Operation Rimau

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Operation Rimau

Date	October 10, 1944 - October 16, 1944
Location	Singapore Harbour
Result	Successful Allied operation, Failed Allied escape

Combatants

Japan

Z Force

Commanders

Lt. Col. Ivan Lyon

Strength

N/A

Casualties

3 Japanese ships sunk
60+ infantry killed or wounded

13 killed
10 beheaded

Operation Rimau was an attack on Japanese shipping at Singapore Harbour, carried out by the Allied commando unit Z Force, during World War II. It was a follow-up to the successful Operation Jaywick, which had taken place in 1943.

Rimau (Malay for tiger) was led by the man behind Operation Jaywick, Lt Col Ivan Lyon of the Gordon highlanders. The goal of Rimau (originally named Operation Hornbill) was to sink Japanese shipping by placing limpet mines on ships. Motorised semi-submersible canoes, known as Sleeping Beauties, would be used to gain access to the harbour.

Lyon led a Z Force contingent of 21 men. They left their base in Australia aboard the British submarine HMS Porpoise on September 11, 1944. When they reached the island of Merapas — which was to be their forward base — it was discovered to be inhabited. To ensure that their stores would remain undiscovered by the natives, one of the officers from the Porpoise, Lt Walter Carey, remained on Merapas as a guard.

The force commandeered a Malay junk named the Mustika. Taking the Malay crew aboard the submarine, Z Force transferred their equipment to the junk and the Porpoise departed.

Lyon decided to drop off four more men with Carey: Corporal Colin Craft, Warrant Officer Alf Warren and either Lance Corporal Hugo Pace or Sergeant Colin Cameron (accounts differ on the identity of the fourth man).

Meanwhile, the Mustika neared its target. On the day of the planned attack — October 10, 1944 — disaster struck. A patrol boat challenged the Mustika and someone on board opened fire. Their cover blown, Lyon had no option but to abort the mission. After blowing up the junk and the Sleeping Beauties, he ordered his men back to Merapas. However, Lyon led a small force of six other men — Lt Commander Donald "Davo" Davision, Lt Bobby Ross, Able Seaman Andrew "Happy" Huston, Corporal Clair Stewart, Corporal Archie Campbell and Private Douglas Warne — into Singapore Harbour, where they are believed to have sunk three ships.

Lyon and twelve others were killed in action soon afterwards. The remaining ten men were captured and later executed by beheading in July 1945.

The events are recorded in the motion-picture "Highest Honor."