Tom,
Thanks for sharing you Dad's pictures with us. Who is he in the 2nd picture: the driver or the commander/gunner sitting on the fender?
As far as I know, the twenty Vickers-Carden-Loyd Model 1936 Light Tanks which arrived in the NEI in time came into action only twice:
- Three of them were used on Borneo in the defence of Singkawang II airfield on January 27th 1942 are were put out of action in various ways.
- Seventeen serviceable VCLs were assigned to the KNIL's only tank battalion (Mobiele Eenheid) on Java. On March 2nd, 1942 this unit got involved in some bitter fighting with the Japanese at Soebang. Because of high losses the Mobiele Eenheid did not see action after that, and the NEI capitulated on March 9th.
Do you know if your father was involved in any of these actions?
Regards,
Hanno