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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.
Killed in Action
560 Field Company
Royal Engineers
History
Compiled by Ron Taylor
Information from ‘Towards the Rising Sun’ by James Bradley
Japanese Attack
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
Compiled from ‘Private 5776807’ by Frederick Noel Taylor
Shore leave was not given on the day they arrived but was granted for the following three days, giving them plenty of time to see the sights. There was no blackout in Capetown, everything was illuminated, the troops found friendly accommodation with South African families who made them very welcome. The shops were worth a visit as they were well stocked, with a variety of goods the men hadn't seen for a long time at home in Britain. The warmth of the South Africans towards them was very comforting, they seemed to like having the troops around, it was a set back when the time came to re-embark on the Wakefield.
The WS12X (William Sail 12X) Convoy with the 54 and 55 Infantry Brigades left Capetown on the 13th December with a British escort (HMS Dorsetshire) for Bombay. The USS Mount Vernon with the 53 Infantry Brigade on board left the convoy for Mombasa where it joined the DM1 (Durban-Malaya 1) Convoy to Singapore.
The depleted WS12X Convoy crossed the equator for the second time, arriving at Bombay, India on 27th December. They travelled up country by train to Ahmednagar, near Poona where they trained for the next twelve days, route marching in the sun to get used to the heat and wondering what all this was for. The troops could not help but notice the poverty in India, children foraged for food in gutters because of starvation. The Japanese at this time had made quick progress in Malaya and were moving south towards Singapore.
The troops embarked back on the Wakefield on the 17th January and sailed the next day with a British escort, the HMS Exeter and HMS Glasgow with British and Australian destroyers as Convoy BM11 (Bombay-Malaya 11).
News reached the troops that the Prince of Wales and the Repulse had both been sunk by the Japanese and they were now on their way to the Far East. They passed Colombo, (Ceylon), crossing the equator for the third time, then through the Sunda Straits between Java and Sumatra and then the Banka Straits. The convoy was then bombed by Japanese planes, there was no damage but the convoy picked up steam, now realising the impending danger from the air. The Wakefield was the first of the BM11 Convoy to reach the safety of Keppel Harbour, Singapore on the 29th January 1942. Ships were ablaze in the harbour, clouds of smoke drifted across the sky and the smell of fumes was overpowering, this was not the best of greetings. Unknown to the troops the Japs had taken most of Malaya in the last three weeks and were only thirty miles away from Singapore.
Two days after the Wakefield reached Singapore, Lieutenant-General Percival had the causeway joining Malaya to Singapore blown by Royal Engineers, leaving a 70 Foot gap. Believing the Japanese would cross the Jahore Strait in the North East of Singapore Island, the Royal Engineers were used to mine the North Eastern Coastline. The Japanese had other ideas and Japanese General Yamashita who had set up the bluff, established landings on the North West of the Island, just before midnight on the 8th February.
Battle of Singapore
Map by Ron Taylor
By the 9th the Japanese had established a foothold. It was only time before the Japanese were able to push back the 8th Australian Division. The Japanese then repaired and crossed the causeway, with armoured vehicles and tanks.
During the defence of Singapore, Lieutenants W. E. Furse and A.N. Pringle of the 560 Field Company were mentioned in dispatches "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya 1942".
The 560 Field Company lost four Sappers on the 13th February, three of those killed by the advancing Japanese on Mount Pleasant Road close to the reservoirs.
Singapore surrendered 15th February 1942 as the Japanese were close to capturing the water supply in the centre of Singapore.
Death Roll
Defence of Singapore
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
Please click on the  next to each date below to extend information
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Died
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Name
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Service/No
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1942/02/13
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Wayling, Jack
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1922002
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1942/02/13
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Southall, Alec
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1892396
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1942/02/13
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Manton, Peter
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2076974
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1942/02/13
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Atkin, Aubrey Cyril William
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2005896
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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
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