Singapore Naval Base

[Kyt]

Thought members might like to see pictures of the Naval base (docks) as it was being built. Apologies for the quality - my scanner seems to be picking up the "weave" from the original print and I can't seem to compensate for it.

The pictures come from "The Rise & Fall of the Singapore Naval Base" by W D McIntyre that arrived this morning.

[gen]

Hi Kyt,

Would this of been H.M.S. Sultan? I have a casualty on my books that says he died the day after the fall of Singapore and i have read that that the Japanese killed all the wounded which makes me think this is what happened to Stoker 1st Class Thomas James Evans. He has no known grave and is remembered on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Any ideas?
I gather that the Japanese used this base as a stepping stone for taking a lot more of the islands in the Pacific.
Great pics and always read your posts as they are always informative.
Mike

[Kyt]

Originally Posted by gen

Hi Kyt,

Would this of been H.M.S. Sultan? I have a casualty on my books that says he died the day after the fall of Singapore and i have read that that the Japanese killed all the wounded which makes me think this is what happened to Stoker 1st Class Thomas James Evans. He has no known grave and is remembered on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Any ideas?

Hi Mike,

HMS Sultan was the name of a set of barracks (mainly for trainees) near the dockyards, rather than the docks themselves. However I can't quite locate them on a map of Singapore city from the 1930s/40s.

The most infamous killing of wounded occurred on the 14th and 15th Feb at Alexandra Hospital (in Singapore city) when over 100 patients and staff disappeared (eyewitnesses state they heard screams and saw Japanese soldiers wiping blood from their bayonets). It is possible that your man was one of the victims but it's impossible to say. He may have died from wounds received otherwise. As most of the bodies were cremated there wouldn't have been a grave.

From: History : HMS Sultan : Training Establishments : Establishments : Operations and Support : Royal Navy

HMS Sultan number five was a shore base in Singapore, commissioned 1940. It was destroyed on surrender in 1942 but re-commissioned on re-occupation in 1945 and continued until 1947.

From: About us

All survivors were assigned here (HMS Sultan) after the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse, some then got re-assigned to other bases or ships, others died whilst still unassigned, and probably died defending the Naval base/Singapore, or trying to help with the evacuation, or to escape themselves.

Originally Posted by gen

I gather that the Japanese used this base as a stepping stone for taking a lot more of the islands in the Pacific.

Singapores played an important role as a threat to the British in the Indian Ocean too.

Originally Posted by gen

Great pics and always read your posts as they are always informative.

oh dear, obviously you've not read my contributions to the "utter drivel" thread.

[Kyt]

Found the barracks:

Google Earth Community: HMS Terror (Barracks), Sembawang, Singapore

(click "view in google maps" link, and then change it to map rather than satellite)

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Kyt

oh dear, obviously you've not read my contributions to the "utter drivel" thread.

Come on Kyt, don't be shy. We know the drivel thread comments are only to impress Kitty.........or not!

[Kyt]

I think it's the other way around

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Kyt

Singapores played an important role as a threat to the British in the Indian Ocean too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gen
I gather that the Japanese used this base as a stepping stone for taking a lot more of the islands in the Pacific.

Could you imagine the ramifications if they had also taken Port Moresby?

I forgot to add that I could have been calling my country......Nipponalia!!!!!!!


Many future battles in the Pacific could have had completely different results.

Singapore Moresby.jpg

[Andy in West Oz]

Originally Posted by Kyt

Found the barracks:

Google Earth Community: HMS Terror (Barracks), Sembawang, Singapore

(click "view in google maps" link, and then change it to map rather than satellite)

Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk by Zeroes? Hmmmm.

Haven't seen that pic of the monitor HMS Terror before or of the very cool construction shots so thanks for another informative post, Kyt!