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11838
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
William Robert King
Known as ‘Billy’
(Sketch by John Mennie in the Imperial War Museum)
1902/07/20 - William was Born Clonlea, Co. Clare, Ireland
Son of Samuel Waldron and Mildred Feridah King
In 1911 the family lived at Gortnacorragh, Clare, Ireland
Educated mainly in Tipperary then Dublin University.
Occupation Share Broker.
To Singapore in 1924. Broker, Lyall & Evatt, 23 Raffles Place, Singapore.
SCC, Straits Settlements and Ireland Cricketer.
Next of Kin Father, Canon Samuel W King, Kilrush Rectory, County Clare, Ireland
Straits Settlement Volunteer Force
1st Battalion
Service
1924, July - Enlisted
Formed in 1888 as the Singapore Volunteer Artillery Corps.
In the 1930's the S.S.V.F included four infantry battalions:-
- 1st and 2nd Battalion S.S.V.F with 1250 men from Penang and Province Wellesley
- 3rd Battalion S.S.V.F. with 916 men from Malacca
- 4th Battalion S.S.V.F. with 675 men
They were not only Europeans, but Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. Very similar as the British Territorial Army, they came from all types of trades and backgrounds.
The Japanese entered WW2 by bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Hong Kong and Malaya on the 8th December 1941.
Japanese troops landed at Singora and Patini in Thailand and Kota Bharu in Malaya. Taking control of the Kota Bharu airfield, thus reducing air cover for the defending troops.
The battle hardened Japanese troops used the tactics of getting behind the Allied Troops so the defenders had to retreat, plus with very limited air cover, the Allied Troops were pushed back to the causeway, joining Malaya to Singapore. The causeway was blown on the 31st January 1942 to stop the Japanese advance..
The men of the S.S.V.F. were made ready to help defend Singapore if the Japanese were to attack Singapore .
On the night of the 8th of February 1942, the Japanese landed on the North West side of Singapore Island. General Percival had made strong the North East coastline thinking that is where the Japanese would attack, but Yamashita’s bluff of continuous bombing from Pulau Ubin had worked, completely deceiving General Percival.
The Japanese quickly advanced towards the Reservoirs, which provided water to Singapore City. With the threat that the water supply being cut off, Singapore surrendered on 15th February 1942.
Singapore Surrender by Leo Rawlings
Almost all of the S.S.V.F. were captured during the Battle for Singapore.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
1942/02/19 - Changi Camp
PoW No. M-2937
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/28 - Transported overland to Thailand with ‘U’ Letter Party, train 4
Work Group 4
New PoW No. IV-5858
Thailand Camps:-
1942/11/12 - Kinsiayok
1942/12/14 - Kannyu
1943/08/01 - Tha Sao Hospital
1943/09/02 - Chungkai
1943/10/25 - The Thailand and Burma rail tracks joined near Konkoita, Thailand
1944/06/21 - Tha Muang
1945/06/05 - Pratchai
New PoW No. IV-9839
1945/08/30 - Liberated Thailand
Liberation Questionnaire filled in by William after being liberated
Mentioned in Dispatches
1945/12/13 - Awarded the Military Medal
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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
Post War
Returned to Dublin 1946 and worked as an estate agent with Jackson, Stopps & McCabe.
Married and had children in later years.
William passed away January 1987 in Dublin.
Information
Bernard King - Nephew
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Glenda Godfrey
Jonathan Moffatt
Kevin Snowdon
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Thailand Burma Railway
Sketch of W. R. King by John Mennie - Imperial War Museum
KEW Files:- WO 361/2196, WO 361/1955, WO 392/25, WO 361/1955, WO 345/20, WO 361/1987, WO 361/2172, WO 361/2169, WO 373/47
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