File

The Fall of Singapore to the Japanese, and Captain Tufton Beamish's escape (After Singapore fell Captain Beamish was one of a small party which escaped in a small sail-assisted rowing boat to the east coast of Sumatra, Dutch East Indies, thence travelling overland to Padang and on to Ceylon and India). The file includes

(a) Carbon copy typescript report of the events of 30 Jan 1942 to 14 Feb 1942, with critical analysis

(b) Carbon copy signed typescript report by Lt Col L C Thomas of the 'Thom Force' operation of 10-12 Feb 1942 to push back the enemy in the Bukit Timah area

(c) Printed map of Singapore, 1911

(d) Special message to the troops by Lt Gen Sir Lewis Heath, Commander 3rd Indian Corps, 6 Feb 1942

(e) Notifications by the War Office to Rear-Admiral Beamish that his son is missing, 20 Mar 1942, and of his safe arrival in India, 11 Apr 1942

(f) Long copy letter from Captain Beamish to his father from New Delhi, Easter Day 1942, giving his extensive (and critical) private views on the fall of Singapore [for original of this, see CLW/1/6/15 (no 20)]

(g) Extracts from a 'History of the 18th Division', made by Tufton Beamish in 1947

(h) Correspondence with Mrs Beckwith-Smith, Stratton Audley, about her husband Major General Merton Beckwith-Smith (Commander, 18th Division), who was interned in a prison camp and died there of diphtheria on 11 Apr 1942

(i) Typescript narrative (by Captain Beamish) of 'The Voyage of the 'Pushme-Pullu', 13 Feb to 1 Mar 1942' (i.e. the escape by boat to Sumatra). Includes a map

(j) St George's Gazette (regimental magazine), 30 Jun 1942, containing extracts from the above narrative

(k) Comments by Lt Col T C Hutchinson on the events of 1942, made in 1947

(l) Booklet, Singapore Sequel, by Captain L D Gammans MP (1944)

(m) Booklet 'Despatch by the Supreme Commander of the Abda Area to the Combined Chiefs of Staff on the Operations in the South-West Pacific, 15 Jan to 25 Feb 1942' (HMSO, 1948)

(n) London Gazette, 2nd Supplement, 20 Feb 1948, 'Operations of Malaya Command from 8 Dec 1941 to 15 Feb 1942'

(o) London Gazette, 3rd Supplement, 20 Feb 1948, 'Report on Air Operations During the Campaigns in Malaya and Netherland East Indies, 8 Dec 1941 to 12 Mar 1942' [see also CLW/1/6/15, CLW/2/1/17]

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