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War |
Malaya |
Singapore
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Service with other Units
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Battalion
Movements |
Order of Battle
Arrived 1600hrs 13/2/1942
Surrender 15/2/1942
1) Every man for himself
NX67315 - DUNCOMBE, Raymond Stewart, Pte. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon
NX20450 - MASON, Peter, Cpl. - HQ Company, Carriers
NX12542 - TOMPSON, Richard Clive, Capt. - HQ Company, O/C Carriers
"I was interested to read of your talk to RAY DUNCOMBE (who I
remember very well of course) about the last few days at Tyersall
Palace. We rendered our remaining carriers useless by removing parts
and with an axe we made a proper job of them. After that I took over
a group of about 200 men (page 220 of History), with their officers
in an area quite near the Battalion. They came from all arms of the
service, except infantry battalions, and I remember one of the
officers saying how pleased they were to be in the calm well
conducted atmosphere of the 2/30 Bn. I think they had been pushed
around a good bit before they came to us. There were a few shots
directed towards us which I took to be from snipers, and PETER MASON
took some of the carrier boys out on patrol to investigate.
"I had one unpleasant experience there. I had attended a conference
at Bn. HQ to be told of the impending surrender & that all ranks
were to stand fast within unit areas. I called the officers of my
group together and relayed the information to them.
"A short time later I was summoned to Div. HQ and after informing
the C.O., I found my way there to be confronted by a very angry,
very senior officer, who demanded to know why I had told my troops
that it was all over and it was a case of everyone for himself. I
was dumbfounded and, in turn, I demanded that he bring some of the
officers from my group over, so that he could question them as to
the orders they had received from me. He finally believed that I had
passed on my orders correctly and I was allowed to leave. He named
the gunner officer from the group who took it on himself to tell his
troops that it was every man for himself. I suppose it would be
better not to mention his name, but the man was a fool then and
continued to be a fool during POW days....
(Source: Dick Tompson - Makan No. 264, Jan/March,
1982)
2) Cobra
NX20450 - MASON, Peter, Cpl. - HQ Company, Carriers
NX12542 - TOMPSON, Richard Clive, Capt. - HQ Company, O/C Carriers
NX20446 - WALLACE, Scott James (Scotty), Pte. - HQ Company,
Carrier Platoon
"Re
DICK TOMPSON'S article page 20 of Makan 264, about me taking
a patrol out looking for snipers. I can only remember one
out of the four with me. He was SCOTTY WALLACE. We were
racing up a narrow gully and in the narrowest part was the
biggest COBRA SNAKE I've ever seen. It was standing on its
tail and was about three feet high, with its hood extended a
good 16 inches, with huge black dots on it. SCOTTY wanted to
shoot it, which I forbade, as we didn't know where the Japs
were. So, he decided to bayonet it. He might as well have
tried to stab a flash of lightning. So I ordered a quick
retreat. I would like to know the names of the other three
blokes on the patrol."
(Source: Peter Mason - Makan No. 265,
Apr/June,
1982)
3) Happy Birthday
NX36524 - CHARLESWORTH, Athol McNeil, Pte. - D Company, 16
Platoon
NX36521 - PERRY, Leslie George (Les), Pte. - D Company, 16
Platoon
"Our last stand was at
an Indian hospital site which had been burnt out and Athol
and myself had a ready-made slit trench going two ways so
that if a shell landed on one the other might survive.
Late on Saturday night
February 14 we settled down for a sleep and next morning as
the dawn was breaking we awoke and Athol said "Happy Birthday".
It was my 25th birthday.
We soon found out what the
day had in store for us as it seemed all hell had broken
loose with an incessant barrage of shelling from their big
guns.
At eight o'clock that night
we received the grim news that we had surrendered. At first
it was with sheer disbelief as nobody ever thought it could
happen.
We found out that the
pipeline suppling water to Singapore was cut and the bodies
of dead natives piled up in the street and the Governor of
Singapore had no other option but to capitulate.
(Source: Les Perry -
interview in Narrandera Argus, 15/8/1995)
4) A beautiful meal
NX36524 - CHARLESWORTH, Athol McNeil, Pte. - D Company, 16
Platoon
NX36521 - PERRY, Leslie George (Les), Pte. - D Company, 16
Platoon
"I did not really
enjoy my birthday on the 15th February 1942, when I shared a
trench with
Athol Charlesworth near the burnt-out Indian
Hospital, but I found a tin of baked beans and another of
camp pie amid the ruins, combined, they made a beautiful
meal."
(Source: Les Perry -
Makan 251, Nov/Dec, 1979)
5) Tyersall Palace
NX12544 - McLEOD, Graham Stanley, Lt. - BHQ; D Company,
A/Adjt.; 17 Platoon
NX12541 - PARRY, Kenneth William (Jasper or Ken), Lt. Col. -
D Company, O/C 16 Platoon
NX70453 - TAYLOR, John Lindsay, Capt. - BHQ, M.O.
"It was on this trip to the
Kranji that a peculiar thing happened. I'd asked the guide
where the Tyersall Palace was and she'd looked at me
blankly. Maybe they've changed the name. Anyway, as the bus
sped along one of the roads, I glanced out the window and
sure enough, there it was. I checked by looking across to
the other side and there were those barracks. Then it was
gone. Last time I was there it was immediately after the
capitulation and before we started that long trek out to
Changi.
Ken Parry had lent me his toothbrush (after he'd used
it.) And
John Taylor had been using the palace as a hospital. And
a sniper damned near got me."
(Source: Graham McLeod - Makan No. 220,
Jan/Feb, 1975)
6) You can put that gun away
NX67315 - DUNCOMBE, Raymond Stewart (Ray), Pte. HQ Company,
Signals Platoon
NX67449 - JOHNSON, Robert William (Togo), Cpl. - HQ Company,
Signals Platoon
"Ray says that about 6.30 on the night of 15th Feb. 42, the
night of the Singapore Capitulation, orders were given that
no one was to fire rifles, unless that had been fired on
first. "Togo" Johnson, who died at Shimo Sonkurai, had his
rifle in his hands and was told, "You can put that gun away,
you won't be using it now. They're going to surrender." Togo
threw his rifle to the ground, exasperated at the thought,
and even cried because of the shock."
(Source:
Ray Duncombe, Makan No. 259, Jan/Feb, 1981)
7) Password should be changed
NX67315 - DUNCOMBE, Raymond Stewart (Ray), Pte. HQ Company,
Signals Platoon
NX37300 - HENNING, Valentine (Val), Pte. - HQ Company,
Signals Platoon
NX12542 - TOMPSON, Richard Clive (Dick), Capt. - HQ Company,
O/C Carrier Platoon
NX47678 - PALMER, Cecil Noel (Cec), Pte. - HQ Company,
Signals Platoon
"Val and Ray had been Sig men manning the D Company phone,
but Ray says that when the Bn was at Tyersall Palace, Dick
Tompson was in command of the 'odds & sods' Company in the
grounds of the Argentine Consul. It was not exactly a
healthy spot, as Jap snipers were very busy, waiting for
anyone moving around.
Ray also recalled Cec Palmer, Sig D.R., giving him the
password one night and within five minutes a ring on his
phone and a Jap voice was telling him that, if he had not
received the password for the night, it was…… So Ray
immediately reported to HQ for a message to be sent to Bde,
that the password for the night should be changed, as the
Japs had it already."
(Source:
Ray Duncombe, Makan No. 263, Oct/Dec, 1981)
8)
Sun stroke
NX27159 - WHITE, George Harold (Doughy), Cpl. - BHQ. Cook HQ
Coy.
"At the capitulation, "Doughy", a corporal at the time, was
in Singapore Botanical Gardens, in charge of dumping
ammunition in the lake. One case of "ammo" turned out to be
a case of Stawkey's gin and the work party was soon
transformed into a gin party. The Japanese arrived to count
the prisoners and could not make out the erratic behaviour
of one gin-sodden soldier. "Doughy" impressed upon them that
the man was sick with 'sunny stroke'."
(Source:
George White, Makan No. 254, May/Jul, 1980)
9)
Carrier heads north
NX47801 - HARRINGTON, Ernest Clarence, Pte. - HQ Company,
Carrier Platoon
NX25744 - SANDERSON, Calvert James, Pte. - HQ Company,
Carrier Platoon
NX2735 - SAWERS, Tracy Campbell, Pte. - HQ Company, Carrier
Platoon
NX30509 - SWADLING, Roy Leonard, Pte. - HQ Company, Carrier
Platoon
"Extract from Nominal Roll 2/30 Bn. AIF - NX76207 Capt.
F.S.B. PAECH Adjt. 2/30 Btn.:
NX25744 - SANDERSON, C.J.
-
missing believed wounded - Court of Inquiry held
22/2/1942 - President Capt. DUFFY - last seen B
Echelon Tyersall Palace 1730 hrs with Carrier crew
Pte. SWADLING, R.L., SAWERS, T.C., HARRINGTON, E.C.,
2/30 Btn. - Next of Kin - Father 98 North Street,
Tamworth
NX30509 - Pte. SWADLING, R.L.
-
MIA 14/2/1942 or 15/2/1942 - Court of Inquiry held -
President Capt. DUFFY - last seen B Echelon Tyersall
Palace 1730 hrs with Ptes. SAWERS, SANDERSON,
HARRINGTON - Next of Kin - Mrs. E.J. SWADLING -
Timberworker - Coramba, NSW
From Dick TOMPSON's diary:
NX2735 - Pte. Tracey C. SAWERS
-
No.4 Section Gunner Carrier No.11, joined Platoon at
Bathurst, Sydney University student, resident of New
Zealand
NX47801 - Pte. E.C. HARRINGTON
-
Labourer, next of kin: wife Dorothy Elsie
Harrington, P.O. South Grafton, believed wounded
slightly, No.4 Section Gunner Carrier No.12,
transferred from C Coy. at Batu Pahat
NX30509 - Pte. Roy L. SWADLING
-
joined Platoon 22/11/1940 Tamworth, next of kin:
wife, Eighth St., Weston, NSW
NX25744 - Pte. Calvert James SANDERSON
-
Truck Driver, No.4 Section Carrier No.12 - Driver
Mechanic, joined Platoon 22/11/1940 Tamworth - next
of kin Father, Eighth St., Weston, NSW (SWADLING and
SANDERSON Brothers-in-law)
Pte. JOHNSTON
The above group of 5 left the Bn. position near Tyersall
Palace after capitulation heading north in a carrier having
expressed the intention of shooting their way through the
enemy lines. Nothing further has ever been heard of them.
Prior to this Corporal H. RICHES reports having seen them
engaging enemy aircraft with MMG's and keeping them at
sufficient distance to allow MT (whom they were attacking)
to complete their task of clearing a dump."
(Source:
Lance Sanderson, letter in 2/30 Battalion archives,
15/12/1997)
10)
It ended and yet began
NX12544 - McLEOD, Graham Stanley (Millie), Lt. - BHQ; D
Company, A/Adjt.
It is appropriate to follow
Col's account of Tyersall Palace by the reminiscences of
Graham, and the latter's account is: "I made my third
pilgrimage, this time to Tyersall Palace, and, to me, this
place has a deep significance. It is a moment in our
history. For we of the 2/30th, it was here, that in a sense
it ended and yet began. This was where we surrendered and
ceased being combatants and hence, this was where we really
began being prisoners of war. None of us could have realised
the significance of what happened that night of 15th
February 1942, nor during the next two days, as we rested in
the strange quiet after the battle. And it was here that we
began that long trek out to Selerang.
I caught the bus to Holland Road
and, after careful map checking, I decided when I'd gone far
enough - and pushed the buzzer in the roof to indicate that
the Singapore Bus Service Ltd. had completed their part of
the bargain and I wanted to terminate the agreement (I
wanted to get off). The bus rattled off and I was left
standing there. But, something was wrong. Where there should
have been a nicely mowed hollow with the “istana" (residence
of the Sultan) on the low crest beyond, was nothing but
heavy foliage, not quite jungle, but a real tangle, too
thick to penetrate. A barbed wire fence was an additional
deterrent. Slowly I checked the map. I just could not be
wrong, but I'd have to find another way in.
I went back to Tyersall Avenue,
and after a short walk, I came to a barred gate with the
explicit sign "no entry" and on either side of this, still
that unfriendly fence. Inside I could see a tarred road
meandering out of sight over a hill, but there was simply no
sign of life at all and the place had the appearance of
somewhere that is utterly forgotten. This in itself was
singular, for in Singapore one thing they don't waste is any
land, particularly close to the city. There just had to be
an explanation.
There was no point in giving up
so easily, so I kept on walking, skirting the perimeter of
this problem. Then I came upon an Indian, who was busily
occupied keeping the seat warm in a yellow Mercedes. I asked
him about the place. What had happened? Why was it deserted?
I got an explanation. It still
belongs to the Sultan of Johore, who, maybe, can't make up
his mind what to do with it (if it were mine, I'd be
flogging it for big dough). The ''istana,". He looked sad.
It was demolished years ago. Just nothing left at all.
This was bad news and it looked
as if my trip was for nought. Something compelled me to keep
on. I left the Indian "Cassandra" behind. Eventually I came
to an open gate; through this I could see four figures
having a "yesume". I entered and explained my purpose,
asking whether it would be permitted for me to have a look
around. Nods, smiles, agreement. I passed around the
Marlborough's and we all lit up, great mates. It transpired
that there was a small problem. One of them would have to
accompany me and a member of the group, Mahomud, drew the
short straw. Off we went, and he gave me some good news. The
Indian had been bulling, for the "istana" was standing.
Could I see it? Of course.
We made our way over the
neglected roads, which were starting to crumble at the edges
and through a tangle of under growth. Desperately I tried to
orient myself and remember where everything had been in
those last hours.
Don Company had been along a
ridge and mine had been the farthest platoon. On my right
had been A Coy and suddenly, I remembered, that Rod Anderson
had told me, that he was in the grounds of the French
Consulate and to prove it, he produced champagne and a stack
of cigarettes, that he'd decided, that the Consul would not
miss. I asked Mahomud about it. Oh, yes the French Consulate
was still there and he pointed the direction. Suddenly it
all came back to me. Here was our ridge; here was my old
position, and here had been the site of the burnt-out Indian
Hospital with a few wood and attap huts still standing with
dead bodies lying on the charpoys. I recalled how
unwillingly and sullenly the flies had fled from their
feast, as I wandered through the silent huts, and the stench
of decay and death.
The Jap Artillery had done their
best to wipe out 17 Platoon that last day. I don't suppose
that they were picking on us, but it seemed that way. They
set the remaining huts on fire and we had the choice of
being roasted or blown up. The latter seemed the better odds
so we bailed out. Ward Booth was not at all happy, when I
told him we'd lost our water purifying kits in the
excitement.
O.K. so the “istana” had to be
behind me. Obligingly, Mahomud led the way and there it was
but not as I really remember it. Now it is deserted,
forlorn, neglected. An upper door was open, but that was the
only sign that someone may have been there recently. Every
window was shuttered and the strange part was the silence,
even though busy Holland Road was only a short distance
away. It must have been the heavy trees that shut out the
noise. It took little imagination to picture the place as it
had been in those piping days of peace, with sleek cars,
obsequious servants and a plethora of burnished Sam Browne's
and polished brass. Then, as we'd known it, when the
“istana" served as a hospital, where John Taylor and his
team slaved so hard on the wounded. I recalled going inside
and, on a mantelpiece, seeing a photo of a very beautiful
girl, who must have been feeling the heat when it was taken,
since she wasn't wearing any clothes. I think it was signed
''Cecily”.
The mowed area, where we waited,
after laying down our arms has gone and thick timber
blankets it. The concrete drain is still there. In it Ken
Parry and I washed ourselves, ignoring an unexploded shell
lying nearby. And I remember lying in some shade and reading
a condensed book in a battered Readers' Digest, “What Makes
Sammy Run?”. Enterprising scroungers went across the road to
the deserted British barracks returning laden with useful
gear. Still there were no Japs to be seen and we waited
patiently until the order came to move back to Changi.
To me there's something singular
in the way the "istana" still stands, there, alone, aloof
and with the air of one, who is content to let the present
bustle pass, satisfied to brood on days, that have gone
forever.
With regret, I said goodbye to
Mahomud, “presento-ing” a few more Marlborough's and I made
my way back to teeming Holland Road. Now the "istana" was
behind the trees and suddenly I was in another world.
And I found my sadness hard to
bear."
(Source:
Graham McLeod,
Makan No. 231, Dec, 1976)
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Last updated
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