Oosthaven, Sumatra. A brief rest

6 February 1942 Abbekerk has been anchored for four days at the Oosthaven, Lampoon Bay in the south of Sumatra. The tranquility after the chaos of Singapore is surreal.

We anchored between a couple of islands in the bay. Here it was restful. We floated peacefully in the calm, very quiet and clear waters in beautiful green surroundings.
Next to us was a gun boat from the Dutch Navy called ‘Soemba’. I can not recall whether it was there when we came or whether it arrived after us; the fact is that we were together for at least a week or so. Our Captain and the Commandant from the Soemba had invited each other for special meals. A complete rijsttafel(rice table) on the Soemba and a culinary masterpiece on our ship. It was here that the chef showed somewhat more imagination than he ever did for the crew. These delicacies disappeared into the stomachs already half-filled with strong and not-so- strong liquor. The friendship became strong and long-lasting as would became clear in the future. 
Ass Engineer Adriaan Kik

In the meantime barges are coming alongside and Abbekerk is giving its unloading another go. Then bad news arrives:

We received the unhappy order from Batavia that our anti-aircraft guns, as well as the English gunners, had to be put ashore at once and transported northwards. It transpired that the Japs had already landed there. This came as a bolt out of the blue. The English soldiers were a nice group of guys and had become very much part of the crew. There was also the fact that all of a sudden we lost our entire anti aircraft capability. We were all shocked. The Captain could not change this either and so we could do nothing better than shake their hands and wish them the best of good luck.
Ass Engineer Adriaan Kik

For months I slept next to one of the gunners now send ashore. When he left we shook hands and he gave me a letter and ask me to deliver it to his wife, when I would get back in England. He knew he was ordered to fight a hopeless battle and also knew there was little chance he would survive. I put the letter in my kit bag and swore I would get it to his wife.
Gunner Walter MacNab

 

Merchant shipping losses in the area

13 february
Derrymore (British): the former passenger ship, armed and requisitioned in Australia carrying ammunition and many British airmen, was torpedoed and sunk some 50 miles NNW of Batavia by I-55 with the loss of nine of the 245 people aboard. Survivors were rescued by HMAS Ballarat and HrMs Cheribon ( Koninklijk Marine).
Giang Bee (British): The passenger ship was bombed and sunk off Berhala Island, Dutch East Indies by Japanese aircraft with the loss of 223 of the 293 people aboard. Survivors were rescued by Hung Jao
Hosang (British): The cargo ship ran aground whilst on a voyage from Singapore to Palembang, Dutch East Indies and was abandoned. She was later salvaged by the Japanese, repaired and entered service as Gyozan Maru.
Kuala (British): The hospital ship was bombed and sunk in the Bangka Strait by Japanese aircraft. 150 survivors were rescued by HMT Tandjong Pinang .
Manvantara (Dutch): The tanker was bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft whilst on a voyage from Palembang to Batavia, Dutch East Indies with the loss of four of the 51 people aboard.
Merula (Dutch): The tanker was bombed and sunk in the Banka Strait by Japanese aircraft with the loss of 42 of the 50 people aboard. Survivors were rescued by Herborg ( Norway).
Redang (British): The passenger ship was shelled and sunk 50 nautical miles (93 km) east south east of Berhala Island, Dutch East Indies by Japaneses naval vessels with the loss of 58 of the 89 people aboard.
Sudabar (British): The cargo ship was bombed and sunk in the Bangka Strait by Japanese aircraft with the loss of five of her 86 crew.
Sui Wo (British): The accommodation ship was bombed and sunk at Singapore by Japanese aircraft.

14 february 
Kamuning (British): The tanker was shelled and sunk in the Indian Ocean by I-66 with the loss of three crew. 63 survivors rescued by HMS Balta.
Vyner Brooke (Sarawak): Bangka Island massacre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banka_Island_massacre : The royal yacht was bombed and sunk in the Bangka Strait 15 nautical miles (28 km) north of Muntok, Dutch East Indies by Japanese aircraft with the loss of 125 of the 228 people aboard. Two crew were taken as prisoners of war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_February_1942