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All the Information in the ‘FEPOW Family’ belongs to the writer and are not ‘Public Domain’. Permission must be obtained before any part is copied or used.
Killed in Action
135 Field Regiment
(The Hertfordshire Yeomanry)
Royal Artillery
History
Compiled by Ron Taylor
Japanese Attack
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
Shore leave was granted before sailing for Bombay on the 13th December, only to be diverted to Mombasa arriving on the 25th. USS Mount Vernon, escorted by the cruiser HMS Emerald then sailed from the latter place on 29th December, joining Convoy DM1 at sea for Singapore. The convoy reached Singapore on 13th January 1942 and disembarked in heavy rain and moved to Tyersall Park Camp by truck.
The 135 Field Regiment guns were still at Bombay stored on other ships so they were equipped with what was available from the Singapore Ordnance Depot:-
- 336 Battery - eight 4.5 inch howitzers
- 344 Battery - eight 25 pounders
- 499 Battery had no guns
- Mobility for the guns was from a Chevrolet 4 x 4 Half Ton Truck
Preparations for moving the troops from the Tyersall Camp to Malaya, were made on the 14th January. Four experienced Federated Malay States Volunteers officers were attached for communication with the Malays as interpreters and interrogators they were equipped with civilian vehicles as reconnaissance and staff cars. Together with 53 Infantry Brigade the regiment was attached to the 11th Indian Division.
The 53 Infantry Brigade troops and artillery were immediately rushed across the Straits of Jahore into the Malay Peninsula to help communications and cover the retreating forces from Northern Malaya and report any Japanese landings on the coast.
Lt-Col Toosey and the three battery commanders from the 135 Field Regiment, took part in a reconnaissance party, while the guns were being serviced. On the 18th January ‘C’ Troop took positions near Pontian Kechil beach.
53 Infantry Brigade in Malaya
On the 19th January, Battary HQ and the 344 ‘D’ Troop supported the 28th Indian Brigade on the Pontian Kechil Coast Road. A platoon of Gurkha Rifles guarded the battery as it set up an observation post Pulau Pisang Island. They were out of wireless range so they used the sun with Heliograph signalling.
On the 20th, 336 Battery under Major C F W Banham drove to Mount Austin Estate, which was North of Johor Bahru to reconnaissance anti-tank positions.
499 Battery under Major Daltry obtained eight 4.5 inch howitzers guns and requisitioned transport to tow the guns and it joined the other two batteries.
Percival wanted to stop the Japanese advancing along a line between Batu Pahat, Ayer Hitam, Kluang and Mersing On the 23rd of January, the 11th Indian Division were position to defend at Batu Paha, the 135 Field Regiment positioned the guns of the 336 and 344 Batteries at Skudai, while the 499 Battery now obtained some 25 Pounders and moved them and their 4.5 inch howitzers to Batu Pahat to support the 15th Indian Brigade.
While the 6th Royal Norfolks were moving to Senggarang, the Japanese ambushed them, allowing the defensive line Percival had planed to be infiltrated by the Japanese, the defensive line could no longer be held as the troops to either side of the broken defence would have the Japanese at their backs and front.
The only thing left was to retreat to Singapore, so on the night of the 25/26 January the 15 Indian Brigade began its withdrawal down the coast road towards Senggarang and Benut, picking up detachments of the 53 Infantry Brigade as it went.
As the Japanese had bypassed the troops they now held positions on the road cutting off the route the retreat was planned to take, making it impossible.
After disabling their guns, the men of 336 battery managed to reach Benut late on the 27/28th January. At the same time Rengit was also under heavy attack and the Japanese took control of the town during that night. Guns and vehicles were disabled before the survivors made their way to Benut, where they were evacuated by Royal Navy Gunboats
At Singapore, 135th Field Regiment was reunited with its own 25-pounder guns, just arrived with the rest of 18th Division. The regiment formed part of the Northern Area defences between the Naval Base and the causeway.
On the evening of 8th February the Japanese began their landings. The main landings during the night were on the western side of the island and from there the Japanese advanced towards the causeway and the exposed west flank of 11th Indian Division
By the 11th February the Japanese were within three miles of the regiment's gun positions, so 344 and 499 Batteries were withdrawn to join 336 Battery at Nee Soon.
By the 13th the whole city was under Japanese shellfire and air attack, and it was clear that the defence was nearly ended. Toosey was now ordered to join the evacuation of key personnel and cadres from Singapore, but he refused and remained with his men.
Throughout 14 February, with 11th Indian and 18th Divisions held their ground, but field gun ammunition was running short and the city's water supply was breaking down. The following day a ceasefire was arranged, initially the British agreed to hand over all their guns, but orders arrived that they were to be destroyed.
Singapore surrendered to the Japanese on the 15th February 1942.
Surrender of Singapore
by Leo Rawlings
During the Battle for Singapore the 135 Field Regiment lost 59 men.
Death Roll
Defence of Singapore
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
Please click on the  next to each date below to extend information
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Died
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Name
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Service/No
|
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1942/01/25
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Stebbing, Ralph Edward Arthur
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92991
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1942/01/25
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Gardiner, Daniel Stephen
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1094202
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1942/01/25
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Dring, Thomas Eric
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915797
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1942/01/25
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Popely, Alfred Edward
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5932363
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|
1942/01/25
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Gilby, William Clarence
|
920975
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|
1942/01/25
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Boult, Reginald Herbert
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145563
|
|
1942/01/26
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Elliott, Frederick Thomas
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922904
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|
1942/01/26
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Craddock, George William
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1104086
|
|
1942/01/26
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Clarke, Kenneth Frederick
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969859
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|
1942/01/26
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Chapman, George William
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996201
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|
1942/01/26
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Letchford, Alfred John
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948897
|
|
1942/01/26
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Belsham, Stanley George
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1104081
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|
1942/01/26
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Beavis, John
|
1092907
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|
1942/01/26
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Steels, Arthur Edward
|
885649
|
|
1942/01/26
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Stegeman, Edward
|
954718
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|
1942/01/26
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Thompson, Harry George
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943428
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|
1942/01/26
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Trotman, Thomas Douglas
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1083132
|
|
1942/01/26
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Baker, Stanley
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948893
|
|
1942/01/26
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Atkinson, Herbert George
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837045
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|
1942/01/26
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Westwood, Dougas
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948324
|
|
1942/01/26
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Whitehead, Edwin
|
920681
|
|
1942/01/26
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Anderson, Dennis Patrick
|
962475
|
|
1942/01/26
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Lawes, Wilfred Albert
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941009
|
|
1942/01/27
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Humble, John Jones
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979782
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|
1942/01/27
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Wright, Frederick Charles
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905440
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|
1942/01/27
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Belt, Harry
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848960
|
|
1942/01/27
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Kennedy, Richard James Mcdonald
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1062264
|
|
1942/01/27
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Broadbent, Arthur
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996265
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|
1942/01/27
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Steed, Henry Charles
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1076733
|
|
1942/01/27
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Raynor, Rowland
|
161784
|
|
1942/01/29
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Emblow, Edward Sydney
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905119
|
|
1942/02/01
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Fearnett, Alfred Cecil
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1077007
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|
1942/02/05
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Reeve, John William
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1085278
|
|
1942/02/09
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Clasper, Frederick
|
1085031
|
|
1942/02/11
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Allen, Jack Stanley
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948874
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|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
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Walker, Percy
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946421
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|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
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Knighton, George Henry
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834360
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
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Cathie, Crighton Arthur
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903279
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
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Farr, Arthur Edwin
|
996210
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
|
Cunningham, John Goring
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1085203
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
|
Fenn, George William Frederick
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924090
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
|
Norfield, Oliver George
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1104633
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|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
|
Neville, William
|
915812
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
|
Grombakh, Boris
|
1098335
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
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Lewis, Ivor Wells
|
808595
|
|
1942/02/11-1942/02/14
|
Parker, Henry
|
1092872
|
|
1942/02/13
|
Smith, Gerald Dean
|
922755
|
|
1942/02/13
|
Smith, Raymond
|
1085191
|
|
1942/02/13
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Parkes, Arthur
|
1056248
|
|
1942/02/13
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Williams, Arthur Henry
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405866
|
|
1942/02/13-1942/02/14
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Pryke, Lawrence
|
885407
|
|
1942/02/14
|
Barrett, Benjamin Thomas
|
1094136
|
|
1942/02/14
|
Tunnicliffe, Albert Cyril
|
943462
|
|
1942/02/14
|
Bryant, William Charles
|
890210
|
|
1942/02/14
|
Hockey, Edward Walter
|
921427
|
|
1942/02/14
|
Probert, Thomas William George
|
1092510
|
|
1942/02/14
|
Picking, Stanley H.
|
1104637
|
|
1942/02/14
|
Chapman, Walter Harry
|
922770
|
|
1942/02/15
|
Brown, Leslie Albert
|
1104083
|
|
Acknowledgements
Proofread by Tim Lloyds
This information was collated using:-
The ‘Roll of Honour’ FEPOW Family
The Royal Artillery 1939-1945
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
‘Tigers in the Park’ by Jon Cooper
‘Conjuror on the Kwai’ by Fergus Anckorn (118 Field Regiment, RA)
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