- Contributed by听
- FionaA
- People in story:听
- Richard (Dick) Farrell
- Location of story:听
- Singapore
- Background to story:听
- Merchant Navy
- Article ID:听
- A2331208
- Contributed on:听
- 22 February 2004
My grandfather, Dick Farrell, was a Chief/First Radio Officer with the Merchant Navy. On 5th November 1941 he joined the crew of the 'Empress of Asia' on a troop carrying exercise to the Far East. The ship was bomb by Japanese aircraft off the Shoal Lighthouse near Singapore on 5th February 1942. As Radio Officer, he was one of the last to leave the ship. Unfortunately after giving the wireless code books to the Captain for disposal at sea, my grandfather decided to abandon ship by jumping off. Unbeknown to him at the time, the crew were being loaded into lifeboats, at the other side of the ship to the one he took a dive from. He had to swim to Singapore where he spent the remainder of the war as a POW, first in Changi for almost two years, followed by a further two years at Sime Road Camp.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo