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203861
Lieutenant
Terence Patrick Mulroy
1916/04/19 - Born Leyton, London
Occupation Chief Clerk
Sherwood Foresters
1/5 Battalion
Husband of Audrey Mulroy
(Audrey was eldest daughter of Ex Notts. wicket Keeper Ben Lilley)
Service
1941/10/30 - Sailed in ‘Orcades’ with Convoy CT.5 from Liverpool with the 18th Division
1941/11/08 - Arrived Halifax and transferred to USS West Point with 55th Infantry Brigade, consisting of 1st Cambridgeshires and 5th Beds and Herts (3250 troops).
1941/11/10 - They sailed from Halifax in Convoy William Sail 12X. Sailing via Trinidad and Cape Town.
Above Photo supplied by the late Maurice Rooney
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)
1941/12/08 - Japan entered the war by attacking Pearl Harbour and Malaya.
1941/12/25 - Mount Vernon left convoy with the 53rd Infantry Brigade, sailing for Singapore in convoy DM1
1941/12/27 - Arrived Bombay, now became Task Force 14.2
1942/01/02 - Sailed from India destination Singapore in Task Force 14.2
1942/01/29 - Arrived Keppel Harbour Singapore
After arriving everything wintery was not needed , repacked and put back in trunks, and stored in a school to be claimed. The Regiment was moved that evening up to the Northeast area of the island - two full brigades with artillery. Defensive positions were dug in and wired round and were mobile reserve to the 18th Division. Reconnaissance of various routes were made needed.
The Japanese started shelling in the Northeast but as the Regiment were well dug in there were only two injuries.
The Australians were on the Northwest were surprised by an all out Japanese attack near the causeway and the Japanese pushed the defensive position there back.
The Sherwood Foresters were moved to the the west side for a 10 mile march using long grass along the way as camouflage but most of the way they were troubled by Japanese sniper and they had to withdraw. Taking up positions in the Bukit Road area. In the morning the Japanese attacked their position with infantry and mortar fire and although the battalion had no time to dig in they held their position, putting up with the Japanese trick of letting off fire crackers behind their lines in a bid to get them to withdraw. Then the Japanese Tanks appeared down the Bukit Road firing 10 pounders with no defence against them the Norfolks and Loyals in a more forward position had to withdraw. Casualties were high.
On the 13th February a report was issued that members of all battalions would be evacuated on 02.00 hours the next day.
On arrival at the docks on the Saturday 14th the evacuation ships had already left with women and children on board.
1942/02/15 - Singapore Surrendered to the Japanese
1942 - WO 417/2, Casualty Lists - Officers and Nurses 301 - 800. Missing.
1942/43 - WO 417/4, Casualty Lists - Officers and Nurses 1001 - 1200. Now a PoW.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. 4543
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index card - Side Two
1942/11/01 - Transported overland to Thailand in letter Party ‘Q’, train 8.
The 24th train from Singapore to Thailand.
Commander Lt-Col. D.R. Thomas, 5th Beds & Herts
Work Party IV
New PoW No. 724
Transported back to Singapore when Railway was finished
1944/09/04 - Transported oversea in Rakuyo Maru
On 4th September 1944, convoy HI-72 sailed from Singapore. Two of these ships, Rakuyo Maru and the Kachidoki Maru carried PoWs. The Rakuyo Maru carried 1317 Pows and the Kachidoki Maru a further 900.
The Yakuto Maru is also known as Rokyo Maru or Rokyu Maru, (9,418 tons, built 1921).
The Rakuyo Maru was part of Japan Party 3, the ship sailed with 1318 POW’s, consisting of 600 British, 718 Australian and a few Americans, all coming from the Thailand-Burma Railway.
The holds of the Rakuyo Maru also contained bauxite and the ash of Japanese soldiers. The transport took place in convoy of 13 ships, among others the POW ships AsakaMaru, Kachidoka Maru, Shincho Maru.
1944/09/11 - Joined another convoy from Manila.
1944/09/12 - At 2:00 am the convoy was attacked near Hainan Island by the submarine US Growler and an escort ship was sunk.
The PoW’s were kept in their hold.
At 5:30 am the convoy was attacked again, by submarine US Sealion torpedoed a tanker, a freighter and the Rakuyo Maru. The tanker and freighter sank but Rakuyo Maru did not sink with one torpedo in the fore and one in the engine room (mid-ship). The PoW’s left their holds and some jumped over the side into the sea, but the Japanese, who had evacuated the ship took the life boats.
At 6:15 am the US Growler attacked the convoy again at Lat 18.0 N Lon 114.0E, a frigate was hit, depth-bombs were jumped in the water, nearby the drowning men of the Rakuyo Maru.
At 7:10 am the Rakuyo Maru was still afloat, some of the oil soaked PoWs who had jumped over the side returned to the ship.
At 5:30 pm the ship was near sinking and all the PoW’s left the ship. Two frigates and a freighter saved only the Japanese, the PoW’s were left behind with only two lifeboats between them, the Duncan-group (136 men) and the Varley-group.
1944/09/14 - The Duncan-group were rescued by a Japanese ship but the Varley-group had disappeared. The Duncan-group were taken to Hainan Island.
1944-09/15 - 5:00 pm the submarine US Pampanito arrived at the site of the sinking looking for more Japanese ships and found the survivors in the water clinging to wreckage, they save 63 PoWs. Relaying a message, the US Sealion saved another 44 POW’s, but there were many more left in the sea.
The 136 who were saved by the Japanese arrived at Hainan Island together with about 360 survivors of the Kachidoka Maru which was also sunk. They were transported to Japan in the Kibitsu Maru accompanied by the Asaka Maru and Sincho Maru.
1944/09/17 - At 5:30 pm the US submarines US Barb and US Queenfish saved another 32 men.
1944/09/18 - The weather was bad and no more PoWs were found.
1944/09/20 - US Sealion and US Pampanito arrived at Saipon with 127 survivors, 5 deaths had occurred.
1944/09/21 - US Barb and US Queenfish arrived in Saipan with 32 survivors, 2 deaths had occurred.
It is estimated that 1159 PoWs died with the sinking of the Rakuyo Maru
1944/45 - WO 417/8, Casualty Lists - Officers and Nurses 1535 - 1744. Now reported missing.
1945 - WO 417/9, Casualty Lists - Officers and Nurses 1745 - 1947. Presumed Killed in Action. (died at sea as a PoW)
Died
Age 28
1944/09/12
When Rakuyo Maru was sunk by USS Sealion
Lat 18.0 N Lon 114.0E
Near Hainan Island
Loved Ones
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mulroy
Husband of Audrey Marion Mulroy, of Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire. B.A.
Memorial
Column 69.
Singapore Memorial
Information
Sean Mulroy
Andrew Snow
KEW:- WO 361/1742, WO 361/2057, WO 345/37, WO 361/734, WO 361/2169, WO 361/1987, WO 361/733, WO 361/2062, WO 361/2069, WO 361/2178, WO 392/25, WO 361/734,
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