December 1941....the newly formed Blackpool Regiment, the 137 (Army) Field Regiment RA (TA) had just arrived in Singapore. The Japanese were preparing to invade Malaya.
The story of what happened to the Regiment is brief and tragic. Defeated in the battle of Jitra within days of landing, it was forced to retreat down the Malayan Peninsula, suffering catastrophic losses at the battle of Slim River, eventually making it back to Singapore to end up fighting in the grounds of Raffles Hotel, before surrendering on the orders of General Percival.
There followed three-and-a-half years in various POW camps on the notorious Burma-Thai Railway of Death.
At the time of the surrender, a flotilla of ships was trying to escape from Singapore. The author's uncle was on board one of those ships, unfortunately losing his life when HMS Yin Ping was sunk by a Japanese cruiser. The story of the sinking is related in some detail, along with some of the survivors' connection with the terrible massacres on Bangka Island.
The Blackpool Regiment's story is told through the eyes of a serving officer and the story of the tragedy of HMS Yin Ping is a combination of the author's family knowledge and the extensive research undertaken by Michael Pether.