LUCKY TO SURVIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21690, 28 March 1942, Page 4

LUCKY TO SURVIVE

FLIGHT FROM MALAYA AERODROME BUILDING UNIT STORY OF THE EVACUATION In the evacuation of the Malay Peninsula and subsequently from Singapore Island, the No. 1 New Zealand Aerodrome Construction Squadron which returned this week from the Far East experienced many adventures and narrow escapes. In view of the swift and disastrous events of those last few weeks of the Malayan campaign, the amazing thing was that, except for tragic last-minute casualties, practically the entire personnel of this R.N.Z.A.F. squadron, under the command of Squadron-Leader E. C. Smart, got safely away. It is only now, after the dangers of the long sea journey home are over, that we fully realise just how lucky we were (writes Leading-Aircraftman F. A. McCarthy, a member of the unit). Before the outbreak of war in the Far East, and for almost two months after fhe first Japanese landing at Kota Bahru, the Construction Squadron was engaged in building aerodromes in Malaya and on Singapore Island. With the ever-present danger of enemy air attacks adding to the difficulties of rigorous work under a hot tropical sun, the New Zealand unit continued operations on the Peninsula until the very last. Advance Down Malaya In face of the fast moving Japanese advance down Malaya, however, and the final enemy break j through in North Johore, evacuation of the Squadron and its equipment became imperative. Consequently, on January 27, the personnel and all stores and machinery were evacuated from the base camp at Tebrau, seven miles north of Johore Bahru, and trekked over the Causeway to a new camp site on Singapore Island. On January 31 the Causeway was breached and the siege of Singapore began. With many interruptions through enemy air raids, work was continued on two fighter landing strips on Singapore. Shortly afterwards, however, the unit received orders to cease work on these jobs and to move with all equipment to the Dutch East Indies for further operations. At this stage, in addition to continuous heavy aerial bombing, the Island was now under shell fire from Japanese artillery firing across Johore Straits at close range. Troop concentrations, oil tanks, aerodromes, the Naval Base and other objectives were thus being both bombed and shelled and the smoke from large fires hung like a pall over many parts of the island. Loading of Equipment A ship was allocated for this next movement of the unit to the N.E.1., and the big task of quickly loading all tractors, vehicles, stores and machinery was commenced. No wharf labour was available as the wharves and docks were being systematically bombed each day. So the men of the Construction Squadron commenced loading the ship themselves, working as winchmen, stevedores, hatchmen and wharf labourers. Stripped to the waist,. the men toiled harder and faster in the heavy heat than any coolies would have done, and the speed and efficiency with which they loaded in practically one day all the heavy equipment and stores of a fully mechanised construction unit was typical of these resourceful New Zealanders. During the day there were no fewer than eight air raid alarms, but work continued without a stop until such time as enemy bombers were in the | immediate vicinity, when it was a case of every man take cover. By nightfall practically everything had been loaded, including even the men’s kitbags and personal effects. Final Tragedy Next morning, February 3, a small party went down to the ship early to complete the loading of the last few vehicles. It was then tragedy came .out of the blue sky to deal the New Zealand squadron its hardest blow—at the very last minute. The last truck had been placed in the sling, the winchman was preparing to haul it into the hold, when the alarm was sounded, “Aircraft overhead!” Men dived for shelter wherever they could as eight Japanese bombers appeared directly overhead. Then came the ugly swish-swish-swish of falling bombs and the ship was enveloped in smoke, dust and spray from explosions all around. The ship was not hit or anyone hurt, but the thought uppermost in the minds of all in that working party was, “Come on—let’s finish this quick and get out!” So the men jumped back to work, with the smoke from burning sheds eddying round, and the truck was just swinging high over the ship’s side when again came the alarm, “Aircraft overhead!” Again there was a dive for shelter, eight men going down the hold which was being loaded. This new attack was made by a formation of 27 bombers coming in from a different direction and nearly overhead when spotted. They dropped their bombs. The illfated vessel was completely straddled with high explosives. The noise and concussion from bursting bombs was deafening. The ship was heavily hit, and fire broke out. Some of Best Men Lost

This last-minute blow to the Construction Squadron was a tragic one. The casualties, though few, included some of the best and most popular men in the unit. There was also the loss of all the unit’s stores, equipment and personal gear. The following afternoon another small party did go down to the ship, the fire having now been extinguished, and managed to salvage mbst of the medical stores and kitbags. There was no hope of salvaging the heavy mechanical gear not touched by the fire, however, as the boat was listing badly alongside the wharf and taking water steadily. She was subsequently bombed again and became a total loss.

With all stores and equipment lost, their ship gone, and casualties among the personnel, things looked black for the Construction Squadron. Enemy pressure on the Island was now increasing, air raids by larger formations were becoming more frequent, shelling more intensified, and a Japanese assault on Singapore loomed imminent. Extra ammunition was issued to each man, and it was a case of await further develop-