|
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
560 Field Company
Royal Engineers
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
During May with Britain at a low point after Dunkirk, and the threat of a German invasion, the 560 Field Company were made part of the 54 Infantry Brigade, 18th Division and given coastal duties which included mining the beaches. The 54 Infantry Brigade had the job of defending the beach from Cromer to Lowestoft.
They had joined the 4th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment at Great Yarmouth where on the 17th October 1940, a mine being laid exploded killing three Sappers:-
Sapper Bernard Thomas Charles Cambers, 2077830
Sapper Dennis Charles Henry Cooke, 1892238
Sapper John Pratt, 1889240
The Home Defence Units were getting up to strength by the end of 1940 and had been trained sufficiently to take over the coastal defences of Britain. This released 54 Infantry Brigade to have more specialist training at Cambridge.
Scotland was to be the 54 Infantry Brigade’s last training ground on British soil. Accompanied by the 4th Norfolks and 4th Suffolks they arrived on January 8th 1941, in very cold conditions. The men wished they were back in the flat lands of Norfolk as the marches became longer but they were getting fitter. Before being posted abroad final route marches were to be carried out in Ross-on-Wye. The men knew things were hotting up as their exercises now included river crossing and day and night landings from craft.
In late November Tropical kit was issued and orders were to proceed to Liverpool.
On the 28th October 1941 they sailed from Liverpool and after meeting ships from Scotland the three Infantry Brigades of the 18th Division sailed in Convoy C.T.5 to Halifax, Although embarking with tropical gear, their destination was unknown but most thought it would be the desert of the Middle East.
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. Halfway across the Atlantic the small British escort changed to a large American force including an aircraft carrier the Lexington, two heavy and two light cruisers and destroyers. The British escort had returned to Britain.
Arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada, on the 8th November, the 560 Field Company together with the rest of the 54 Infantry brigade were transferred to the USS Wakefield (27,500 tons) with 5,000 others. The Wakefield was formerly a luxury liner called Manhattan, and the quarters had tiered beds, four to a tier, but they were not overcrowded.
Leaving Halifax on the 10th November the USS Wakefield (54 Infantry Brigade), USS Westpoint (55 Infantry Brigade) and USS Mount Vernon( 53 Infantry Brigade) left Halifax. Sailing as Convoy William Sail 12X they were accompanied by an American escort including an aircraft carrier, Ranger, cruisers and destroyers. America was not in the war at this time so there was no shortages on board, the food was very good and being a luxury liner it was very comfortable.
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:-
USS Leonard Wood - USS Vincennes (Heavy Cruiser) - USS Joseph T Dickman
The convoy passed through the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and St Domingo, arriving at Trinidad on 17th November in glorious sunshine so their tropical kit came out, but unfortunately no shore-leave, and after two days of taking on supplies the convoy sailed.
On 24th the equator was crossed and there was a crossing the line ceremony.
Crossing the Line Ceremony Certificate
After a month the convoy arrived at Cape Town, and soon after news reached the troops 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
‘Private 5776807’ Far Eastern Heroes
Commonwealth War Grave Commission
|
