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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 90

'After receiving Surrender Order from Southern Area Command via Major J. E. Eliot R.A., I took a small craft with a motor and approx. 18 Officers & men of R.A., R.E., A.C.S., Bombay Sappers & Miners, from Tebay Island-Singapore and with some hazards reached the Indragivi [SIC] river Sumatra on the evening of the 18-2-1942. The names of those on board whom I can remember are shown below…Sgt. A. E. Armstrong [SIC] No 1059778.'

(The Testimony of Captain James Gordon, 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery on his dramatic escape from the Fall of Singapore)

The Evaders group of five awarded to Warrant Officer Class II J. E. Armstrong, 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery, whose unit went 'in the bag' during the Fall of Singapore, Armstrong however escaped capture and managed to join a small group of survivors in a remarkable journey to safety in India via Sumatra

1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., Regular Army, G.VI.R. (1059778 Bmbr. J. E. Armstrong. R.A.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R. (1059778 W.O. Cl. 2. J. E. Armstrong. R.E.M.E.), minor pitting, very fine (5)

John Ernest Armstrong was born at Wallsend in 1910 and enlisted on 22 December 1924. Posted to the 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery at Singapore in February 1942 where they manned the guns of Changi Command, being responsible for No 7, 22 and 32 Batteries. When the city came under attack by the Japanese and it's fall became inevitable, their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Heath ordered the guns destroyed. The men on the Island were ordered to act as infantry however this did not account for the men who had left Singapore Island.

Amongst these was Armstrong who is listed upon the Liberation Questionnaire of Captain James Gordon, 9th Coast Regiment. On his Questionnaire he noted the names of several men whom he had organised when the surrender order came through. Requisitioning a small boat he led them to Sumatra, Gordon lists those whose names he remembered aboard the boat which includes Armstrong.

Very few managed to escape the Fall of Singapore and fewer still made it back to Allied lines, the Regimental History notes that Armstrong and 4 other Senior N.C.O.Ss from 22 (Sphinx) Battery managed to get away. Two of these were later 'mentioned' having been caught by the Japanese and killed in a massacre on 21 February.

Armstrong however was not amongst them having travelled to Padang, Western Sumatra. From there he made it back to India, transferring to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on 22 March 1945. He was awarded his Meritorious Service Medal with them in 1950; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240