L/CPL Richard Olsson HMS DRAGONFLY

[Peter F]

Hi
I am looking for details relating to my great Uncle L/CPL Richard Olsson. He died on HMS DragonFly on the 14th Feb 1942 his name is also on the Kranji war memorial. He joined the manchester regiment in 1932 and was a bandsman and from the little information we have a kean sportman. I also believe he may have been in Bermuda in 1935 and Egypt in 1938. I do have two photographs taken in Bermuda one of the complete band.
Does anyone have any information that may be of any interest.

[Peter F]

Hi
I am looking for details relating to my great Uncle L/CPL Richard Olsson. He died on HMS DragonFly on the 14th Feb 1942 his name is also on the Kranji war memorial. He joined the manchester regiment in 1932 and was a bandsman and from the little information we have a kean sportman. I also believe he may have been in Bermuda in 1935 and Egypt in 1938.
Any additional information would be greatful.

[DaveMurphy]

G'day Peter,

The only cemetery I have visited with Manchester Men in it.. .one of the virtues of living in Australia!

Here's the pic of the Memorial if you didnt have it.

I will also shift this one across to the WWII Section for you so the appropriate experts can respond.

Cheers,

Dave

[timberman]

Hi Peter

Welcome to the forum.

If you go to the link below British Pathe made a short film of the Manchester Regiment enroute from Bermuda to Egypt.
Full title reads: "Six hours leave. Manchester Regt. en route for Egypt greet wives and sweethearts at Southampton".

Issue Date: 17/10/1935

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=6169

Timberman

[rafboy]

Hi Peter
The Order Of Battle (App1) available from the Regimental Museum Archive reference MR1/3/1/15 lists Cpl Ollson (This is how it is spelt in the O of B) as being in the Intelligence Section.
Another document "First Battalion The Manchester Regiment Malaya, Thailand, Burma 1939 ~ 1945 has him in the Roll Of Honour as 3523990 Cpl R Olsson.  This document reference MR1/3/1/18 is available from the Regimental Museum for a small fee, it covers 1st Bn activities during that period.  Pages 6 and 7 cover the Dragonfly incident.
Hope this helps.
Cliff

[Robert Bonner]

On 13 February 1942 the Japanese had been on the island of Singapore for six or seven days.  Fighting continued everywhere. The commanding officer, Lieut Colonel Holmes, received a secret and confidential message from GOC Malaya which was that in view of the situation he was ordered to select 2 officers and 24 warrant officers and NCOs, issue them with official passes authorising them to leave Singapore and proceed to Australia by any means they could find.  They had to be specially selected so that when they reached Australia, their qualifications would fit them to be the nucleus of a new 1st Battalion to be formed round them.

Corporal Olsson was one of the men selected. The party managed to get away on HMS Dragonfly a Royal Navy gunboat which had been operating on the Yangtse River and Hong Kong before the Japanese attacked. They sailed away in the early hours of 14 February, the day that Singapore surrendered. Later that day they were attacked by aircraft and the first two bombs landed amidships right on the Petty Officers mess where the Manchester Regiment NCOs were, almost certainly killing the majority immediately.

There were about sixteen survivors in total of which only four were Manchesters: Lieutenant Arthur Hesford and  Corporals Bostock, Taylor R and L/Cpl Taylor J.

Only Hesford and R Taylor survived the war.


Robert