First published in the Communicator Magazine – Spring 1955
By Herbert W. Radwell
December 8, 1941, Japanese troops made initial landings on the mainland of Malaya; at Singora on the northeast coast, and further down the coast at Kota Bahru. On December 9, 1941, the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battle-cruiser HMS Repulse set sail up the east coast of Malaya in the hope of intercepting enemy transports sailing to Malaya. They were both spotted by a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft.

The following morning our W/T operator keeping watch on ‘Admirals Wave’ alarmed the W/T office as he called out ‘Enemy Report!’ it was HMS Repulse transmitting that both ships were being heavily attacked by bombers and torpedo carrying aircraft. Later, during the afternoon of December 10 we received news that both ships had been sunk.

I was at the transmitter-head to supervise the transmission of the perforated tape that carried this news to Whitehall. The time in Singapore is almost 7 hours ahead of GMT and this message arrived in London on the morning of December 10, 1941. Now after only 2 days of war, here we were with the strongest force of our Far East Fleet sunk. During the ensuring weeks thousands of British troops arrived in Singapore. At Kranji the reverse was the case. We were evacuating the W/T Station staff as and when ships were available. We were dispersed to Australia, Batavia and Ceylon until, for the second time during my commission, we were left with a skeleton staff.

All Japanese nationals on the mainland of Malaya and in Singapore were rounded up and put in Changi Jail, Singapore. Quite a large percentage of these were photographers. As the Japanese advanced through Malaya and captured our airfields the bombing of Singapore became heavier and heavier. Their bombers came over in formations of 81 at a time. In Singapore city the poor Chinese and the remainder of the inhabitants just huddled together in the gutters. There was no proper air raid shelters for them to take cover in.

A few days after the sinking of HM Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse, the Royal Marine survivors from these ships were drafted temporarily to Kranji W/T Station. A few were terribly nerve shattered and sent to hospital whilst the remainder were seconded to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for fighting up country. My ex-messmate, Section Sgt Major Southwell, was now in Hong Kong. He had been promoted 2nd Lt., Royal Signals in November 41. He was all cock-a-hoop when he put his one ‘pip’ and we all had a celebration in the mess. He said he was to combine business with pleasure by visiting his sister-section in Hong Kong. Every day he kept in touch with us on his HF Transceiver until the Japanese also invaded Hong Kong, then on Christmas Day 1941 all went quiet on our pre-arranged frequency. We later learned he had been killed on that day.

Each day brought the Japanese nearer and nearer to Singapore. As the Japanese bombers came over the island the Brewster Buffalo fighters made brave attempts to attack them but they were no match for the accompanying Japanese fighters and were shot down like nine-pins. The same fate befell the few Hurricane fighters which had recently arrived as reinforcements.

On February 9th, 1942 we received orders to evacuate the W/T Station, it was now a case of ‘Every man for himself’. Lt. Cdr Sandwith, Surg Lt. Corcoran, Cdr M.A.A. Lee, W.O. Tel. Larkman and myself stayed behind to ensure that everybody had transport to leave. The Malaya operators were told to return to their Kampongs and burn their uniforms on arrival. I held back a L/Tel nicknamed ‘Dash’. He was the owner of a speedy MG Midget car. Gathering a clean shirt and shorts we both set off for Singapore City. All our kit and personal possessions had to be left behind.

Kranji oil fuel depot was burning away with clouds of black smoke filling the sky behind us. We passed troops marching up to the front line which gave us a queer feeling of being ‘guilty of ratting’ yet we were carrying out our orders. On February 10, 1942 the last of Kranji and Suara W/T Stations staffs were driven into Keppel harbour to board HMS Scout. On our arrival at the quay we gave the car to an Aussie soldier who was waiting beside a hospital ship. At the time, the whole situation was fantastic! The Japanese bombers were overhead pounding the island unmercifully. The AA guns in the harbour were letting rip at them right alongside us.

Whilst waiting on the quay for orders to board, an RN van with CPO Tel Gardner in charge, drew up alongside HMS Scout. When we asked if he was coming with us he replied that he was to load Rear Admiral Spooner’s wines and spirits safely onboard and then return to Sime Road. After he had loaded the wines and spirits (minus one both of wine) we both shook hands and wished each other the best of British luck and then went our separate ways.