´óÏó´«Ã½

Percy Tarbuck

It’s a Moment I Shall Never Forget — Part 2

In Ceylon we received the news that was to change the life of the old world forever. September 3rd 1939, Britain was once more at war with Germany.

Before leaving port we became an armed merchant ship with a ‘Lewis gun mounted on the bridge!’ As we neared our destination Singapore, we sailed close to the shoreline and savoured the scents that wafted up from an abundance of exotic tropical flowers. During our journey from the hustle and bustle of Singapore city to our brand new air base at Tengah, observing the green and pleasant countryside with its plantations of pineapples and groves of bananas and coconuts, I convinced myself that this was indeed ‘Paradise Island’. This was to be my home for the next eighteen months.

My happy memories of Singapore include those of boxing, together with friend Ken Goldsmith in the Happy World Stadium and dancing to strict tempo in the venue next door; attending our 62-squadron farewell ball on the roof garden of the Alambra Hotel and not heeding some taboo advice when I escorted a lovely young Chinese girl to the venue. She was quite a hit with everyone including our guest Air Chief Marshall Broke-Popham, who spoke to both of us.

In the spring of 1941, 62 squadron moved north some 400 miles up the Malayan mainland to ‘Alor Star’ situated close to the border with Siam. A lasting memory is of the lovely island city of Penang. Knowing of my grim desire to fly, my commanding officer affectionately known to us as ‘Pongo’, allowed me to take over the controls of our Blenheim bomber. He recommended me for pilot training in Rhodesia, but it was not to be. On Monday 7 December 1941, without warning, we were attacked by 27 low flying Japanese planes causing great damage. With Japanese ground troops closing in we had to evacuate to Butterworth Aerodrome opposite Penang. It was from there that an outstanding act of bravery took place. 62 squadron were assembled to attack Singora air base. Pongo was the only one to get airborne, the rest were destroyed on the ground by Japanese raiders. Grimly undeterred, he and his crew members, Flt/Sgt Cyril Richie and navigator Flt/Sgt Paddy Calder, carried on and bombed and strafed their target. Returning they were savagely attacked by formations of Japanese zeros. By sheer skill, Pongo, skimming the tree tops, sought to escape, aided by accurate fire from Richie, his air gunner and accurate navigation by Paddy. They were almost there when Pongo was hit and badly wounded. Some inner thoughts lead him to make for the hospital near ‘Alor Star’ where his lovely young bridge of only a few months was a nursing sister. Assisted by Richie and Calder, they landed close to the hospital. His wife, Sally gave him 2 pints of her blood. Minutes before he collapsed and died of his wounds, he had held her hand and whispered ‘keep smiling Sal’. Brave Sal continued her nursing career at the next hospital. After the war ‘Pongo’ was awarded the VC collected by his wife Sally. Cyril Richie and Paddy Calder were each awarded a DFM.

Retreating down mainland Malaya and endeavouring to maintain what few remaining aircraft we still had, we were back in Singapore. Not having radar or any warning system our brave young hurricane fighter pilots were unable to reach enough ceiling height to successfully combat the daily attacks. Therefore, the aerodromes became untenable. 62 squadron moved overnight to Palembang in Sumatra. There we were attacked by paratroopers and forced once more by sea and air to Java. With no aircraft remaining, a further evacuation took place by way of an old Dutch ship, ‘The Kota Kede’. Crammed together like sardines and captained by a brave and skilful Dutch captain and without escort we travelled some 12 days before arriving once more back in Ceylon, 62 squadron regrouped and with fresh intake to replace those lost or taken prisoner went on to gain glory and distinction in Burma alongside the other units of ‘the forgotten army’.

Standing on the platform of the Stretton station, I pondered on my good fortune to survive whilst so many brave men and women had not. The only personal possession I returned with was a photograph of my teenage sweetheart Ursula!

The disastrous fall of Singapore has given rise to much speculation from various ‘armchair historians’ who have made statements via press and television criticising the leadership and courage of the personnel involved.

Without immediate help from American Forces Singapore was ‘a naked island’ bereft of capital naval ships, modern aircraft, tanks and quality army equipment there was never any hope of survival however many men were deployed. By God’s good grace I escaped capture and lived to take part in the final victory in Europe.

My one ambition now is to be given an opportunity to take on any of these armchair generals in a frank and open confrontation.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.