Singapore, perhaps you may be able to secure War Office permission for the release to local papers of this genuine information which I was able to take down personally from survivors of the campaign:- It relates to the 2 Cambs. and the 5 & 6 Norfolks ( I regret I have no information of our Peterborough & Northamptonshire men) in hard action almost immediately after arrival in Singapore. Fought extremely gallantly and well. Three weeks constant fighting. At one time were cut-off in Malaya. Held the Japs for 8 days at Yong-Peng. In a counter-offensive they recaptured 7 out of 8 guns. Casualties were few. Presumed the rest are prisoners. ( They had arrived at Singapore on Jan.13th) Ten Cambs & 22 Norfolks got away, as a specially selected evacuation party with a view to forming the nucleus of new units when the time came to re-take Malaya and Singapore. In a crowded rowing-boat from Singapore to Sumatra which they reached on Feb.17th. Thence by destroyer to Java. Thence in the only available vessel - a Chinese river-boat - "Wuchang" - built in 1914 to Colombo. This latter effort a most thrilling affair ( full story will have to wait till after the war ) No chronometer. Alarm clock used instead. All charts were in Dutch, only readable by second engineer who translated to navigator. No guns except for 2 Lewis as A.A. mounted on the bridge ( 500 on board an old inland river steamer meant for 100, 9" draught ). 500 miles from land a Jap submarine fired 3 torpedoes, 2 going clean underneath, surfaced. She had no guns. Brave fellows on the "Wuchang" training logs of wood on her from stern as dummy guns. Skipper tried ram. Submerged. Last seen 2 hours later going in opposite direction. Ship unknown to passengers had many tons of T.N.T. aboard. Their suspense that afternoon is barely imaginable."
From Air Force Museum of New Zealand Facebook page: "Today marks the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore. This was the greatest British military defeat in 150 years, and resulted in over 80,000 British troops being captured as prisoners of war by the Japanese. Two New Zealand Air Force units also found themselves caught up in the Battle – one in the air, the other on the ground. I didn't know it was only British troops that were captured! Best, Steve.
I didn't know it was only British troops that were captured! Best, Steve. That cracks me up, chortle, chortle Well theoretically the were no Australian citizens caught up in it. Unless I am very much mistaken, the attestation forms for AIF/RAAF/RAN did not ask you if you were an Australian citizen, you were only asked if you were a British subject!!! Can't speak with any authority of attestation from other parts of Empire. Regards Simon
In memory of my Aunt Pamela's uncle, who died 70 year's ago: HILDER, GERALD HALL Rank:Second Lieutenant Service No:EC/1346 Date of Death:14/02/1942 Age:31 Regiment/Service:10th Baluch Regiment 2nd Bn. Grave ReferenceSp. Mem. 21. A. 5. Cemetery KRANJI WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Robert Tate Hilder and Geraldine Ella Hilda, of Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia.
As someone who spent virtually all of his wartime service in the Mediterranean area I have nothing but complete admiration for the men & women who fought in the Far East and honour the memory of all those who died in those bitter days. Lest we forget ! Ron
Robert, Easton Duthie Serjeant 2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders Died later 05/06/43 Ashes at Kanchanaburi Son of Elizabeth and Alexander, Easton Duthie Glenbervie. BYDAND Uncle The battalion ceased to exist and was reformed - 380 Gordons did not return. 'The greatest regiment that ever was' Winston S Churchill. Loch Maree (By The Gordon Highlanders) - YouTube Drums and Pipes Gordon Highlanders
Remembering at this time Wilfed McNulty Rank:Gunner Service No:845426 Date of Death:09/02/1942 Age:25 Regiment/Service:Royal Artillery5 Field Regt. SINGAPORE CIVIL HOSPITAL GRAVE MEMORIAL 107 soldiers and 300 civilians were buried in the mass grave in the grounds of the Singapore General Hospital. The grave was originally an emergency water tank which had been dug in the hospital grounds. When Kranji War Cemetery was created in 1946, it was realised that it would be impossible to identify the individual servicemen in the mass grave, and the grave was left undisturbed. 94 British, 2 Australian, 5 Indian and 6 Malay Soldiers were buried here. Most were victims of a massacre which took place at the Alexandra Military Hospital on 14th February when Japanese soldiers ran amok with rifles and bayonets within the facility, Shooting the doctors & bayoneting the patients whilst in their beds & on the operating tables, now Singapore General Hospital.
Today, 15th of february, it is 70 years since the surrender of the British army under General Percival to the Japanese in Singapore. I have found some interesting articles about this online; if anyone else has something to add, please do so. Singapore rediscovers its history 70 years after Japanese invasion - Monsters and Critics The day the empire died in shame Today, General Percivals HQ at Fort Canning Park is a museum, I can highly recommend it: The Legends - Fort Canning Park Also, the infamous Changi POW camp is a museum also highly recommendable: The Changi Museum Official Website As is the old Fort Siloso, meant to fight of an attack from the sea, but, never used since the japanese came from the north: Fort Siloso: A Coast Artillery Fort in Singapore
When Singapore fell to the Japanese during World War II thousands of British soldiers were taken prisoner. L/Cpl William Smith was serving with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in Singapore when he was captured by Japanese troops 70 years ago. He was herded into Changi Prison in eastern Singapore along with most of the other British prisoners and quickly caught diphtheria. Due to his weakened physical state, the aspiring policeman avoided being sent to work on the Thai/Burma railway, dubbed the "Death Railway" on account of how many men died working on it. Read more BBC News - PoW children mark 70th anniversary of fall of Singapore
Finally, a one minute advert that says it all, and lotto funding doing something decent... Heroes Return veteran inspires UK campaign - YouTube
