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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
Far East History
Compiled and Written by Ronnie Taylor
Keeping their Candle Burning
Japanese Attack
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
The Royal Corps of Signals accompanied the troops wherever they served supplying the essential communications.
On December 8th 1941 (British Time) news was received that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbour, Malaya, Hong Kong and the Philippines. They had taken advantage of the War in Europe to gain profitable land in the Far East.
The Entry of Japanese into WWII
The Japanese had forced the Thai Prime Minister Phibun into an alliance with Japan, thus Japanese troops were allowed to enter Thailand.
Lt. General Yamashita wrote in his diary:-
0800 hours. Entered the Governor’s residence and ordered the police to be disarmed.
1300 hours. Succeeded in reaching a compromise agreement with the Thailand government.
2300 hours. Formalities completed allowing us to pass through Thailand.
Japanese Landings on the Thai-Malaya Border
Early on the 8th December Japanese troops under Tomoyuki Yamashita were prepared to land troops at Singora and Patani in Thailand, and also Kota Bharu in Malaya.
At 2.15am Yamashita received a message saying Major General Takumi had succeeded in the landing.
Yamashita’s staff busied themselves for the attack on Malaya. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji, chief planner of the Japanese 25th Army, sent troops dressed as civilians across the Malayan border to take control of vital bridges before the British could destroy them.
There had been no reaction by British Command to a Hudson aircraft reporting a convoy heading towards the Malayan/Thailand coasts, this put Singapore in a vulnerable position as no blackout was in force and the city gas lights were still on.
The first Japanese air attack took place on Singapore at 4.15am on the Chinese quarter, after the aircraft had dropped their bombs they machine gunned the streets for two hours, killing sixty-one and injuring 133.
It was now that Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Commander-in-Chief Far East, decided that the defence plan code named ‘Matador’ would not work but he could not get in touch with Lt. General Percival, General Officer Commanding Malaya, as he was out of his office.
The Kota Bharu airfield was prematurely evacuated in panic. Rumours were the source of the panic, somebody wrongly reporting Japanese troops on the fringe of the airfield. Nothing was destroyed in the rush to leave, any vehicle was used to escape, leaving a workable airfield with bombs and fuel intact. Without air cover the Indian troops were up against it. The 1st Hyderabads wanted to leave, in trying to stop them Lt-Col. C.A. Hendricks was shot and killed, a promised inquiry into this incident never materialised.
When eventually Lt. General Percival, was contacted, he phoned Major-General Murray-Lyon and told him to defend Jitra with his 11th Indian Division, it was now 1300 hours, ten hours after the Japanese had landed. This late decision had caused many problems as the troops were being held in positions to launch Matador and not defend a line in Malaya.
After the war it was reported that Matador would have only been successful if launched on the 6th when the Japanese convoy was first sighted.
The Japanese Troops were battled hardened, getting behind the defensive lines, and the Allied forces had to retreat faced with the Japanese at their front and rear positions. By the 31st January 1942 the defending troops were forced back across the causeway separating Malaya and Singapore and the Causeway was blown.
Due to Japanese activity on the island of Pulau Ublin, Percival believed the Japanese would attack from there, therefore the newly arrived 18th Division troops were ordered to defend the North East coastline of Singapore. The Japanese had bluffed Percival and the Japanese attacked on the night of 8th February on the North West coastline, close to the blown Causeway, soon gaining a foothold, and on the 9th February the 8th Australian Division were pushed back.
Troops from the 18th Division were repositioned close to Bukit Timah, but on the 15th of February, Percival surrendered Singapore to Yamashita.
The defending troops were now Japanese Prisoners of War.
Death Roll
18th Division Signals
Defending Malaya and Singapore
Click on the  to extend information
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Name
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Rank
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Service/No
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Clemson, Hedworth
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Signalman
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5883486
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Emmett, William George
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Driver
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2335973
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Manson, Andrew William
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Signalman
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2589157
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Natborny, Hyman
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Signalman
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2333178
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Nugent, Thomas
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Signalman
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2583978
|
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Philpotts, Patrick Gervase
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Signalman
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2582706
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Ramsden, Arthur James
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Lance Corporal
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2335378
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Stark, David
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Driver
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2365457
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Stewart, Malcolm Alexander
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Signalman
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2326877
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Van Looy, Joseph Charles Adolph
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Driver
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2335952
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Wood, Thomas Alfred
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Driver
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2339360
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