William James Stevens (Jim) Tchan
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 12 Feb 1922 |
| Place of Birth | Canning, Western Australia |
| Description | 5'10" (1.78m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Albany road, Bedfordale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , William Mathew Tchan |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | F3311 |
| Date of Enlistment | 27 Jan 1941 |
| Rank | Able Bodied Seaman |
| Post War Details | |
Pre War
War Service
Enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman in the Naval Reserve at HMAS Leeuwin, Fremantle. On 30 Mar 1941 he was transferred to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria to complete his training before on 12 Aug 1941 when he was posted to HMAS Perth, a modified Leander class light cruiser. When Jim joined HMAS Perth she was engaged in convoy escort duties around the Australian coast until at the request of the US she was sent to what is now Indonesia. On 31 January 1942 Perth sailed from Sydney, reaching Fremantle on 10 February and on 15 February, relieved HMAS Adelaide as ocean escort for the convoy of four empty oil tankers and two cargo vessels (designated Convoy MS4) on a mission to claim as much oil from the Netherlands East Indies as possible before the Japanese invaded. With the fall of Singapore the convoy was recalled with the exception of HMAS Perth and SS Jacob.
Having escorted a convoy south to a point 700 nautical miles from Fremantle, HMAS Perth returned to Tanjong Priok, arriving there during an air attack on 24 Feb 1942. The next day HMAS Perth and four British naval vessels sailed for Surabaya to join a larger US fleet. Having received reports that a Japanese invasion force comprising eight cruisers, twelve destroyers and thirty transports were heading for Surabaya, the Joint US fleet sailed to meet them. HMAS Perth and the US Houston were the only allied ships to survive the engagement that followed, known as the Battle of the Java Sea. Returning to Tanjong Priok to refuel and rearm, they then sailed for Tjilatjap via the Sunda Strait.
Led to believe that there were no Japanese ships in the area, HMAS Perth sighted a Japanese destroyer and engaged her. Almost immediately numerous Japanese ships surrounded the two allied ships an a lengthy battle ensued. With ammunition running out, HAMS Peth attempted to force her way free but was hit by four torpedos and received further shell fire. HMAS Perth sank 25 minues after midnight on 1 Mar 1942. 353 men were killed, and 4 more died after being rescued. Of the 324 survivors, 106 died as POWs, and 218, including Jim were repatriated after the war.
Initially held by the Japanese on Java for several months before being transported to Singapore. Jim's records tell us nothing of his time as a POW or how he returned to Australia, but that he arrived in Australia on 21 Sep 1945, an was discharged on 12 Sep 1946 after short periods in a number of naval bases around Australia. From 19 Sep 1946 Jim was granted a pension of 50/- per fortnight
Post War
Address from May 1945 until Apr 1950 was 152 Gertrude street, Gosford, NSW.
Notes