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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
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
5th Battalion
History
With the help of Martyn Fryer
Compiled by Ron Taylor
Japanese Attack
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
Taken from ‘From the Woods to the Jungle’ by Martyn Fryer
On the 13th December the convoy left Cape Town and sailed along the coast of East Africa past Madagascar and into the Indian Ocean heading for Bombay.
After 17,011 miles at sea Bombay was reached on 27th December. Travelling up country by train to Ahmednagar, near Poona where they trained for the next twelve days, route marching in the sun to get used to the heat and wondering what all this was for, they were soon to find out.
Embarking on the West Point on the 17th January, the convoy departed Bombay on 18th January, meeting with an escort of British ships off Ceylon that included HMS Exeter, HMS Glasgow, HMS Durban, and couple of deep-blue coloured Australian destroyers (HMS Encounter, HMS Enchantress and HMS Electra). Destination Singapore. Passing Colombo, (Ceylon) and crossing the equator for the third time, the convoy passed through the Sundra straits between Java and Sumatra and then the Banka straits. The convoy was then bombed by Japanese Planes, there was no damage.
The convoy reached the safety of Keppel Harbour, Singapore on 29th January. Ships were ablaze in the harbour, clouds of smoke drifted across the sky and the smell of fumes was overpowering, this was not the best of greetings. The Japanese had taken most of Malaya in the last three weeks and were only thirty miles away from Singapore.
The 5th Battalion had lost all of its equipment on the SS Bonnikom, when it was torpedoed by a German raider and lost off the coast of South Africa, as well as the transports aboard the Empire Star, which had sustained damage during enemy attacks and was not able to discharge her cargo at Singapore: it would therefore have to acquire the majority of its equipment and carriers from other units.
With the threat of Japanese aircraft bombing the fleet, the Beds and Herts were transported by the Australian RASC to Birdwood Camp in Changi Village. The exodus from the West Point was quickly reversed as women and children embarked to take up the empty cabins, ready to be evacuated from Singapore. The rest of the day saw the Japanese bombs falling in hourly raids on the harbour area.
The 18th Division were to take defensive positions along the North-East coastline of Singapore to stop the suspected Japanese attack in this area from across the Straits of Jahor. Two days after the West Point had docked the last troops were piped across the causeway by the Argylls, and the causeway connecting Singapore to Jahor was blown.
Singapore 1942
Map Supplied by Tim Lloyds
In the meantime the Beds and Herts had to find the necessary transport vehicles and Captain Corner, the Motor Transport Officer, was allocated 47 abandoned vehicles. The vehicles were urgently needed as the battalion were moved behind the Seletar Aerodrome that afternoon, the move took until 3am next morning.
18th Division Positions
Map from Story Board (Old Ford Factory)
The whole of 55 Infantry Brigade had taken defensive positions up in this area awaiting the suspected Japanese assault, with the Beds and Herts position on the approach to Sungei Seletar, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies close to Sungei Seletar, ‘C’ to the rear and ‘D’ Company midway. The 1st Cambridgeshires were at Seletar’s right flank and the 1/5th Sherwood Foresters in reserve. The 88th Field Regiment, RA were supporting the 6th Norfolks on the Seletar left, The Northumberland Fusiliers in defensive positions along the coastline, ensuring good fire power with their machine guns.
Everything changed when the Japanese attacked the North-West coastline on the 9th February, attacking the Australian positions, and by evening the causeway had been repaired by the Japanese and their tanks were crossing.
The 55 Infantry Brigade were now in the wrong defensive positions and had to be moved. Lt Col Thomas return from Brigade ‘HQ’ with the news that the Battalion was to be split up. ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘D’ and part of ‘HQ’ Company under Lt Col Thomas and Major Ditton, was to be moved to Southern Command. ‘R’ Company, ‘C’ Company and ‘B’ Company Echelon Platoon, and the majority of ‘HQ’ Company to Thompsons Village, at Hill 105. ‘D’ Company were put into 18th Division Reserve, while ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies were moved that night to Adam and Lornie Road under the 1st Malayan Reserve, Southern Command. ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies were then moved and with the 2nd Loyals took positions blocking railway bridges and hills 125,100 and 80. ‘A’ Company engaged the Japanese on Hill 125 (Rochester Park) and ‘D’ Company ambushed Japanese troops marching along Ayer Raja Road inflicting Japanese casualties. ‘C’ Company took up their positions at Hill 105, MacRitchie Reservoir and joined by ‘Wells Force’, ‘HQ’ Company under Major Tom Well.
By the 11th February ‘A’,’ B’ and ‘D’ were still in reserve positions in the Buaona Vista Road area, apart from the shelling there was no enemy activity. ‘B’ taking positions on Hill 80 and the Chinese Cemetery.
On the 12th February a final line was established to defend the City from Bukit Timah and Alexandra Road to the coast and another line from Adam Park to Thompson Village. The defence of the MacRitchie Reservoir was handed to the 55 Infantry Brigade along the southern shore of the reservoir. The 54 Infantry Brigade were at Mount Pleasant and Bukit Brown Cemetery on the left flank and the 53 Infantry Brigade on the right flank, close to the rubber factory.
The fighting over the next days was intense with ‘C’ Company deaths mounting on Hill 105.
A full coverage of the battle before ceasefire on the 15th is available in his book ‘From the Woods to the Jungle’ by Martyn Fryer.
Singapore had Surrendered 15th February 1942
To avoid Capture an ‘Official Escape Party’ was formed in advance of the surrender on the 14th February. They were to report to the 55 Infantry Brigade HQ.
Brigade Commander Beckwith-Smith gave these orders:-
I have chosen the officers by name, and what I shall tell you is an order which you have no choice but to obey, do you understand? Singapore will probably have to be surrendered today or tomorrow and representation from each unit have been ordered to get away so they can report on what happened, and perhaps be a nucleus for a new battalion, you will report to the docks and a guide will lead you to your ship. Goodbye and good luck.
The men selected were:-
Major R G B Thompson 5th Beds and Herts (Escaped to Bombay)
CSM Colburt 5th Beds and Herts (Escaped to Bombay)
Captain A T Price 1/5th Sherwood Foresters
Captain H F L Sladen 5th Beds and Herts (Killed in Action Sumatra)
Captain E Morgan 1/5th Sherwood Foresters
2nd Lt. A West 5th Beds and Herts (Escaped to Bombay)
CSM Maddocks 1/5th Sherwood Foresters
Sgt. Barrowcliffe 1/5th Sherwood Foresters
L/Sgt. Templeman 5th Beds and Herts (Escaped to Bombay)
L/Cpl. Harris 5th Beds and Herts (Escaped to Bombay)
Pte. Cuzon 5th Beds and Herts (Escaped to Bombay)
Pte. Paul 5th Beds and Herts (Escaped to Bombay)
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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 |
1942/02/12
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Wilson, Henry
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5955670
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1942/02/12
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Rackley, Ernest Arthur Cyril
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5952010
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1942/02/12
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Lay, William James
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5952623
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|
1942/02/13
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Thrussell, Stanley Hector
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117082
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|
1942/02/13
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Farmer, Arthur Eric
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5949162
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1942/02/13
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Haysman, Donald
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5955578
|
|
1942/02/13
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Jackson, Donald Harry
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113468
|
|
1942/02/13
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Jones, Allan
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2060055
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|
1942/02/13
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Stokes, Frederick Charles
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5952018
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|
1942/02/13
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Hall, Frank
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156326
|
|
1942/02/13
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Blount, Edgar Oswald B.
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5949518
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|
1942/02/13
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Harris, Leonard Henry
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5953071
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|
1942/02/13
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Jones, David John
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5955612
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1942/02/13-1942/02/14
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Wells, Thomas Capper
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63949
|
|
1942/02/14
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Ford, John
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5955554
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|
1942/02/14
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Foley, Henry Charles
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5950973
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|
1942/02/14
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Davies, Frank Percy
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5950521
|
|
1942/02/14
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Darch, Arthur
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5953037
|
|
1942/02/14
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Coombs, Stanley Herbert
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5953030
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|
1942/02/14
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Collingridge, Ralph Frederick
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5947372
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|
1942/02/14
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Chammings, George Harold
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6024272
|
|
1942/02/14
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Bagshaw, Henry Arthur
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5952756
|
|
1942/02/14
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Dean, Harry
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5956263
|
|
1942/02/14
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Star, Glyn Whinthorpe
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164528
|
|
1942/02/14
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Winup, Thomas
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5955678
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|
1942/02/14
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Whitbread, Henry John
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5944175
|
|
1942/02/14
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Walker, Geoffrey William
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5952667
|
|
1942/02/14
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Thurston, Arthur John
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5946540
|
|
1942/02/14
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Howard, Arthur Leonard
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5955273
|
|
1942/02/14
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Thewles, William Edmond
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89982
|
|
1942/02/14
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Lawrence, Victor Albert
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5954689
|
|
1942/02/14
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Young, Richard
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5956407
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|
1942/02/14
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Irons, William Charles Alfred
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5953090
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|
1942/02/14
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Austin, Albert James
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5950688
|
|
1942/02/14
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Thompson, William Henry
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5947983
|
|
1942/02/14-1942/02/15
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Quantrell, Walter Henry
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5947770
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|
1942/02/15
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Rolph, Edward Samuel
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5945933
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|
1942/02/15
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Hollylee, Arthur Frederick
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5951315
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|
1942/02/15
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Fulford, Ernest John
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5950602
|
|
1942/02/15
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Brightman, Arthur Charles
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5952642
|
|
1942/02/15
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Billing, Edmund Michael
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5949374
|
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Acknowledgements
This information was collated using:-
‘Acknowledgements
This information was collated using:-
‘Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment’ from Britain at War.
The ‘Roll of Honour’ FEPOW Family
Information supplied by Martyn Fryer
‘From the Woodlands to the Jungle’ by Martyn Fryer
‘Tigers in the Park’ by Jon Cooper
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