“The ‘H.M.S. Giang Bee’, a Chinese-owned coastal steamer requisitioned and used as a patrol vessel, left Singapore Harbour - according to a statement made by a number of those who were on board - at 10 p.m. on Thursday 12th February 1942."

“Although Captain Lancaster, in command of the ship, initially refused to take civilian passengers because he saw the dangers attached to a ship designated as a warship, she was loaded with up to 300 refugees (one survivor, Gordon Reis believed there to be 350 people on board) who were mostly women, children and the elderly."

"All her Malay crew had been ordered ashore in Singapore before she left, so that the crew consisted of a handful of R.N.V.R. personnel and some passengers who volunteered to be stokers etc."

“She was bombed and suffered damage during the day of 13th February, and in the evening, after a long stand-off with a Japanese destroyer, she was shelled and sunk in the Banka Strait. There had never been enough lifeboats for those on board, and two of them had been seriously damaged by the day's bombing. Due to this and the speed with which the ship sank, a large number of lives were lost."

 “Whilst there appears to have initially been an attempt by the Japanese to handle the surrender of the ship in a somewhat civilised manner, in the final event the Japanese warships showed no humanity or decency when they were in full knowledge that the ship contained civilians and a huge number of women and children."

"In a wartime situation at sea it may be understandable they did not stop and pick up survivors, but to leave without even jettisoning flotation devices for the women and children shows a complete lack of human values.” 

Perthshire Advertiser, 30th January 1946

“INTIMATIONS - DEATHS"

“Now officially presumed to have lost his life on 13th February, 1942, Sub-Lieut. Robert H. Campbell, Malay Naval Reserve (H.M.S. Giang Bee), son of the late Robert Campbell solicitor, and of Mrs Campbell, 17 Muirhall Terrace, Perth. No letters.”

“NAVAL OFFICER PRESUMED KILLED IN ACTION"

“Reported missing almost four years ago, Sub. Lieutenant Robert H. Campbell of the Malay Naval Reserve has now been officially presumed killed in action."

“He was a son of Mrs R. Campbell, 17 Muirhall Terrace, Perth, and of the late Mr Robert Campbell of Sneddon, Campbell & Munro, solicitors, Perth, who was chairman of St. Johnstone F.C. and a former president of the Scottish Football Association."

“Sub. Lieut. Campbell had been a rubber planter in Malaya for about 15 years when the Japanese war broke out. He joined the Malay Naval Reserve and went into action on the H.M.S. Giang Bee. He was reported missing in February of 1942 after heavy fighting with the Japanese in the Bangor Straits. His relatives had not heard from him since the fall of Singapore."

“Unmarried he was educated at Perth Academy, and served in the Merchant Navy for a number of years before going to Malaya. He also worked in the “G.A.” for a short period. He was last home in 1938.” 

Having no grave but the sea Robert Campbell is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.