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Sergeant Alf Waterhouse
Singapore Under Siege
On the 30th of January we pulled up outside a cinema and told to get down. Several nurses appeared and male nurses quickly took the sick inside the cinema, that was the last time I saw of the Curate, he had been calm and completed a great job.
Down the middle and to one side the seats had been taken away, on one side the remaining seats were occupied by sick soldiers on the other side were beds which were full. Where I must presume the cinema screen had stood was a fairly large stage which turned out to be the operating room. I gave my details to a nurse, saying who I was and I was walking sick. She told me to occupy a tip up seat and also the seat next to it, I presumed and proved right, the two seats were my bed. Taking my two seats, I talked to a patient nearby, asking what was wrong with him I was told he was hit by a bullet near his heart, but luck would have it, in the breast pocket of his shirt he carried a small New Testament. This stopped the bullet but the speed and weight of the shot hit him and bruised his heart.
I heard a sort of grunting and looking round I saw two male nurses half carrying a large officer. With thankfulness of getting him here they put in him a seat and disappeared. Looking at him properly I saw he was an Australian and a Major. He seemed to be wounded but he was breathless and making strange noises. Could I speak to him, after all he was a Major. Seeing me looking at him he grinned
“Say sergeant back up, they want to undress me, that’s ok but my boots stay on. They can do what they like but my boots stay on”
At that moment a pretty nurse came up, briskly saying
“All right Major, undress yourself, but this silly idea of dying with your boots its plain daft. You’ll live longer than me”
I came to remember that.
I knew there was nothing they could for me so I decided to take a stroll round the City. After some little time I found myself at the docks and there was a liner docked. On the dock was a long queue of men, women and children all waiting to board the ship. Up till now I had not thought about civilians and above all else women and children. They looked patient and not unduly worried, when without warning, perhaps twenty Australian soldiers rushed the gang plank, obviously to get aboard. From nowhere a squad of military police appeared and the Aussies where soon rounded up.
Walking into the streets there was much damage, but the Chinese, with their open shop fronts, were still in business. Finding my way back to the cinema I noticed a middle aged woman who looked well educated and attractive, although middle aged. She was wearing a large apron with a high pocket at her waist. Then I noticed she was giving service men packets of cigarettes. It was her manner that struck me, so natural and kindly. On entering the temporary hospital I enquired to a nurse about this kindly woman. The nurse smiled saying she was the Colonel’s wife and she giving out the packets from her husband’s Officers Mess. I hope she got away safely.
The next day having nothing to do, I decided to have look at Singapore as we had passed through in the dark. At the main Post Office I sent a letter to my wife. We were allowed to write letters but use a numbered sticky stamp. The numbers went from one to ten. Each number had a word or two, I used number one, which was ‘I Love You’.
On my third day in the Cinema it was evacuated. This time to the tallest building called the ‘Cathay’. I have no idea what this tall building was used for, offices perhaps? Anyway, we were in a very large room filled with beds. At the top of the Cathy Building was a four pillared erection said to be being used as an observation post. I was going down a double marble staircase, when a shell hit the Cathay. I don’t know why but I shouted “MISSED ME”. From then onwards when bombed or shelled I shouted “MISSED ME”. It helped me.
Out on a walk I went back in had found twelve cigarette lighters which had been left behind. Collecting them, I would find someone who would take them. Sitting at the front of the cinema on some steps were four Padres. I approached them and showed them the lighters. Their reply took my breath away,
“Who do you think you are, the Lost Luggage Department?”
Leaving them on that salty reply I went to the Cathay and found a senior nurse who took them.
As a walking sick patient I was detailed to help out other patients and was taken to a wide corridor with a luxurious carpet. Sitting along the wall were about twenty soldiers, all of them suffering from shell shock. They were all wooden faced, what to do. I tried talking such as to asking their names and where they were from and then I suddenly saw a roly poly soldier, he was from our troop. He was the bren gunner who would stand firing at fast disappearing dive bombers. Speaking to him and mentioning who I was, he suddenly burst into tears, I felt rather embarrassed. He spoke very slowly making me feel guilty.
“No one in our lot had any time for me. I’m a gunner yet I have to stand and fire that bloody bren gun at the dive bombers. You were all laying down except me. Those ruddy planes were there to get ‘ME’. Not one of you lot ever gave me thought”.
My mind went back to see him standing, lonely and dejected. Not one of us had the courage or thought to stand with him. Feeling guilty, I bid him my best with a pat on his shoulder.
A nurse came round with my midday meal. I forget what is was but it was very small with a single piece of bread. I must have looked at the nurse in disbelief, as she remarked that the island is on rations as food stocks are low and there is none now coming. This was the first occasion I had felt any dread about the island. While we were retreating to Singapore we were told there was twenty year’s supply of food stocked with enough ammunition to withstand any siege, was the condition of these men catching, was I shell shocked.
The next day still on this odious duty, I left hoping no one would notice. A major sitting at a desk and seeing me asked for identification. I told him that I was convalescent after malaria. This simple explanation led to many questions that made me uneasy as he shouted,
“You a sergeant should know, catching malaria is an offence in the army, I shall have to report this”
I would have to satisfy this old trout who wasn’t aware that the enemy were within spitting distance,
“Sir, I was fighting the Japanese from the Thai Burma border, until we were within say thirty miles of the island.
At this he replied “Bah, don’t fool me as I am too old a soldier for such excuses”.
The old fool was coming to the conclusions, having possibly never been at a fighting front.
“Sir, may I say with respect there are no mosquito nets at the front. We sleep on the ground next to our guns”.
“Really, this must be reported” he replied.
I didn’t realise this was my lucky day as he was now going to report that the front needed mosquito nets and I was in the clear to leave.
I was fully aware that being away from our Regiment for three weeks or over, you were automatically put on the ‘Y’ list and posted anywhere. Rumour said always to the Aussies and this to me was a disaster waiting to happen. When we passed them on our retreat, they would laughingly shout,
“We go into battle with our shirts off and do not fight if our meals are not hot”
As I was slowly walking away I saw our Captain Hilton and he asked me what the devil was I doing there, I must have been so important, I had not been missed. I explained that I was getting over malaria and asked if I could go with him, the passenger door, in his little Austin car opened, I quickly got in, and away we went.
Sitting there I grinned remembering at Larkhill when we knew that their Majesties the King and Queen were to visit us. Getting ready polishing, polishing going to the point of being ridiculous like polishing black coal in the bin. They should have known better, but with the guns all gleaming pointing on the same line no matter what the gun position officer shouted we were not to obey his orders. The point being when we fired together it was as if one only had fired. The King and as I suspected knew all about the bull. Having fired several shells, the Queen, being a woman, asked to see the shells bursting. There was panic as this was the last thing anyone wanted. A vehicle was found and off they went. Captain Hilton lazing in the sunshine, after a given time on his line telephone, shouted ‘FIRE’ and then sat back. He heard the vehicle coming and just gazed, nearly rupturing himself as he saw the occupants. Her Majesty asked for a round, duly given and all shells has exploded as agreed.
“Young man several tanks are heading this way”, and she pointed to her extreme left, “Engage them”
It would have been a simple exercise except for the order ‘To take no notice just FIRE order’. The shells came over a hundred yards away, as if talking to a young child, “No, No” she said “The tanks are over there”.
Captain Hilton’s Austin, with me in it, were flying over to the Raffles Hotel, with our back to the Straits. Major Gill arrived and told me the British Army had now evacuated to the Island and all waited for the Nips next move. I think the general understanding was as the island was some twenty miles long with the Strait between us, how could anyone or at least a division cross in boats regardless of size. If any got across, the defence soldiers would cut them down. We had heard that the 73rd Division had landed with some 73,000 men at the docks. Now we would show them.
Back to business with my crew and my pride was rising, as we were driving into what was a fixed position down a straight wide road. Either side was what looked like farmland, either side had deep and wide rain cement to take away the tropical rain fall. these concrete drains being everywhere. The large detached houses all had large porches so cars could drive under, keeping all the driven passengers to get out and escape the heavy rain.
I was standing with my shoulders and head through the roof of my quad looking out for enemy aircraft and here they came in a straight line towards us, Zero dive bombers. There was no place to hide, the area being a large plain.
I shouted “Bombers, get out quick“.
On the roadside was the wide rain culvert, perhaps five feet across. I jumped and cleared it, running with the crew for quite a distance. The dreaded scream and the crash of the exploding bombs now kept on coming, then silence. We ran back but not as fast, when we passed the wide culvert, I could not see how the blazes I had cleared it, no way could I have cleared that. I could not understand it, they had dropped only a few bombs and gone, the guns, being a prize target, were untouched.
Driving now towards the City of Singapore I saw a sight I would never have believed. Along side this road perhaps fifty pup tents, in straight Regimental lines, all nice and white. How could any officer have ordered such a target, enemy pilots must have been as surprised as me. The innocents of the regiments just ashore, with no knowledge of the situation or conditions in Singapore. As we drove over a small hill I saw why the planes had gone on, they had hit what had been a body of men marching. They no doubt been marching to attention and then oblivion, this was the result. Re-enforcements we had knew were coming but disbelieved. Young men, who half an hour before were on-board ships, now made up a sickening sight. A little later we heard dreadful news, I could not believe such imbecility. The troop ships had arrived with no air cover, a sitting target for the Japanese, the Japanese pilots must have thought Christmas was here. Sweeping down they sank three troop ships, loosing guns, tanks, ammunition, stores, everything, leaving the Division with nothing. Seventy three thousand men with no arms, we were being made into political prisoners. Going into death, then prison, with conditions that were completely unknown. I have read many books on the Far East war, but never such a blotch in every direction. Many wrote of the 14/18 war as being led by donkeys, ours were never out of the stables.
Later in camp Major Gill sought me out and I was thinking ‘What the hell is it this time’
“The Nips are heading for the reservoir which is to the North of Singapore City and supplies the water for all the Island, they will certainly cut it off. ”.
I had foolishly thought, they can never land, but they had and gained ground quickly. Such muddle-headed thinking, over the years it is now known to all, or is it?
On the North West coast line of the island is a long stretch of mud and slime quicksand, so landings were thought to be impossible. No defences were made in this area, the Japanese knew this area and made full use of the situation. Having made a peaceful landing, they attacked the unaware flanks. The rest was easy they just poured across. Gaining ground and attacking the so called strong positions which guarded the reservoir will never be known, I wondered why not a strong counter attack re take.
Back to the orders of Major Gill.
“Take six men and go to the nearby Raffles Hotel, bring away any large pans, anything to hold water, bring it across here”
We approached Raffles, which was an out of my world Hotel, with everything all white, imposing wealth, manicure grounds, water hose sprays, and carefully planned sites for seats. I saw in my mind wealthy planters and wives, children playing, then a stray shell bursting amidst them, with the red hot nose cap falling sizzling at our feet. To take my mind off the vision, I thought a bath would help our water shortage, why not that would hold a good few gallons, so I ran back and got our artificer. As there was no one about we went upstairs. Finding a bedroom with a private bathroom, I told the artificer to get the bath free and stop any water flowing. We then carried our trophy back to our large wooden hut which we used as kitchen, dining room and WC. What this fairly large wooden hut was doing opposite the Hotel I don’t know. Returning to the Raffles and the kitchens we found several large bowls. Remembering I had left my tin bowler upstairs I went to fetch it. Going up the stairs I had to pass a tall gentleman obviously a native of Malaya, very tall over six feet, with snow white hair. He shouted at me,
“You can stop plundering my Hotel, I’m the manager, the Royal Marines in large numbers have landed halfway up Malaya”. This I did not believe, but we left, still with our trophies. Back at the guns no one suggested anymore containers as we now had the bath.
At around three o’clock the G.P.O told us in a gravel voice,
“There is no more ammunition except what we have. Searches on the Island have proved there is none. It must be now known that capitulation is more than possible. In a short time I will ask you make our guns useless. Now that you have been taught put a shell in the breech, one down the barrel and fire by a long stretch of rope, but as we will have no shells we shall have to try different measures”.
I believe it was about five thirty on the 14th February when Major Gill approached me,
“The Officers have decided they and all sergeants will try and get away by boat to India. Our experiences of the past few weeks will be of great value to the Indian Command”. Disrespectfully I thought how to retreat in easy stages.
“Over there is a small truck with driver. I want you to find a boat preferably with petrol engine to hold about fifty of us”
Like some old romantic film he grasped my hand in handshake and wished me “Good luck”. Climbing into the little truck I ordered the driver to go to the docks.
“Which way?” was the drivers reply.
“You don’t know?”
“No”
“Do you know say the way to a Marina?”
“No”
“Blimey, you’re not much help, go anywhere we may come to the docks or somewhere?”
Travelling through Singapore I saw the great damage which had been done. Two tram cars on their sides, overhead wires hanging like twines, and terrible damage to large stores and shops. In the far distance there was a large cloud of black smoke which must be the oil stocks and fuel installations. We were travelling over broken glass and bricks and I was thinking that we had little chance of getting to the water. Surely the men of substance and wealth had already escaped in their private yachts. Maybe even smashing them. making them unusable. Even if we did get a boat how could we get enough fuel, water and rations, the whole idea was typical of our Leaders.
We didn’t know where the Japanese were, it was possible we could come under enemy fire. My driver remained silent, I couldn’t blame him. We must have been driving around going over the same ground and were completely lost. Quite by chance I recognised the Promenade Road.
“Carry on straight and we will come to our guns, we have done our best.”
Back at camp no one spoke or asked questions. It was as if the world had stopped. Some time later and still light, Major Gill came looking for me looking sad and worried, gone was the British Officer we all knew.
“Men, my men, I am to tell you that at eight tonight General Percival will sign a surrender of all Forces’ land. This capitulation is given to save the civilian population which is at great risk. You and all the other soldiers, airmen and Royal Navy have nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t know if I may not see you again. Good Luck and God Bless you all.”
A great silence came over the Island. The crew drifted away, no one speaking, we were too shocked? At that moment I did not know or think of anything.
It was still daylight although there was no one about, no cars, nothing, the civilian population been hiding for days, but military traffic had been as usual rushing about, but not now. Slowly it was percolating into my brain that my life was about to change, no longer a person but just a number. If I was ill and died, who would care or perhaps know, into this strange land that would be my home, many thoughts came, many of England, soldiering in Larkhill, I never gave a thought to be in a defeated army. On the range the exploding bangs. The NCO taking careful note of each shell fired by each gun of four, I enjoyed this simple task. I did so little but it meant a lot. One day the security office was Captain Gatty. He always tried hard to hide the flask of whisky and his surreptitious sips. This day it was spotting targets by aircraft. A Lysander, which is a very slow flying craft, would be radioing targets. Captain Gatty turned to me when he spotted a Hurricane some miles away at a high speed,
“Bloody fool how can he spot likely targets at that speed”.
It was still deadly quiet, and still light, but I knew within the next half hour, a total black velvet curtain would fall, but my thoughts again went back to incidents or experience in the last few weeks. The memory was playing games as it recounted us stopping for some time on a main road, I was looking at my gun, and suddenly like being hit with a brick, I saw the large shining, like polished silver, the breech, the sun bringing out the shine for any Japanese pilot to see, swooping from high. I ran to the G.P.O explaining my thoughts,
He shouted “My God you’re right. Get the men to cover those breeches with shirts, anything”.
In my head I went for a stroll and covered about fifty yards when I heard it and knew that a Japanese small bomber had spotted our guns. At the scream of the falling bomb and I laid down. The bomb had never sounded so near, as if it was going to drop on me. I shuddered when the bomb exploded, feeling the hot air and the ground heaving and hearing the metal pieces of this bomb as they rained down. I was shuddering not shivering, my heart beating so fast. I was gripping the sandy surface when I felt a great stab of pain and sting behind my right leg. I found myself saying in a loud frightened voice
“My God I’ve lost my leg”.
My eyes were tight shut, but I had to move or do something, slowly opening my eyes and I saw I was on the actual rim of the crater. The pit of the crater was steaming and black smoke. Slowly I let my right hand move down my leg, was I to feel nothing or a sticky mess. Moving even slower, my hand suddenly felt something hard. It was hot but I caught hold and brought it up to see. It was a stone about the size of a small egg, my blood started running again, and a great sigh of relief. I had not lost a limb as I got up limping back to the gun. One of my crew looked at me with open mouth.
“Bloody ‘ell sarge, I thought you’d gone”
I shouted ”MISSED”.
Coming back to realities, we were no longer protected by King’s Regulations, I knew now I was controlled by a foreign power. It made me feel uncomfortable. I had always thought if in trouble I could buy myself out, but not now, sitting there on the wooden steps of our hut, I became aware night had fallen, and the quiet was unnerving. To a my shock the Raffles came alight, it seemed as if every light in the hotel was on. It took me by surprise and then I remembered, of course no black or brown out was necessary, our war was over. Sitting there seeing all those lights after all the years of a black out as unreal.
Quite suddenly I heard a most untuneful band, with the loud laughter and shouts. What the devil, law and order was still with me and this was strange, so I crossed over the Promenade Road and carefully picked my way along a winding pathway. Here were four shops the window reflecting the Raffles lights. These small shops looking as though one person could manage it well. The first shop was a gentleman’s outfitters, the second shop interested me as the lights from the Raffles showed the window filled with jewellery, rings, earrings, gold cigarette cases and lighters. Standing there looking at these obviously costly articles, it came into my mind, at a later date, I could sell some of this Jewellery. Who would care if I put a brick or heavy stone through the window and was away. It struck me, if caught what could anyone do, the army could hardly hand me over to the Japanese. The police would not be bothered. Except me, I found myself looking for a likely missile. I was now thinking a like a P.O.W, but I was not a thief, so I left the joys the window had shown and entered Raffles. I was astounded at the sight, it had never struck me that my fellow comrades would be celebrating. Raffles was full of British Officers some in the Scottish Regiment, wearing kilt and Tam O’ Shanter hat with the Gordon cap badge, how magnificent they looked. A band was playing but it was hard to make out the tune, with a rag bag of so-called musicians. Catching sight of the bar, was it the cocktail bar, many standing around drinking. I though I would join them and made my way to the bar for a beer. Trying to attract the barmen, I heard a soft voice
“Trying to get a beer sergeant” Looking round to the speaker I saw a big Sergeant Major from the Royal Army Transport.
“Leave it to me, I know how to treat these blasted Malayans” He shouted as one might expect from his rank “Two beers here …chop…chop”. Drinking our two beers he enquired of my name.
“Mine’s Billy, always called Billy never Bill. Yer know Alf, its never been the same since they took away our uniform. This bloody blouse and gaiters, the blouse is too short, leaves yer back open to kidney trouble. Looked like a soldier with brass buttons leather belt and puttees, Regimental Cap and badge not this lousy battle dress. Now look at the cock up. Who could have thought up some sissy thought that this was a battle dress. I happened to know that there’s a real knees up down the road where officers were trying to forget that all they stood for had gone. A drink up and be happy”.
So off we trotted.
“It’s in the posh cricket club. Likes of us would never get past the door normally, but now we’re all the same. It’s next door to the Cathedral, and in front of the hallowed cricket pitch. Wonder the Nips play that stupid game”
“Say Billy that’s a bit rich it’s our National game. Didn’t you play it at school?”
“Never heard of it at my school. Heard about the cane though”.
Entering the cricket club I saw I sight never to be forgotten. We were in a long narrow room, down the centre seemed like series of cupboards standing about five foot high. On the top were officers’ caps and their Sam Browne belts. There seemed to be hundreds, but that was a bit exaggerated, perhaps fifty. From early times I had always wanted such a belt, now I could take one, but again no. We followed the sound of laughter and were in a fairly large room, three trestle tables, cups, saucers and plates. Piled high were sandwiches, and beer barrels, cakes and sausage rolls. How I wondered had this assortment been collected, the war had only been over a few short hours ago, but officers had sought out confectioners, bakers and commandeered for this food. Quite suddenly a reedy voice started singing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ this was taken up by all of us, which brought forward a thought, how could such a lot have been beaten by men only five foot high.
I felt tired and the beer was not refreshing. Billy was not too good a companion, we had so little in common, which may be reaction, any case, I slooped off without a word. Outside it was pitch black, with my heavy boots making a noise on the pavement, I didn’t hear or see a soul.
On getting back to the guns, the hut all quiet so I settled down, but could not go to sleep. Who did Billy remind me of? Heavy features, black thick eyebrows and large nose. The colour of his eyes I didn’t know, but heavy gorilla-like shoulders I did, yes of course, Sergeant Jackson. The sergeant was a long serving Territorial, he was mild when off duty and from a poor family. I knew somehow these parents but why and how? Me being then a Bombadier with just two stripes, he adopted a superior manner, but always decent. I remembered in Liverpool by the Salvation Army truck having a tea and tea cake, costing four pence. He was looking at my watch as we sat there I said without swank
“Its an Oyster, you can go swimming wearing this it will not stop”.
In his usual superior knowing everything “Mine’s the same, cost nothing like yours”.
As he undid the strap of his watch and was about to put it in his tea. Putting out my hand to stop this foolish act was of no use, as he dipped it in his tea.
As time passed and we were in a battle position in Malaya, we met again. He had been on some security expedition and was wearing a revolver. He had a strange look on his gace and I was concerned about his whole attitude when he spoke,
“Listen Alf, you know, I know, the whole bloody lot know, we are going back to Singapore. The Nips will take it and we lot in the bag”.
At that I replied ”Don’t be such a defeatist even if we do go back to Singapore, it’s a fortress, we can hold out and beat them”
Did I really believe what I was saying ? I don’t know but Sergeant Jackson replied
“If you believe that you’ll believe anything. I’m not going to be a prisoner to that lot no way. I’m going to meet them and take a few with me”.
He was gone and I never saw him or heard anything of him again.
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