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Killed in Action
Cambridgeshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
History
Compiled by Ron Taylor
In Memory of David Langton
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
By David Langton
2nd Cambridgeshires at Folkestone Camp
Originally formed in June, 1939, the 2nd Battalion finally became a separate entity when embodied on 1st September of that year. It was not, of course, purely a battalion of new recruits, for with the reorganisation of the Regiment on a geographical basis those companies of the 1st Battalion which existed in the northern half of the county were transferred over to the 2nd Battalion.
On the outbreak of war, Battalion H.Q. moved from Cambridge and joined Headquarters Company and ‘C’ Company at Wisbech; ‘A’ Company was at March and ‘B’ Company at Ely and ‘D’ at Charteris.
To begin with, shortage of equipment, arms, clothing and boots, with a lack of instructors, considerably hampered the companies in their efforts to turn themselves into full-time soldiers, but the task was tackled with great keenness by everyone and the fullest use made of the limited instruction available.
On November 2nd the Battalion concentrated for the first time as a complete unit at Melton Constable in Norfolk, and was shortly afterwards transferred to 53 Infantry Brigade, 18th Division, thus parting company with the 1st Battalion which remained 55 Infantry Brigade. At the end of the month a further move took place to Holt , where companies were assigned a variety of billets, including a condemned school and a disused chapel. Here the first Christmas of the war was spent , chiefly memorable for the generous gifts of cigarettes , woollen comforts and luxuries sent by the people of Cambridgeshire, and also for a large scale influenza epidemic!
In January 1940, The Battalion marched to a new station at Stiffkey , on the coast, which being a hutted summer camp by design, received the full benefit of the extremely severe weather of that winter; the camp was on the edge of the salt marshes and everything froze solid. Heavy snowfalls disrupted communications throughout the district, and companies were employed in clearing roads and digging out railway trains until better weather enabled a start to be made on platoon and company training. Guards were also supplied to various V.I.P’s in the neighbourhood.
In the meanwhile a cadre of officers and N.C.O’s was sent from the Battalion at Wisbech, who were drafted to the Battalion as soon as their primary training was completed; these new drafts were of first class material and were badly needed to fill the gaps caused by the withdrawal of ‘category’ men.
With the spring, training began to get under way, but the invasion of the Low Countries resulted in the Battalion being allotted an operational role and other considerations had to be shelved in a hurry. The unit took over defence of a sector of coast and responsibility for a number of airfields as well. The size of the task necessitated the dispersal of companies over an enormously large area, and like the rest of the small garrison of Britain at the time the 2nd Battalion found itself holding the equivalent of a Divisional front, ‘A’ and ‘B’ held the coast between Salthouse and Cley, with Battalion H.Q. and H.Q. Company behind them, while “C” was at Fakenham, and “D” distributed between King’s Lynn, Docking, and Hunstanton. It took all day to distribute mail round the whole unit. At this time a Mobile Group was formed within the Battalion for patrol and airfield assistance duties, and they were really the only people who got any training at all, the remainder spent every day and many moonlit nights furiously digging and erecting defences to the detriment of seaside amenities.
In July the Battalion moved back into Brigade Reserve, and was at last able to get down to training again while stationed at Melton Park, and later in Gresham’s School, Holt. While at the latter station it was inspected by the Prime Minister, who appeared to be satisfied with it’s appearance.
While in reserve, the unit held a mobile counter attack role and was allotted a number of double decker buses for this purpose. In the numerous exercises which took place along the coast, many headaches were caused by the problem of how to camouflage these enormous Eastern Counties vehicles in flaming scarlet, the drivers also had a peculiar habit of disappearing before a practice alarm.
In August, coast defences were again taken over, this time at Sheringham and West Runton, here the Battalion sustained its first air attack, but suffered no causalities, though some were rudely awakened from their Sunday afternoon siesta. Finally the defensive role ceased , and it was moved inland to Houghton Hall, Raynham and nearby villages, where the second Christmas was spent in greater comfort.
With the move of the Division to Scotland early in January 1941, the 2nd Battalion was sent to Dumfries. It was expected that orders would be given to prepare for service overseas, but these failed to materialise and the unit settled down to intensive company and battalion training over new and formidable country, followed by Higher Formation exercises in severe weather. Considerable hospitality was shown by Provost and citizens of Dumfries and the Battalion came into contact with the Free Norwegian Army, stationed in the same town, Unfortunately, the Norwegians had more money, and this gave them an unfair advantage in the eyes of the local maidens.
In April the Division moved down into Western Command, and the 2nd Battalion took up quarters in Crewe Hall, Cheshire. The summer was principally occupied by Divisional exercises carried out over large distances into Lancashire and Yorkshire. In addition, time was found for field firing on Ruabon Mountain in Wales and company camps at Plas Power, near Wrexham. In August, companies were dispatched to carry out defensive wiring tasks on the north Wales coast and to help with the harvest in Leicestershire. Assistance was also given in the evenings to local Home Guard units in Crewe, and large scale co-operation exercises with Home Guard, Civil Defence and other units took place in Crewe, Birmingham, and Carlisle.
King George Inspecting the 2nd Cambridgeshires
In October, orders were at last received to prepare for foreign service, and on completion of mobilization the Battalion was inspected by H.M. the King in the grounds of Crewe Hall. Last minute were also made by the Bishop of Ely and the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, who brought with him a personal message from the C.I.G.S.
On October 31st the Battalion sailed from Gourock in the Polish Free State vessel, M.V.Sobieski and joined the 18th Division convoy off the Irish coast.
On arrival at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Battalion re-embarked in the U.S.S. Mount Vernon, and began the long voyage to Capetown.
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:-
‘Cambridgshires in the Far East’ from Britain at War.
The ‘Roll of Honour’ FEPOW Family
Information supplied by the late David Langton
‘Battalion at War’ by Michael Moore
‘With the Cambrdgeshires at Singapore’ by William Taylor
‘Tigers in the Park’ by Jon Cooper
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