This day in 1941 twelve men from NI were lost in HMS Repulse and four in HMS Prince of Wales when Force Z was attacked by Japanese aircraft. James McCaul from Mossley survived and became a POW on the on the notorious Burma ‘Death Railway’. Tommy Burns from Derry also survived and later became a pillar of Waterside RBL. Royal Marines also died in these attacks. Marine Sam Duncan from Stewardstown survived but died as a POW. Archibald Campbell from Limavady a QUB graduate in medicine died in RAF service in 1944. 27 are remembered in today’s Roll of Honour.
The other Londonderry sailor that Tommy Burns met in India was Alexander (Lexie) Moore who later played soccer for Belfast Celtic and Derry City.
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