{"id":5013,"date":"2025-08-13T17:59:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T17:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5013"},"modified":"2025-08-23T13:54:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T13:54:10","slug":"into-battle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5013","title":{"rendered":"Into Battle"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5013\" class=\"elementor elementor-5013\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d62836c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d62836c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1e1cca7\" data-id=\"1e1cca7\" 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elementor-widget elementor-widget-wp-widget-maxmegamenu\" data-id=\"4c993a0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wp-widget-maxmegamenu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"mega-menu-wrap-primary-menu\" class=\"mega-menu-wrap\"><div class=\"mega-menu-toggle\"><div class=\"mega-toggle-blocks-left\"><\/div><div class=\"mega-toggle-blocks-center\"><\/div><div class=\"mega-toggle-blocks-right\"><div class='mega-toggle-block mega-menu-toggle-block mega-toggle-block-1' id='mega-toggle-block-1'><span aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" role=\"button\" class='mega-toggle-label'><span class='mega-toggle-label-closed'>MENU<\/span><span class='mega-toggle-label-open'>MENU<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><ul id=\"mega-menu-primary-menu\" class=\"mega-menu max-mega-menu mega-menu-horizontal mega-no-js\" data-event=\"hover_intent\" data-effect=\"fade_up\" data-effect-speed=\"200\" 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aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-415'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-417\" id=\"mega-menu-item-417\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=412\">OYT<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-419\" id=\"mega-menu-item-419\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=413\">QOOHA<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-645\" id=\"mega-menu-item-645\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=643\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-645\">Roll of Honour<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-645'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4226\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4226\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4187\">Alphabetical Roll of Honour<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4263\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4263\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4244\">Alphabetical  \u2018A \u2013 C\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4287\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4287\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4270\">Alphabetical  \u2018D \u2013 G\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4303\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4303\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4289\">Alphabetical  \u2018H \u2013 L\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4324\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4324\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4304\">Alphabetical  \u2018M \u2013 Q\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4342\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4342\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4325\">Alphabetical  \u2018R \u2013 S\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4366\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4366\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4343\">Alphabetical  \u2018T \u2013 Y\u2019<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-651\" id=\"mega-menu-item-651\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=648\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-651\">Unit History<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-651'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-692\" id=\"mega-menu-item-692\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=686\">Brief History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-691\" id=\"mega-menu-item-691\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=689\">Regimental Lineage<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-708\" id=\"mega-menu-item-708\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=693\">Battle Honours<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-707\" id=\"mega-menu-item-707\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=696\">Operations &#038; Honours<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-706\" id=\"mega-menu-item-706\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=699\">2nd Anglo-Boer War<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-705\" id=\"mega-menu-item-705\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=702\">First World War<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-655\" id=\"mega-menu-item-655\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=653\">Regimental Records<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-659\" id=\"mega-menu-item-659\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=657\">Page Turning Ceremony<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-663\" id=\"mega-menu-item-663\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=661\">Soldiers of Oxfordshire<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-667\" id=\"mega-menu-item-667\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=665\">142 (QOOH) Veh Sqn RLC<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-671\" id=\"mega-menu-item-671\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=669\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-671\">Churchill\u2019s Funeral<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-671'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1364\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1364\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1342\">Personal Memories<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1363\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1363\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1344\">MV Havengore<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1362\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1362\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1346\">Funeral Train<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1361\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1361\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1348\">St Martin\u2019s Church, Bladon<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-1608\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1608\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1607\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-1608\">Liberation of Belsen<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-1608'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1639\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1639\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1624\">Before Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1638\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1638\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1629\">Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1637\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1637\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1633\">After Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1863\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1863\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1861\">Bergen-Belsen Trial<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-676\" id=\"mega-menu-item-676\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=673\">Oxfordshire Blue Plaque<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-3745\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3745\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3621\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-3745\">WW2 &#038; 63 (Oxf Yeo) A\/Tank Regt RA TA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-3745'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3773\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3773\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3700\">1939 \u2013 1940<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3822\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3822\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3764\">1941 \u2013 1942<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3872\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3872\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3817\">1943<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3905\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3905\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3867\">1944<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3920\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3920\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3900\">1945<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3983\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3983\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3918\">1946<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-5087\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5087\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4936\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-5087\">251(OY) Bty &amp; 85th Anti-Tank Regt, RA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-5087'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5091\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5091\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5013\">Into Battle<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5095\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5095\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5063\">Captivity<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5119\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5119\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5099\">Japan\u2019s Surrender<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-680\" id=\"mega-menu-item-680\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=678\">Clippings<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-684\" id=\"mega-menu-item-684\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=682\">Useful Links<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3399\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3399\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3383\">Our Cookie Policy<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-privacy-policy mega-menu-item-3407\" 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class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ea46d9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1ea46d9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Into Battle<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d39119a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d39119a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-784b350\" data-id=\"784b350\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-508d4db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"508d4db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>This second page covers <\/strong><strong>the battles in Malaya and finally the attempted fight to save Singapore.\u00a0 Sadly, the Regiment (plus many of the troops arriving with the 85th) were untrained for the conflicts they now faced.\u00a0 They had no experience of jungle warfare, and were expected to step into the fray almost immediately upon disembarkation, following a 2-month sea voyage.\u00a0 They\u2019d had no time to acclimatize to their new environment.\u00a0\u00a0 Also, their vehicles and guns had the incorrect camouflage-paint for the location they now found themselves in.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0They were also up against an enemy who had been fighting since 1937, capturing Korea, much of China and led by Elite Guards regiments.\u00a0 They had come through the \u2018impenetrable jungle\u2019 as if they had been walking across a beach.\u00a0 They had travelled 600 miles in seventy days, a lot of it on bicycles..<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Singapore\u2019s latitude is 1.2 <\/strong><strong>\u00b0<\/strong><strong> north of the equator, and has a tropical rainforest climate with a wetter monsoon season from November to February&#8230;\u00a0 Whereas Britian has a latitude of around 50\u00b0 N, and doesn\u2019t experience the heat and humidity of Singapore.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>If you can read this, thank a teacher.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<em>If you are reading it in English, thank a veteran.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ac5556 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ac5556\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f28633e\" data-id=\"f28633e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a355b3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a355b3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>Into Battle<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p><strong>251 Battery<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0After a few days the Regiment was in receipt of some of its equipment.\u00a0 Parts of the Regiment, including 251 Bty, then saw action against the advancing Japanese forces.\u00a0 They were sent north, into the jungles of Malaya, as independent units to assist the infantry already fighting against the Japanese army.\u00a0 Accounts of these actions are sparce, but some commenting that they hadn\u2019t trained for \u2018jungle-warfare\u2019 and their 2pdr guns not suitable for the terrain they found themselves in, not to mention their colour of \u2018dessert sand\u2019 for the Basra operations planned for them previously.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0BSM Ben Pritchett of 251 Bty records: \u201c<em>A few days later we were hurriedly moved up into Malaya, and went \u2018into action\u2019 alongside the Ghurkhas.\u00a0 We got up as far as Potian Kechi<\/em>.\u201d [<em>Potian Kechi (Potian Kecil) was located on the west coast of Malaya, some 20km west of Johore Bahru<\/em>]<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A further account which backs up BSM Pritchett\u2019s report &#8211; A young subaltern (2\/Lt Jack Osbourn, F Tp, 251 Bty) had been ordered to take his Troop of 4 guns up the west coast road of Malaya and rendezvous with a Brigadier.\u00a0 They never arrived due to encountering the Japanese forces.\u00a0 They then began their withdraw back to Singapore, meeting on their way, a number of Ghurkhas and Lt-Col Toosey (<em>of \u201cBridge on the River Kwai\u201d fame<\/em>), who had lost contact with all but one troop of his own guns (135 Fd Regt).\u00a0 Together, these three officers [Lt-Col Toosey, Capt Wiley (leading the Gurkhas) and Osbourn] had worked out a plan to get them all back to Singapore. \u00a0Toosey had worked out the Japanese tactics [when they came upon Allied troops, they engaged them with small-arms fire; then they ordered up artillery fire, at which point their infantry broke off and did a \u2018Japanese hook\u2019, going around through the jungle and down the coast in small boats (of which they had plenty); they then came up behind to fire on the troops they had pinned down].\u00a0 Toosey told Osbourn; \u201c<em>We will fight them as a unit.\u00a0 Every time we\u2019re attacked by small-arms fire, Wiley (with his Gurkhas) will engage them, and you and I will start the retreat to meet them again head on when they start their hook<\/em>\u201d.\u00a0 In this way Toosey, Wiley and Osbourn fought their way back to the Causeway (which leads to the island of Singapore), encountering the enemy several times.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0At a time and in conditions in which the Allied troops were being outmanoeuvred and out fought, theirs was a well-ordered operation, but still a retreat.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This last account came from Maj John Turrill (Bty Cmdr), 251 Bty \u2013 \u201c<em>Within three days of arrival in Malaya elements of the Battery were in action on the west-coast road of Johore on the Malayan mainland, south of Batu Pahat \u2013 \u2018E\u2019 Troop (Lt J Hatchett).\u00a0 Only two Batteries of 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt were involved in this part of the campaign and after the other Battery <\/em>[possibly 270 Bty]<em> lost some guns, 251 Bty was the only AT defence on the west coast, for the last 40 miles of \u2018tip and run\u2019 action.\u00a0 Successive stands against the Japanese were at Banut (E Troop), Pontian Besar (F Troop \u2013 Lt HJL Osbourn) \u2013 20 milestone (D Troop \u2013 Lt G Carpenter) and the 15 milestone<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><p><em>\u201cIn this part of the campaign the Battery was supporting the Gurkha Brigade of 11<sup>th<\/sup> Indian Division.\u00a0 Apart from the AT Guns on the Causeway perimeter, the Battery was the last artillery unit off the mainland onto Singapore Island.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fec3c21 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fec3c21\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-90484ce\" data-id=\"90484ce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7470227 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7470227\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Map-of-actions-in-Malaya.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Map of actions in Malaya\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NTAzMCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL3d3dy5xb29oLm9yZy51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDhcL01hcC1vZi1hY3Rpb25zLWluLU1hbGF5YS5qcGcifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Map-of-actions-in-Malaya-1024x630.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5030\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Map-of-actions-in-Malaya-1024x630.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Map-of-actions-in-Malaya-350x215.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Map-of-actions-in-Malaya-768x472.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Map-of-actions-in-Malaya.jpg 1213w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Locations of battles in S Malaya in January 1942<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1fa917f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1fa917f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1f7777a\" data-id=\"1f7777a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e8b4a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e8b4a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>270 Battery<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0270 Bty also saw action on the mainland.\u00a0 Stuart Young, in his book \u201c<em>Life on the Death Railway<\/em>\u201d, alludes to the delays in unloading the AT guns and equipment:\u00a0 \u201c<em>The front line was nearing Johore when sufficient guns and equipment were at last brought ashore to equip one Troop of four guns and send them into action.\u00a0 They set up their positions and prepared for battle, only to find that they were completely surrounded and cut off.\u00a0 Nothing for it but to destroy the guns and transport and to take to the jungle to find a way round.\u00a0 Eventually, dirty, tired and ragged, they reach the coast, where they were picked up by a naval patrol boat and returned to Singapore\u201d.<\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0On 23<sup>rd<\/sup> January, Maj TW Moore of 270 Bty recorded in his diary:\u00a0 \u201c<em>H Troop (under comd 2\/Lt RM Nesfield) proceeded to act as an infantry platoon to the northern end of the Causeway\u201d,<\/em> suggesting that by this time the battery may still have been awaiting their AT guns and vehicles.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Moore\u2019s entry for 28<sup>th<\/sup> January, some 5 days later, details 270 Bty\u2019s first full deployment on mainland Malaya:\u00a0 \u201c<em>Battery took up positions in the area of Johore Bahru as under, forming part of \u2018X Force\u2019, under command of 54<sup>th<\/sup> Infantry Brigade:<\/em><\/p><p><em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 G Troop \u2013 area, South Coast Road, English School, and adjoining roads \u2013 In support of 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Gordons.<\/em><\/p><p><em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 H Troop \u2013 area, Johore Civil Service club, Waterworks \u2013 In support of 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Gordons and AIF.<\/em><\/p><p><em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I Troop \u2013 area, Waterworks, Johore\/Ayer Hitam Road \u2013 In support 20<sup>th<\/sup> AIF\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The tasking was short lived; three days later, on 31<sup>st<\/sup> January, with the rest of the British Forces, Moore\u2019s men were to move off the mainland and withdrew to Singapore.<\/p><p><strong>281 Battery<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Gunner Stan Rowling also notes in his memoirs, this first action of 281 Bty on mainland Malaya:\u00a0 \u201c<em>After a few days at Birdwood Camp we went over the Causeway to Johore Bahru.\u00a0 Our battery then went up the Mersing Road <\/em>[towards the east coast]<em>, from there we had to keep retreating until we ended up just outside Johore Bahru.\u00a0 Next, we took up a gun position in a rubber plantation.\u00a0 From this position we watched troops and transport retreat over the Causeway, and later learned our detail was \u2018Operation Rearguard\u2019 led by Lt Orton, K Tp, 281 Bty, 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt\u201d.<\/em><\/p><p><strong>45 Battery<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The role and movements during the last two weeks of January 1942 of 45 Bty are, at the time of writing, very little.\u00a0 On 19\/1\/42, one Troop had been allocated to the 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Indian Corps.\u00a0 Under Lt Yeoman, with Lt Sauvage, they found themselves on 20\/1\/42 at Yong Penn, Batu Pahat District, some 60-70 km NW of Pontian Kechil, where they had been attacked by Japanese planes but had engaged some enemy tanks before retreating.\u00a0 On 26\/1\/42, Sgt James Hawes of 45 Bty became the Regiments first casualty, being Killed-in-Action at Rengit, Johore, some 40 km NW of Pontian Kechil.\u00a0<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Another report found, which may have something to do with the above \u2013 \u2018As might be expected, Percival\u2019s personal interest seemed to have unblocked things; one Troop (of 4 guns) was sent to 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Indian Corps just a few hours later, at 6pm on 19<sup>th<\/sup> January, with the rest of the Battery (two more Troops) promised for the following day.\u2019\u00a0 However, at 2.30pm the following day, 20<sup>th<\/sup> January, the Adjutant of the 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt advised that this looked unlikely, adding the comment \u201c<em>They have unloaded nothing since mid-day.\u00a0 Brigade Comd is going to HQ 3 Indian Corps today and will explain the position\u201d.<\/em><\/p><p><strong>RHQ<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Stuart Young records a move south from the 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT\u2019s initial billet at Birdwood Camp, which was to the southeast of the Sembawang naval base, \u201c<em>to positions in the rubber, already occupied by the Manchester\u2019s\u201d<\/em> who were being held in reserve to defend Singapore.\u00a0 He then moved to Paya Lebar, 8km west of Changi and a similar distance northeast of Singapore town, probably still with the Manchester\u2019s.\u00a0 He notes that sufficient of the 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt\u2019s equipment had by then been received to send \u201c<em>several more troops up country<\/em>\u201d, suggesting this move probably happened in the last week of January, in the final days before the fall of Johore.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7db1d51 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7db1d51\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6949f48\" data-id=\"6949f48\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be08276 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be08276\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><u>Withdrawal from the mainland<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Local Orders were sent to all the British forces to withdraw to the island of Singapore, in the hope that battle-lines could be made to hold the Japanese onslaught.\u00a0 Many detached units of the 85th AT Regt fought at various locations on the island before withdrawing into the built-up areas of Singapore.\u00a0 The Japanese had air superiority, with continual bombing raids.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In anticipation of the fall of Johore to the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), a \u2018Withdrawal Plan\u2019, across the Causeway to Singapore, had been prepared and was distributed on 24<sup>th<\/sup> January.\u00a0 A bridgehead force, commanded by 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Indian Corps, was to protect the approaches to the Causeway whilst the Allied Forces would rapidly withdraw through this bridgehead.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The bridgehead force comprised of 122 Fd Regt RA, equipped with 25pdr guns, the 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Bn the Gordon Highlanders, a composite Australian unit (in battalion strength), a Machine Gun Company (assumed from the 1<sup>st<\/sup> Manchester\u2019s), and an \u2018Anti-Tank sub unit\u2019.\u00a0 The 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Indian Corps were to ensure construction of A\/Tank blocks on all the roads traversing the bridgehead position and to ensure A\/Tank defence in depth.\u00a0 There were four A\/Tank regiments at Singapore [80th, 85th, 125th, and 2\/4th (Australian)].\u00a0 But it is now believed that soldiers led by Lt Orton, K Tp, 281 Bty, 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt had been used at the bridgehead (<em>Operation Rearguard<\/em>).<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The decision to evacuate the mainland was finally made on 28<sup>th<\/sup> January 1942, at a conference organised by Gen Percival, with the timing set as the night of 30<sup>th<\/sup>\/31<sup>st<\/sup> January.\u00a0 The Causeway had been mined with naval depth charges which would be detonated as the final step in the evacuation.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Stan Rowling of 281 Bty, 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt records his role in the operation: \u201c<em>We received orders to move and went to the Sulton of Johore\u2019s Police Barracks, where the police force had disbanded and gone, leaving everything behind.\u00a0 We stayed there for the night, and could see all the oil tanks at the naval base were on fire.\u00a0 Next day we assembled at the causeway, then went across in lorries, without incident, led by Lt Orton (K Troop).\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The last of the Australian troops left the mainland around 7am, accompanied by the Gordon Highlanders and followed by the Argylls, led by two pipers.\u00a0 At 8am the explosives (<em>depth charges that had been buried on the Causeway<\/em>) were detonated resulting in a 70 ft gap in the Causeway, although at low-tide the gap had a depth of only 4 feet.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Gen Percival summarised the final withdrawal to Singapore Island, 27<sup>th <\/sup>&#8211; 31<sup>st<\/sup> January 1942, in his despatch:\u00a0 \u201c<em>The final withdrawal on the night 30-31 January was carried out without incident and little interference from the enemy\u2019s Air Force.\u00a0 At 08:15 hrs 31<sup>st<\/sup> January, all troops had been withdrawn and a gap of 70 feet was blown in the Causeway.\u00a0 The operation of withdrawing the whole force through the bottleneck of Johore Bahru and over the Causeway, with the enemy holding complete control in the air, had been an anxious one.\u00a0 In spite of severe losses which we had suffered on the mainland, the successful accomplishment of this operation was a matter for much satisfaction.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Destroying the Causeway was designed to prevent the Japanese from bringing its infantry, artillery and tanks onto Singapore island; in practice it only served to slightly delay the inevitable, with the surrender of Singapore coming just over two weeks later.\u00a0 The fall of Johore released food and provisions to the Japanese, who by now had a severely extended supply chain and were running low on supplies.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Records held by \u2018ELTZ\u2019 show only one death up to this time, that of W\/Sgt JR Hawes of 45 Bty &#8211; &#8220;Killed in Action, Johore Rengit, 26<sup>th<\/sup> January 1942&#8243;<\/p><p><strong><u>Defence of Singapore Island<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0On the north-eastern coast of the island, roughly midway between Kranji and Changi, lay Seletar Airfield, in the area defended by the British 55<sup>th<\/sup> Brigade, including the Cambridgeshire Regiment.\u00a0 Jon Cooper\u2019s book records that \u201c<em>elements of the 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt<\/em>\u201d were assigned to assist C Coy of the 1<sup>st<\/sup> Cambridgeshire\u2019s in the defence of the airfield during the period 31<sup>st<\/sup> January to 9<sup>th<\/sup> February 1941.\u00a0 These \u201c<em>elements<\/em>\u201d may have included 281 Bty, 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt.\u00a0 Stan Rowling of 281 Bty recalls this period: \u201c<em>Then we were sent with our gun to a position by a creek, at the back of Seletar Airfield.\u00a0 Infantry and Ghurkhas were here.\u00a0 We dug a gun-pit, installed our gun, and remained here till further orders.\u00a0 A fifth-columnist had climbed a coconut palm, tied a black flag at the top, to give our position away to the Japs.\u00a0 Another ploy was to place white washing on the ground in the shape of an arrow, which was easily seen from the air, it pointed towards our troops.\u00a0 We saw our troops wading and swimming across the creek, to escape the Japs, next thing, the infantry who had been there, had gone and only our gun crew remained\u201d.<\/em><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In documents retrieved from the National Archives state that the 85<sup>th<\/sup> were tasked, initially, to cover three main roads of Seletar, Sarangoon and Tampines leading to the NE of the island, leaving two Troops as a mobile Division Reserve.\u00a0 This was later changed and some guns were sited on the beaches overlooking the Johore Straits.\u00a0 This was the Northern Area sector of the Defence Plan.\u00a0 In these same documents it states that 45 Bty had been helping to defend Seletar.\u00a0 Eventually, all four Batteries of the 85<sup>th<\/sup> found themselves spread across this area of shoreline of the Johore Strait on the north eastern flank between Seletar airfield and the Serangoon river.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c540179 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c540179\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1c5ea0\" data-id=\"f1c5ea0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a1dc5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4a1dc5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Singapore_map_1942-source-Aus-War-Memorial-via-Wilimedia-Commons.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Singapore_map_1942 - source Aus War Memorial-via Wikimedia Commons\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NTE3MiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL3d3dy5xb29oLm9yZy51a1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNVwvMDhcL1NpbmdhcG9yZV9tYXBfMTk0Mi1zb3VyY2UtQXVzLVdhci1NZW1vcmlhbC12aWEtV2lsaW1lZGlhLUNvbW1vbnMuanBnIn0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Singapore_map_1942-source-Aus-War-Memorial-via-Wilimedia-Commons-1024x696.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5172\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Singapore_map_1942-source-Aus-War-Memorial-via-Wilimedia-Commons-1024x696.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Singapore_map_1942-source-Aus-War-Memorial-via-Wilimedia-Commons-350x238.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Singapore_map_1942-source-Aus-War-Memorial-via-Wilimedia-Commons-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Singapore_map_1942-source-Aus-War-Memorial-via-Wilimedia-Commons-1536x1045.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Singapore_map_1942-source-Aus-War-Memorial-via-Wilimedia-Commons.jpg 1588w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Singapore Map 1942 - source Australian War Memorial<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e926f08 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e926f08\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4c5054d\" data-id=\"4c5054d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f64d3fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f64d3fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0On 6\/2\/42, the 85<sup>th<\/sup> suffers its 2<sup>nd<\/sup> casualty when L\/Bdr Garside of 270 Bty was Killed-in-Action at Punggol Point, near Seletar by mortar shelling from across the Straits of Johore.\u00a0 ELTZ are in possession of differing reports of L\/Bdr Garside\u2019s death &#8211; one is of the above account; the other states that Garside received shrapnel wounds at Punggol Point and died in Changi Hospital on the same day.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In his account of actions at Singapore, Maj J Turrill (251 Bty BC) relates the following \u2013 \u201c<em>In the final campaign for Singapore, which began at the end of the first week in February 1942, the Battery was split between brigades of the 18<sup>th<\/sup> Division which had just reached the island and various composite forces formed for special tasks.\u00a0 In an untidy and apparently uncoordinated defence of the island the simplest way of describing the Bty\u2019s efforts is to say that even though it was largely deployed across the axis of the main Japanese thrust at Singapore City, no Japanese tank got through in any sector which was our responsibility.\u00a0 At one critical time the most forward troops in the line of the Japanese attack down the Bukit Timah Road were E Troop.\u00a0 In confused fighting on Feb 14<sup>th<\/sup> just north of the Bukit Timah Road, some guns of D Troop were involved in hand-to-hand fighting with Japanese infantry when our supporting infantry company were forced to withdraw.\u00a0 One gun (Sgt Harry Salter, D Tp) engaged the enemy in a house <\/em>[in Mt Pleasant Rd]<em> at point blank and the situation was restored.\u00a0 Sgt Salter was awarded an immediate DCM.\u00a0 Two other members of the Battery were recommended for awards as a result of this action <\/em>[L\/Bdr Quigley &amp; Gnr Massey].\u201d<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Sgt Salter\u2019s recommendation for his DCM quotes \u201c<em>At dawn of Sunday 15<sup>th<\/sup> Feb 42, D Tp, 251 Bty were taking up position in support of 4 Suffolks.\u00a0 Whilst leading his gun into position he was suddenly attacked by a party of enemy on his left. On his own initiative he moved his gun into a better position to engage the enemy infantry, this was under heavy m\/gun fire and sniping from trees close by.\u00a0 He ordered the remainder of his detachment to take up firing positions and engage with small-arms fire.\u00a0 As the fight continued it was apparent that a nearby house held enemy m\/guns and snipers.\u00a0 On his own initiative he returned to his gun and without assistance loaded and fired six rounds into the house which caused the enemy to cease firing temporarily.\u00a0 The gun was now engaged by enemy mortars and after one of his men had been wounded, he temporarily removed it.\u00a0 Later at 12.00 the 4 Suffolks identified another house in Mt Pleasant Rd which was occupied by the Japanese, causing considerable casualties amongst the infantry and unable to drive them out.\u00a0 Sgt Salter was ordered to engage this house.\u00a0 Showing coolness and disregard of his own safety, wheeled his gun to within 40 yds of the house under point blank gun-fire from it.\u00a0 Under heavy m\/gun fire he continued to fire at the house until the m\/guns were silenced and the house burst into flames, causing the enemy to run out the back where they were met and shot by the 4 Suffolks.\u00a0 The situation was cleared and the road re-opened for movement of troops.\u00a0 On the previous day Sgt Salter\u2019s gun had destroyed an enemy tank in the face of heavy enemy fire on the Bukit Timah Rd.\u201d<\/em><\/p><p><strong><u>Creation of \u2018Tomforce\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0With the risk of the Japanese breaking through the Kranji-Jurong line, Gen Percival clearly needed to strengthen the defences around Singapore City, and at Gen Wavell&#8217;s initiative, had asked Sir Lewis Heath, commander of the 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Indian Corps (<em>five\u00a0Brigades, of which three were by this stage UK British<\/em>), to form a scratch Brigade under the command of Lionel Thomas of the Northumberland Fusiliers, hence known as &#8220;Tomforce&#8221;.\u00a0 Smith records that Tomforce comprised of the 4<sup>th<\/sup> Norfolk\u2019s, from 54<sup>th<\/sup> Brigade; the 1<sup>st<\/sup> and 5<sup>th<\/sup> Sherwood Foresters, from 55<sup>th<\/sup> Brigade; the 18<sup>th<\/sup> Reconnaissance Corps; and a Battery from the 85<sup>th<\/sup> Anti-Tank.\u00a0 This would appear to have been a composite battery made up of H Tp, 270 Bty; C Tp, 45 Bty; and D Tp, 251 Bty.\u00a0 Maj Moore, commander of 270 Bty, records that on 9<sup>th<\/sup> February: &#8220;<em>H Troop left the Battery to join a &#8216;Composite Battery&#8217;, area of Bukit Timah road; this Battery formed part of the force known as &#8216;Tomforce&#8217;.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It seems that with the Japanese assault on Bukit Timah, and the main thrust coming down through the middle of the island a great many of the Allied forces were being dragged back to oppose this thrust, this began soon after sundown on 10<sup>th<\/sup> February.\u00a0 Maj Moore records the role of G and I Troops (parts of his 270 Bty) of the 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt on this day as they were deployed to defend the city: &#8220;<em>270 Bty (less H Troop) evacuated present location, taking up positions on &#8216;Singapore Perimeter&#8217;, under command of 55<sup>th<\/sup> Inf Brigade.\u00a0 G Tp \u2013 are of Mount Pleasant Rd \u2013 Thomson Rd;\u00a0 I Tp \u2013 area of Police Station, Singapore &#8211; \u00bd mile along Thomson Rd;\u00a0 BHQ&#8217;s \u2013 area of Mandalay Rd, Singapore.<\/em>&#8221;\u00a0 Moore also includes a handwritten note that by this time \u201c<em>the Battery had under command two Troops from other Batteries, C Tp (from 45 Bty) and D Tp (from 251 Bty)<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Elements of the 85<sup>th<\/sup> had found themselves all over the island of Singapore, at Thomson Village, Bukit Timah, Fort Canning to mention a few, but drawing ever closer to the built-up areas of Singapore City<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The number of casualties begin to climb also, and adding to the previous two deaths, the following men were either killed-in-Action, Died of wounds or Missing believed killed :-<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 7\/2\/42 &#8211; A\/L\/Sgt R Little (45 Bty) &#8211; D of wounds, at Tanglin Hospital, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 11\/2\/42 &#8211; A\/L\/Bdr D Chattaway (45 Bty) &#8211; KIA, at Singapore Race Course, Bukit Timah<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 12\/2\/42 &#8211; A\/L\/Sgt JT Richardson (45 Bty) &#8211; KIA, at Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr R Bird (RHQ) &#8211; D of wounds, at Mandalay Road, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr RL Busby (251 Bty) &#8211; KIA, at Thompson Road, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr BL Challis (RHQ) &#8211; KIA, by shellfire, Mandalay Road, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr C Chapman (270 Bty) &#8211; KIA, at Thompson Road, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; A\/Sgt EJ Claydon (251 Bty) &#8211; KIA, by air raid bomb, Fort Canning, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; W\/Sgt G Cross (251 Bty) &#8211; KIA, by air raid bomb, Fort Canning, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; A\/Bdr J Gee (251 Bty) &#8211; KIA, by air raid bomb, Fort Canning, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr JG Jones (270 Bty) &#8211; KIA, at Thompson Road, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr SW Taylor (251 Bty) &#8211; D of wounds, at Fort Canning, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; A\/Sgt RR Trace (45 Bty) &#8211; Missing, believe killed, at McRitchie Reservoir<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr FG Westwood (270 Bty) &#8211; KIA, at Thomson Road, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr AE Wilson (270 Bty) &#8211; Missing, believed Killed in Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 15\/2\/42 &#8211; Gnr GA Worton (270 Bty) &#8211; KIA, at Thompson Road, Singapore<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It is known that two officers (Capt RCB Greville &amp; Lt JJ Hatchett) and two ORs (Gnr\u2019s WJ Pitches &amp; FR Scates) all of 251 Bty had tried to make an attempt of escape following the decision of capitulation.\u00a0 Sadly, they were never heard of again so it\u2019s assumed that they died whilst attempting escape but not known where.\u00a0 What is known is that all four were last seen on Halifax Road, Singapore at 16.00hrs, 15\/2\/42.\u00a0 \u00a0Capt Greville and Lt Hatchett had acquired a lorry and found extra fuel, and planned to break out along the Causeway and try to get to Burma.\u00a0 It is also known that they spoke with others to see if they were interested in joining them.\u00a0 What is not known &#8211; \u00a0did they try escaping together ?<\/p><p><strong><u>RASC Section att to 85<sup>th<\/sup><\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There is not a lot of information available regarding the activities of the RASC Section during the time of the attempts to hold back the advancing Japanese forces.\u00a0 We know of a few deaths during this time of the defence of Singapore Island (1st-15<sup>th<\/sup> Feb 1942), but that doesn\u2019t mean that the RASC had not played their part, just that they had been luckier.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The first recorded deaths came on 7\/2\/42 when two were killed (Pte W Haynes &amp; Pte JH Swinglehurst) and another wounded during a bombing raid on Changi.\u00a0 Next, were two more who had been reported missing (<em>and never found<\/em>) on 13\/2\/42 (Dvr JB Mercer &amp; Dvr JH Wright), they had last been seen driving a lorry loaded with ammunition in Beach Rd, Singapore.\u00a0 And then on 14\/2\/42, a fifth RASC man (Dvr LB Manning) is believed to have died of wounds at Tanglin Hospital, Singapore.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It is believed that this RASC Section had found a \u2018home\u2019 at Tyersall Park, Singapore; as on 14<sup>th<\/sup> February a roll-call was called accounting for a lot of the men of this Section.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sadly, there were more deaths to come, in the years following, during captivity.<\/p><p><strong><u>The fall of Singapore<\/u><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0With water supplies hit, vehicle fuel and artillery ammunition almost non-existent, the decision was made to surrender, in an attempt to protect the civilians in the city of Singapore.\u00a0 The peacetime population had been estimated at around 770,000, but when registration was carried out (in preparation for food rationing), the figure was found to be around 900,000.\u00a0 In addition, the island now also housed close to 100,000 British, Australian and Indian troops.\u00a0 Singapore was now reliant on the supplies it had on the island \u2013 not just in terms of food, but also water.\u00a0 Three large storage reservoirs in the middle of the island were fed by a pipeline from Johore, running across the Causeway.\u00a0 The latter of course was no longer available, and thus the water supply was a critical weakness.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0During this period of around 30 days before their surrender, the 85<sup>th<\/sup> AT Regt lost nineteen men who were killed in action or died of wounds (<em>four from 45 Bty; five from 251 Bty; five from 270 Bty; two from RHQ: and three from the RASC Section<\/em>) with eight more reported missing in action, or believed to have been killed whilst attempting to escape, following the decision to surrender (<em>one from 45 Bty; four from 251 Bty; one from 270 Bty; and two from the RASC Section<\/em>).\u00a0 This made a total of lives lost before coming POWs of 27 officers and men.<\/p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0At dusk on 15\/2\/1942 Singapore falls, with hostilities ceased as of 20.30 hrs, and the Regiment are taken into Japanese captivity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4641192 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4641192\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9088487\" data-id=\"9088487\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcb7ac5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fcb7ac5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>This ends the period of the 85th AT Regt\u2019s (along with many other Allied units) attempt to hold the Japanese advancement.\u00a0 Sadly, through no fault of their own, they failed with the inevitable ending.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>When you go home, tell them of us and say,\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0For your tomorrow, we gave our today.<\/strong><\/span><br \/><em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0John Maxwell Edmonds<\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #008080;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Now go to the next page [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5063\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Captivity<\/em><\/a>] to read of the Regiment\u2019s treatment at the hands of their captors.\u00a0 There are mentions of further escape attempts, acts of bravery, of resistance and sabotage.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1eac3192 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default 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href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4244\">Alphabetical  \u2018A \u2013 C\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4287\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4287\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4270\">Alphabetical  \u2018D \u2013 G\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4303\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4303\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4289\">Alphabetical  \u2018H \u2013 L\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4324\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4324\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4304\">Alphabetical  \u2018M \u2013 Q\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4342\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4342\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4325\">Alphabetical  \u2018R \u2013 S\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-4366\" id=\"mega-menu-item-4366\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4343\">Alphabetical  \u2018T \u2013 Y\u2019<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-651\" id=\"mega-menu-item-651\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=648\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-651\">Unit History<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-651'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-692\" id=\"mega-menu-item-692\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=686\">Brief History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-691\" id=\"mega-menu-item-691\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=689\">Regimental Lineage<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-708\" id=\"mega-menu-item-708\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=693\">Battle Honours<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-707\" id=\"mega-menu-item-707\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=696\">Operations &#038; Honours<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-706\" id=\"mega-menu-item-706\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=699\">2nd Anglo-Boer War<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-705\" id=\"mega-menu-item-705\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=702\">First World War<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-655\" id=\"mega-menu-item-655\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=653\">Regimental Records<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-659\" id=\"mega-menu-item-659\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=657\">Page Turning Ceremony<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-663\" id=\"mega-menu-item-663\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=661\">Soldiers of Oxfordshire<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-667\" id=\"mega-menu-item-667\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=665\">142 (QOOH) Veh Sqn RLC<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-671\" id=\"mega-menu-item-671\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=669\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-671\">Churchill\u2019s Funeral<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-671'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1364\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1364\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1342\">Personal Memories<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1363\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1363\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1344\">MV Havengore<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1362\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1362\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1346\">Funeral Train<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1361\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1361\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1348\">St Martin\u2019s Church, Bladon<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-1608\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1608\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1607\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-1608\">Liberation of Belsen<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-1608'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1639\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1639\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1624\">Before Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1638\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1638\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1629\">Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1637\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1637\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1633\">After Liberation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-1863\" id=\"mega-menu-item-1863\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=1861\">Bergen-Belsen Trial<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-676\" id=\"mega-menu-item-676\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=673\">Oxfordshire Blue Plaque<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-3745\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3745\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3621\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-3745\">WW2 &#038; 63 (Oxf Yeo) A\/Tank Regt RA TA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-3745'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3773\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3773\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3700\">1939 \u2013 1940<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3822\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3822\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3764\">1941 \u2013 1942<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3872\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3872\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3817\">1943<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3905\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3905\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3867\">1944<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3920\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3920\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3900\">1945<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-3983\" id=\"mega-menu-item-3983\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=3918\">1946<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-has-children mega-align-bottom-left mega-menu-flyout mega-menu-item-5087\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5087\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=4936\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"mega-sub-menu-5087\">251(OY) Bty &amp; 85th Anti-Tank Regt, RA<span class=\"mega-indicator\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a>\n<ul class=\"mega-sub-menu\" id='mega-sub-menu-5087'>\n<li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5091\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5091\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5013\">Into Battle<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5095\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5095\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5063\">Captivity<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-5119\" id=\"mega-menu-item-5119\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5099\">Japan\u2019s Surrender<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-680\" id=\"mega-menu-item-680\"><a class=\"mega-menu-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=678\">Clippings<\/a><\/li><li class=\"mega-menu-item mega-menu-item-type-post_type mega-menu-item-object-page mega-menu-item-684\" 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data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28df648b\" data-id=\"28df648b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a2173ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a2173ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>\u00a9 qooh.org.uk\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2019-2024\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 All rights reserved<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Designed &amp; written by Mick Luxford\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 with help from LCN Hosting and WordPress.org<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f17bf9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f17bf9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-61cd83c\" data-id=\"61cd83c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Into Battle \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This second page covers the battles in Malaya and finally the attempted fight to save Singapore.\u00a0 Sadly, the Regiment (plus many of the troops arriving with the 85th) were untrained for the conflicts they now faced.\u00a0 They had no experience of jungle warfare, and were expected to step into the fray&hellip;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/?page_id=5013\" title=\"Continue reading &lsquo;Into Battle&rsquo;\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":4936,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","iawp_total_views":79,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5013","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5013"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5013\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qooh.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}