Merchant seamen in WW2

[daisy1942]

Hi all and seasons greetings, hoping everyone had a great Christmas.

A few questions please that I am hoping this group can help me with information.

Singapore 1942

Is it possible that  merchant ships might have been sent to the Naval Base to drop supplies or to be repaired if damaged?

What are the chances of Naval Ratings being on board a ship in these circumstances
Would any or all of the crew serving on board at the tie of the damage stay with the ship whilst repairs were carried out?

Were there any commandos in Singapore around this time?

Finally though a little off beat did commandoes ever get the unit insignia tattooed on their leg?

Many thanks for any informatin

[ScouseBoy]

In January 1942, Singapore was still in British hands.

Reinforcements were being sent to Singapore and were arriving by ships.   The 18th British Division arrived in January 1942, after a ten or eleven week  journey by  sea.

[ScouseBoy]

I  believe that some civilians then embarked on the troop ships, for evacuation.

[ScouseBoy]

Singapore fell to the Japanese in February  ( I believe ) 1942.

Ships were  sunk and bombed by the Japanese.

I am sure that some troops who had previously been evacuated from France in 1940  then found themselves captured by the Japanese.

Surely the expression "out of the frying pan into the fire"   could very tragically be used to describe their plight?

[macintosh]

Merchant ships were also armed, known as Dems -  Defensively Equipped Merchant ships. sometimes naval ratings operated these guns usually old ww1 naval guns. I believe Royal  Artillery personnel also manned DEMS.


James