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Special Operations Executive in the Far East started life as operation "PUMA" at a place called Lochailort home of Lord Lovatt on the North West coast of Scotland. It was headed by Major Jim Gavin. "Scapula" the mission was to set up a Special Training School for sabotage and stay behind parties, code number 'STS,101' in Malaya. Gavin left Lochailort on the 5th March 1941. Colonel Alan G Warren, from MI(r) was sent to study the feasibility of a Special Operations Executive operation in the Far East, my father was one the staff that went out with him. The total contingent was 7 Officers and 20 other's. Father being classed as a general duties man who saluted it if it moved, and blew it up if it didn't? |
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Jim Gavin had asked "Who had put together the explosives for the Lofoten job, it went like a dream, I want him on this" . After a brief conversation with his Commander Arthur Langley it was agreed that dad should go. Like father said if it wasn't Germany it was Japan. All went knowing full well what the possibilities were, if they were to train stay behind parties before the War started, there was a good chance we were expecting to lose Singapore, what else? Churchill who was First Lord of the Admiralty before the War, had been aware of the Defence report of Singapore in 1939 in fact had access to it. He instructed Duff Cooper to include the following "that Singapore could not be defended, unless, there were at least 8 capital ships to defend Singapore", since he had become Prime Minister he made full use of it in part of its defence. He had decided in the event of its fall, there would be a additional force to delay "the inevitable". That is why, Special Operations Executive and my father were there, for no other reason, under the direct orders of Churchill. The only other plan to defend Singapore was "Matador" and that plan was distrusted by Churchill. |
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