HMS Banka

HMS Banka was a British minesweeper which was officially sunk on 9 December 1941 (but in reality probably the night of the 7 December 1941) by a mine off the coast of Malaysia. Its crew of four British officers and 40 Malays all died with the exception of six Malay crew.

It had been deployed to assist the British, Australian and Indian land forces in stopping the Japanese invasion of Malaya.

HMS Banka's final resting position is at 57m, 12 nm NE of Tioman Is. near the two sunken Dutch submarines ( O 16 and K XVII) on the same mine line laid by Japanese ship Tatsumiya Maru. On 6 December 1941 IJN Minelayer Tatsumiya Maru laid a line of 456 mines from North of Tioman to the Anambas Islands.

She most likely struck the mine on the night of 7 December, just one day after the field was laid. As she was recalled (from East Malay coast) on 6 December and was overdue in Singapore on 9 December. According to the survivor accounts it was dark at the time of the explosion.

Crew

Name Position Age Official Date of Death cross reference multiple sources
1 Arthur Earnest Stephenson Temp. Lieut. RNR (Captain) 40 10 December 1941 Y
2 J.R. Smith Temp. Lieut. RNR (Engineer) 10 December 1941 Y
3 R.E. Scales S/Lieut. SS RNVR (explosives — New Zealand miner based in Malaysia) 10 December 1941 Y
4 R.W. Emerson T S/Lieut. RNR 10 December 1941 Y
5 Arshad Bin Arabi Quartermaster 36 10 December 1941 Y
6 Awang Bin Kassim First Engineman 40 10 December 1941 Y
7 Dawi Bin Sayid Seaman 40 10 December 1941 y
8 Din Bin Ali Fireman 38 10 December 1941 y
9 Hamid Bin Sa’ad Seaman 26 10 December 1941 Y
10 Jantan Bin Repin Deck Cook’s Mate 61 10 December 1941 Y
11 Junid Bin Asa Deck Cook’s Mate 20 10 December 1941 Y
12 Kaseh Bin Hassan Deck Cook 24 10 December 1941
13 M. Nasu B.H Yusuf Gunner 37 10 December 1941 Y
14 Madar Bin Bakong Fireman 10 December 1941 Y
15 Manaf Bin Yatim Deck Cook’s Mate 10 December 1941
16 Minsuri Bin Malik Seaman 27 10 December 1941 Y
17 Rawi Bin Biju Fireman’s Serang 44 10 December 1941 Y
18 Saleh Bin Taib Fireman 34 10 December 1941
19 Sawal Bin Sandang Engine Driver 10 December 1941
20 Shamsi Bin Saleh Seaman 33 10 December 1941
21 Adnan Bin Hahran Seaman 19 10 December 1941 y
22 Abdullah Bin Badrom Possible survivor
23 Ahmad Bin Nawi Possible survivor
24 Foo See Chow Possible survivor
25 Mak Kwang Possible survivor

§[1]

References

  1. ↑ Liverpool naval records and Malaysian Memorial
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