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Killed in Action
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
5th Battalion
History
With the help of Martyn Fryer
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
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
‘C’ Company
(Photo supplied by Martyn Fryer)
The 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was formed as a Territorial Unit in August 1939.
In mid 1940 after brief training, the Battalion moved to Thetford in the Brecklands of Norfolk and became part of the 55 Infantry Battalion, 18th Division. While in Norfolk the Battalion took up defensive duties at Wroxham and North Walsham where in August they received an inspection by King George VI.
In January 1941 the 5th Battalion moved to Scotland for more training in the bitter weathered, snow-covered hills. After a short stay they moved to Uttoxeter, England for a further move to Merevale Park, in Warwickshire, where further training was undertaken.
In September the Battalion was mobilised for an oversea posting and was moved to Whittington Barracks, Lichfield. Some officers and Battalion equipment left for Birkenhead, Liverpool on the 16th October in the SS Bonnikom (ship R277). and Sailed for the Middle East. The Battalion were entrained near midnight, on the 27th October in bad weather to Liverpool.
On the 28th October 1941 the 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment sailed in the CT.5 Convoy from Liverpool in the ‘Reina Del Pacifico’, although embarking with tropical gear, their destination was unknown most thought it would be the desert of the Middle East as that was were the SS Bonnikom was now sailing with the Battalions equipment.
‘Reina Del Pacifico’
The CT.5 Convoy consisted of mainly East Anglian Territorials from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire but there were also the 1/5 Sherwood Foresters, 9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, 5th Beds and Herts and the 5th Loyals from Lancashire. 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 our small British escort changed to a large American force including an aircraft carrier the Lexington, two heavy and two light cruisers and destroyers.
‘USS West Point’
On reaching Halifax on November 10th, they were transferred to USS West Point as part of the 55th Infantry Brigade and departed Halifax in Convoy William Sail 12X.
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 on the 8th December news reached the regiment that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbour and Malaya.
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
This information was collated using:-
‘Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment’ from Britain at War.
The ‘Roll of Honour’ FEPOW Family
Information supplied by Martyn Fryer
‘From the Woodlands to the Jungle’ by Martyn Fryer
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