85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

The 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery was formed in September 1941 during WWII. After training in Essex, the 85th and their equipment were loaded on to the SS Narkunda, a ship in a “WS” Convoy. When the convoy departed the docks, the 85th was heading for Basra,[1][2] Iraq via the Cape of Good Hope.[1] The 85th’s equipment was painted in desert camouflage. The convoy sailed south to Durban, South Africa. While enroute, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and invaded the Philippines. The 85th were diverted from their original desert destination to Singapore as reinforcements of the Garrison there.

85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
Country United Kingdom
RoleAnti-Tank artillery
SizeRegiment

Origin

The 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery was formed on 23 September 1941.[3] The regiment comprised four anti-tank batteries: 45, 251,[2] 270[4] and 281. The 251st Battery were detached from 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars, a territorial unit which had its HQ at Oxford.[5]

In September 1941, the 85th was camped John Groom’s Orphanage and Flower Girls’ Home[4] at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.[2]

Commander

Lt. Col. Andrew John Lardner-Clarke

Equipment

36 x 2-pounders[6]

Travel

The 85th regiment boards the converted P&O ocean liner SS Narkunda at Greenock, Scotland on the River Clyde on 11 November 1941, as part of "Winston Special" convoy WS 12Z.[1][7] WS 12Z convoy sails just before midnight of the November 12th (into the 13th).

Convoy WS 12Z arrives at Freetown, Sierra Leone on 25 November 1941.[7] The convoy leaves Freetown on 28 November 1941. While in transit to Durban, South Africa, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The Japanese also invade the Philippines on 8 December 1941.

The convoy arrives at Durban, South Africa on 18 December 1941. The convoy departs Durban on 24 December 1941.

From Durban, the convoy splits, The 85th AT Regiment aboard SS Narkuna are in convoy DM1 (Durban Military or Durban Malaya convoys), a convoy of escorts and four troop reinforcement ships (Aorangi, Mount Vernon, Narkunda and Sussex) to reinforce the Singapore garrison.[7] There was a fuelling stop at "Port T", Addu Atoll, Maldives on 1 January 1942 (no shore leave).[4]

The SS Nakunda reached Keppel Harbour, Singapore on 13 January 1942.[8]

Singapore

The 85th were transported from the docks to Birdwood Barracks, near Changi.[2][4]

On 14 January 1942 the 85th AT Regiment was attached to 11 Indian Brigade and moved some fifty miles north of Birdwood Camp to Jahore Baru[2] and began defence of Singapore. They were called into action the next day in a rubber plantation just north of the Sultan of Jahore’s palace which they fought for a week.[2]

On 5 February 1942, the 85th was sent to RAF base at Selatar to guard the base.[2] The next day, they evacuated the base and withdrew to the residential district of Mount Pleasant in Singapore City.[2]

On 13 February 1942, the 85th set up defensive positions at Halifax Road.[2]

Prisoners of War

The Singapore Garrison capitulated on 15 February 1942 and the POWs were marched to Changi Prison. Subsequently, most of the POWs were enslaved and forced to work on the infamous Death Railroad.

References
  1. Munro, Archie (2006). The Winston Specials: Troopships Via the Cape 1940-1943. Liskeard: Maritime Books. p. 227. ISBN 9781904459200.
  2. Reed, Bill; Peeke, Mitch (2004). Lost Souls of the River Kwai. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1 84415 127 1.
  3. Frederick, John Bassett Moore (1984). Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660-1978 Two volumes. East Ardsley, Wakefield, Yorkshire: Microform Academic. ISBN 978-1851170098.
  4. Young, Stuart (2013). Life on the Death Railway. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword. ISBN 978 1 84884 820 7.
  5. "Royal Artillery". wartimesmemoryproject. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  6. Farndale, Sir Martin (2002). History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: the Far East Theatre, 1941-1946. Brassey's. ISBN 9781857533316.
  7. "WS CONVOYS - July to December 1941". Naval History. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  8. "SS Narkunda". P & O Steam Navigation CO. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
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