Winter Talk – The loss of HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales

James Sayer

On the 10 December 1941 HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk by Japanese forces off the coast of Malaya. Their loss ultimately led to the fall of Singapore to the Japanese and the end of British supremacy in the Far East. When the news of their loss was relayed to the Prime Minister Winston Churchill, he is on record as saying this was the greatest shock he experienced throughout the war. The story behind the tragic sinking is a mixture of incredible bravery and heroism and  strategic  miscalculation. The absence of air support lay directly behind the losses which still influences naval decision making today.

Speaker

James has a unique and close association with the events of December 1941.  His 20 year old uncle was killed in action on HMS Repulse and James is in possession of previously unseen photographs of the ships. He was brought up in Singapore on the Naval Base which was the last landfall of the ships and has recently visited the memorial  which is still in place in Sembawang dockyard. It was his intention to float a wreath over the wreck in December 2021 to mark the 80th Anniversary of the sinkings but Covid prevented this and the anniversary was marked at the National Arboretum. The sinkings also led to a strong link with Scotland when the surviving members of the Royal Marines from HMS Repulse linked up with the 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the defence of Singapore-an association which continues today.

Ticket Application

Timings – All talks will take place in The Colours’ Room located in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Kings Old Building, Stirling Castle. Lectures will begin at 11.00am, last one hour with refreshments from 10.30am and after the event.

Tickets – Tickets are £15 each and can be purchased at the bottom of this page. There is no need to buy an additional Stirling Castle ticket.

Parking – If you wish to park on the Esplanade you will have to purchase a parking ticket. We are not able to reserve any parking and this will be charged at £5 per car. Free parking may be available on Ballengeich Pass/Upper Castlehill Road – please note there are timed restrictions for these areas.

Further Information- If you require further information, please email the museum team at museum@argylls.co.uk