PRIVATE R. OTOOLE, THE LOYAL REGIMENT (NORTH LANCASHIRE). killed in action on 23rd January 1942, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, column 74. Campaign Service Medal 1918, 1

PRIVATE R. OTOOLE, THE LOYAL REGIMENT (NORTH LANCASHIRE). killed in action on 23rd January 1942, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, column 74. Campaign Service Medal 1918, 1 clasp, Palestine (officially impressed: 3854093 PTE. R. OTOOLE. LOYAL. R.). Heavy contacts to obverse and reverse at centers, edge nicks and bruises, otherwise Good Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by Commonwealth War Graves details. Private Richard OToole, 2nd Battalion The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) was 29 years of age when he was killed in action on 23rd January 1942, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, column 74.

Private OToole was killed in action in the confused fighting that took place as the Japanese army swept down the Malayan peninsula, driving the British and Imperial forces before them. On 23rd January 1942 the 2nd Loyals formed part of 53rd Infantry Brigade. In Johore this brigade had, since 21st January, been attempting to relieve the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade, which had been surrounded by the advancing Japanese forces. When attempts at relief failed, the 45th Brigade was ordered to take to the jungle and attempt to fight their way through to the British lines. In order to assist the fleeing elements of the 45th Brigade, the 53rd Brigade, itself now retreating, left a rearguard behind which included the 2nd Loyals, to receive and direct the fleeing elements of the 45th Brigade. At 1.45 pm on the afternoon of 23rd January, seven enemy medium tanks appeared some 300 yards in front of the 2nd Loyals position. Lacking anti-tank guns, which had been withdrawn only two hours earlier, the contest that followed was inevitably a somewhat unequal one. The Loyals fought a fine rearguard action, officers and men of the battalion launching repeated solo attacks on the advancing tanks with nothing more than hand grenades and small arms, but they were eventually overwhelmed. Though this rearguard action allowed over 1,000 Australian and Indian troops from the 45th Brigade to regain the British lines, it was at some considerable cost to the 2nd Loyals, the regimental history noting that in this ill-conceived action the 2nd Loyals lost over 200 men killed, wounded and missing, the battalion being reduced to little more than 550 other ranks standing at the conclusion of the action.”

General Service Medal roll confirms that O’Toole saw service with the 3rd Railway Labour Section in Palestine.