The Last Stand of H.M.S. Li Wo

When a passenger ferry took on a Japanese fleet.

From Ferry to Warship

Originally launched in Hong Kong in 1938, the Li Wo started off life as a passenger ferry for the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company Ltd. But in 1940, the vessel was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for the defense of Singapore and was converted into an “Auxiliary Patrol Vessel”.

Now fitted with a single 100mm deck gun and a pair of dual Lewis machine guns, she carried a crew of 84 men and was under the command of Lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson of the Royal Navy reserve. Wilkinson, like everyone else on board the Li Wo, knew very well that if war was to come, their little patrol boat would not last very long in an actual battle. A point that was driven into them in the hours before the actual fall of Singapore in 1942. Li Wo and two other vessels had come under attack by Japanese aircraft, and although they survived, it was clear to see they didn’t have much time left.

The Journey Begins

So with 2 other patrol ships, Li Wo left Singapore for the final time on February 13. Their goal was to reach the Dutch colony of Batavia, now modern-day Jakarta, and join whatever allied forces were there. After clearing a minefield, one of the patrol boats broke off and it is unknown what happened to it afterwards. Hours later, Li Wo and the other patrol boat, which was also a converted ferry, came under attack by Japanese aircraft again. The other vessel was forced to beach/scuttle itself after taking a direct bomb hit. This left Li Wo all alone to complete its 200-mile voyage.

Engaging the Enemy

But the very next day, things went south when lookouts on Li Wo spotted a formation of Japanese vessels heading their way. As it turned out, it was a convoy of transport ships on their way to take part in the invasion of Sumatra and Li Wo was right in their path. Knowing there was no way for his ship to escape, Wilkinson and the crew came to the conclusion that if they were going down, they might as well take one of the transports with them.

So using its lone deck gun and Lewis guns, Li Wo began to engage the closest transport to them. Raking the ship with 100mm shells, machine gun, and rifle fire, all the while the transports did what they could to fend off the lone Royal Navy ship. Worst still, the escorting destroyers could not engage as the crews feared they could hit the transports themselves. But Li Wo began to take machine gun fire herself as she closed the distance and when the ammunition was spent, Wilkinson ordered his ship to ram the Japanese vessel.

A Heroic Finale

And she did, leaving a sizable hole in the Japanese hull. But Li Wo’s fate was now sealed, as the Japanese escorts were now able to open fire on the now immobile passenger ferry and sink it.

Out of a crew of 84, only seven would survive. Among the dead was Lt. Wilkinson himself, who would be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions. But he did ultimately achieve his goal, as the transport they had rammed would sink several hours later.

~NC