To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

Royal Navy-tn

DMX62672

Cook

Thomas Graham

Graham-Thomas-03tn

1919/05/29 - Born Gateshead-on-Tyne, Co. Durham

Son of Thomas and Mary Graham

1939/05/12 - Enlisted

Royal Navy

HMS Repulse

 

Service

HMS Repulse-tn

In November, 1941 HMS Repulse was ordered to Colombo to be part of Churchill’s defence against a suspected Japanese attack, the force to be known as ‘Z Force’.

Z Force comprised of:

Prince of Wales

Repulse

Electra

Express

HMAS Vulture

HMS Tenedos

The fleet being ordered to Singapore.

On 8th December at 1735 hours  it sailed  from Singapore to intercept Japanese battle cruisers ‘Kongo’ off the east coast of Malaya, information was that no air support could be given the Z Force. 

On 9th December between 1700 and 1800 hours enemy aircraft were spotted by the Prince of Wales. Tenodos was ordered back to Singapore at 1814 hours. The proposed attack by Z Force on a Japanese landing at Singgora was then abandoned as a Japanese air attack was feared and the fleet had no air cover. The fleet was therefore ordered back to Singapore.

At midnight a report was received that the Japanese were landing at Kuantan and as this was on the way back to Singapore and 400 mile from Japanese known airstrips in French Indo-China, Z force was sent to intercept the Japanese landing fleet.

On 10th December at 0800 hours as no enemy craft were sighted off Kuantan, the Express was sent ahead to report on the situation.  Z Force had previously passed some barges and turned to investigate further when enemy aircraft attacked.

Nine enemy high level bombers attacked Repulse from ahead dropping one bomb each. Repulse was hit on port hanger, bursting through the deck below the Marines mess deck, no serious damage reported.

Nine torpedo bombers then attacked Prince of Wales on the port side putting both port shafts out of action. The steering gear failed and the ship listed 13 degrees to port. In the attack two enemy aircraft were shot down.

A further attack by high level bombers on Repulse did no damage.

Prince of Wales was then attacked by nine Torpedo bombers and incapable of any defensive manoeuvre was hit three times:- Near Stem, Abreast B Turret and Aft. The speed dropped to 8 knots. One aircraft was shot down.

As Repulse turned to starboard she was attacked by three enemy aircraft, but no hits were reported. Then nine torpedo bombers attacked in various directions, the first hit jammed the rudder, losing control of the ship. Three more bombs found their targets:- Port side aft, Abreast Port Engine Room and Starboard Side Boiler Room. Repulse listing badly capsized and sunk at 1235 hours. Electra and Vampire picked up survivors.

Prince of Wales was further attacked by nine high level bombers and was badly damaged by a bomb exploding on the main deck. Express manoeuvred alongside and took of the crew before the ship sunk at 1320 hours.

A search by the remaining ships for survivors was then abandoned and the ships returned to Singapore.

The Repulse lost 27 officers and 486 men. The Prince of Wales lost 42 officers and 754 men.

Thomas survived the sinking of Repulse and taken to Singapore.

 

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Banka Straits, Muntok

PoW No. II 387

1942/03 to Liberation - Palembang, Sumatra

Commanders:-

Comdr Read, Royal Navy

Colonel Hill

Captain Gorry

New PoW No. II 4933

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Graham-Thomas-01

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

Graham-Thomas-02

 

1945/09/20 - Liberated Palembang by Australians

 

Information

Michelle Graham

Jeff Graham

Z Force

KEW:- WO 361/1947, WO 345/21

*

''Our Thanks are for being a Chapter in Life.''

 

 

 

Keeping The Candle Burning

 

Fepow Family

In Memory of FEPOW Family Loved Ones
Designed and Maintained by Ron Taylor.

 

[FEPOW Family] [Roll of Honour] [G]

 

Honorary Life Member-1tn

Honorary member of COFEPOW

 

Email Ron Taylor 

 

Copyright © FEPOW Family