- Contributed by听
- cleverbamber
- People in story:听
- William Symonds Bolitho
- Location of story:听
- Singapore to Palembang
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A4099575
- Contributed on:听
- 21 May 2005
I joined the navy in January 1940 and sailed for Singapore in December 1940. My ship was sunk by an Italian Submarine in January 1941 and I finally arrived in Singapore in April 1941. I spent every third night on cypher duty and decoded the Hood sinking in mid 1941. In December 1941 the Repulse and Prince of Wales were sunk and I interviewed the survivors and arranged payments. RM survivors were paid then joined A & SH Malaya.
I left Singapore on Friday 13 February 1942 but was sunk and landed on Banka Island and attended by Tenko nurses. We were transported to Palemband in March 1942. We laboured to build the airfield until 1943 and were then taken to a jungle camp for the remainder of the war. I worked on admin duty, known for my memory act. I sorted letters to POWs. On my return to Singapore after release I had tea with Lord Mountbatten.
I was the only far east POW naval rating to be Mentioned in Dispatches.
I have a full account of these years with names, dates and places.
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