|
211982
Major
Norman Cyril Bruce Cleveley
1913/09/08 - Born Birmingham
Son of Arthur and Florence Cleveley
1930/10/10 - Enlisted
Next of Kin:- Parents: A & F Cleveley, Beeton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham
(I believe Norman gave a false year of birth when he joined up of 1910/09/08 as he would have been under the age to enlist)
Royal Corps of Signals
Malay Command Signals Singapore
Service
Stationed in Shanghai late 1930s
1941 - Stationed at Singapore when the Japanese attacked Malaya
The British Navy submarine chaser, HMS Mata Hari, joined a flotilla of escape ships evacuating personnel and civilians from Singapore.
The HMS Mata Hari left Singapore with a ship’s complement of 483: nine officers, 72 European ratings, two Asian crew, 30 Royal Marines, 50 Royal Naval personnel from HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, 60 Army personnel, 118 civilian men and 132 women and children.
Captain Norman Cleveley acted as the ships radio officer as he was Royal Corps of Signals.
The HMS Mata Hari picked up some survivors from HMS Scorpion which had been sunk carrying escapees from Singapore, they had been in the water for quite a while.
HMS Mata Hari was attacked by the Japanese in the Bangka Straits, 10 miles S.E. of Muntok on the 15th February 1942 and as there were many civilians on board the captain surrendered the ship to the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper tender Eiko Maru with no loss of life.
As there had not been enough room below decks a Red Cross volunteer nurse, Christine Bundy, was on deck when the Japanese boarded. She owed her life to Captain Norman Cleveley as she was about to be shot by the Japanese and he threw himself on top of her to save her. In a very dangerous situation Christine kept her sense of humour with the reply to Captain Cleveley ‘We have not been introduced’.
Norman did not know Christine at that time but they were married after being liberated.
Survivors were taken as prisoners of war to Muntok, Bangka Island but some crew members were forced to stay aboard the captured ship. The Mata Hari was then taken back to Singapore.
The HMS Mata Hari was renamed Nichirin Maru in October 1942 and was used by the Japanese as a troop carrier. It was eventually was sunk 2nd March 1945 in the East China Sea with the loss of 17 crewmen.
1942/03/10 - WO417/002, Casualty List No. 767. Reported ‘Missing’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/17 - Captured 10 miles from Bangka island
Taken to Muntok, Bangka Island
PoW No. II 22
After a few weeks at Muntok, the service men went to a camp in Palembang and the civilians went to Pladjo Oil Refinery on the Mosei River, a few miles from Palembang.
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/03 - Transported via Moesi River to Mula School, Palembang
Then later to Palembang PoW Camp
New PoW No. II 207
Sketch of Norman
1945/09/21 - Left Palembang after being liberated
1945/12/07 - WO417/9, Casualty List No. 1930. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1228 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
Post War
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37720/supplement/4574
Christine Bundy, photo taken Jahore 1935
Before the war Christine had been in Jahore but Norman and Christine did not meet until the Japanese boarded the HMS Mata Hari.
1949 - Married Christine (nee Guy) Bundy at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London
1950/08/ - They were blessed in Malta with daughter Jayne.
Norman worked at Horseguards Parade Whitehall until he died.
Died
Major Norman died 24th August 1971
|
|
|
|
|
|
Defence Medal
|
War Medal
|
1939-1945 Star
|
Pacific Star
|
|
|
|
Major Norman Cleveley was also awarded the oak leaf by the King GeorgeVI
Information
Jayne Cleveley Guy - Daughter
Liberation Questionnaire - COFEPOW
KEW Files:- WO 345/11, WO 361/1946, WO 392/23, WO 361/2189,
|
