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Killed in Action
135 Field Regiment
(The Hertfordshire Yeomanry)
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
135th Field Regiment was being formed on the outbreak of war and became independent of 86th Field Regiment on 7th September 1939 with two batteries the 336 (Northampton) and 344 (Hitchin), the 135 Field Reg. became part of the 18th Division.
The Regiment initially comprised of Regimental Headquarters and two Batteries 336 and 344. The Batteries consisted of two Troops, each with four guns. A detachment of six gunners manned each gun with a driver and gun tractor for mobility. Each Troop had a Gun Position Officer who would site the guns.
Gun Mobility with 25-Pounder
The 135 Field Reg. served in the East Coast defences until it was fully equipped in 1941 with 25 Pounders, and a third battery 499 was formed. The regiment undertook mobile training in preparation for overseas service in Scotland, now with a total armament of 24 guns.
SS Sobieski
In October the 135 Field Regiment, commanded by Lt Col P J D Toosey, embarked the SS Sobieski at Gourock on the Firth of Clyde and sailed on the 31st October to join up with the CT.5 convoy as part of the 53 Infantry Brigade, 18th Division, their destination was unknown.
USS Mount Vernon
On arrival at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Battalion re-embarked in the U.S.S. Mount Vernon, and began the long voyage to Capetown.
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 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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