Leading Aircraftman 1683525 Robert Trewhitt

Hi TD,

That is what I was after thank you. I have been at Scout tonight so I've only just seen your message.


KevinBattle,

Thanks for the post, you are right, it does seem unusual.

Michael

 

I am a researcher (living in Auckland New Zealand) focusing on the people and ships during the disastrous evacuation of Singapore during the week before the Surrender to the Japanese in February 1942.. I have been researching these people and ships for some 20 years - it takes a huge amount of time because of the 50-60 small and large vessels 9 from 35 feet upwards) which left , some 40 -50 were sunk or captured by the Japanese - and there were no passenger lists. I am trying to find more information on one 'Trewhitt' who was taken on board the 'SS Vyner Brooke' ( remember there are no passenger lists)at the last minute amongst the shelling and bombing of Singapore which was in flames, as an "...extra 2nd or 3rd engineer" in the engine room . Two days later the ship was bombed and sunk near Banka Island off the east coast of Sumatra on 14 February 1942 whilst some 250 women and children were on board. The loss of life was huge but a group of women, children , civilian men and servicemen, plus some of the ships crew, reached a deserted beach named 'Radji Beach' on Banka Island in lifeboats. From an original death register compiled in Changi POW camp in 1942 and a memoir of a ships engineer named Hugh Morton who was on another ship named the 'SS Giang Bee' which was also sunk near Banka Island - I have become quite sure ( because there were no other men with this surname in Malaya at the time) that the same Robert Trewhitt ( Senior) who you have identified was one of those in the group on Radji Beach who were machine gunned and massacred on 16 February 1942. Robert's wife was Louisa May Trewhitt who died in 1988 and is buried in Tynemouth ( Preston) Cemetery. She and Robert (Junior) had arrived in Singapore on the 'Ranpura' in 1936. Morton states that One 'Trewitt'; who was his friend died with others he names correctly , in the massacre. You may see my document on the 'SS Vyner Brooke' and many other ships on the website of either the 'Malayan Volunteers Group' or COFEPOW under their evacuation ships sections. I will be updating the entry on 'Trewhitt' shortly as I have only recently been given Morton's memoirs.

 

michaelpether

Thank you so much for sharing this incredible story with me and for all of your hard work researching it.

As the date shows it was 6 years ago that I was looking into the Trewhitt's and thought I'd found as much as I was going to about them so to read this after all this time is both fantastic as well as heartbreaking. I will definately add this into the booklet I have written on the history of my Scout Group and do my bit to help keep their story alive.

I will definately look at your website and see what other information you have, thank you again.

Michael

 

michaelpether

I have tried to look on the COFEPOW website but couldn't find anything however I have just finished reading the document that downloads from the Malayan Volunteers Group website that tells the story of the massacre as well as the transcript from the war crimes tribunal and have also done a bit of googling about it. I don't think I can describe how I'm feeling, shocked, stunned and a little sick maybe a start though.

We have all heard the stories of people who served there (or their nearest and dearest) saying they wouldn't buy Japanese goods to this day, I personally always thought that a bit odd after all this time but this story starts to explain that attitude.

I will be making a point of going to Preston Cemetary in the next day or two and putting a cross on Robert's family grave in his memory and for the others on that beach.

I can't thank you enough for telling me about this and for keeping their memory alive.

If anyone else sees this new post I would definately recommend visiting the Malayan Volunteers Group website but be ready for a hard read.

Michael

 

This is Robert and his mam Louisa's grave, Robert Senior is remembered on it.

After what I have learned today I had to go. I told my wife the story when we were stood there.

Michael

 

Newspaper report from the Shields Daily News - Monday 07 February 1944

 

That's brilliant, thanks Deacs.

Michael

 

Been looking for his dad but this is the only thing I could find from the Shields Daily News - Wednesday 23 October 1946



Mike

 

Thanks very much Mike,

So Louisa must have had family in Hull and when her husband and son have both gone to war she's gone to stay with them.

Thanks again,

Michael