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Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore and the Rt Hon Adam Ingram MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, lay wreaths on behalf of their respective governments at the 60th Service of Commemoration at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore at dawn 12 September 2005 [Picture: John Yuen, Fotograffiti]
Former Able Seaman Edward Matthews, one of the survivors of HMS Repulse, in conversation with the Rt Hon Adam Ingram MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, after the unveiling of the Force Z memorial in Singapore, which is dedicated to the memory of all of the ships and men of Force Z, particularly, those who perished when HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk by Japanese air action on 10 December 1941 [Picture: John Yuen, Fotograffiti]
Representative Naval personnel from the UK, Australia and New Zealand form the Guard of Honour at the Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore at dawn on 12 September 2005 [Picture: John Yuen, Fotograffiti]

Sixty years ago, on 12 September 1945, Admiral Louis Mountbatten accepted the final surrender of all Japanese forces in South East Asia, bringing to a close what is often called by those who fought in it "the forgotten war".  The Second World War was finally over.

Sixty years later, on 11 September 2005, hundreds of UK and Commonwealth Veterans, together with their families and friends, held  two major acts of Remembrance in Singapore.  Both ceremonies were attended by Adam Ingram, Minister for the Armed Forces.

As sunset fell over the Sembawang Naval Base, Singapore Island, a memorial to the 764 men of the Royal Navy's 'Z' Force lost at sea in December 1941 was unveiled by two of its survivors, Rear Admiral Guy Griffiths AO, DSO, DFC, RAN (Retd) and Mr Edward (Ted) Matthews formerly of the Royal Navy.

The story behind the memorial starts on the morning of 11 December 1941.  The 'Z' Force, under the command of Admiral Sir Tom Phillips and comprising the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and cruiser HMS Repulse, together with their escorts, the destroyers Electra, Express and Vampire (of the Australian Navy) came under heavy aerial bombardment from Japanese aircraft.

The ferocious attack by torpedo bombers began at 11.18 am and in just over an hour HMS Repulse had been sunk, followed thirty-five minutes later by HMS Prince of Wales.

The anti-aircraft gunnery on both ships lacked rate of fire and effective centralised direction, making them vulnerable to aerial attack.  Ted Matthews was in the aft high angle-director responsible for directing the anti-aircraft fire from HMS Repulse: 

"Enemy bombers were approaching and within moments they'd passed.  We couldn't see their bombs.  Not surprisingly, it didn't take long for the result of their action to be felt.  I remember being shocked at the accuracy of the attack."

The three remaining destroyers were able to rescue some 2000 survivors.  Admiral Phillips was amongst the casualties.

Laying a wreath at the memorial on behalf of Great Britain, Adam Ingram said:

"The critical contribution of those who fought in the Far East during World War Two must never be forgotten.  Memorial ceremonies like those I am attending in Singapore symbolise our immense gratitude for the sacrifices made and hardships endured during this terrible time."

Earlier, Mr Ingram attended a tea party for approximately four hundred veterans, their families and friends at Eden Hall, the British High Commissioner's official residence in Singapore.

Today's Royal Navy was represented at the ceremonies by the destroyer HMS York and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, RFA Black Rover.  One of HMS York's primary roles is to provide air cover, and the lessons from the fate of the 'Z' force were not lost on her crew.  Her captain, Commander Matt Harvey RN, said:

"Veterans are an inspiration to our country.  Today's sailors are humbled by such brave people who gave so much often in dreadful conditions.  We must use events like these to hand on the baton of Remembrance and learn the lessons of the past."

For Rod Morton, a leading chef on HMS York, the act of Remembrance had a particular resonance.  His grandfather was in Singapore in 1941 with the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, which had been stationed here from 1939 until its fall to the Japanese. He said:

"My grandfather was captured by the Japanese.  He was actually imprisoned in his old barracks.  He went on to work on the Burma railway.  It took them four or five days to get there by marching truck and train.  It's very poignant for the Veterans here today as it may be the last time they can say goodbye to their friends and comrades."

The Remembrance Services culminated at a commemoration ceremony at Kranji War Cemetery at dawn on 12 September 2005.  Kranji holds 4,500 graves, of which 850 are unidentified, as well as over 1,400 graves in the military cemetery. 

Aside from these, the Memorial also commemorates around 24,000 members of the Commonwealth Forces who were killed on operations in the far East but have no known grave.  Most of these died during the campaigns in Malay or Indonesia, or in subsequent captivity, many during the construction of the Burma/Thailand railway or at sea whilst being transported to imprisonment elsewhere. 

The Japanese advance across South East Asia was eventually halted at Kohima, in North East India by the British Army's 2 Division (based today in Scotland and the North of England) in June 1944.  Japan finally surrendered some fifteen months later, following ferocious fighting with US forces in the Pacific and culminating in the use of atomic weapons against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The ceremonies in Singapore mark the last of the official UK Government commemorations to remember the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Related Articles

• Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two

Related links:

• WW2 60th Anniversary Commemorations
• Veterans Agency
• Veterans Agency - Calendar of Events
• Imperial War Museum
• Their past-your future
• The Royal British Legion
• WW2 Peoples War

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