May 2021

11 Buckden Roundabout May 2021 The Cambridgeshire Regiment The Cambridgeshire Regiment and the Fall of Singapore 1942 The Cambridgeshire Regiment can trace a continual service history from 1860, being formed as the Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteer Corps and served under this name in the Sec- ond Boer War, (1899 - 1902). With the realization of the need to modernize, the British Army underwent the Hal- dane Reforms (1906 - 1912), and as part of this, in 1908 the Cambridgeshire Rifle Volunteers, were re - named the Cambridgeshire Regiment. They saw extended service in the WW1, winning 27 battle honours. After WW1, The Cambridgeshire Regiment were re- duced to just one battalion (1 st Cambs), however, in the lead up to WW2, a second battalion was formed (2 nd Cambs). In 1939, the establishment manpower for a British infantry battal- ion comprised 804 men and 24 officers. After training, both Cambridgeshire battalions were as- signed to 18 (East Anglia) Division and deployed to the de- fence of the England ’ s East Coast. After training, 18 Division was assigned to overseas service in Egypt. The two Cam- bridgeshire battalions left Gourock, Scotland on 31 October 40 bound for Nova Scotia. At Halifax, Nova Scotia, they had a short time ashore and were then loaded with most of the remaining 18 Division personnel onto several troop ships. With naval escorts, the convoy sailed for the Middle East on 10 November 41. However, with Japan entering the war in December 1941, both battalions, who were still at sea at this time, were reassigned to the Far East; 1st Cambs to In- dia and 2nd Cambs, to Singapore. Much has been written in respect of the Japanese victory in Singapore – probably the most humiliating defeat in the history of British armed forces. Hindsight offers the oppor- tunity to find a scapegoat, in this case, Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, the commander of British forces in Malaya and Singapore. At its height General Percival ’ s forces had approximately 90,000 front - line troops under his command; comprising Australian, British, Gurkha and mainly Indian soldiers. In addition, there was approximately further 30 - 40,000 locally recruited troops available to him. Japan attacked the American Pacific Fleet located at Pearl Harbour on 7 December 41. On 7 and 8 December 41 the Japanese forces attacked the Philippines and Hong Kong. They also conducted landings in Singora and Patani in Thai- land and at Kota Bharu in Malaya. The Japanese High Com- mand had decided that expanding their empire to the south would reap rewards in access to raw materials – Malaya was producing 38% of the world ’ s rubber and 58% of the world ’ s tin at this time. General Tomoyuki Yamashita was placed in command of the Japanese 25 th army, comprising 3 infantry divisions and the 3 rd Air Division, some 60,000 officers and men. Of his 3 infantry divisions, Yamashita had 2 divisions (5 Div and 18 Div) that were battle hardened from previous actions against the Chi- nese in Manchuria, and the Imperial Guards Division, yet to be tried in ac- tion. 2 nd Cambs landed at Singapore on 13 January 42 in heavy rain and in the middle of a Japanese air raid. They had essentially been at sea for 11 weeks. They had little time to adjust, unpack or re - train, but were sent by road to the town of Batu Pahat in Jahore, Malaya, some 70 miles north of Singa- pore, to reinforce 15 th Indian Brigade. Thus 2 nd Cambs were pushed into battle on 16 January 42 and on the next day, they suffered their first fatality with the death of 27 - year - old Pte George Elsagood, originally from Thorney, Cambs. It was not long before Batu Pahat was virtually surrounded by the Japanese who had advanced overland and by landings from the sea behind the British position, subsequently the Japanese attacked the town and gained control of nearly all approach roads. On 23 January 42, the small British garrison was ordered to withdraw from Batu Pahat. This was attempted that night, but as they were forming up for the march south, they re- ceived orders to retake the town and to hold it for two fur- ther days to enable other units to escape. Along with two companies of the 5 th Bn The Norfolk Regiment, 2 nd Cambs undertook a night attack and recaptured most of the old positions. On the night of 25 January 42, they attempted a withdrawal from Batu Pahat, but all exit roads and paths were now blocked by well - chosen Japanese positions. The Brigade Commander was forced to give the order to attempt to break out as best they could and make their way to Singa- pore, some 70 miles south. This did mean that all wounded would have to be left behind. Two doctors of 168 Field Am- bulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, decided to stay behind (Continued on page 12)