By Sea to Sumatra

Abstract

Many small craft successfully carried people away from a stricken Singapore to the east coast of Sumatra. At its shortest, the distance to the central coastal area was little more than 40 miles but few, if any, managed a short crossing. Rapidly changing circumstances rather than original choice made the wide river mouths along the coast of eastern Sumatra the targets of late escape runs from Singapore. Routes were changed according to information received, anchorage and shelter were sought in small islands en route; some of these also served as staging points, allowing transfers between boats. Food and water supplies had to be procured frequently.