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Killed in Action
118 Field Regiment
Royal Artillery
History
Compiled by Ron Taylor
The 18th Division
by Mary Michael
"For their country they did serve and recognition do so deserve"
On the William Sail they came
Proud and longing to fight with hearts aflame
To the Far Eastern Shores of Singapore
Where many a man would be the same no more
Oh how hard they fought
But victory was not to be bought
The Battle of Bukit Road raged
Til it was realized it just couldn't be saved
Young and brave the fear crept in
Why were we sent too late to win
For the men of the 18th this was their fame
Did they deserve to take history's blame
For they were trained for the desert not over here
Why they were there they sure weren't clear
The men of the 18th try as they might
There was no way they could win this fight
The fight over there sure wasn't fair
What's a Jap, what does he wear
How could they know about jungle warfare
This was their first battle but who did care
Alas no victory for the 18th would there be
Instead part of the Singapore surrender history
With all of the rest of the brave heroes over there
With no chance or hope to escape the Jap's brutal care
Why were our men left over there
With not a thought or a care
Where were the planes and rest of the supplies
Nothing appeared from out of the skies
In these words the truth can be seen
How unfair and unjust it all has been
Time now to honour and acclaim
And give these brave men finally their fame
August 1939 - 8th December 1941
118 Field Regiment
‘F’ Troop, 483 Battery (taken at Ahmednaga, India, January 1942)
The 118th Field Regiment was formed in October 1939 with two batteries, 259 (23rd London), 260 (24th London). They were trained at Woolwich as part of the 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division. In the following April, the 12th (Eastern) Infantry Division infantry moved to France, but the artillery remained in England training.
The regiment consisted of a number of gun troops who were responsible for manning the guns and who were formed into the two batteries, 259 and 260. A detachment of five men would man each gun, and each gun had a driver who supplied mobility for the gun and crew. Four guns would make up a troop, two guns to the left and two guns to the right. Each troop had its own surveyors who would do the reconnaissance to find the best firing positions for the troops guns and mark their proposed positions on the ground. Two troops would make up a battery of eight guns.
On 30th June 1940, the 118th Field Regiment was transferred to the 18th Division and then based in East Anglia on defensive duties until the end of the year before moving to Scotland for training. On 18th May 1941 the 483 battery was formed, making a total fire power of 24 guns for the 118 Field Regiment. Each member of the regiment also had been rifle trained.
The 118 Field Regiment was informed of oversea mobility and departed for overseas service with the 18th Division on 28 October 1941 as part of the 55 Infantry Brigade, 18th Division they arrived at Liverpool.
Orcades
Leaving Liverpool on the 30th October 1941 with the ‘Orcades’ in Convoy CT.5, sailing for Halifax, the final destination was unknown but was thought to be the Middle East.
‘USS West Point’
On reaching Halifax on November 10th, they were transferred to USS West Point as part of the 55th Infantry Brigade and departed Halifax in Convoy William Sail 12X.
Convoy William Sail 12X continued with six American troopships, two cruisers, eight destroyers and the aircraft carrier Ranger, the Convoy William Sail 12X was under way, destination still unknown.
Convoy William Sail 12X
Above Photo supplied by the late Maurice Rooney
Detailed Account by Thomas M. Allison
A reproduction of an account by Thomas M. Allison who is understood to be serving as an American Naval officer in the convoy.
Aircraft
Vought SB 2U Vindicator Scout Bomber - USS Ranger which was flying an Anti Submarine patrol over the convoy.
Ships Front Line, Top to Bottom:-
USS West Point - USS Mount Vernon - USS Wakefield - USS Quincy (Heavy Cruiser)
Ships Back Line Top to Bottom:-
USAT Leonard Wood - USS Vincennes (Heavy Cruiser) - USS Joseph T Dickman
The convoy passed through the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and St Domingo.
Arrived at Trinidad 17th November in glorious sunshine so troops changed to tropical kit, but no shore-leave, left Trinidad after two days of taking on supplies. The equator was crossed soon after leaving Trinidad on the 24th, there was a crossing the line ceremony.
After a month the convoy arrived at Cape Town, and soon after news reached the regiment that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbour and Malaya on the 8th December. Britain and America were now at war with Japan and the rumours were that the convoy was now heading for the Far East and not the Middle East as first thought.
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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