Singapore ceremony commemorates Australian World War II commando raid ...

Updated September 27, 2013 15:12:41

A ceremony has been held in Singapore to commemorate Operation Jaywick, one of the most successful commando raids of World War II.

Australians, British and Singaporeans were on hand to commemorate both a triumph, and a tragedy.

In September 1943, a group of 14 Australian and British commandos left from Exmouth in Western Australia on an unassuming fishing boat.

They slipped into Singapore's harbour and attached mines to Japanese ships, before slipping out again.

Australian High Commissioner Philip Green told the Singapore ceremony that the commando team had 'slipped quietly' into Singapore's Keppel Harbour, and 'loudly into history'.

'On the night of September 26, the operatives set out from Subar Island, infiltrated Singapore harbour, attached limpet mines to the Japanese ships at anchor,' he said.

'As they paddled away, back to Subar Island, they observed the sinking of 37,000 tonnes of enemy shipping.'

All 14 commandos returned home safely, but others weren't so lucky.

The Japanese arrested 57 civilians and civilian internees, none of whom had any involvement.

Singapore history consultant Razeen Chan says all of those arrested were tortured, and 15 of them died.

'Let us not forget the pain and suffering that was visited upon the innocent civilians and internees, by the dreaded Kempei Tei, the Japanese military police,' he said.

Jackie Sutherland's godfather, Rob Scott, was among those punished.

'His post had been minister of information here in Singapore before the war,' he said.

'And so the Japanese assumed he knew something about the planning of the raid, if not he was actually involved in the planning.'

Some of those involved in Jaywick were part of a second raid, Operation Rimau.

British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson says the results of that operation were disastrous.

'Thirteen died in the action itself, including (Jaywick mission commander) Ivan Lyon,' he said.

'Ten were captured and put on trial for espionage, found guilty, and beheaded - even more tragically, just months before the Japanese surrender in 1945.'

First posted September 27, 2013 13:32:18