THE SINKING OF THE SS BEHAR
OPERATION " SAYO No 1"
In August 1943 a fine ship, was completed at the Barclay, Curle & Co shipyard, not the ordinary basic standard war built cargo ship type for government account, but a high class cargo liner a vessel of 7,840 tons gross twin screw motorship with a speed of 151/2 knots. She looked every inch like a typical P & O cargo liner, but was in fact built for the Hain Steamship Co. Ltd., of London, which was a subsidiary company of the P & O Steam Navigation Company. This ship was the "BEHAR" , the sister ship of the "SOCOTRA", which just a few months previously had also been completed by Barclay Curle shipyard on the Clyde, but unlike the her sister which was to last until 1965 before being scrapped in Hong Kong, her life was to last only a few short months.
The ship had a compliment of 98, Comprising of 18 Officers, 61 Indian, 2 Chinese crew, and 17 DEMS personnel. The Master 51 years old Captain Maurice Symons was born in the West Country but living in Glasgow, the Chief Engineer, James MacKay Weir aged 58 came from Glasgow, and had stood by the ship whilst it was being built, all the remaining 7 engineers also came from Glasgow, or other parts of Scotland. The Chief Officer William Phillips hailed from Cardiff, the other deck officers being the 2nd, 3rd,& 4th Officers plus 2 apprentices. The Radio Department which in peacetime would have only 1 Radio Officer, carried 3 Radio Officers, in order to maintain a continuous 24 hour radio watch, Arthur Walker being the 1st Radio Officer.
It was normal wartime practice to defensively arm merchant ships, and supply them with a "DEMS" crew to man the guns, these men came from the Royal Navy, and the Army. The Royal Artillery providing a Maritime Regiment contingent. The "BEHAR" was well equipped, the defensive armament consisting of 4 inch and 3 inch dual purpose guns, Oerlikon guns,machine guns, and rocket launcher. In addition, but unusual for a merchant ship, she was fitted with ASDIC for the detection of submarines, and carried depth charges. Four Royal Navy Asdic operators were carried to operate the ASDIC set. Petty Officer W.L. Griffiths leading the "DEMS" gunners, whilst A.B. Charles Kershaw was incharge of the ASDIC team. To avoid any diplomatic embarrasment should a ship visit a neutral country, which often would be the case, the ship could not have onboard armed service personnel, so to get round this problem, the "DEMS" personnel were signed on as "deckhands", and no trace of their service identities existed in the ship's articles which lists all the crew and in which capacity engaged.
After completion of shipyard trials, the "BEHAR" was handed over by the shipbuilders to the owners, and sailed from the Clyde anchorage on 21st August for Birkenhead to load cargo for for India. The vessel returning to the Clyde to await an Eastbound convoy, finally leaving the anchorage on 15th September 1943 bound for Port Said. After calling at Aden the vessel proceeded in conyoy for three days, before sailing independently for Cochin. Followed by calls at Bombay and Karachi, where at the former port, rice & cement was loaded for Calcutta. Whilst the ship was at Bombay in November 1943, the 3rd Radio Officer James Cuthbert left the ship and was replaced by another young Radio Officer, Henry Gordon Cumming, for Cuthbert this move without doubt was to save his life.
At Calcutta the next cargo was loaded for Australia, sailing via Colombo. Following
Australia the vessel sailed for New Zealand where cargo was loaded in Wellington,
and five passengers joined the ship for passage to India via Australia. Three of
the passengers being Royal New Zealand Navy Officers, attached to Fleet Air Arm of
the Royal Navy. Another passenger to join was a Royal New Zealand Air Force Flight
Sergeant,whilst the last passenger a Chinese Doctor of Agriculture by the name
of Lai Yung Li who was on his way to Chungking. From Wellington the vessel proceeded
to Sydney, Newcastle N.S.W. and finally Melbourne, where more passengers joined.
Two ladies, on their way to re-
By the begining of 1944 the tide of fortune was flowing in favour of the Allies,
the Battle of the Atlantic had been won, Italy had surrended, the Russians were
pushing the invaders out of her territory, whilst the Japanese after their succesful
onslaught in the Far East, and Pacific Islands, had from 1943 started to suffer real
reversals of fortune at the hands of the Americans and Australians as Pacific Islands
were re-
On 23rd February 1944 at the Japanese South West Area Fleet Headquarters in
Penang under the command of Admiral TAKASU Shiro a conference was held which planned
an operation in the Indian Ocean to disrupt Allied lines of communication and supplies.
It was codenamed Operation "Sayo No 1". Great emphasis was stressed upon secrecy.
The operation was to be under the command of Rear-
The Squadron to comprise of three heavy cruisers, "AOBA", (flag ship) "CHIKUMA"and
"TONE". The light cruisers "KINU" and "OI", three destroyers, "SHIKIMAMI", "URANAMI",
and "AMARGIRI" forming a screen to escort the raiders out and back through the Sunda
Strait. The South West Area Fleet also had the support of an air-
OPERATION " SAYO No 1"
Rear-
The policy of killing as many survivors as possible had been applied by Japanese
submarines earlier than 1944. In December 1943 the British ship "DAISY MOLLER", was
sunk by submarine RO-
The "BEHAR" sailed from Melbourne on the 29th February 1944 with cargo loaded in New Zealand & Australia, bound for Bombay and Colombo and by the morning of 9th of March was in the Indian Ocean several hundred miles to the southwest of Cocos Islands making a good speed.
On the 27th February, at Linga Captain MAYAZUMI of the cruiser "TONE" received
the fleet operational order from the "AOBA" the flagship of 16th Squadron issued
and signed by Admiral Takasu, the Commander-
The fleet sailed from the Bangka Straits that day, and passed through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean on 1st March where the three heavy cruisers "AOBA" , "CHIKUMA" and "TONE" commenced their search for Allied shipping without success until the 9th of March, when the "TONE" sighted a vessel which turned out to be the "BEHAR". The "TONE" was capable of 35 knots having 8 eight inch guns, 8 five inch guns, this heavy armanent was concentrated fow'd to keep the quarterdeck clear for the extensive aircraft arrangements, having on this occasion three aircraft stowed on board, although more could be carried.
PRISONERS OF WAR
The "BEHAR" was making good progress across the Indian Ocean following a course dictated by the routing instructions given to the Master by the naval authorities, the weather squally, frequent rain showers, which reduced visibility considerably, the wind being eastsoutheast with a moderate sea, and overcast sky. When one such rain squall had stopped and the visiblity lifted, there appeared a warship which was recognized as a cruiser approaching on the "BEHAR's" starboard side, with guns trained on her. The "BEHAR" had been caught by surprise. Almost immediately the warship flashed an unregonisable signal on the signalling lamp, which was repeated rapidly. Captain Symons ignored the signals, and turned the "BEHAR" away, and sounded the alarm bells, but immediately the warship broke out the Japanese battle ensign and opened fire from about 4,000 yards, registering hits on the second salvo both fore and aft, fires started soon afterwards in on the bridge, No. 1 hold, and on the poop, in addition the vessel started to list to starboard. Captain Symons ordered the Radio Officer to transmit a Raider Signal RRR, followed by the ship's name and position. Within a few minutes it was obvious to all, that "BEHAR" would not survive such heavy punishment for very much longer. Salvo followed salvo. and in a few minutes the fow'd deck had collapsed. Captain Symons gave the order to abandon ship about five mintues after the action started. The order for the gunners on the "BEHAR" to open fire was never given. The engines were ordered to be stopped, the lifeboats prepared for launching. In the meantime, confidential papers had been thrown over the side in a weighted bag, the ASDIC appartus stripped of detachable parts which also went into the sea.
By this time a second heavy cruiser had appeared, on the port side of the "BEHAR",
flying a flag at her masthead, which was later to be identified as an"Admiral's flag,
this vessel being the "AOBA" but it took no part in the shelling of the "BEHAR".
It was remarkable in view of the punishment the vessel received that casualties were
so light, particularly as the shelling was continuing as the vessel was being abandoned.
However there was a lull of about five minutes when shellling stopped, when opportunity
was taken to launch the life boats. Then the shelling re-
In the abandonment of the vessel, although four boats were launched only three were used by the surivivors, although not all, some were in the water having jumped from the sinking vessel. The motor lifeboat engine would not start, and took fifteen minutes before it could be brought into life. The Japanese warship launched one of her own boats picking up six or seven survivors which included Chief Officer, the 2nd Radio Officer and one gunner, whilst other lifeboats had picked up the remainder who had jumped into the water. By this time the cruiser had approached nearer to the lifeboats, and had machine guns trained on the survivors, a voice in English ordered the lifeboats to come alongside the cruiser and get on board quickly, the threat of failing to heed the command was the stark alternative of being killed by machine gun fire.
As the lifeboats approached the cruiser, some of the prisoners were able to mentally take notes of their attacker,some believing it was a six inch gun heavy cruiser, whilst others thought it had eight inch guns. At first glance the vessel appeared to have two small funnels, but in fact they joined together at the top as one. They had no idea of the identity of the cruiser, and in fact they were never to know this, until well after the war finished, although the prisoners were to get clues which they passed on after liberation,
James Godwin a Royal New Zealand Navy Officer sailing as passenger gives the following
version of the attack on the "BEHAR" : ‘When the ship was in mid-
THE SINKING OF THE SS BEHAR
OPERATION " SAYO No 1"
Rear-
The policy of killing as many survivors as possible had been applied by Japanese
submarines earlier than 1944. In December 1943 the British ship "DAISY MOLLER", was
sunk by submarine RO-
The "BEHAR" sailed from Melbourne on the 29th February 1944 with cargo loaded in New Zealand & Australia, bound for Bombay and Colombo and by the morning of 9th of March was in the Indian Ocean several hundred miles to the southwest of Cocos Islands making a good speed.
On the 27th February, at Linga Captain MAYAZUMI of the cruiser "TONE" received
the fleet operational order from the "AOBA" the flagship of 16th Squadron issued
and signed by Admiral Takasu, the Commander-
The fleet sailed from the Bangka Straits that day, and passed through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean on 1st March where the three heavy cruisers "AOBA" , "CHIKUMA" and "TONE" commenced their search for Allied shipping without success until the 9th of March, when the "TONE" sighted a vessel which turned out to be the "BEHAR". The "TONE" was capable of 35 knots having 8 eight inch guns, 8 five inch guns, this heavy armanent was concentrated fow'd to keep the quarterdeck clear for the extensive aircraft arrangements, having on this occasion three aircraft stowed on board, although more could be carried.
PRISONERS OF WAR
The "BEHAR" was making good progress across the Indian Ocean following a course dictated by the routing instructions given to the Master by the naval authorities, the weather squally, frequent rain showers, which reduced visibility considerably, the wind being eastsoutheast with a moderate sea, and overcast sky. When one such rain squall had stopped and the visiblity lifted, there appeared a warship which was recognized as a cruiser approaching on the "BEHAR's" starboard side, with guns trained on her. The "BEHAR" had been caught by surprise. Almost immediately the warship flashed an unregonisable signal on the signalling lamp, which was repeated rapidly. Captain Symons ignored the signals, and turned the "BEHAR" away, and sounded the alarm bells, but immediately the warship broke out the Japanese battle ensign and opened fire from about 4,000 yards, registering hits on the second salvo both fore and aft, fires started soon afterwards in on the bridge, No. 1 hold, and on the poop, in addition the vessel started to list to starboard. Captain Symons ordered the Radio Officer to transmit a Raider Signal RRR, followed by the ship's name and position. Within a few minutes it was obvious to all, that "BEHAR" would not survive such heavy punishment for very much longer. Salvo followed salvo. and in a few minutes the fow'd deck had collapsed. Captain Symons gave the order to abandon ship about five mintues after the action started. The order for the gunners on the "BEHAR" to open fire was never given. The engines were ordered to be stopped, the lifeboats prepared for launching. In the meantime, confidential papers had been thrown over the side in a weighted bag, the ASDIC appartus stripped of detachable parts which also went into the sea.
By this time a second heavy cruiser had appeared, on the port side of the "BEHAR",
flying a flag at her masthead, which was later to be identified as an"Admiral's flag,
this vessel being the "AOBA" but it took no part in the shelling of the "BEHAR".
It was remarkable in view of the punishment the vessel received that casualties were
so light, particularly as the shelling was continuing as the vessel was being abandoned.
However there was a lull of about five minutes when shellling stopped, when opportunity
was taken to launch the life boats. Then the shelling re-
In the abandonment of the vessel, although four boats were launched only three were used by the surivivors, although not all, some were in the water having jumped from the sinking vessel. The motor lifeboat engine would not start, and took fifteen minutes before it could be brought into life. The Japanese warship launched one of her own boats picking up six or seven survivors which included Chief Officer, the 2nd Radio Officer and one gunner, whilst other lifeboats had picked up the remainder who had jumped into the water. By this time the cruiser had approached nearer to the lifeboats, and had machine guns trained on the survivors, a voice in English ordered the lifeboats to come alongside the cruiser and get on board quickly, the threat of failing to heed the command was the stark alternative of being killed by machine gun fire.
As the lifeboats approached the cruiser, some of the prisoners were able to mentally take notes of their attacker,some believing it was a six inch gun heavy cruiser, whilst others thought it had eight inch guns. At first glance the vessel appeared to have two small funnels, but in fact they joined together at the top as one. They had no idea of the identity of the cruiser, and in fact they were never to know this, until well after the war finished, although the prisoners were to get clues which they passed on after liberation,
James Godwin a Royal New Zealand Navy Officer sailing as passenger gives the following
version of the attack on the "BEHAR" : ‘When the ship was in mid-
THE SINKING OF THE SS BEHAR
OPERATION " SAYO No 1"
The cruiser was either of "Aoba" or "Tony" class. Two other Japanese cruisers
were in attendance. The "Behar" was equipped with one 4 inch gun but this did not
come into action at all -
The "Behar" was sinking when we left her. The shelling ceased at about 10.35 a.m.The cruiser responsible for the shelling circled around until the "Behar" sunk, and later our boat was summoned to come alongside the cruiser. These orders were given by some one with a megaphone. The Captain of the "Behar" who was in charge of the lifeboat decided to go alongside. In all I saw three lifeboats manned. The occupants of all these lifeiboats were ultimately taken aboard the cruiser. During the shelling I believe four were killed and many wounded'.
A jacob's ladder was lowered over the port quarter of the cruiser for survivors to climb up, and as each survivor reached the quarter deck, he faced a "firing squad" of about a dozen armed Japanese ratings under the command of a Japanese officer, where clothes, except shirts and trousers were torn off them, shoes removed, plus any watches. Most of the prisoners were beaten severely by the guards on the quarter deck, under the instructions of officers strutting around with drawn swords. Each prisoner had his hands forced high behind his back, a rope tied to his wrist, then passed round his throat and back to the other wrist, being tied exceedingly tightly, to the point that if the prisoner tried to ease the pain in his arms by lowering them, then effectively he started to choke himself with the rope tightening around his neck. Each survivor being ordered to squat on the deck, and not to speak to anyone. The 2nd Officer on reaching the quater deck and being tied, was hit by a rating on the back of the head by a rifle butt on the instructions of the Japanese officer who spoke English. As a result of this beating, the 2nd officer fell to the deck, and because of the way he was tied he could not get up, received a second beating with a rifle butt. The Japanese officer then said in English "If you don't tell the truth you will be killed". One of the ladies Mrs Pascheove had trouble climbing the jacob's ladder, which delayed matters, but when she eventually reached the deck, was punched in the face by the Japanese Officer who spoke English.
After about two boat loads of survivors had got aboard, the Japanese officer was calling for the Captain to step forward, but he had not yet come onboard. Shortly afterwards he asked again, and when Captain Symons got up and was marched across the deck. About half way across, he was hit on the back of the head with the butt of rifle, and fell to the deck, where he was dragged up and confronted by the English speaking officer who threated that if he did not tell the truth he would be killed.
Captain Symons refused to answer any questions until the prisoners had their bonds released, the Officer said he could not do this, but had the ropes slackend a little, and in the case of the two ladies, they had their ropes removed. The prisoners were made to squat on the quarter deck of the cruiser under the blazing sun for about three fours, during which time, they were beaten on their backs by Japanese naval ratings wielding bamboo sticks. After this period of time following initial interrogation of the ship's officers and passengers. the prisoners still bound, were forced below down two decks, and confined in a small space about 36' x 15' .
Here they were made to sit crosslegged by the guard of about a dozen men, armed with wooden staves about five feet long. They were not allowed to talk or move, and any contravention of these orders, resulted in an unmerciful beating, most prisoners being beaten, even if they did sit correctly as required. One prisoner who came in for severe beatings, was the elderly retired passenger Mr Duncan MacGregor. He was beaten into unconsciousness on three occasions before the ship reached Java, because he could not maintain the cross legged position. Lieut S.C. Parker R.N.Z.N.V.R. a fellow passenger recorded in his affidavit:
'One survivor who was particularly badly beaten was a Mr. McGregor a former Bank
manager and member of the Legislature in British East Africa. Apparently he was unable
to squat in the Eastern fashion without support, and I saw him savagely beaten and
kicked by the Japanese sailors, some of whom appeared to be of officer rank. Rifle
butts, fists, and boots, were savagely used on McGregor by the Japanese sailors,
who seemed to find amusement from this ill-
Sergeant Ratcliffe an army gunner, was another to be so viciously beaten that he collapsed.Captain Green who was sailing as a passenger was to record later: 'The slightest movement of anyone and a staff would land with force on the head or body. My false teeth were broken with a blow. It was dark when eventually our ropes were taken off. We had been bound at least nine hours. A bowl of water was passed round, but we were allowed only a few sips each, some of us could not even hold the bowl. My hands were swollen to twice their size and a vivid blue, and wrists ringed with blood. The numbness did not leave my hands for two months'.
A.B. Angus Macleod of Stornoway, was to recall in his affidavit :
' There were six Japanese sentries in the room with us. some of them were armed with rifles and bayonets with sticks. We all got a beating with the sticks, but sentries seemed to have a particular spite against an old man name Macgregor who came from Glasgow, and was at one time manager of the Bank of India at Mombassa. This man would be about 63 years of age, and he found the greatest difficulty in sitting tailor fashion as the Japanese wanted him to, they beat him unmercifully about the head, body, and legs with the result that he was rendered unconscious on at least three occasions. An officer of the Fleet Air Arm Sub.Lieut. Godwin, a New Zealander took pity on the old man and moved over close in order to support him with his knee. His move was seen by the Japanese sentries who gave him a beating and moved him to another part of the room. An Indian saloon steward who appeared to be able to sit in the way in which the Japanese wanted him to, and whos so far as I know did nothing wrong, was set about for no apparent reason and had his head split open with a stick by one of the sentries. The sentries then sent for the Japanese ship's doctor, who when he arrived bandaged the Indian's head and told the sentries to untie us. He then told us that we could lie down and said that he would see that we got something to eat. He returned to our room shortly afterwards with some Japanese ratings carrying biscuits and water which were distributed to us. After that all the whites were put in to the same room as the ship's officers, and the two women passengers. The Indian and Chinese members of the crew were left in the room which we had first occupied'.
The following morning the interrogation of the European Officers, DEMS personnel, and passengers continued throughout the day. Mr Phillips the chief officer in an interview after repatriation with a company marine superintendent is recorded as stating, that the interrogations of Captain Symons, the 1st Radio Officer, and himself were very intense and officers subjected to much intimidation:
'everything from offers of iced water to threats of decapitation being employed in the endeavour to obtain information'.
The prisoners were fed a small ball of rice three times of day, and given condenser water to drink, not freshwater, until a few days later, when a small quantity was provided, which the prisoners had to share out among themselves. Being in the tropics, and below decks all the prisoners suffered badly from the heat and thirst. On the third day of captivity on board the cruiser, the prisoners were called on deck, and allowed to be in fresh air for half an bour, before being taken down below again, which became the part of the routine for the day. All the time spent on the cruiser, the prisoners were not allowed to talk to one another, any infringement resulted in severe beatings. However with a little bit of freedom of being brought up on deck, and movement below decks although guarded, the prisoners were able to observe their surroundings, and begin to pick up clues which were to help identify the vessel they were held prisoner on. The number 102 appeared in various parts of the ship and on deck three seaplanes were observed to carry this number, which suggested as they were on the vessel that 102 was the identity number of the vessel.
Three wooden toilets were rigged up on deck and over the side for the prisoners, one for the Europeans, one for the Indians, and one for the two women. Permission had to be asked to use the toilet. Sub Lt Godwin in his affidavit stated:
'On most occasions when going to the lavatory we had to pass between ranks of the Japanese crew elaboured us with pieces of wood, flat edges of bayonets, fists and rifle butts. I suffered this on numerous occasions. Our hands were tied on every occasions we were allowed to proceed to the lavatory. I was savagely beaten whilst going to the lavatory on the 11th March 1944. It was dark and I was taken around the back of the convenience and beaten by a guard whom I don't know and other Japanese until I was practically unconscious. On this occasion a big piece of wood was used. After my beating on the 11th March, the Naval Surgeon aboard came down to have a look at us and when I pointed to the extensive injury to my head he just nodded and laughed'.
For the 104 prisoners on board the "TONE" their life had become sheer misery,
in addition to the savage beatings, the torture of being cooped up in a baking steel
oven below decks, without adequate water, un-
After the sinking of the "BEHAR", the Japanese fearful that their presence in
the Indian Ocean would be known because of the "Raider" signal transmistted from
the "BEHAR", decided to return to the Sunda Straits and Batavia. According to the
affidavit made by Captain Mayazumi on 17.3.47 in Stanley Gaol Hong Kong the "TONE"
rejoined the "AOBA" at 1400 hours and reported by signal (this would be to the effect
that he had 104 survivors on board). Whereupon he received a signal from the Senior
Staff Officer Commander Shimanouchi of the 16th Squadron, to treat persons captured
in accordance with Fleet Operational Order. "Dispose of them immediately in accordance
with Order". Mayazumi replied that the prisoners were in the process of being interrogated.
Not only was Captain Mayazumi greatly troubled by this order to "dispose of the prisoners",
but also his first Lieutenant Commander Mii was also against carrying out this barbaric
command. In the afternoon of the following day the 10th of March, Mayazumi signalled
to Rear-
THE SINKING OF THE SS BEHAR
TO READ THE REST OF THIS STORY YOU CAN PURCHASE THE CD BOOK FROM OUR ONLINE STORE COMING IN SPRING 2008.
EACH CD CONTAINS 3 BOOKS AND EXTRA FEATURES.