Survivor of the Battle of Malaya laid to rest

The late Thomas Burns, seated left, with, from left, his brother Herbie, Alexi Moore, Robert McMorris (RAF) and Jim Miller, at a get together in Drumahoe last year.

The late Mr Burns, aged 93, died peacefully in the Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ballymoney on April 13.

His funeral took place in Gortnessy Presbyterian Church at 2pm followed by burial in Altnagelvin cemetery.

Mr Burns survived the infamous Battle of Malay on December 10, 1941, in the South China Sea.

He was on board one of two Royal Navy battleships sunk by the Japanese during the engagement.

Mr Burns was on board the HMS Repulse. The other ship to sink was the HMS Prince of Wales.

Speaking to Sentinel reported Olga Bradshaw last year, he said: “I was a petty officer on board, and worked down in the wireless office.

“There were four different watches with a Petty Officer in charge of the watches. In fact, I was up the mast sending the message out that we were sinking, but I cannot remember the half of it.”

It wasn’t the first time he had been on a vessel that had sunk.

“You got used to it,” he told the paper last November.

By happenstance he had then bumped into another Londonderry sailor, Alexi Moore, who was on his way to Burma whilst Tommy was on his way home after the sinking.

The two Londonderry men ended up going out to a dance hall in Bombay.

Given Mr Burns’ naval career it’s appropriate donations should be paid to the Royal British Legion, Poppy Fund, Waterside Branch, if desired. Arrangements can be made through Adair and Neely Funeral Directors, Duke Street.

Mr Burns had been married to the late Margery Elaine Burns (née Struthers).

Late of the Haven, Tirbracken Road, Drumahoe, he was the dear brother of Margaret, Billy, Herbert, George and the late Jim and Iris.