35 LTAA Regt RA

[tim48]

Just came across this thread. To clarify a couple of points. On arrival Singapore 35 Regt split. RHQ, 144 Battery, BHQ 89 Battery and A and C Troops 89 Battery went into Malaya. 78 Battery and B Troop 89 Battery remained on Singapore Island defending airfields and the Naval Base. Around 27 Jan, 78 Battery and B Troop 89 Battery were sent to Sumatra to defend Airfields P1 and P2 and the oil installations at Pelembang. Later on with the withdrawal from Malaya BHQ 89 Battery together with A and C Troops were sent to Sumatra. Unfortunately enroute they were sunk. All bar one L/Bdr were saved and taken to Oosthaven. Both 78 and 89 Batteries, now complete but with no guns, then moved from Sumatra to Java. 35 Regt LAA War Diaries to end Jan 42 exist at the National Archives but I have been unable to find any Battery Diaries.
As regards Gnr Morgan, I would very much suspect that he died on board the 'Singapore Maru'.
Lt Col Scott, in an affidavit , reports that on arrival Takow, Formosa on 13 November 42, 8 bodies were sent ashore for cremation and 21 sick were put ashore. 
Tim

[tim48]

Re last Post. Working too quickly. It looks as if Gnr Morgan died very shortly after being landed from the Singapore Maru rather than on board.
Tim