Training |
Recruitment |
Training in Australia
|
Voyage
to Singapore |
Training in Malaya
Departed Sydney
17/9/1941; arrived Fremantle 25/9/1941; departed Fremantle 28/9/1941;
arrived Singapore 5/10/1941
Troopship to
Singapore
Troopships to
Middle East
Reinforcements for the 2/30th and various
other units in the Middle East and Singapore departed Australia in
September 1941 in Convoy US12B. The convoy
included four troopships, plus escorts. On this voyage, Sibajak was codenamed HMT JJ
(on the previous convoy she was called HMT DD).
The Johan Van
Oldenbarnevelt and Aquitania had departed Wellington, on
15/9/1941, carrying N.Z. troops. Sibajak departed Sydney
on 17/9/1941, and the three troopships met up in the Tasman Sea
on 18/9/1941. On board
Sibajak were reinforcements destined for the 2/18, 2/19, 2/20, 2/29, 2/30, GBD, 4 Anti
Tank, 2/10 Field Company, 2 Reserve Motor Transport, 2/15 Field
Regiment, 2/12 Field Company, 2/3 Reserve Motor Transport, and 2/3 Motor
Ambulance Convoy.
The
convoy was later joined by the Marnix Van St. Aldegonde,
which had left Melbourne on 17/9/1941, carrying South Australian
troops. The convoy arrived in Fremantle on 26/9/1941 and
departed on 28/9/1941.
The convoy sailed together for a further three days, until the
Sibajak turned and headed for Singapore. The other three
troopships in the convoy headed for the Middle East. The Sibajak
arrived in Singapore on 5/10/1941.
After arrival in Singapore, some of the troops were immediately
sent to the General Base Depot in Johore Bahru, to undertake further
training and await posting as reinforcements to various Battalions, including the 2/30th.
(Source: Across the
Sea to War; NAA: B883 Service Records)
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