Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Friday 27 March 1942, page 3


JOURNALIST SAFE IN JAVA

Report by Japanese

Early last night Sir David and Lady Rivett received a message from Judge Foster who had listened to a short-

wave broadcast in Japanese from Batavia announcing that Mr Rohan Rivett, Sir David and Lady Rivett's

son, who was a war correspondent for The Argus in Singapore, was safe

in Java. Confirmation of the news was later given to Sir David Rivett by the ABC from Sydney.

Recently Sir David Rivett had heard from Mrs M. Marsden (wife of Maj. Marsden, of the RMC, who

Mr. R. D. RIVETT

is still in Singapore) who has ar-

rived in Australia, that Mr Rivett did not leave Singapore until the city had practically fallen. He was also employed by the Malayan Broadcasting Corporation, and was one of 3 who volunteered to keep the station going until the very last. On February 11 the station was blown up, apparently by the Corporation's order, and the staff was told to escape if they could. Three of them left Singapore on the morning of February 12, in convoy, but next day a bomb struck the engine-room of the ship and slowed its progress. The women on board, who included Mrs Marsden, were put off in small boats, and eventually reached shore.

Mrs Marsden was able later to give Sir David Rivett further news which she received through 2 naval ratings who reached Java. They said that on February 14 the ship was set on fire after further bombing, but some sur-vivors, including Mr Rivett, reached land in Sumatra and set out to walk south towards Java.

Mr Rohan Rivett's wife, who was Miss Gwen Terry, lives in Toorak. She is a daughter of the late Mr A. Terry and of Mrs Terry, and a niece of Alderman S. S. Crick, Lord Mayor of Sydney.