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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.
Serving Country
Royal Corps of Signals
18th Division Signals
8th December 1941 - 1st January 1946
Killed in Action
Compiled and Written by Ronnie Taylor
Keeping their Candle Burning
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
Till 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
The 18th Division left Britain, embarking with tropical gear, as it was believed their destination would be the desert of the Middle East.
The many ships in Convoy C.T.5 carried mainly East Anglian Territorials from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire but there were also the 5th Beds & Herts, 1/5 Sherwood Foresters, 9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and the 5th Loyals from Lancashire. They were accompanied by their supporting units which included Sections from the Royal Corps of Signals.
The journey was rough and seasickness on a crowded boat has its disadvantages but it can also help bind men together and spirits were high not knowing what lay ahead. Halfway across the Atlantic the small British escort was changed to a large American force including an aircraft carrier the Lexington, two heavy and two light cruisers and destroyers.
The convoy arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada, on the 8th November, the troops were only ashore a few minutes before being transferred to American liners.
On the 10th November the American Liners left Halifax with Convoy William Sail 12X, destination unknown, still believed to be Middle East.
Above Photo of Convoy William Sail 12X supplied by the late Maurice Rooney
Vought SB 2U Vindicator Scout Bomber - USS Ranger which was flying an Anti Submarine patrol over the convoy.
Front Line Top to Bottom:-
USS West Point - USS Mount Vernon - USS Wakefield - USS Quincy (Heavy Cruiser)
Back Row Top To Bottom:-
USAT Leonard Wood - USS Vincennes (Heavy Cruiser) - USS Joseph T Dickman
(USS Orizaba Ap-24 also sailed with Convoy though not pictured in photo)
Japan entered war by bombing Pearl Harbour, invading Malaya, Hong Kong and the Philippines on the 8th December 1941, which changed the destination of the 18th Division to Singapore in the Far East.
Acknowledgements
Proofread by Tim Lloyds
Kevin Snowdon and Glenda Godfrey
‘Sandakan - A Conspiracy of Silence’ by Lynette Ramsay Silver
Roll of Honour - Japanese Atrocities
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