ricardian (#11606), Ta !
From what we heard out there at the time (!942): We had a squadron of Buffalo in Malaya when Admiral Phillips in his flagship "Prince of Wales" broke radio silence to advise Singapore that his ship had been attacked by Jap torpedo bombers, badly damaged, and was returning there at 1½ kts on one shaft, and asked for a tug to help.
As it was almost certain that the Japs would come back to finish the job, you would expect AHQ Singapore to order air cover for the crippled ship, but they dallied: it was left to the (acting) C.O. of the Buffalo squadron (Flt Lt Tim Vigors?), to recognise the danger and (on his own authority) to launch. But the delay had been fatal: before the Buffalo reached the position the Japs had been back, the ship was on the bottom, and 1,200 men lost (inc Phillips).
I would not be surprised if the official account differs to a certain extent.
Cheers, Danny.