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“SS. ROOSEBOOM”
Recreated Passenger List
Sunk by Japanese submarine number I – 159 on 1st March 1942
[Version 1. 2.1: June 2011]
Interestingly, although there are clearly quite a few people listed on the CWGC website who died in the sinking of the “SS. Rooseboom”, only four are actually listed under the ‘Cemetery’ heading of “SS. Rooseboom” and therefore specifically linked to this terrible event.
ACWORTH – Lt. Col. Ackworth (sic) ,A.A. & QMG 11 Div Certain (CO 980/141); mentioned in “The Boat” as J.P Acworth , Indian Army, since 1916 and who had served in France in the 1914-18 war as well as the Frontier campaign with the Poona Horse. Much of his service was on the staff in India. ( Boat); Lieutenant – Colonel John Pelham Acworth, #AI/387, aged 44 years, 12th Frontier Force, Indian nationality, husband of Jean Craig Acworth of Newcastle, Co. Down, Northern Ireland – he died on 3.3.42 (CWGC); according to “The Boat” Colonel Acworth died on the seventh day which would have been the 7.3.42.(Boat)
AITKEN – Cpl. Victor Aitken, #2867159, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders – he had escaped from Singapore on the launch “Celia” with a large group of Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris
BLACKWOOD – mentioned in “The Boat” as Captain Mike Blackwood ( Boat); Captain Frederic Michael Ponsonby Blackwood, aged 23 years, # 74706, 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, son of Col. F. A. Blackwood, DSO and Mrs Blackwood , he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC)
BOON – Captain M. C. A. Boon, of the KPM line , captain of the “SS. Rooseboom”; he survived the sinking and died in the lifeboat ( see account in “The Boat”)
BRENNER – Pte. George Brenner, #2867145, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders, he had escaped from Singapore with a large group of Gordon highlanders and Brigadier Paris on the launch “Celia”
BROWN – Sgt. Percy William Brown, #2876136, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders, he had escaped from Singapore on the launch “Celia” with a large group of Gordon highlanders and Brigadier Paris
CHOPRA – in his statement to The War Office Walter Gibson recollected “Lt. Col Chopra , I.M.S. …” as being on board the ship; Lt. Col. Divan Chand Chopra, OBE., # M/5875, Indian nationality, Indian Medical Service, husband of D. C. Chopra of Lahore , Pakistan, he was qualified as M.B., Ch. B., he died on 1.3.42 (CWGC)
CORRIE – mentioned in the book “The Boat” as Major Noel Corrie of the Engineers ( Boat); there is the record that Major Noel Howard Wyatt Corrie, #56625, Royal Engineers, he died on 2.3.42 (CWGC)
CRAWFORD - 2nd Lt. Donald Torrance Paterson Crawford 2nd Battalion FMSVF /General List /1st Mysore Infantry, Assistant Planter ,KMS Rubber Plantations, Kedah, lost at sea 28.2.42 [and wife] ( Jonathan Moffatt); Second Lieutenant Donald Torrance Paterson Crawford, General List, attd. 1st Btn, Mysore Infantry, Indian State Forces, he died on 28.2.42 (CWGC) which would appear to be an incorrect date in the context of what is known of the sinking – it may be that they were on the “Ban Ho Guan” ???
CRAWFORD – Mrs Crawford ( see above)
DAVIS –Roger Owen Wingfield Marchant Davis ‘Towkay’, b. 1907, educated Worksop College, to Malaya 1928 as Police Probationer, FMS. Wife Elsie & son evacuated to Durban , SA., .By 1941 FMS Assistant Commissioner of Police, escaped to Sumatra, one of the ‘17’, lost on Rooseboom (Jonathan Moffatt); also mentioned in “The Boat” as Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Davis ( Boat); Asst. Superintendent Roger Owen Wingfield Marchant Davis, Federated Malay States Police, husband of Edith Elsie Davis of Langton, Martravers, Dorsetshire died between 1.3.42 and 31.3.42, awarded the Kings police medal for distinguished service 1.1.38 (CWGC); it is possible that Roger Davis was alternatively killed in the sinking of the “SS. Ban Ho Guan” which left Padang after the “Rooseboom” bound for Tjilichap in Java.
DENT – Major Richard Dent is recorded by Walter Gibson as being in the lifeboat (WSWG); Major Richard Clinton Wilkinson Dent, #AT/353, Indian nationality, 2nd Btn, 12 Frontier Force Regiment, son of Major General Wilkinson Dent, CB., CBE., DSO., and of Florence Mabel dent ( nee Moojen) , he died on 4.3.42 ; he attended Sedburgh School from 1922-1926 and on that school’s roll of honour it is noted that he was 34 years of age when the “Rooseboom’ was sunk.
DEVONSHIRE – Geoffrey Edward Devonshire, born 1910 at Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Educated merchant Taylors School, London. To Malay in 1929 as a Police Probationer, FMS and by 1940 had become Assistant Superintendent of Police SS: Singapore. Lost at sea 28.2.42 (JM); it is possible he was on the “SS. Ban Ho Guan “which was sunk on that date.
DOUGLAS – Lt. Col. Douglas IAOC SOME 11 Div ‘Not Certain’ (CO 980/141); also mentioned in ”The Boat” as Lt. Col Douglas of the Indian Army Ordinance Corps ( Boat); Lt. Col William Abbott Gale Douglas, nationality Indian, aged 41 years, #818/1A, Indian Army ordinance corps, husband of Mary Evered Douglas of Lilliput, Dorsetshire, AMI Mech, also served in the Devonshire Regiment , he died 4.3.42 (CWGC)
FALLOWS – Mrs. Sally Fallows, wife of Mr. A. E. Fallows of the PWD, lost at sea 2.3.42 on the “Rooseboom” ( JM); no record on the CWGC website but Cpl Walter Gibson did testify that there were on board the “Rooseboom” “…a number of PWD officials from Malaya and some civilian women and children also from Malaya…” also “…wives and children of PWD officials…”(SWG)
GEDDES – Alexander A. ‘Eric” Geddes, Asiatic Petroleum Co., Miri & S’pore, wife Jean Sheila, lost on Rooseboom (MVG); this is confirmed in a family genealogy website (thehendrys.freeserve.co.uk – “Children of Alexander Williamson and Jane Glen) where it is recorded that Albert Alexander Geddes had WW1 service in the 14th Battalion, London regiment, Prince of Wales Own Civil service rifles and had married Jean Sheila Geddes, they had moved from the UK to Miri , Sarawak where he had obtained a job as an Office Assistant, later becoming Labour Superintendent at the oil fields and refinery.. it seems that Jean was evacuated in 1941 when the oilfields were closed down ( possibly due to the Japanese threat) and Albert later moved to Singapore, later evacuating across Sumatra to Padang where he boarded the “Rooseboom”. Jean is reported to have died in hospital in London on 29.10.58; “…in recent interviews … Mr. SHAW of Asiatic Petroleum Co. stated that Mr. GEDDES of Sourabak Oil Fields embarked on the S.S. ROOSEBOOM at BATAVIA late in Feb 1942 prior to its call at PADANG…” Lt. Gen. C in C Land Forces SEA (CO 980/141); in 1946 the Missing Persons Bureau listed him as presumed dead “… Mr Albert Alexander Gedes (sic) who was reported to have been on the Rooseboom…” (STA 29.5.46)
GIBB – A/Sgt. Kenneth McRae Gibb, #2876221, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders – he was from Elgin and had escaped from Singapore with a large group of Gordon Highlanders on the launch “Celia” and Brigadier Paris
GIBSON – Corporal Walter Gibson, #2977142, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders ( author of “the Boat”)
GRAY – Lance Corporal Jock Gray , Argylls, from Falkirk (Boat); Lance Corporal John Gray, aged 22 years, #3322704, 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, son of Alexander and Jemima Gray of Seacliff, East Lothian, he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC)
HAMILTON – Sgt. Robert Hamilton, #2979694, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders ( JM); Serjeant Robert Hamilton, aged 25 years, 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, son of Charles and Margaret Hamilton of Glasgow, he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC); he was mentioned by Walter Gibson as having been in the sole surviving lifeboat (WG)
HARDIE/HARDY – mentioned in “The Boat” as Drummer Hardy of the Argylls ( Boat); actually Private Albert Hardie, aged 24 years, #2979976, 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, son of Margaret Hardie , he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC)
HEATH – Warrant Officer Class II (Armt. S.Q.M.S.) William Frank Heath, # 7624249, 1 Ordinance Field Park, RAOC., was lost on the “Rooseboom” between 2 .3.42 and 3 .3.42 , aged 26 years, husband of Marjorie Beryl heath of Erdington, Birmingham (RollofHonour.co.uk)
HEATHCOTE – Major Heathcote Gen. List (Movement Control) Singapore ‘Certain’ (CO 980/141; would appear to be Captain George Henry Heathcote, # 154879, MBE, RASC, husband of Joan Heathcote of Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, he died 2.3.42 (CWGC)
IVES – Lt. Col. Ives RAOC or IAOC Malaya Command ‘Certain” (CO 980/141); Lt. Col. Augustus Harry Ives, # 70684, Cdg 10 Sect, RAOC, he died 2.3.42 (CWGC)
KAUFFMAN / KAUFMANN –Bernard Maurice Kaufmann, MA. B. London. Educated City of London School and Christs College, Cambridge University. WW1 service with the Middlesex regiment and Machine Gun Corps. Twice wounded 1918. He worked for the Asiatic Petroleum Company, Singapore during 1020-42 and was Hon. Secretary Oxford & Cambridge society of Malaya and the Treasurer of the Tanglin Club. He lived at 20 Pierce Road, Singapore and his wife Stella had evacuated to Durban, SA. She was living in London in 1951.(JM); “…in a recent interview …Mr. Shaw of Asiatic Petroleum Co., stated that …Mr. KAUFMANN of Asiatic Petroleum Co. …embarked on the S. S. ROOSEBOOM at Batavia late in Feb 1942 prior to its call at PADANG… Lt. Gen. C in C Land Forces SEA (CO 980/141); in 1946 the Missing Persons Bureau, Colonial Office, Singapore listed him as presumed dead “…Mr. Bernard Maurice Kaufmann, reported to have been on the Rooseboom…” (STA 29.5.46); Bernard Maurice Kauffman, aged 46 years, M.A. , Freeman of the City of London, of 20 Pierce Road, Singapore, husband of Stella Kauffman, he died 28.2.42 in sinking of Rooseboom (CWGC)
KEMP – L/Cpl. William Kemp, #2876320, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders, he was from Aberdeen and had escaped from Singapore in the launch “Celia” with a large group of Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris.
LIM – Doris Lim
LUNGLEY/LANGLEY – “..It has also been learned that the wife and daughter and two grandchildren of Mr. G. LUNGLEY c/o Messrs FRANCIS PECH & Co Ltd, 5/7 EASTCHEAP LONDON E.C. 3. Were on board …” Lt. Gen. C in C Land Forces SEA (CO 980/141) – therefore Mrs Lungley was on board; also ‘Mrs. Ethel Maude Langley, wife of George Langley, with her daughter Margaret Whiteridge [born 1916] and 2 grandchildren (Jonathan Moffatt); there is no record on the CWGC website of her death;
MACDONALD – Major MacDonald A. & S. H. ‘Certain’ (CO 980/141);” … in a recent interview [with] Mr. Stuart of Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank it was stated that: Major Angus MACDONALD – Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ADC to Brig. Paris. Embarked on S.S. ROOSEBOOM at PADANG and must be presumed drowned. Lt. Gen. C in C Allied land Forces SEA ... (CO 980/141); Major Charles Angus MacDonald, aged 29 years, #56135, 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, son of John and Daisy MacDonald of Tayorloan, Argyllshire, he died on 2.3.42 (CWGC); Major MacDonald’s full name was Charles Angus Moreton MacDonald and he had been born at Largie Castle on the Kintyre peninsula in Argyll on 22 June, 1913. His father died when Angus was only eight years of age and he was sent to boarding school and then Winchester College. He was a keen athlete and especially insofar as rowing. He then went on to Oxford University, Magdalen College to study History and graduated also from their Officer’s Training Corps. After Oxford he joined the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders regiment as a regular officer and was commissioned into the 1st Battalion. In 1937 he joined the 2nd Battalion of the Argylls and was sent to Secunderabad in southern India. By 1939 he was Adjutant of the Battalion and in that year he moved with the Battalion (under the strict but inspired command of Colonel Ian Stewart) to Singapore where they trained in jungle warfare and earned the reputation of being the best trained unit in Malaya. There is a famous photo of Angus and RSM Sandy Munnoch following Colonel Stewart through the swamps of Singapore. In April 1941 Angus was promoted to the rank of Brigade Major of the 12th Indian Infantry Brigade – which consisted of the 2nd Argylls, the 5/2 Punjabs, and the 4/19 Hyderabads. When the Japanese invaded Malaya this Brigade moved to the north to back up the failing 11th Indian Division and during the next few weeks distinguished itself in many battles. They nearly met with disaster at Slim River and were routed by the Japanese who brought tanks into their midst very early in the morning of 6 January 1942 Many officers and men were killed taken captive or lost in the jungle ( a few escaped to Sumatra at that point) so by the time the Battalion withdrew to the Singapore causeway the there were only 200 men left out of an original Argylls Battalion of 860.When the Japanese landed on Singapore island on the 8 February the remnants of the Battalion made a brave stand in the island’s north-west and later blocked a tank column attempting to enter Singapore city. On the day before the Surrender to the Japanese Angus was ordered to escape Singapore with Brigadier Paris, Michael Blackwood, Sgt. Willie MacDonald and Stewart’s batman Drummer Hardy. They took a harbour Board launch, the ‘Celia’ and navigate towards Sumatra’s Djambi River, finally crossing Sumatra and reaching Padang. (Mary Gladstone niece of Angus MacDonald)
MCDONALD/MACDONALD – Sergeant Willie MacDonald , Argylls ( Boat); Sgt William McDonald, 2979495, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (JM); in his statement to the War Office Walter Gibson recollects that Sergt William MacDonald, A. & S. Hldrs ( Killed by an explosion at the side of Gibson) was on board the ship…” ( WSWG); Sgt. William McDonald, #2979495, aged 30 years, 2nd Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC)
MCGREGOR – A/Sgt. Ronald Alexander McGregor, # 2875459, Headquarters company, Gordon Highlanders – he had escaped from Singapore in the launch “Celia” with a large group of Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris
MCNALLY – Pte. John McNally, # 7681724, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders, he was from Ladywood, Birmingham and had escaped from Singapore on the launch “Celia” with a large group of Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris.
MACKENZIE/ MCKENZIE?– mentioned in “The Boat” as Warrant Officer Mackenzie of Indian Army Ordinance Corps (Boat); however the researcher can find no record of this person on the CWGC website under the names Mackenzie or McKenzie.
MURDOCH – in his written statement to the War Office, Walter Gibson recalls that Pipe Major Murdoch, Gordon Highlanders was on the ship (WSWG); in fact this was Sgt. James Murdoch, #2872442, aged 32 years, 2nd Btn, Gordon Highlanders, he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC); he had escaped from Singapore in the launch “Celia’ with other sergeants from the Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris.
NUNN – Reginald Lewis ‘Rex’ Nunn, DSO 1918, b. 1892 Tenterden, Kent. Educated Brighton College. WW1 service: 2nd Lt. to Major, Royal Engineers. Then waterworks engineer, Trinidad & Tobago 1921. Resident engineer Georgetown, British Guiana. To Malaya in 1930 as Deputy Colonial Engineer SS. and Acting Director of Public works SS and Adviser, Public Works, Malay States 1932-33. Official member of the Legislative Council SS 1935. Director of Civil Aviation, Malay 1935. Director of the PWD SS and Adviser, Public Works, Malay states 1935-42. Group captain RAFVR, and OC MVAF 1941-42. He organised the evacuation of many PWD personnel from Singapore (JM); and evacuated with his wife on the “SS. Kuala” which was bombed and sunk at Pom Pong Island; Gp. Capt. Nunn in Public Works ‘Certain’ ( CO 980/141); mentioned in “The Boat” as having helped his wife through a porthole in the ship after it was torpedoed , but he went down with the ship ( Boat); Major Reginald Lewis Nunn, DSO, Director of Public Works, Singapore died on 1.3.42 in the sinking of the “Rooseboom” (CWGC)
NUNN – Mrs. Nunn ‘Certain’ (CO 980/141); She was a former opera singer and had been Hon. Organiser of the MAS., Malaya (JM): she had evacuated from Singapore with her husband on the “SS. Kuala” which had been bombed and sunk at Pom Pong island in the Indonesian Archipelago; there is quite some detail in the book “The Boat” of her being pushed by her husband through a porthole of the “Rooseboom” after it was torpedoed and surfacing to eventually get on the sole life boat ( Boat); Mrs. Gertrude Nunn, aged 49 years, of 198 Mt Pleasant Road, Singapore, wife of Major Reginald Lewis Nunn, DSO she died on 9.3.42 after the sinking of the “Rooseboom” (CWGC)
PALMER – Lt. Col. Palmer RE (AQMG0 Malaya Command ‘Certain’ ( Co 980/141); mentioned in “The Boat” as Lt. Col. R. E. Palmer of the Indian Army; in fact more correctly Lt. Col. George Archdale Palmer, # 18178, MID, of the Royal engineers and husband of Phoebe van Someren Palmer ( nee Taylor) of Winchcombe, Gloucestershire , he died on 3.3.42 (CWGC)
PARIS – Brigadier Paris ‘Certain‘ ( CO 980/141); Brigadier Archibald Charles Melvill Paris, MC., #6515, aged 52 years, of the Oxford and Bucks Light infantry, Commanding the 12th Indian Infantry Brigade, husband of Ruth Norton Paris of Folkstone, he died on 3.3.42 (CWGC)
PENDREIGH – Pte. William Pendreigh, # 2987012, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (JM); Private William Pendreigh, 2nd Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, aged 25 years, and son of Robert and Agnes Pendreigh of Hawick, Roxburghshire – he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC)
PETERKIN – QMS James Moir Peterkin, #2871383, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders, from Aberdeen; he had escaped from Singapore on the “Celia” with other GHs and Brigadier Paris, Major angus MacDonald and Captain Mike Blackwood of the Argylls.
ROBERTS – Mrs. Louis [Lalla] Roberts, wife of Mr. F. B. ‘Barrel’ Roberts, merchant, Nestles Milk Company, Ipoh who was a Changi and Sime Road internee(JM); “…in a recent interview …Mr. Shaw of Asiatic Petroleum Co. stated that …Mrs. F. B. ROBERTS wife of F. B. ROBERTS , Nestlé’s Milk Co., Representative at IPOH. …embarked on the S. S. ROOSEBOOM at BATAVIA late in Feb. 1942 prior to its call at PADANG … Lt. Gen. C in C land Forces SEA ( CO 980/141); the researcher could find no record on the CWGC website
SAVAGE BAILEY –Mrs Kate Edith Savage-Bailey was the widow of Arnold Savage-Bailey, CBE, a well known Singapore solicitor who was killed in an accident in Singapore on 1.4.35: they lived at Tanglin House, Raffles Library Museum; she was the mother of actress Dulcie Gray and had left Singapore on 11.2.42 on the “Kulit” for Sumatra; “…in a recent interview Mr. SHAW of Asiatic petroleum Co. stated that … Mrs. SAVAGE BAILEY , Librarian of Raffles Library Singapore …embarked on the S. S. ROOSEBOOM at BATAVIA in late Feb 1942 prior to its call at PADANG… C in C Land Forces SEA (CO 980/141); in 1946 the Missing Persons Bureau, Colonial Office, Singapore listed her as presumed dead “…Mrs. K.E. Savage Bailey of Raffles Library who left Batavia on the Rooseboom which was torpedoed. Mrs. Savage Bailey was reported drowned…” ( STA 29.5.46); Kate Edith Savage-Bailey, aged 55 years, wife of Arnold Savage-Bailey, of Tanglin House, Orchard Road, Singapore, she died on 28.2.42 (CWGC)
SEY – Sgt. John Sey, #2876336, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders, from Alford, Aberdeenshire – he had escaped from Singapore on the launch “Celia” with a large party of Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris
SHIRRAN – Sgt. Henry Shirran, #2876219, Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders, he was from Aberdeen and had escaped with other Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris from Singapore on the launch “Celia”
SMITH – Sergeant Hector Smith, #2876242,Headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders – who had escaped on the launch “Celia” with other men from the Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris; he was from Aberdeen
THORNE – Lt. Col. Thorne G.C. Norfolk Regt. Comdg. Cambs. ’Not certain’ (CO 980/141); Lt. Col. Gordon Calthrop Thorne, #13944, DSO., twice Mentioned in Despatches, aged 43 years, of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, also Commanding the 2nd Btn. Cambridgeshire Regiment, husband of Pamela Thorne, he had been MID in the 1914-18 war, he died between 2.3.42 and 3.3.42 (CWGC)
TOPP – CQMS Edward Argo Topp, #287 3868, headquarters Company, Gordon Highlanders – he had escaped on a launch named “Celia” with a large party of Gordon Highlanders and Brigadier Paris, Major Angus MacDonald and captain Mike Blackwood of the Argylls
WHITERIDGE – Mrs. Margaret Whiteridge (born 1916) plus two children. (JM); no CWGC record: she was the daughter of Mrs. Ethel Maude Lungley recorded above; Margaret Lungley had married Gordon Whiteridge while he was British Vice-Consul in Batavia,, he was then posted for a few months to Medan in Sumatra and early in 1942 when Batavia was being bombed by the Japanese Margaret, with their two young children sailed from Batavia in a Dutch ship the “SS. Rooseboom” for Colombo. Gordon waited for two weeks in Colombo until two Malay survivors arrived with the devastating news that the “Rooseboom” had been sunk two days out of Padang. The loss of his family was the tragedy of his life ( Obituary to Sir Gordon Whiteridge)
WHITERIDGE – child of (later) Sir Gordon Whiteridge and Mrs Margaret Whiteridge
WHITERIDGE – child of ( later) Sir Gordon Whiteridge and Mrs Margaret Whiteridge
WINTON – CSM Andrew Winton, #2872532, Gordon Highlanders , Head Quarters company who had escaped from Singapore on the “Celia” with Brigadier Paris, Major Angus MacDonald and captain Mike Blackwood of the Argylls
WOOLLCOMBE – Lt. Col. Woolcombe (sic) 2 G. R. “Not certain” (CO 980/141); in his statement to the War office Gibson recollected a “…Lt. Col. Woolcombe, Gurkas (sic)… “as being on board the ship…” ; Lt. Col. Geoffrey Harley Douglas Woollcombe, Indian Nationality, 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Ghurkha Rifles ( The Sirmoor Rifles), # 75/IA, aged 43 years, he also served in the 1914-18 war, son of Gerald and Mary Woollcombe, of Newton Abbot, Devon – he died 28.2.42 (CWGC)
Unidentified passengers;
“Dirk…” the Chief Officer of the “SS. Rooseboom” and his wife - “…a large, stout, fair-haired woman of thirty or so, dressed in a blouse and skirt and carrying a handbag…” – as recorded in “The Boat”
‘One woman with three children…’ – in his statement to The War Office Walter Gibson recollected “…One women with Three children…” as being on board the ship.
“…some wives of P.W.D. officials …“– are recollected by Walter Gibson as being on the ship
Walter Gibson in his written statement to The war Office records that there were “…3 F.M.S. police officers …” in the lifeboat – which means that in addition to Asst Superintendent Davis there were two other FMS police officers , which gives more weight to DEVONSHIRE above being on board(WSWG)
A young C.Q.M.S. (from Ordinance or Engineers) also mentioned as C.Q.M.S. of the 18th Division –“…he was only about twenty one but he had a timbre and a toughness that was lacking in the others…” – from “The Boat”
A Colour Sergeant of the Gordon Highlanders – “… a little dried up nut of a man who had served for fifteen or sixteen years in the Far East, and who was known as “Tich” to all of us …” – a survivor in the lifeboat , mentioned in the book “The Boat”
John Wagstaff, Signal Btn., FMSVF records that he and other Malayan Volunteers were joined in their escape from Singapore in a tongkang by “…nineteen gunners and sappers from Pulau Brani… one officer including a Scottish Private “Jock” who was in charge despite there being an officer (a Lieutenant and a Warrant Officer)…” – the Lieutenant and the warrant officer from this group left on a ship to Australia on 25 February before the “Rooseboom” departed so there may be a record of their escape and the names of some of these men ?
“a group from another regiment, five of them,…they had been stationed somewhere on some island near Singapore… before the Rooseboom had sailed they had been heard to speak of getting a small boat and sailing over to Dutch territory together…- from “The Boat’
“…a youngster of the Loyal regiment…” – from ”The Boat”(p.58)
Also Walter Gibson in his written statement to the war Office recollected that the following were on board the ship (in addition to those reaching the life boat) – “…officers and men of the following units (names not remembered)…
Recce. Corps
R.Corps Signals
Royal Artillery
R.A.O.C.
R.A.S.C. Gordon Hldrs
F.M.S. Volunteers
“Survivors from the “SS. Kuala” - Given the report of some people from the “SS. Kuala” being definitely passengers on the “SS. Rooseboom” (after the earlier sinking of the “SS. Kuala” at Pom Pong Island) - the researcher has appended this speculative list of people who have not been otherwise accounted for as any of internees, deaths in the sinking of the “Kuala” , or people who lost their lives in the sinking of the “SS. Tandjong Pinang” (after being picked up from Pom Pong island) or evacuated from Padang by other means for the record and we would appreciate any feedback on the known fate of these following people to clear them from involvement from the “Rooseboom” story;
Mr. & Mrs. G. Barclay and their son – they are reported to have reached Padang and left on 1.3.42
Miss Beswne
H.H. Blair
Sub Lt T. S. Brand
Miss S. Brent
Lt. Briggs
Broad – an Officer on the “Kuala”
Miss E. Bullen
Miss M. S. Chan, GH.
Ms. R. Cherry
Cobb – an Officer on the “Kuala”
C.H. A. Cosmack, Ipoh
Davis – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Deldridge – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Miss Dennison
Miss Domby
Eastwet – an Officer on the “Kuala”
Mr. & Mrs. Eoh Se Doh plus two children
Miss J. Franklin
Godfrey – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Mrs. Sophie Gowans
Matron (Miss) C.H. Hardy/Hardie
Harfburn
Hearst – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Mr. J. Hitching
Mr. Houston, Chartered Bank
Hsu Cheng Hsin
Hudson – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Miss Jones (Perak)
Mrs. Kerr, nee Fowler-Wright
Miss Key, teacher, Penang
King – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Miss Lien
Sister (Miss) Grace Lim
Miss Lydall, child, Padang
Lutiff – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Mrs McCandish) (Dennieson)
Nurse (Mrs) J.B. McDonald
Sister G.H. McKinley - …18 hours Davo…”
Miss L. D. Morden
Murray – seaman on the “Kuala”
Miss Northey – Dutch Censors Office
Nurse Oswald
Mr. R. R. Roberts – Public Works Dept
Miss Rose Seow
Sister (Miss) Seong Siew
Mr. C. C. T. Sharpe – appears to have been Charles C. T. Sharpe, Botanist, Botanical section, Rubber Research Institute who had actually evacuated on the “Tien Kwang”
Miss B. Sim, General Hospital, MAS.
Ms. Sleigh and three children – this could be Helen Sleigh, b. 1912 , wife of Arthur William Sleigh who was a horse trainer at the Singapore Turf Club and who lived at 20 Coronation Parade( he was a Changi and Sime Road internee) and their children Harry and Violet plus one other child?
Mr. D. B. Smith – Public Works Department
Mrs. Soong Siew Ling
Mrs. Stallworthy – whose husband worked in petrol rationing (other records say Hilda Stallworthy evacuated on the “Empress of Japan”)
Sister L. Stephens – possibly Mrs. Lillian Stephens, Municipal Welfare Officer, whose husband was Sgt John Stephens, RA, and a POW
Storey – seaman on the “Kuala”
Miss Sutherland - of Adelphi Hotel
Nurse T. C. Syn
Misses Tan (two women) – dental, IMNS
Dr. Tan Su Lan & son
Mr. & Mrs. Tang Yong Pang
Ware – a seaman on the “Kuala”
Wareham – an Officer on the “Kuala”
Miss P. Warnett
Miss Annie Weir – General Hospital
Mrs. Wildy – “…husband Brigadier Acc Acc…”; this may in fact be Mrs. Joan Wildey who was lost at sea in the sinking of the “SS. Tandjong Pinang” on 17.2.42?
Capt. Williamson – this could be Captain T. W. Williamson, # 13961, FMSVF, who is recorded as being evacuated to Padang in February 1942 and then reached India and became an Aerial Surveyor in Zambia and then Malaya
J. L. Wilson – Singapore
Wong Kam Hung
Miss Yee Sin Heng – Woodville Hospital
Yuens – APC, 2nd Engineer.
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