We were looking especially for water as the source of supply was a good distance away and whenever we saw any small water hole we drank the water – no matter the colour. There they were found by the Tapah and about half the party decided to go aboard the Tapah. Within four days of the surrender Japanese forces that had pressed on into the Netherlands East Indies would be bombing Darwin, and over succeeding days Australians in Timor and Java would also be fighting for their lives. The Giang BeeThe following is based on Michael Pether’s description of what happened which can be found HERE. Ship to Quebec 1841 (two pages) many ships carrying US destined passengers; Ship to Quebec 1842 (two pages) many ships carrying US destined passengers; Ships to New Orleans & Galveston 1847; Cunard Sailings of 1849 - New York, Boston and Halifax ; Arrivals Sept-Oct 1853 with Sickness on Board; Castle Garden 1855 article about the opening as an immigrant depot, New York Daily Times; Ships … We eventually landed on a mangrove swamp, no habitation, nothing but brackish water and a beach infested with sandflies. Once the Japanese made a successful landing on Singapore island on 8 February 1942 there were long lines of European and Eurasian families queuing each day attempting to obtain an exit pass and passenger ticket at the shipping office set up in the suburbs of Singapore - usually unsuccessfully because of bureaucratic incompetence and with the result that many ships were leaving half empty! Specifically, Gordon Reis states in his diary “…I think we had a large number of deserters aboard from the Army in particular…”, Ann Silberman recalled her experience of the sinking of the Giang Bee which can be read HERE (<– PDF). Prize proceedings withdrawn and vessel released by Sasebo Prize Court 27 December 1943. The order to abandon ship was given, however as all internal communications had been cut; a search was made of the ship to ensure that all those who were still alive were aware of the order. The two Y.W.C.A women remained behind really to control the men. Thus thousands of men, women, and children were killed before any could reach land. Some other women refused to leave their wounded husbands behind on board the ship and would have lost their lives in the sinking. During 11 - 13 February 1942 several thousand women,children ,babies,civilian men and service personnel boarded the ships remaining in the harbour bound for either Freemantle or Batavia ( Jakarta ). Just after 1600 hours, as they approached Bangka Island, time ran out for the LI WO and its crew. HMS LI WO was a 707-ton flat bottomed patrol boat formerly operated on the Yangstse River by the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company. The launch carried some 38 passengers including: Mr Vivian Gordon Bowden (Australian Trade Commissioner to Singapore), Mr A. N. Wootton (Commercial Secretary), Mr J. P. Quinn (Political Secretary), Lt. 16.1.42 Motor Launch KELANA (R, 88t) - Sunk by aircraft Malaya. The Mata Hari, British, 1020 gross tons, was a P&O ship on full charter to the Admiralty. I have set up this site to support my research related to the events and personal stories concerning the fall of Singapore in February 1942. These have proved very useful for 'Malaya' and evacuees research and enquiries. In the morning (Wednesday, 18th February) we anchored off Muntok and stayed there all day long. Superstition was the last thing on anybody's mind. 8 Squadrons engage in battle with the invasion force. In 1939 she had been sold to the Heap Eng Moh SS Co and renamed “Giang Bee”. The Empire Star, 12,656 gross tons, owned by Blue Star Line, Captain S.N. Departure date: 23 January 1942. An example of Michael’s most recent work is that on H.M.S. January 1942, her stern and after gun were blown right off killing twenty-six with another four missing, presumed dead. Manchester Guardian, 16 February 1942. (See Song of Survival for more details of the sinking of the Poelau Bras) . Four men were killed on board. The Poelau Bras was sunk in position 10 ° 00 ‘ south latitude and 105 ° 00’ east longitude in the Indian Ocean, near Java. No other ships are listed, including those which are only mentioned in the archives or shipping in 1971 sections.) Pressed into naval use, the 707-ton flat-bottomed patrol boat HMS LI WO was armed with a makeshift 4-inch gun and a single depth charge launcher. 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