Singapore 1942 - Escape Reports

Discussion in 'Research Material' started by Skoyen89, Apr 1, 2018.

  1. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    WO361/315 has two copies of the original "copy" of the following letter. This is a partial transcript: the second page is just about the persons Maj Marsh had reported to with his account of the voyage he undertook.

    ( I have begun each sentence as a separate line.)

    " From 178178 T/Major. J.W.P. Marsh, REME.
    ex O i/c M.T., B.O.W.
    Base Ord. Depot. Malaya
    Present Address. c/o The Canadian Bank of Commerce
    VICTORIA. B.C. CANADA

    Jan. 2nd. 1946

    The Under Secretary of State.
    The War Office.
    Blue Coat School.
    Liverpool.
    Your reference. MOS/2042/G. 15-12-45.

    Sir,
    With ref. to your memo under above number regarding Lt. E.W. Goldfinch, I regret I can give you no information.
    I did not see him for several days before I myself was sent out of Singapore and only by hearsay heard that he also had been sent out and that he was lost at sea.
    For your information and record I give herewith all details of my evacuation and knowledge actual and hearsay which may be of service in checking up casualties.
    On or about 1800 hrs. Feb. 13th. 1942 I was at the Mission to Seaman Institute, Anson Road, Singapore when S.O.M.E.B.O.D. Malaya Command, Lt. Col. E.K. Scott, came to see me and ordered me to take all details attached to me at that time to Collier Pier, for embarkation en route to Java.
    The strength of O.Rs. attached to me at that time was about 108 and in checking into the Docklands Gate that was the number counted including myself.
    Major Whateley RAOC, A.D.O.S.(E) assisted me in checking men in as my own Workshop staff was normally very small about 20 to 30 only, all other men had been sent to me from other detached jobs and a considerable number were unknown to me personally.
    On arrival at quayside, two different lots of 20 each were taken from me by Navy Officers, leaving me with approx. 68, which included 2nd Lt. Radford and myself.
    The 68 embarked on the Paula Suegi, a Batavian built small boat, though the Captain said he should have taken 40, only.
    Some time evening of the 15th., we were shelled by Jap. craft and all on board abandoned ship, in accordance with the Captain’s orders, we jumped overboard.
    I heard afterwards that some good swimmers swam back to the ship after shelling had finished and launched a boat and rafts ( we were all provided with lifebelts).
    I joined one of these rafts later but left it again and advised several other men who could swim to do the same.
    Every one of us who left this raft were either picked up or reached the shore of Banka Island a few miles away.
    Those left on the raft were not seen again or many other of the ship’s total complement.
    I was on Banka for about three weeks and was sent to Palembang, Sumatra, where I heard that a survivor of the ship a Pte. Kinsey of Z.Adv.Ord W/Shop. (RAOC) had arrived into the Camp at Montuk Banka Island after I left and said he had reached shore in the ship’s boat containing twenty men including officers, they were all bayonetted to death on landing, Kinsey said he only escaped by pretending to be dead.
    Unfortunately Pte. Kinsey only survived a few hours after reaching the Montuk camp.
    Please note that this information was only received by me about third hand.
    The officers referred to were possibly 2nd. Lt. Radford, RAOC, three ship’s officers - Lt. Martin, N.Z.R.N.V.R., another N.Z.R.N.V.R. officer name unknown, a R.N.V.R.Eng.Officer, and a Lt. Day R.N. or V. unknown ( in talking to him on board he said he was attached to Malaya Command).
    The foregoing was told by me to various authorities etc. as follows:

    (1) Details of ship’s loss to an enquiry board under Commander Reed ( reid) R.N. of Singapore Dockyards, at a Camp in Palembang. 3.42. "

    [ 2nd page has further details of authorities and families of men who Maj Marsh contacted. ]
     
    Tricky Dicky and timuk like this.

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