The Far East

The Far East 1942 and 1943 - 1945

From the Middle East to the Far East
With the sudden entry of Japan into the war, January 1942 saw 211 Squadron off to the Far East. The air party, including at least 6 aircrew survivors of the Squadron’s Greek campaign, flew their Blenheim IVs on the long air-route across Iraq, India and Burma to Sumatra. By this stage of the war, a very high proportion of the aircrew were RAAF personnel. Of about 40 possible members, 32 have been identified with some confidence, 16 of whom were subsequently lost in action in the Squadron in Sumatra and Java. No surviving RAAF members are in contact with me, nor (so far as I am aware) with 211 Squadron Survivors Association.

Q-Queenie en route (Bill Baird)
One of 211 Squadron’s Mark IV Blenheims on the way to the Far East in January 1942, still in desert paint, the Squadron 2-letter UQ code not in use. Serial no not legible in my print.

From various primary and secondary sources, 84 Sqdn and 211 Sqdn each left the Middle East with 24 aircraft. Dispatched at daily intervals as two flights of three aircraft, starting respectively on 14 January (84 Squadron) and 26 January (211 Squadron), there were thus 48 aircraft en route to the Far East from mid to late January 1942. As usual, individual accounts and records differ as to the actual dates.

Such an apparently stately progress served several purposes: security, utility, safety for stragglers, and reduced pressure on ground resources. On the other hand, compared with their history of rapid deployment, this move took much longer to arrange and execute - albeit over a combined stage length of some 6000 miles instead of the 600 odd miles usual to their Mediterranean experience. At the same time it would be fair to say that the level of urgency in the Far East was not fully appreciated.

It is clear from John Keeping’s experience that the Squadron was at “tidy days” for much of the first three weeks of January, with new arrivals gathering kit and aircraft still being ferried to and from the Desert and Abu Sueir. Compared with the establishments current at the time of the Greek campaign, the 48 aircraft of the two Squadrons represented a potentially large force, the equivalent of 4 late 1940 units. Accordingly, at this stage of the war, each Squadron commanding officer had been advanced to Wing Commander rank, and Flight commanders to Squadron leader.

The Far East Campaign: 1942
Blenheim Is of No. 62 (Bomber) and No. 34 (Bomber) Squadron and Blenheim IFs of No 27 (Fighter) Squadron were based in Malaya (Tengah, Butterworth, Tallang etc) until mid-late Jan 1942. The Sqdns had fallen back to Sumatra (PI, PII) by late Jan 42, meeting up there with No. 84 (Bomber) Sqdn and No. 211 (Bomber) Sqdn (both with Blenheim IVs), just arriving from the Middle East. With the Japanese close at hand and advancing rapidly, the Sqdns withdrew to Java and were at Kalidjati mid-late Feb 42 in at least some sort of operational state. Aircraft and aircrew losses apparently saw them operating as a single unit by the last week of February before finally withdrawing to Tjilatjap and variously to evacuation, escape or capture around 2, 3 March.

211 Squadron in Sumatra and Java
211 Squadron had left for the Far East about the middle of January. With reportedly either 18 or 24 Mark IV Blenheims en route Far East, both servicing and briefing difficulties were encountered. Finding Palembang in Sumatra either without maps or with incorrect briefing was quite a feat, 84 Squadron encountering similar difficulties. Meanwhile, 211 Squadron groundcrew and others were en route aboard HMT Yoma, arriving at Oosthaven on 14 February. They were unable to join up with their Squadron until falling captive in Java.

Now with 16 aircraft on hand, the Squadron commenced operations at Palembang on 4 (2 Feb, Shores) February with a reconnaissance flight. A sortie on 6 February saw the loss of two Australian crews. The Kluang raid on 10 February saw the loss of the experienced Dundas and his RAAF crew. By 11 February, 211 was reported to have had 6 Blenheims available at P2. As observed elsewhere, the attempted night raid on 11/12 Feb was a disaster, with 2 aircraft of 211 Sqdn and one of 84 Sqdn crashing on take off thanks to poor flare path layout. Clutterbuck and his Observer, Newstead died. 13 February saw further losses of 2 aircraft and 4 aircrew, all RAAF. The next 2 days saw intense air activity against the Japanese landing force, around Banka Is and the Moesi River. Details of these events are summarised in RAAF Personnel, and further discussed by Bill Baird and in the narratives of JB Keeping and NH Oddie).

By 16 February what remained of the air party and its aircraft had withdrawn to Kalidjati in Java, to continue operations against the Japanese in Sumatra. The few remaining serviceable aircraft of 211 Squadron, 84 Squadron, 34 Squadron and 27 Squadron then operated from Kalidjati under W Cdr Bateson and W Cdr Jeudwine. On 21 February, a raid at Flight strength saw the loss of another 211 aircraft, with an all RAAF crew piloted by Sgt Burrage. This may well have been the last operation in which 211 Squadron took part.

By 26 February, 211 Squadron was down to 4 aircraft (which then went to 84 Squadron with three) and the withdrawal of personnel was begun. Of 211 Squadron’s air and ground crew who reached Tjilatjap, 64 aircrew and groundcrew were lucky to be among the last RAF personnel evacuated from Java to Australia on 2 March 1942, aboard 205 Squadron's tender for its Catalinas, RAFA Tung Song. While other 211s had also been evacuated thanks to the Navy’s efforts to clear Batavia and Tjilatjap, many others fell captive.

The RAF in Sumatra and Java
By mid February 1942 there were about 12,000 RAF personnel on Java, about 10,000 of whom arrived between 12 and 18 February in great disorder. Despite the lack of time to organise in a rapidly deteriorating situation, they were able to form some sort of order and to mount operations albeit at considerable cost.

In the period immediately before surrender to the Japanese, about 7,000 RAF personnel were evacuated from Sumatra and Java (although not all made it to safety), leaving 5,100 taken prisoner in Java, many of them unarmed and many skilled tradesmen. Of the 5,102 RAF PoWs in Japanese captivity, 1,714 died: that is, about 33% or one in every three. To put this in perspective, a simple comparison will suffice. In the European theatre, of 9,879 RAF PoWs captive in Germany, 152 died: about 1.5% (about one in every 65).

211 losses 1942
Sent too late for their intended reinforcement of FE Cmd in Singapore and Malaya, they suffered heavy losses in Sumatra and Java, losing eight aircraft (with 19 aircrew KIA, 16 of whom were RAAF personnel) in two months, and many more aircraft written off. Of the mainly groundcrew made PoW, at least 67 died before the war ended.

The Far East Campaign 1943-1945: the RAF in Burma
By August 1943, 211 Squadron had reformed in India to work up for operations in the Burma campaign. Probert’s Forgotten Air Force covers India and the Burma theatre in the broad and there is already an excellent Beaufighter website (see Sites and Links), with a fair summary of the Squadron’s Burma operations but no personal narratives.

From its origins, this site has primarily aimed to present the narrative of 211’s part in the Middle East campaign, for reasons which need no explanation. However, about half the members of today’s 211 Squadron Survivors Association had their own struggle in Burma, a campaign no less deserving of recognition. Several of those men have now kindly put forward some of their story here. In his Five years and a bit! George Manderson is writing about 211s part in these events, and has provided an extract here. The late Desmond Marsh-Collis’ narrative provides an equally telling view. The photos from Bill Dickinson, Sam Spicer, Steve Woodhouse and Alfred Wythe DFM show many men in the bush hat characteristic of Australian servicemen then and now. Airmen of RAF and RAAF origin alike had held the solar topee in no great regard: now they all took to the readily available bush hat with alacrity. Still, the Canadian and Australian presence in the Squadron apparently continued, although considerable further work is required to establish the details.

211 Losses 1943-1945
The Squadron’s losses in Burma were grievous. Between November 1943 and July 1945, 76 aircrew were lost, including a further 3 RAAF personnel: Goddard and Fuller and McNamara. 13 of those lost were to fatal flying accidents. While 13 of those who fell captive in action survived the horrors of Rangoon Gaol, sadly, others died there.

Far East PoW Losses
The 211 Squadron nominal roll which follows was kindly extracted by Anthea Beckett from her PoW records database. There are 68 personnel of the Squadron on this roll, of whom just one survived the war. More 211 Squadron personnel died in captivity to the Imperial Japanese Forces than were killed in action from June 1940 to March 1942.

Name and service no

 

Died

Place

Anholm, Ronald, 130285

RAFVR

1944/09/18

At sea: Junyo Maru

Bates, Edgar Cyril Shapley, 618731

RAF

1945/06/07

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Beveridge, James*, 1361272

RAFVR

1944/09/18

At sea: Junyo Maru

Blazley, Thomas William*, 1330503

RAFVR

1945/06/04

Borneo: Sandakan-Ranau

Blyth, J W*, 1366139

RAFVR

1945/06/16

Borneo: Sandakan,Sabah

Boutcher, D G*, 565512

RAF

1945/04/15

Borneo: Ranau, Sabah

Bryant, Ernest William*, 1185504

RAFVR

1945/06/29

Java/Sumatra

Burton, G H*, 814176

RAF (Aux AF)

1943/11/29

At sea: Suez Maru

Carroll, Robert*, 1098479

RAFVR

1943/11/29

At sea: Suez Maru

Clark, A Charles*, 923452

RAFVR

1945/02/22

Borneo, Sandakan-Ranau

Cole, P W*, 940191

RAFVR

1945/06/09

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Cosham, Kenneth Frank*, 1293357

RAFVR

1945/03/08

Borneo: Paginatan

Croston, Thomas*, 530013

RAF

1943/11/29

At sea: Suez Maru

Dalby, James Edward*, 917767

RAFVR

1944/09/18

At sea: Junyo Maru

Davey, R T*, 920886

RAFVR

1945/04/21

Borneo: Brunei

Davey, William*, 630718

RAF

1944/09/16

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Davidson, Francis*, 945728

RAFVR

1945/05/20

Java/Sumatra

Davies, T B*, 1232082

RAFVR

1945/05/19

Borneo: Ranau, Sabah

Davis, Christopher*, 1317077

RAFVR

1945/01/05

Borneo: Labuan, Sabah

Donaldson, John*, 954800

RAFVR

1943/11/29

At sea: Suez Maru

Feltham, M R*, 1211363

RAF

1945/07/02

Borneo: Ranau, Sabah

Fox, I E*, 1260307

RAFVR

1942/03/21

Borneo: Jesselton

Fisher, T W S*, 993389

RAFVR

1945/03/23

Borneo: Sandakan

Gates, A I*, 1099099

RAFVR

1945/03/11

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Gavigan, E P*, 774090

RAFVR

1945/01/14

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Gent, William Charles*, 631481

RAF

1942/12/29

Java/Sumatra

Gollop, W D*, 1317118

RAFVR

1945/06/30

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Groombridge, J G*, 913137

RAFVR

1943/11/29

At sea: Suez Maru

Harris, C W*, 1127239

RAFVR

1945/04/30

Borneo: Sandaan, Sabah

Hawkins, William Reginald*, 12111134

RAFVR

1944/09/18

At sea: Junyo Maru

Hickson, Frank*, 1495268

RAFVR

1944/12/01

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Hodges, Thomas*, 1087945

RAFVR

1945/02/05

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Hodgkinson, Frank*, 1039619

RAFVR

1944/10/16

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Holben, R J*, 1135446

RAFVR

1945/04/05

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Holman, R F*, 908080

RAFVR

1945/05/13

Borneo: Ranau

Humphries, W G*, 1059747

RAFVR

1945/05/24

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Jacobs, Alec*, 1237236

RAFVR

1945/06/01

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Jefferies, J P*, 1055869

RAFVR

1945/02/21

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Johnston, Eric Stanley

RAF

 

Survived

Kay, Raymond*, 1073264

RAFVR

1944/12/15

Borneo: Brunei

Laywood, Roy Lindsay*, 853001

RAF (Aux AF)

1942/05/12

Java/Sumatra

Lee, W A*, 622386

RAF

1943/11/29

At sea: Suez Maru

Lewis, Harold Victor*, 406146

RAAF

1944/06/24

Japanese coast

Marsh, A E*, 641845

RAF

1945/06/05

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Maylam, H E*, 1257180

RAFVR

1945/05/10

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Mendy, H J*, 1309567

RAFVR

1942/12/28

Borneo: Jesselton

Middleton, Norman*, 1326199

RAFVR

1945/03/30

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Millar, P R*, 539095

RAF

1945/07/21

Borneo: Ranau, Sabah

Morgan, R H*, 646961

RAF

1943/03/18

Borneo: Jesselton

Morris, John Aloysius*, 977552

RAFVR

1944/09/18

At sea: Junyo Maru

Mullaney, James*, 1105761

RAFVR

1945/03/11

Borneo: Brunei

Myers, Joseph Graham*, 1171890

RAFVF

1943/01/02

Borneo: Jesselton

Newell, Benjamin Butler*, 902459

RAFVR

1945/01/24

Java/Sumatra

Newman, F K*, 1294019

RAFVR

1945/03/07

Borneo: Paginatan, Sabah

Parker, R C*, 1198371

RAFVR

1945/03/14

Borneo: Paginatan, Sabah

Ratcliffe, W W*, 1058262

RAFVR

1945/03/23

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah?

Read, L W*, 1296836

RAFVR

1945/07/02

Borneo: Labuan, Sabah

Robson, J R*, 1106425

RAFVR

1945/07/13

Bonroe: Sandakan, Sabah

Sanderson, Reginald*, 621609

RAF

1945/08/18

Java/Sumatra

Seal, C A*, 1120396

RAFVR

1945/03/02

Borneo: Paginatan, Sabah

Simms, Eric*, 1195232

RAFVR

1945/05/29

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Simpson, G A*, 944334

RAFVR

1945/03/27

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Spencer, F I*, 619442

RAF

1945/02/14

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah

Taylor, A L*, 940694

RAFVR

1945/03/28

Borneo: Sandakan, Sabah?

Tout, R E G*, 647676

RAF

1944/12/11

Borneo: Labuan, Sabah

Warrender, John Cowan*, 624160

RAF

1945/04/30

Java/Sumatra

Weller, A L*, 940195

RAFVR

1945/02/15

Borneo: Labuan, Sabah

White, Thomas Dillon*, 1287897

RAFVR

1944/09/18

At sea: Junyo Maru

Lest we forget

Anthea has gathered information from a range of sources including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. While the level of completeness of her list continues to grow, it reflects the fact that her principal sources are of those who died in captivity. There are few survivors listed at present. Anthea welcomes any additional information about PoWs, of those who survived as well as those who did not. Her site:
The Java Index: British & Commonwealth Prisoners of War Held in Java 1942-1945
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/abeckett/pow/

Toujours à propos
Despite 211’s appalling losses, again and again they got their kit together, formed up, got to where they were supposed to go, and set out once more to do what they were expected to do, at Dabaa, Menidi, Paramythia, Aquir, Palembang, Kalidjati, Tjilatjap, Bhatpara and Ranchi.

Characteristically, the "boys" are off-hand about it all to this day, simply calling the worst moments "a very shaky do" or "pretty hairy stuff". They will tell you that they were (and are) just ordinary fellows. And so they are. But the things they did, now 60 years ago, were far from ordinary and well they know it. War is an evil thing, in which the finest things in men and women are wasted. We should give thanks, that the 211s did what they were asked to do and that some of them got away with it.

Today: 211 Squadron Survivors Assn
At Christmas 2001, the Association lists 30 current members of the period 1937 to 1942 with a further 33 surviving from the later, Burma adventure.
211 Squadron Survivors Assn
 c/o Ron McKnight
152 Buxton Rd
Hazel Grove
Stockport SK7 6AN United Kingdom
Email:
ronnospam@mcknight23.freeserve.co.uk

 

Created: 28 Apr, 2002 Updated: 28 Apr, 2002