Force Z 70th Anniversery Commemoration

[rfarrer]

H.M.S Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse Survivors Association

Patron Rear Admiral Guy Griffiths AO, DSO, DSC, RAN

The 10th December 2011 marks the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in the South China Sea. In 1941 a powerful naval squadron known as Force Z was sent to Singapore to act as a deterrent to Japanese expansion in South East Asia. This consisted of the two capital ships and four destroyers. Crucially, the new aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable that was detailed to join Force Z had been damaged after running aground and never joined the squadron.
Just days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour that brought the United States into the war Force Z sailed from Singapore with orders to intercept and destroy the Japanese invasion fleet that was landing on the Malayan and Siamese coasts.
Following their sighting by a Japanese submarine and reconnaissanceaircraft a large force of 34 high-level bombers and 51 torpedo bombers attacked the two capital ships. A fierce battle ensued but within eighty five minutes the lightly armoured Repulse had sunk following one bomb hit and five torpedo hits and a further forty eight minutes later the Prince of Wales also sank having been crippled by six torpedo hits and a subsequent bomb strike.
The death toll was appalling; on board Repulse 513 of the 1309 crew died and on the Prince of Wales 327 of the 1612 crew. The survivors were picked up by destroyers and taken back to Singapore.
To commemorate those who lost their lives the Force Z Survivor’s Association is to dedicate a memorial on the 10th December 2011 at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire DE13 7AR. The memorial is to cost £12,000 of which £9,000 has already been raised.
Contributions can be sent to the Association Secretary Hannah Rickard at 19 Crossways South Croydon CR2 8JP. Telephone 0208 6573915
The Association website is at http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/ and the secretary can be e-mailed at hrickard1000@aol.com.

[John Odom]

A tragedy worth remembering.

[HMS DARLASTON]

10th December 1941 HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk by Japanese aircraft.
RIP all of those lost souls.

[Mitch Hinde]

Hi All

Four mentions in the Daily Telegraph In Memorium column as usual.
RIP

Mitch Hinde