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121697
Lieutenant
Philip Austen Davies
1915/02/03 - Born Bristol, Gloucestershire
Son of James Phillips Davies and Violet Helen (nee Pickard) Davies
Next of Kin Parents, James Phillips Davies and Violet Helen Davies, of Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
Royal Artillery
512/148 (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment
18th Division
Service
1940 - The regiment were stationed in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk defending the coast against a supposed German invasion, with WW1 18lb guns. On receiving new 25lb guns the regiment went to Larkhill for a firing camp on the range at Salisbury Plain.
1941 - The next move was to the Scottish borders at Hawick where the weather of January to March restricted outdoor manoeuvres. In May the regiment was moved to Rochdale where they trained till July. In August the regiment moved to Monmouth where training intensified.
1941/10/30 - The regiment had been moved to Liverpool where they embarked on various ships with the 18th Division.
1941/10/30 - Left Liverpool for Halifax in Convoy CT.5.
1941/11/08 - At Halifax transferred to USS Wakefield with the 54th Infantry Brigade.
1941/11/10 - Left Halifax with Convoy William Sail 12X, destination unknown, believed to be Middle East.
Above Photo of Convoy William Sail 12X supplied by the late Maurice Rooney
Vought SB 2U Vindicator Scout Bomber - USS Ranger which was flying an Anti Submarine patrol over the convoy.
Front Line Top to Bottom:-
USS West Point - USS Mount Vernon - USS Wakefield - USS Quincy (Heavy Cruiser)
Back Row Top To Bottom:-
USAT Leonard Wood - USS Vincennes (Heavy Cruiser) - USS Joseph T Dickman
(USS Orizaba Ap-24 also sailed with Convoy though not pictured in photo)
1941/12/08 - Japan entered war by bombing Pearl Harbour and invading Hong Kong and Malaya
18th Division diverted from Middle East and sent to Singapore
1942/01/29 - By the time the USS Wakefield reached Singapore the causeway joining Singapore to Malaya was about to be blown to stop the Japanese advance into Singapore.
The 18th Division were deployed on the North East of Singapore as General Percival believed that was where the Japanese would mount their attack.
The Japanese bluff worked as the Japanese attacked the North West coast on the 9th February, quickly gaining ground.
By the 15th February the water reservoirs supplying Singapore City were under threat and General Percival was forced into surrendering Singapore.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to Japanese (Sketch by Leo Rawlings)
During the Battle for Singapore Philip was wounded and required emergency medical care.
1942/03/26 - WO417/2, Casualty List No.781. Reported ‘Missing’.
1945/03/10 - WO417/029, Casualty List No. 1702. Previously posted on Casualty List No. 781 as Missing 15/02/1942. Now reported ‘Prisoner of War in Japanese Hands’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. 281
1945/03/12 - WO417/029, Casualty List No. 1703. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1702 and 781 as posted Missing 15/02/1942.
Now reported ‘Died of Wounds 07-15/03/1942’.
Died
Age 27
Between 7th to 15th March 1942
Loved Ones
Son of James Phillips Davies and Violet Helen Davies, of Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol.
Memorial
8. A. 9.
Kranji War Cemetery
Singapore
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Far East Medals
ONLY SON OF V.K. & J.P.DAVIES, BRISTOL
O VALIANT HEART GOD KEEP YOU IN HIS LOVE
Information
Kate Phipps
Convoy William Sail 12X
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Commonwealth War Grave Commission
KEW Files:- WO 361/2185, WO 361/1623, WO 361/2161, WO 361/1946,
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