A Party of R.A.O.C. men , both "Z" A.O.W and 14
Section ,left Singapore on the mine
sweeper “Malacca”
13/2/1942 Senior British officer Lt/ COL Wolf-Murry of the seaforth
highlanders , the Senior “Z” AOW RAOC
officer was LT S.G. Terry 185922,
The ship was heading
for Java along with other ships carrying R.A.O.C personnel to set up Work Shops
. On route they picked up a
stranded seaman who informed the captain that shipping were being attacked in
the Banka Strait by a large Japanese force invading Sumatra , as a result of
this information , the captain changed course and headed for the
Indragiri River , at Tembilahan they met up with another party Including
Major W C Biss R.A.O.C Base Ordnance Workshop, and travelled across
Sumatra . arriving at Padang on the 20/2/1942 . On the 23/2/1942 the RAOC men
boarded a Dutch Vessel the “Tinombo”
which sailed to Bombay , LT S.G.Terry and Major Biss stayed behind , Major Biss
is reported to have left Padang on the Ship
SS Ban Ho Gwan whitch was sunk after leaving Padang , possably LT Terry was
also on that ship as I cannot find him mentioned as working on the Sumatran
Railway.
"Z" A.O.W. men onboard Mine Sweeper Malacca
Many of the evacues from Singapore tried to make for the Indragiri River in
Sumatra ,
in an attempt to cross Sumatra and reach Padang and the hopefully board a boat
to
India or Columbo (Modern day Sri Lanka)
In Geoffrey Brookes Book "Singapores Dunkirk" , he states
the escape route was
Traveling West along the Indragiri River to Tembilahan
Then onto Rengat, Finally onto Iyer Molek.
Transport was provided to the Rail head at Sawahunto and then by Rail to Padang
The Escapees were assisted by the Duch and Sumatrans with the help of Armed
forces Officers
who volunteered to stay behind , knowing full well that they would eventualy be
captured by the Japanese .
"Z" AOW RAOC Football Team , Kuala Lumpur 1941
Private Frost , far right front row