Bradshaw-Fred-Derrick

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

4978011

Company Quartermaster-Sergeant

Fred Derrick Bradshaw

1918/06/19 - Born Chesterfield

Son of Fred and Anne Bradshaw

Occupation Draughtsman

1939/07/15 - Enlisted

Sherwood Foresters

1/5th Battalion

"D" Company

Service

The Sherwood Foresters as now part of the 55 Infantry Brigade, received orders to be mobilised to Liverpool for oversea duty.

‘Orcades’

The 1/5 Battalion left Liverpool on the 30th October 1941 in the ‘Orcades’ with Convoy CT.5 and sailed for Halifax, the final destination was unknown but was thought to be the Middle East.

‘USS West Point’

On reaching Halifax on November 10th, they were transferred to USS West Point as part of the 55th Infantry Brigade and departed Halifax in Convoy William Sail 12X.

Convoy William Sail 12X continued with six American troopships, two cruisers, eight destroyers and the aircraft carrier Ranger, the Convoy William Sail 12X was under way, destination still unknown.

Convoy William Sail 12X

Above Photo supplied by the late Maurice Rooney

Detailed Account by Thomas M. Allison

A reproduction of an account by Thomas M. Allison who is understood to be serving as an American Naval officer in the convoy.

Aircraft

Vought SB 2U Vindicator Scout Bomber - USS Ranger which was flying an Anti Submarine patrol over the convoy.

Ships Front Line, Top to Bottom:-

USS West Point - USS Mount Vernon - USS Wakefield - USS Quincy (Heavy Cruiser)

Ships Back Line Top to Bottom:-

USAT Leonard Wood - USS Vincennes (Heavy Cruiser) - USS Joseph T Dickman

The convoy passed through the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and St Domingo.

Arrived at Trinidad 17th November in glorious sunshine so troops changed to tropical kit, but no shore-leave, left Trinidad after two days of taking on supplies. The equator was crossed soon after leaving Trinidad on the 24th, there was a crossing the line ceremony.

After a month the convoy arrived at Cape Town, and soon after on the 8th December news reached the regiment that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbour, Hong Kong and Malaya.

Britain and America were now at war with Japan and the rumours were that the convoy was now heading for the Far East and not the Middle East as first thought.

1941/12/08 - Japan enters the war by Bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Hong Kong and Malaya. Japanese troops land the Malayan border with Thailand at Kota Bharu (Malaya), Singora and Patani (Thailand).

The 278 Battery of the 122 Field Regiment were transported to North Malaya and the 280 Battery took positions in Southern Area, Singapore.

As the Japanese had taken the airfield at Kota Bharu, the Allied troops had very little air cover and by the 31st of January 1942, Allied Troops were pushed back to Singapore. The causeway joining Singapore to Malaya was blown to stop the Japanese advance.

On the 9th February the Japanese attacked the North West coast of Singapore. General Percival had set his main defence on the North East coast line, and the Japanese quickly gained the advantage.

By the 15th February the Japanese were in danger of taking control of the water supply at the reservoirs, which would endanger the Singapore City water supply. General Percival had no alternative but to surrender.

1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese

1942/04/04 - WO 417/41, Casualty List No. 789. Reported Missing.

1943/08/30 - WO 417/65, Casualty List No. 1225. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 789 as Missing, 15/02/1942. Now reported a Prisoner of War.

Japanese POW

1942/02/15 - Captured in Singapore

Changi Camp

Commander Lt-Col. Lilly

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/11/01 - Transported overland with ‘Q’ Letter Party, Train 8 to Thailand

26th train to Thailand

Commander Lt-Col. D.R. Thomas, 5th Beds and Herts.

New PoW No. I 6110

1944/06/ - Transported back to Singapore

River Valley Camp, Singapore

1945/02/02 - Transported oversea to French Indo-China in Haruyasa Maru

1945/02/02 - Transported to Saigon with Work Group 10

New PoW No. 40229

Commander Lt-Col. Gill

1945/02 - Lon Than, French Indo-China

1945/03 - Wien Khan, French Indo-China

Commander RSM Bradstreet

1945/09/12 - Liberated Saigon Camp when English and Dutch paratroopers entered the camp.

Flown via Bangkok to Rangoon Hospital, then home by ship.

Liberation Questionnaire filled by Fred after being liberated

1945/10/30 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1897. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1225 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.