At
3:30 p.m. on Monday 15th February, 1915, 815 men of the Indian Army's
5th Light Infantry Battalion with 100 men of the Malay States Guides Mule
Battery mutinied. They broke out of their barracks and fired on a group
of five British officers, killing three. The other two escaped and ran
off to get help. They managed to get sufficient force together from other
units in the barracks to drive off the mutineers.
A
party of 100 mutineers went to Tanglin Barracks where 309 Germans were
interned, including members of the Emden's crew. The mutineers fired on
the guards without warning, killing all of them, but not before one brave
guard managed to run across the courtyard under heavy fire to raise the
alarm. The mutineers tried to persuade the Germans to join them but only
17 plus 3 Dutchmen joined them. The rest refused to have anything to do
with what they considered a dishonourable act, and stayed where they were.
Other
mutineers went on a killing spree at Keppel Harbour and Pasir Panjang
killing many men and women including a judge. All white women and children
were rowed out to boats as protection. It was getting dark by this time
and the authorities finally were getting organised. Marines and crew from
HMS Cadmus came ashore and were mobilised with other garrison troops who
had not mutineed. A radio message was sent to India and any allied warship
for help.
In
the meantime, the mutineers were laying siege to the bungalow of the commander,
Colonel Martin, which was effectively blocking the way into Singapore
Town. The Colonel and some men held out all night until they were relieved
at daybreak by armed volunteers and civilians. They were so successful
that they captured a fair amount of the mutineers' artillery. This action
cost one killed and five wounded. The mutineers scattered and despite
heavy sniper fire from the mutineers, the general population stayed calm
as the militia fought sporadic battles with the mutineers.
Fort Siloso defences played a role in the mutiny. Searchlights situated
on Blakang Mati were used to illuminate parts of Singapore Island to aid
loyal troops in quelling the mutiny.
On
Wednesday 17th February, the French cruiser Montcalm followed by smaller
Russian and Japanese warships arrived. They immediately unloaded a large
number of Marines who immediately advanced on the mutineers. A sharp battle
ensued in which the mutineers came off second best. A large number of
them surrendered immediately, the rest scattered into the jungle. A large
number tried to escape across the Strait of Johore but were immediately
rounded up by the Sultan of Johore's army. In the meantime, the mutineers
who had scattered continued to wage a sniping war on the allies.
On
Saturday 20th February, six companies of the 4th (Territorial), Battalion,
KSLI, arrived from Rangoon, relieving the sailors and Marines. They rounded
up the last of mutineers in a short time.
Monday
22nd February saw the opening Courts Martial. These resulted in a large
number of the mutineers being shot in public. Some mutineers escaped to
mainland but were hunted down by Dayak headhunters. Of 915 mutineers many
were later executed and the renmants of the battalion was moved to Africa.
The largest of these executions saw a firing party of 110 shooting 22
mutineers. The mutineers who surrendered early were sent to fight in Africa
against Von Lettow Vorbeck. A leading Indian merchant was implicated in
the plot and was proved to have sent messages to the Turkish Consul in
Rangoon offering him help by encouraging the Indian garrison in Singapore
to mutiny. He was shot for his actions.
The
first major involvement for the Singapore Volunteer Corps SVRC was the
Mutiny their contribution being the retaking Alexandra Barracks from the
mutineers, occupying the Tanglin Detention Barracks unopposed and taking
charge of the German POWs.
Boy
Scouts rendered valuable service by taking over from the police and army
the duties of dispatch riders, telephone operators and clerks
Final
casualties were:
British |
33 military
14 civilians |
French |
1 wounded |
Russian
|
3 wounded
|
The
mutiny lead to the compulsory military training of all Britons aged 18
to 55 in Singapore.
There
is a memorial in Queen's College, Cambridge to Cadet C
V Dyson (DNM). He was killed in the Singapore Mutiny.
Memorials
in
St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
St Andrew's Cathedral is Singapore's oldest
Anglican house of worship and is located within the Civic District
which was formerly the seat of the colonial government in early
Singapore. Within the Cathedral there are wall-mounted tablets
which commemorate the victims of the Singapore Mutiny.
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Photograph
Copyright © Martin Edwards 2005 |
"To the
glory of God and in sacred memory of the undermentioned officers, non-commissioned
officers and men of the Singapore Volunteer Corps, who lost their lives
during the mutiny of the 5th Native Light Infantry in February 1915.
15th February
2nd Lieutnt J. Love-Montgomerie,
Rifles
Sergeant G. Wald, (Reserve) Engineers
Corporal D. McGilvray, Rifles
Corporal G.O. Lawson, Cyclist Scouts
Lce Corporal J.G.E. Harper, Rifles
Private B.C. Cameron, Rifles
Private F.S. Drysdale, Rifles
Private A.J.G. Holt, Rifles
16th February
Lieutnt A.F. Legge, Field Ambulance
18th February
Gunner P. Walton, Artillery
19th February
Civilian F. Geddes, Armed Civilian
This memorial
is erected by their comrades in the Singapore Volunteer Corps."
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Photograph
Copyright © Martin Edwards 2005 |
"In memory
of
Stoker C.F. Anscombe
of HMS Cadmus
who was killed in action during the mutiny of the 5th Light Infantry
16th February 1915
Ready Aye Ready
Erected by the Association of Engineers, Singapore."
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Photograph
Copyright © Martin Edwards 2005 |
"To the
glory of God and in memory of
Major R.H. Galwey
Captain F.V. Izard
Captain M.F.A. Maclean
Corporal R.V. Beagley
Gunner J. Barry
All of the Royal Garrison Artillery
who were killed in the mutiny at Singapore in February 1915
This tablet is erected by their comrades of the
Royal Garrison Artillery at Singpore."
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Photograph
Copyright © Martin Edwards 2005 |
"In memory
of Captain & 2nd in Command
Horace Cullimore
Staff - Johore Military Forces
Late Royal Marine Artillery
Born 11 November 1869
Killed at Tanglin 15 Feby 1915
Erected by the Sergeants Mess RM Artillery."
Details
of those who died
Gravestones
photographed & copyright Ahmed Pasic (Singapore) 2009
ANSCOMBE |
Charles
Frederick |
Stoker
1st Class K/11747, HMS Cadmus, Royal Navy. Killed in action 16th
February 1915. Aged 23. Son of Charles and Elizabeth Anscombe,
of 101, Graveney Rd., Tooting, London. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY,
Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row E. Grave 3.
|
BARRY |
John |
Gunner
35514, 78th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action
17th February 1915. Born and resident Leeds, enlisted Stockton.
Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row
E. Grave 4.
|
BEAGLEY |
Reginald
Victor |
Corporal
8814, 80th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action
15th February 1915. Aged 30. Born and enlisted Portswouth. Son
of James Evelyn and Mary Jane Beagley, of 4, Tredegar Rd., East
Southsea, Portsmouth. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore.
Plot 37. Row E. Grave 15.
|
CAMERON |
Bernard
Cuthbert |
Private
9, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Killed in action 15th February
1915. Aged 25. Son of David William and Hannah Cameron, of St.
Michaels, Cadwell Rd., Paignton, Devon. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY,
Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row E. Grave 19.
|
CULLIMORE |
Horace |
Captain
and 2nd in Command, Staff - Johore Military Forces, late Royal
Marine Artillery. Killed at Tanglin 15th February 1915. Born 11th
November 1869. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore.
Plot 37. Row F. Grave 3.
|
DYSON |
Cecil
Venn |
[Listed
as Cadet] Private, Malay States Volunteers. Killed in Mutiny 15
February 1915. Born 7 August 1873, baptised 8 October 1873 in
Kishnaghur, Bengal, son of Samuel and Matlilda Julia Dyson. There
is a memorial in Queen's College, Cambridge to the Cadet (DNM).
Extract
from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918, Volume 1,
page 122:
DYSON,
CECIL VENN, Private, Malay States Volunteers, yst. s.
of the late Rev. Samuel Dyson, of Koilash, Stevenage, co. Herts,
D.D., Vice-Principal Church Missionary College, Islington, by
his 1st wife, Matilda Julia, dau. of the Rev. Charles Henry Blumhardt;
b. Calcutta, 7 Aug. 1873; Merchant Taylors' School, and
Queen's College, Cambridge (Senior Classical Scholar, Bell's Scholar);
entered the Malay States Civil Service in 1898, and was District
Judge of Singapore. He was killed while assisting to quell the
riots there, 15 Feb. 1915 ; unm. |
DRYSDALE |
Frank
Stuart |
Private
10, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Killed in action 16th February
1915. Aged 18. Son of James Henderson Drysdale and Minnie Drysdale,
of Singapore. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore.
Plot 37. Row F. Grave 8.
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GALWEY |
Reginald
Hugh |
Major,
80th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action 16th
February 1915. Aged 42. Son of William and Maria Louisa Galwey,
of 84, Ashley Gardens, Victoria St., London. Buried in KRANJI
WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row F. Grave 4.
|
GEDDES |
F |
Civilian,
Armed Civilian. Died 19th February 1915. Listed as a Clerk, aged
38, sailed from London to Singapore on the Arcadia 25 November
1914. |
HARPER |
J
G E |
Lance
Corporal 28, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Killed in action 15th
February 1915. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore.
Plot 37. Row F. Grave 14.
|
HOLT |
Alexander
John Grice |
Private
36, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Died 15th February 1915. Buried
in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row F. Grave
17.
The
Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 5
April 1915, Page 6
KILLED IN ACTION.
HOLT.- Killed in action on the 15th Feb., in the Singapore
Riot. ALEC JOHN GRICE HOLT, Singapore Volunteer Rifles, aged 27,
eldest and dearly loved son of Arthur Holt, of Broomhill Lodge,
Woodford Green, Essex. |
IZARD |
Francis
Vallance |
Captain,
Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action 16th February 1915.
Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row
F. Grave 16.
Frequent
traveller from London to Singapore. Sailed from London 23 January
1913 on the Nyanza operated by Peninsular & Oriental Steam
Navigation Co. Also from London to Singapore 23 June 1914 aboard
the Namur operated by Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation
Co., aged 33, a soldier. In the 1911 census he was aged 30, Lieutenant
in Royal Garrison Artillery, born Brighton, Sussex, nephew of
Walter and Letitia Izard, of 10 the Paragon, Blackheath, London
S E, |
LAWSON |
Gordon
Onslow |
Corporal,
Cyclist Scouts, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Killed in action 15th
February 1915. Aged 24. Son of William James and Mary Jane Lawson,
of 140, Greenvale Rd., Eltham, London. Enlisted August, 1914.
Born at Plumstead, Kent. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji,
Singapore. Plot 37. Row F. Grave 20.
|
LEGGE |
Angus
Forsyth |
Lieutenant,
Field Ambulance, Singapore Volunteer Medical Company. Killed in
action 16th February 1915. Aged 26. Son of James Wilson Legge
and Mary Anne Eddie Legge, of 1, Braemar Place, Aberdeen. Buried
in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row F. Grave
22.
|
MacLEAN |
Moira
Francis Allan |
Captain,
Royal Garrison Artillery attached Malay States Guides. Killed
in action 15th February 1915. Aged 30. Son of Allan and Emily
Elizabeth Maclean. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore.
Plot 37. Row G. Grave 2.
|
McGILVRAY |
Donald |
Corporal
27, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Killed in action 15th February
1915. Aged 25. Son of Donald and Jean McGilvray, of "Craigowan,"
Northampton Rd., Croydon. Born at Greenock. Buried in KRANJI WAR
CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot 37. Row G. Grave 3.
|
MONTGOMERIE |
John
Love |
Second
Lieutenant, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Died 15th February 1915.
Aged 37. Son of David and Agnes Montgomerie; husband of Katherine
Jane Esther Fairweather Montgomerie, of Pitheavlis Bank, 98, Glasgow
Rd., Perth. Born at Glasgow. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji,
Singapore. Plot 37. Row G. Grave 12.
|
WALD |
George |
Sergeant,
(Reserve) Engineers, Singapore Volunteer Rifles. Killed in action
15th February 1915. Aged 28. Son of Alexander Wald; husband of
Amelia Christina Holland (formerly Wald). Born at Adalaide, South
Australia. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji, Singapore. Plot
37. Row G. Grave 23.
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WALTON |
Philip |
Gunner,
Singapore Volunteer Artillery. Killed in action 18th February
1915. Barrister-at-Law. Son of the Hon. Mr. Justice Walton. Born
at Adalaide, South Australia. Buried in KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Kranji,
Singapore. Plot 37. Row G. Grave 24.
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Last
updated
5 December, 2016
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