1941, Sunday 05 October;
They had left Fremantle as part of convoy US 12B, a troop reinforcement convoy to the Middle East, along with Aquitania, 45,000 tons, carrying 3,296 New Zealand soldiers, Johan Van Oldenbarneveldt, 19,000 tons, carrying 2,146 Australian troops, and Marnix van St Aldegonde, 19,000 tons, carrying 2,409 Australian troops, escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Sydney. Sydney had, at the Sunda Straits, been replaced by a British cruiser, and then, closer to Singapore, our two troopships, Sibajak, and Boissevain, both Dutch ships, left the convoy, heading into port. The others continued on to Colombo, and then later on to the Suez.
Between them Sibajak and Boissevain carried just under 3,000 military personnel, first- and second-line replacements for the Australian 8th Division, along with newly promoted transfers taking up command positions, others returning from courses and training schools, and the usual small number of odds and sods. Also on board were some more air and ground crew for the expanding RAAF squadrons, and a small RAN draft.
To greet them dockside stood Lt Gen Percival, Maj Gen Rowell, CO of the 8th Australian, and Vivian Bowden, the Australian Government representative here in Singapore. The arrival of these troops would bring the entire 8th Division, along with both Commandos and the Medium Artillery Regiment, fully up to strength, along with reserves. All the Australian artillery units would now be fully manned, but equipment shortages would still remain, 3-inch mortars being the extreme replacement for the designated 25 pounder gun, while some batteries would remain in Malacca, not even being equipped with those.
Sydney Rowell’s arrival had seen a huge change in British-Australian relations, his personality and experience allowing him to seamlessly move into a close and trusted working relationships with all the authorities, and especially Percival. And it was very welcome, the secret operation Matador, the occupation of southern Thailand and part of the Kra Isthmus was fast developing into being the favoured option in defending Malaya. Problems with Thai neutrality and authorisation from London aside, the major military issue to resolve was what units would be involved. Unfortunately, almost all the Indian formations were still very much in need of training, at all levels, although the intensive training programs they were going through was beginning to bear fruit.
So, the only formation that could be given the task was the Australian 8th Division, in its entirety, along with some supporting units. And the Australians needed to be fully up to strength, given what they might be tasked with. So, while the newly arrived joined the tanned ranks, excited to be abroad in such exotic places as Singapore, Penang and Malacca, and discovered what life was like out here, so the planners wrote in ink pen, writing over the pencilled names of units, designated for particular roles.
