MALAY NAVY IN WORLD WAR II

The Royal Malaysian Navy can trace its roots to the formation of the Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve (SSRNVR) in Singapore on 27 April 1934 by the British Colonial Government in Singapore. 

The Malay Navy (officially the Royal Navy Malay Section) played a vital role in the defense of Southeast Asia during World War II. Though often overshadowed by larger fleet actions, these local sailors were on the front lines from the very first Japanese landings in December 1941.

Origins and Early Years

Recognizing the growing threat of Japanese expansion, the British colonial administration established the Malay Section of the Royal Navy on September 4, 1939.

• Recruitment: It was primarily composed of local Malay ratings, while most officers were British.
• Training: Sailors were trained at HMS Pelandok, a shore establishment located within the Sembawang Naval Base in Singapore.
• Lt. Cmdr H.N. Vickers RN, was appointed as the first Commanding Officer of HMS Pelandok. (Lt.Cmdr H.N Vickers later died as P.O.W at Pulau Banka in 1942)
• Expansion: The force grew rapidly from 400 men in 1939 to approximately 1,430 personnel by 1941.

The Malayan Campaign (1941–1942)

When Japan invaded on December 8, 1941, Malay Navy personnel were immediately thrust into combat.

• Coastal Defense: They served on minesweepers, patrol craft, and auxiliary vessels, tasked with guarding the coastlines and keeping vital shipping lanes clear.
• Anti-Aircraft Combat: During the heavy bombing of Singapore in early 1942, Malay sailors manned anti-aircraft guns at HMS Pelandok to defend the naval base.
• Evacuation Heroics: As Singapore fell in February 1942, many Malay Navy members were involved in the desperate "Little Dunkirk" evacuation, using small ships to ferry civilians and soldiers away from the advancing Japanese.

Service Abroad and the "Mombasa" Connection

After the fall of Singapore, the Malay Navy did not cease to exist. About 150-160 personnel managed to escape to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, and East Africa.

• East Africa Command: A significant group was stationed in Mombasa, Kenya, where they continued to serve under the Royal Navy.
• Roles: They served in the Indian Ocean theater, performing duties in communications, seamanship, and gunnery, waiting for the opportunity to liberate their homeland.
• Casualties: The war took a heavy toll; records show that at least 153 men of the Malay Section lost their lives during the conflict.

WORLD WAR II 

1941

• 8 December - Japanese troops landed in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. HMS Kelana under the command of Lt.C.J. Windsor was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Endau area, Pahang.
• HMS Pelandok was bombed by Japanese troops in Singapore.
• 9 December - ODSM Ahmad bin Saidi (Brother of the late Lt. Adnan bin Saidi) was killed in a battle with the Japanese troops.
• 10 December - 2 British warships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk in the waters of Kuantan due to bombing by the Japanese Air Force.
• 13 December - HMS Lipis, the first Armed Merchant Ship to be attacked by the Japanese troops while on a voyage from Kuching to Singapore. HMS Kelantan under Captain H.W. Richardson was the first ship to successfully leave Malaya and sail towards Colombo.
• 30 December - HMS Kudat was attacked by Japanese troops in Teluk Gadong. ABSM Abdul Kadir bin Said was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) by the British Government for his bravery in fighting Japanese aircraft aboard HMS Kudat. He was the first Malay to be awarded the medal.

1942

• HMS Surveyor and HMS Kampar were sunk by the Japanese in Malayan waters.
• 12 January - HMS Vyner Brooke was attacked by Japanese aircraft off Bangka Island, Indonesia. All Malay Navy personnel on board were killed except for ABSM Abdul Samad bin Ali. He managed to save 22 Australian Army nurses but his sacrifice was never recognized by the British government. He eventually took himself to America and settled there.
• 13 January - HMS Matahari & HMS Larut were sunk in the waters off Sabang Island by the Japanese.
• 20 January - HMS Raub was attacked by the Japanese in Belawan, Indonesia. HMS Larut under Captain C.E. Cleaver was attacked by Japanese aircraft near Sabang Island.
• 27 January - All British and Australian military personnel in Johor Bahru were ordered to retreat to Singapore for a final defense.
• 8 February - Singapore began to be attacked from the air by Japanese forces including the British Naval base at Sembawang and also the training ship HMS Pelandok.
• 11 February - HMS Laburnum was attacked by the Japanese. Lt.Cdr. H. Vickers Commanding Officer HMS Pelandok gives the Malay Navy and MRNVR members the choice of continuing to fight with the British Navy or removing their Navy uniforms and returning to their respective villages.
• 13 February - HMS Laburnum is sunk by Japanese aircraft.
• 14 February - HMS Vyner Brooke, HMS Siang Wo and HMS Shu Kuang are sunk by Japanese attacks in Malayan waters.
• 15 February - Singapore falls to the Japanese Army.
• 8 March - HMS Kedah arrives in Colombo after being attacked by the Japanese Navy.

1944

• April - 52 members of the Malay Navy were awarded the Pacific Star and War Medal by the British Government.
• 9 May - ABSM Johari bin Mohd Amin joined OSS 404 (U.S.Army). OSS 404 is said to be the basis for the establishment of the CIA in America today.
• 1 December - Force 136 consisting of several members of the Malay Navy landed in Temenggor, Perak led by Lt. Col. P.G. Dobrey.

1945

• 5 August - Members of the Malay Navy sailed with HMS Braganza in Bombay and were trained in naval warfare tactics.
• 6 August - B-29 Bomber aircraft (USAAF) dropped the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima City, Japan/
• 9 August - B-29 aircraft of the American Air Force dropped the Atomic bomb on Nagasaki City in Japan.

1946

• 12 January - Some members of the Malay Navy and MRNVR served again on HMS Derby Heaven.
• 26 February - MRNVR was disbanded.
• 8 June - several members of the Malay Navy participate in the London Victory Parade.

1947

• April - The Malay Navy is disbanded. The MRNVR is re-established under the command of Cdr. F.E.W Lammert.

Post-War Legacy

In September 1945, surviving Malay Navy personnel returned to Malaya with the Allied liberation forces.

• Reactivation: Though briefly disbanded in 1947 due to budget cuts, the force was reactivated in 1948 as the Malayan Naval Force to combat the Communist Emergency.
• Royal Status: In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II granted them the title "Royal Malayan Navy" in recognition of their distinguished service. This eventually became the Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia) we know today.

ROYAL NAVY (MALAY SECTION)

During the World War II era, the "Malay Navy" (Royal Navy Malay Section) and its sister volunteer units operated a variety of smaller, agile vessels suited for coastal defense, while their personnel served across the British Royal Navy's fleet.

Ships Operated by the Malay Navy (1939–1945)

Because the Malay Section was primarily a coastal defense force, they operated smaller craft rather than large battleships. Many of these ships were lost or scuttled during the fall of Singapore.

• HMS Pelandok (The Training Ship): This was the heart of the Malay Navy. Originally a training and minesweeping ship, it served as the headquarters for the Malay Section at the Sembawang Naval Base. It was destroyed by Japanese air raids in early 1942.
• HMS Laburnum: Inducted on 18 February 1935 and was used as a naval training platform.  An Acacia-class sloop (approx.4 1,200 tons) that served as the Headquarters and drill ship for the Straits Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. It was scuttled in February 1942 to prevent capture.

Patrol Boats & Motor Launches:

• HMS Panglima and HMS Pahlawan: Motor launches equipped with Lewis guns for coastal patrolling.
• HMS Jerong and HMS Trang: Additional patrol boats acquired in 1940.
• HMS Panji: A training vessel transferred to the Penang branch.

Auxiliary Vessels: During the evacuation of Singapore, Malay sailors manned many of the 100+ auxiliary vessels (converted tugs, ferries, and fishing boats) used to rescue troops and civilians.

• HMS Vyner Brooke: A patrol and cargo ship that was famously sunk in February 1942 while carrying evacuees; 20 Malay seamen were among those lost.
• HMS Kedah: A converted passenger liner that successfully escaped to Colombo, carrying many Malay survivors.

Notable Malay Sailors & Figures

While many individual stories remain in the shadows of history, several names stand out for their leadership and service during and immediately after the war:

• Abdul Samad Bin Ali: A veteran who served on HMS Vyner Brooke. He survived its sinking and later became a respected figure in the post-war naval community, earning the Burma Star, Defense Medal, and Pacific Star for his service.
• Mohd Zain bin Hussein: A Sub-Lieutenant who served during the war and later became a prominent film director in Malaysia, representing the many multi-talented individuals who joined the service. Joined the Force 136 during the war and involved in the Victory Parade in London in 1946.
• Dato' Mohd Kadir Bin Said: Another notable member of the early generation of Malay naval officers who contributed to the transition of the force from a British section to the Royal Malaysian Navy.For his bravery fighting aboard HMS Kudat during World War II, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) by the British Government and was the first Malay to receive the award.
• CPOSM Awang Bin Salleh joined OSS 404 US Army in Ceylon.
• CPOSM Johari bin Mohd Amin - joined OSS 404 US Army and was involved in Ops Zipper in Malaya.
• Sharif bin Mohamed: Joined OSS 404 US Army and was assigned to Phuket, Thailand to spy on the movements of the Japanese Army.

The "Mombasa Group": While individual names are rarer in general history books, the group of approximately 150 Malay ratings who escaped to Mombasa, Kenya, are collectively celebrated. They maintained the identity of the Malay Navy in exile for three years, serving as signalmen and gunners for the Royal Navy until the 1945 liberation.

Summary Table: Key Vessels (1939-1942)

Ship Name	Type	Fate
HMS Pelandok	Training/Minesweeper	Destroyed by air raid, Jan 1942
HMS Laburnum	Sloop / HQ Ship	Scuttled, Feb 1942
HMS Vyner Brooke	Patrol/Cargo	Sunk by bombers, Feb 1942
HMS Kedah	Armed Merchant / Transport	Escaped to India/Ceylon
HMS Pahlawan	Patrol Boat	Captured near Banka Island, 1942

THE LITTLE DUNKIRK

The "Little Dunkirk" of Singapore (February 11–15, 1942) was one of the most tragic and desperate maritime evacuations in history. Unlike the original Dunkirk, where thousands were saved, the Singapore evacuation was a "Dunkirk that failed"—a chaotic flight where the majority of those who boarded the ships never reached safety.

1. The "Flotilla of Despair"

As the Japanese Army closed in on Singapore's city center, the British High Command ordered a final evacuation of key personnel, including nurses, technicians, and senior officers.

• The Fleet: A motley collection of 44 to 47 vessels left Singapore between February 11 and 14. This included everything from small coastal steamers and river gunboats to private yachts, motor launches, and even 12-foot skiffs.
• The Passengers: Around 5,000 people (soldiers and civilians) crowded onto these ships. Many vessels were dangerously overloaded; for example, the SS Kuala carried hundreds of women and children alongside military personnel.

2. The "Banka Strait" Trap

The Japanese were well aware of the evacuation and were determined not to let another "Dunkirk" succeed. They moved a powerful naval task force—including cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers—into the Banka Strait (the narrow passage between Sumatra and Banka Island).

• Daylight Attacks: Because the Allied ships were slow and lacked air cover, they were "sitting ducks." During the day, Japanese bombers scoured the waters.
• Nighttime Interceptions: At night, Japanese destroyers used searchlights to pick out the small ships and sink them with gunfire.

3. Famous Ships and Tragedies

• SS Kuala: Sunk by Japanese bombers on February 14 while anchored at Pom Pong Island. Hundreds of women, children, and nurses were forced to jump into the sea; many drowned or were machine-gunned in the water.
• SS Vyner Brooke: Carrying 65 Australian Army nurses, it was bombed and sunk. Survivors who reached Radji Beach on Banka Island were later massacred by Japanese soldiers (the famous Banka Island Massacre).
• HMS Li Wo: A tiny converted river patrol boat that chose to fight back. Its captain, Thomas Wilkinson, charged a Japanese transport convoy, hitting a troopship before being sunk by a Japanese cruiser. Wilkinson was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
• HMS Grasshopper & HMS Dragonfly: Two river gunboats sunk in the Banka Strait; many of their survivors were later captured or died in the jungle.

4. The Role of the Malay Navy

Malay sailors were the unsung heroes of this chaos. As local experts in these waters, they:

• Manned the Small Craft: Many of the motor launches and tugs that actually succeeded in navigating the treacherous minefields and shallow coastal waters were crewed by local Malay ratings.
• Knowledge of the Islands: They used their knowledge of the Riau and Lingga Archipelagos to hide ships under mangrove canopies during the day to avoid aerial detection.
• The Survivors: The small group of Malay sailors who eventually reached Mombasa, Kenya, did so by first surviving this "Little Dunkirk" and regrouping in Ceylon.

5. The Outcome

The numbers are staggering. Of the roughly 5,000 who fled:

• Only two vessels made it to their intended destination (Java or Ceylon).
• Less than 1,000 people are estimated to have survived to reach safe territory.
• The rest were either killed in action, drowned, or spent the remainder of the war in brutal Japanese internment camps in Sumatra.

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11 January 2026: 3.52 p.m