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Hello, I am looking for further information on Andrew Clark Walker. He was a driver in the Royal Signals. We think he was captured in 1943 but we have very little information. We would appreciate any help you can offer.

Hi Michael, It is always difficult when someone says they want to learn more without telling us what they already know. I think it is best to view this page already created by Ronnie Taylor, and then post again with some particular questions. This may save a lot of research time. You will probably need to cut"n"paste this link: https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Java_Index/D/html/do_database_26.htm

I"m hoping to learn more about the story of my great Uncle James Henry Doe who was captured as a Japanese POW in 1942.
I believe he was an aircraftman in the RAF.

My husbands Grandfather was a member of the 2/26 Battalion coming from Qld. His name was Alan Campbell and service number was QX12107. He was a Uniting Church minister. We know that he was held as a prisoner of war in Japan for several years and we are now trying to piece together his journey and create something for the family to document his story. Interested in anything you may recall.

Hi Becky, Your Grandfather Cpl. William White, service number T/179792. On his Liberation Questionnaire, sourced by Cofepow volunteers, he lists he was in 6 different Singapore Camps between February 42 and April 43. These were Changi, River Valley, Havelock Rd, Tanjon Rhu, Serangoon and Great World. On 27/04/1943 he was crammed into the steel wagons of train 10, for the 5 day journey of hell to the Siam Railroad. He was part of the 7,000 men of "F Force" who suffered extreme hardships from starvation and disease including cholera. Reading the detail of "F Force" is a separate saga. He was enslaved at Songkurai (Sun Korai) where they built the Bridge of 600. Named due to over 600 dying. He is next recorded as being bought back to Singapore, and in Kranji Camp, on 31/03/1945. By this time Kranji was being used as a major hospital, but whether he was a patient or had volunteered as a medical orderly, I cant trace. His Liberation Q. does not show an accurate liberation date, merely 02/11/1945 which was the general date for all camp closures. Many men had already arrived home by then if fit to travel. Travel information is "lost" for the men of Singapore.

My grandfather, William White, was a Japanese prisoner of war. 
He was a driver, Lance Corporal  Royal Army Service Corps  
and in Singapore when it surrendered
to the Japanese.  
 I’d like to know his movements etc.  
My dad was born in 1940  and
his first memory of his dad
was standing on Stranraer Harbour Railway
meeting this ‘stranger’ -
my uncle remembers
not recognising him because he was so thin.
My dad’s parents divorced because they couldn’t
make their marriage work post POW 
I have vague  memories of visiting him
 in the 1970’s in London
He died in 1979.  

Hi Yvonne. I am sure only you will be able to digest whether the information is suitable for your mum to learn after 80 years. Your Grandad, Gunner Samuel Witts was a member of the 35th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment (35 LAA). He was with 89 battery which was attached to 6 HAA Regiment and detailed for airfield securement on Java. Taken prisoner on 08/03/1942 at the surrender of Java by the Dutch, and imprisoned at Tangjong Priok Camp. On 29/10/42 he embarked on a hellship at Batavia docks. I believe this was Moji Maru and only took him to Singapore. On 30/10/42 I believe he was on the Singapore Maru and this sailed for Moji in Japan. arriving 25/11/42. A very long journey in atrocious and barbaric conditions and 60 men died on the journey. The POW Camp they were taken to was Hiroshima 7B Okinoyama, and they were enslaved into coal mining. Samuel died at this camp on 03/12/42 and it was recorded as colonitis. 10 members of his regiment also died in December. The hellship conditions probably enhanced this death rate. There are a lot of Japanese entries on the rear of his Index Card (Prisoner Card). I believe the translation reads: November 27 1942 transfer to mainland camp Fukuoka 7B. (note, Hiroshima 7B and Fukuoka 7B are the same camp just with a name change) 3 December 1942 Acute large intestine. Died 22:50 fire (cremation?). 14 April 1945 urn transfer to Hiroshima confinement camp. 21 October 1942 prepare for transfer. 30 November 1942 taken of oath. (?) 16 November 1942 onset of disease.
Remains of body held at Ube City Miyama Common Cemetery (JA298) 29 October 1945 Josenji Temple, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Recovery Team 17 1st Lt. Robert F Andrews Jnr.
(assume recovery of urn for transfer to Yokohama Cemetery)

Is there anyone who could help with information on my grandad Gunner Samuel Witts 1700019 Royal Artillery who died in a POW camp in Japan 3/12/42
Would love any information for my 80 year old mam who never met him.

Hi Paul,

You already seem to have a good knowledge of your Grandfather, but hopefully I can add a few more details. After initial imprisonment at Changi from 15/02/1942, he was later sent to Bukit Tima on 22/03/1942. This was probably to work on the shrine built for the Japanese to honour their dead. The regimental file from Changi of the 4th Suffolk Rgt. states he was sent to the Siam Railroad on 17/10/1942 and this would have been with Group 1 to build the base camp for others to follow.
On 17/11/1942 he is at Chunkai, which was the HQ of Group 2. By 09/06/1943 he has travelled 220 Km up the railway to Takanun and this maybe as Lt. Col Johnson of the 4th Suffolks is listed as his camp leader. By 14/09/1944 he is 263 Km north at Konkoita which is where the two ends of the railroad construction was joined. His last camp was Langsuan which was 530 Km south of Bangkok. I believe there was a bridge here under continuous bombing by the allies, and POWs were sent here to carry out continuous repairs. His Japanese Index Card has a few lines of entry written in Japanese which state merely "Transfer to Thai Prisoner Shelter (camp)" and " Thai prisoner Number 1 Branch Transfer". The final line I believe reads "30/08/1945 Bangkok extradition to United Nations Army". This would suggest he travelled home via shipping from Rangoon.
I am confused by your statement concerning the medals. He was not officially entitled to the Burma Star but should have received the Pacific Star. I imagine he should also have The 1939-1945 Star. All 3 stars have their title on the front, so there should not be any confusion. The 39-45 Star should have a 3 colour ribbon, dark blue/red/light blue. The Pacific Star has a 5 colour, red/dark blue/green/light blue/and yellow as a centre stripe.

Thank you so so much Mike! I really look forward to your email. My grandad thought he was going to Australia to learn to fly, would this have been the plan or was he always going to be learning in Singapore? Would you know when he arrived there? Thank you again 

Hi,
I would be most grateful if you could help me find out about my Grandfather who was a Far East POW. His name is Victor Allenby Chaplin and he was from Tollesbury Essex England and lived at 6 Concrete Cottages Mell Road, Tollesbury, Essex England . He was a Private No 5829868, Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion, 12 Platoon , B Company. He was captured in the fall of Singapore I believe on the 15th February 1942 and went to Malai 1. and then onto camps within Thailand. I have his date of liberation as 30th August 1945. He received three medals one the general service medal and two I belive called the Burma Star they are both in the shape of stars. I also have three cards with Imperial Japanese Army on plus (service des prisonniers de guerre) on the other side. They all state he"s in No 2 POW Camp Thailand and one is dated June 1944. If you have any further information as to what happened to him during his time as a POW and the camps he went to i would be most appreciative . Thank you Paul

Jenna, I will reply by email, Easier as I can send photos of files etc. Might not be today.

Hi Mike, thank you SO much for all your information, we are so grateful to you for your hard work and dedication to helping families gather information about their loved ones! Please could I ask where you find the information and whether there is anywhere I can look for further info or whether you have anymore details regarding my grandad or the ship/camps he was in?
On a database I have come across (since your message today) it says that the ship arrived in Sumatra 10th Nov 43 and left in May 43 as opposed to leaving 7th Nov? My Grandads liberation record doesn"t account for the ship at all, it just states that he left the cycle camp oct 43 and began his time in Palembang also oct 43. Would this indicate that it was a really short journey? do you think the sail could have just been for 3 days eg 7-10Nov 43 as opposed to 6m as indicated here https://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/WW2/Hell_Ships/html/names_database_37.htm
I am also really interested to know how the POWs knew their own whereabouts and the dates etc? Does the database you use come from official records which are different to the handwritten liberation records? Sorry for all the questions, I am just fascinated to find out more.
Also, my father (his son in law) had thought that Grandad was on a ship which was refuelling in Singapore on the way to Australia (where he was going to learn to fly) when Singapore fell to the Japanese so this is very interesting and new information also. Thankyou so very much for this!
Looking forward to hearing more,
Best,
Jenna

Hi Jenna. Re your Grandad, LAC Denis Ainsworth, service number 1066225. It seems he was with 36 Squadron in Malaya and they were flying very old Vilderbeests. These were a slow obsolete biplane and would have been totally outclassed by the Japanese Zero fighters. The majority of Vilderbeests were lost in the early days of the Japanese invasion, but by January 21st 1942, any surviving craft were ordered to escape to Java to regroup. There were very few aircraft remaining and RAF crew now became infantrymen. Denis became a POW on the 20/03/1942. His prison camps were Batavia Mar-Dec 42, Priok Dec 42-Mar 43, Cycle Camp Mar-Nov 43. Then on 07/11/1943 he was herded onto the Japanese hellship named "France Maru" with 2,100 POWs and sent to Palembang in Sumatra, to assist with airfields construction. After 18 months of this brutality they boarded a ship for Singapore, arriving 30/05/1945, and is still listed in Changi Nominal Roll on 05/09/1945 just prior to the first liberation sailings.

Hi Chris Ford. re Trooper George Moore. Unfortunately I have very little information for you as George remained imprisoned on Java for the whole of the war and therefore there is very little paperwork trail to follow. He was captured on 8th March 42 according to his Japanese Index Card but he states 29th March 42 on his Liberation Questionnaire post war. (Your date of 3rd Aug 42 is wrong, you need to read it right to left as 8/3/42) . He was imprisoned at Glodok from 29/03/42, then (I think) Lembang from 4/5/43, Cycle Camp from 11/1/45 and finally Vincentious Hospital until war end. His Index Card also states "27/10/1945 handed over to Allied Forces". This date appears rather late and maybe it is merely Japanese Admin "catching up" on missed paperwork. Details of journey home are unknown from this part of Asia.

Hi Amy. Re your Grandfather, Gunner Frederick Charles Bailey, of Hull, Yorkshire. Service number: 4344644. Regiment: 79th Battery , 21 LAA (Light Anti-Aircraft). Unfortunately I have many gaps in his story due to lack of information of Timor and transportation to Java. Fred sailed from Gourock, near Glasgow in December 1941 for Algeria, but his ship was rerouted to Java when Japan entered the war on December 7th. Just the 79th Battery was then further rerouted to Timor, so only one third of the regiment was in Timor, and the rest in Java. By the time they arrived the Japs had already landed and they were instantly in battle, but unfortunately the Australian Air Force decided to save the aircraft and return to Australia. The 79th became known as The Timor Gunners or The Timor Regiment, and fighting alongside the Australians they were named "Sparrow Force". They surrendered on 23/02/1942, a week after they arrived. 183 men were POWs and just one had died in battle. They were imprisoned in Oesapa Besar Prison Camp. Although I cannot trace exact details, I believe he returned to Java around 21/10/42, and then onto Singapore before finally shipping to Japan arriving 27/11/42. He entered Fukuoka 11 Camp and later went to Fukuoka 3B camp on 03/12/44. On 17/09/45 he was liberated at Nagasaki Port 17 when handed safely over to Colonel Griffin. He was taken to Yokohama, then Iwo Jima, and then Manila in the Philippines. He sailed on HMS Implacable for Vancouver on 25/09/45 and arrived 11/10/45. Upon arrival in Canada , there are no clear records but many have stated they had a very comfortable and scenic 5 day journey across Canada to the east coast. He probably then arrived Halifax and sailed on the Ile de France, arriving Southampton on 31/10/1945.

Hi Mike, I would like to know information regarding my great-grandmothers brother. Here is some Information I have.
LEONARD CHRIS SMITH (senior commisioned torpedo gunner) POW.
grp-Williams-lib
Journey TBR-B4
Many thanks

Looking. For information Sgt Richard ford, royal Norfolkdied in POW camp

Hi all, I am after any information on my Grandad and would be so grateful if anyone could point us in the right direction.
We have obtained his liberation document and have realised that he was at 5 different camps through the war. We had thought he spent the entire time in Changi.
They are listed as follows:
Bativa - Java 
Priok - Java
Bycicle camp - Java
Palembang - Sumatra 
Changi - Singapore 

Name: Denis Alfred Ainsworth
DOB: 1/9/20 
Rank: LAC
Number: 1066225
36 squad ATT
Date of capture: 8/3/42
From: Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire 

Thank you in advance :) 

Looking for information on trooper George leslie moore  3rd hussars royal armoured corp  7905272 captured 03/08/1942 Java  thank you chris

Sharon, You will need to add some more information to try and identify him, Do you have any of the following ? Rank, Regiment, nationality, Home address, What medals did he recieve,

I’m trying to find out about my uncle 
his name was Herbert Hawkins he fought at 
Burma and was a prisoner of war

Hi Kathryn.. Private Cecil Brown was a regular army soldier since 1937, service number 2878395. Originating from Cove bay Village, south of Aberdeen. Taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore on 15/02/1942, and imprisoned at Adam Park. Transported in the cattle trucks to the Burma/Siam Railroad on 24/10/1942. Listed as being with Work Group 1, means he would have worked at the camps between Non Pladuk and Tamarkan (Bridge on the River Kwai). His liberation Questionnaire shows his camps as Tamarkan, Kinsiok, Non Pladuk and Ubon. Ubon is 450 miles from the Railroad in N.E.Thailand, and 3,000 POWs were enslaved to build an airstrip. His Index Card shows his camp was liberated on 30/08/1945 but he probably did not start his journey home from this remote area until several weeks later. He probably was liberated by air to Rangoon, and then by sea homeward.

I"ve learnt that my late Grandfather , Fred Bailey, was a POW on Timor, Japanese POW camp, I have a picture of his telegram to say he was liberated.

Hi. Do you have any information on Private Cecil Brown, he was in the Gordon Highlanders regiment and was captured in Singapore.