V.C. FOR GALLANTRY

Chronicle (Levin), 19 December 1946, Page 5

V.C. FOR GALLANTRY

Press Assn.-

Award To Naval Officer attack at singapore

By Telegraph

■Copyright

Received Wednesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Dee. 17. Tlie Yictoria Cross has been post.humously awarded to T/Lieut. Thomas, Wilkinson, R.N.K., for valour at Hiugapore in Februarv, 1942, when he commanded Ilis Alajesty's patrol vessel ijiwo. The London Gazette says tliat the award is bes.towed not only for Lieut. iVBkinson 's heroism, but also to the honour of those wlio fought and ied with him. The citation said tliat the Liwo, formerly a sniall passenger steamer on the upper Yangtse river, was travelliug to ilatavia from Singapore with a crew mainly survivors of sunken ships. She carried oue four iach gun"wi.th rhirteen practice shells aiul two machineguns. She sighted two enemv convoys, the targer of whicli was escorted by a heavy cruiser and destroyers. Lieiit. vViMvimson deeided, rather than trv to escape, to engage the convoy in the iio])e of inflicting dainage. He was supp.orted b>" the crew who knew the sliip facnd certain destruction. The Liwo hyisted her battle ensign and engaged ihe eueiuy, during whicli a .Japauese transport was badly hit and set alire. Lieut. Wilkinson later ramnied the bui'ning transport before the Liwo sank. Ihe transport burtted liercely all night

atter tlie action arnl probably sank. Lieut. Wilkinson 's award eancels the announeement made a year ago that he was awarded ppsthuinous ntenliou in despatches. He went down with the ship. Teu survivors of the 84 aboard Ihe ship were made prisoners of war by the Japauese. The ten members, tliree^ of wlioni are dead, received awanls including the D.S.O. to Temporary Sub.Lieutcuant Ronald Gladstone Stanton, K.N.R., the only surviviug officer, the Conspicuous Gallant ry Aledal to acting Petty Officer Arthur Williani Thompson who volunteeretl to serve as a guiilayer, Di.stinguish.ed Service Aledals to Leading Seamen Victor Sjieneer, who manned oue tnachine gun, and A. B. Albert Spendlove, a meniber of the gun crew. Temp. Lieut. Edgar Neil Derbridge, R.X.Z.N., is oue of the three jiosthumously iHcntioned in despatches. Three ratings were also mentioiied in despatches.