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Showing 51–75 of 2,578

David Morrison

Western Isles of Scotland

Hi
My name is David Morrison and im looking for any information on my late father in law , Kenneth John Maclean , from 1 Breanish in Uig on the Isle of Lewis , Scotland .
Kenneth John served in the Merchant Navy , on HMS Stronghold. The Ship , HMS Strobghold , was sunk in the Java sea on 2nd March 1942 at 1858 hrs . All the survivors including Kennwth john were transferred to the Japanese cruiser Maya and taken i believe to the Celebes as POWs. I think possibly to Macassar , but this is what im not sure off. He was held prisoner 7ntil liberation day. We know vwry little else and what ww do know ww found on historic sites . Kenneth John never really spoke about it . He passed away age 61. I actually never had the pleasure of meeting him, but id really like to find out more about his pow journey

Kim gordon

Cardiff

Hi.

I"m searching for information about my grandfather, Stanley harris from cardiff.

I know he was awarded the Burma star and my mum states that he was a pow.

Richard salter

London

I"m looking for information on my grandfather John Friar. I believe he was in the Gordon Highlanders during ww2 which was rare for a non Scottish person. We believe he partook in missions in Japan as he relived these when he was very ill in hospital.

L Robinson

Birmingham

Can anyone help. I"m looking for information on my Granddad Robert Leo Robinson who was a Irish man who served in the British army. He was born in 1923 in Northern Ireland. I know he was a POW in Japan and that he was also injured in the war. I"m really struggling to find anything out. But I would love to know more about what he experienced. Can anyone offer any advice or have seen my Granddads name somewhere. Thanks

Ruth Grenfell

Yorkshire

Trying to find information on time in Changi of my father Major JP de J Harvard. I understand his ship was torpedoed in the harbour probably 1942

Andy

Sussex

I am trying to find any info on Ronald Stocker
who I believe was RASC and 
A prisoner of War with the Japanese 

Barry Gasgarth

England

I"m looking for any information you may have on my grandfather Frank Gasgarth who was a POW in Burma, and was captured at the fall of Singapore. He was born in 1918 and was from Lancashire.

Sue

Dorset

Arthur Ramsay who led 400 women 7 children through the jungle from malaysia to Singapore and arrived with the Japs. POW for remainder ofthe war. Information please as he never spoke about it t

Christopher Elliott

Edinburgh

My great uncle John Elliott  (RASC) was a POW taken in Singapore and died in prison. Any information please 

john clark

coventry

Hi,i would like to know if my father was in Burma or java during second world war.His name was Michael Clark born 19th april 1908 Thanks

Mike

12.08.2025

Adrian Hughes. It would need more information as there are more than 20 Mr Burkes listed as POWs, although several could be eliminated as they died in camps. I would suggest your best bet would be to search local newspapers either online or in your local library. Local Historical Societies are often willing to help also. With a full military procession up the street its is unlikely it wasn"t reported.

Mike

12.08.2025

Matthew, files sent by email,

Hayley

Hello, I am trying to find out some possible information as to whether my great grandfather was last located in Japan. He was a prisoner of war, and I would love to try and find out the area/camp he was taken too. I have recently been to Japan as he is cremated at the Yokohama Cremation Memorial. His details are as follows;

Name: John Henry Gigg
Initials: J H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/service: Royal Artillery
Unit text: 49 bty, 48 Lt, A.A Regt.
Age: 27
Date of death: 24/11/1942

Would be really interested to see if we can find out anymore information about his last few days and the camp he was sent to.

Thank You

Matthew Price

Derbyshire, UK

@Mike

Thank you so very much for taking the time to research my grandfather and provide a response. I had drawn a blank for many years due to him not filling in his questionnaire so I am incredibly grateful for the information you have uncovered, even if it does leave a bit of a mystery.
I will make contact with the TBRC as you have suggested and see if they can shed any further light.

If you could share the files you have I would be grateful, I have his questionnaire and a copy of his service record (i think) but don"t have record of anything you have illuminated in your message. Anything you have would be gratefully received.

Adrian Hughes

Staffordshire England UK

Hi
A long shot, but I am trying to find out anything about a guy I knew as a child

His name was Mr Burke and his final address was Salisbury road, Stafford, UK
He worked on the death railway in Burma and survived the ordeal
When he died he had full military procession up the street
He was a lovely guy and we went around his place as kids to feed the ducks, chickens, pigeons, etc
Is there any way to find out about him?
KR
Adrian

Mike

05.08.2025

Hi Matthew. re Pte James Haynes. Very confusing. Not only did he not complete his Liberation Questionnaire as you have previously found, but also his regimental file has been completed with incorrect information. It has been written to state that he was sent overseas on the England Maru hellship on 16.08.42 with all the top brass who were sent to Taiwan (probably as a batman to one of them). This we know never occurred as he is listed as being part of "N Party" sent by train to Siam on 04.11.42, joining Group 2. What is also strange is that on this train of appx 650 men he is the only man from the Leicester Regiment. As an assumption, but with no proof, I would imagine he was listed to go to Taiwan, maybe fell ill, and when he recovered was a loner who was sent to Siam. I believe you will get some expert answers from the TBRC Thailand-Burma Railway Centre . You may also get some help from Ken Hewitt who has written books about the Leicester 1st Btl. He is at
The only information on his Index Card states "Started in Shonan (Singapore)" "1943 transferred to Thai pow camp". "06.09.45 at Bankok, released into care of Lt.Col Eachern" . Copies of file pages available if wanted, let me know what you already have.

Matthew Price

Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England

Hello,

I am trying to find information on my grandfather James Haynes.  I know he was a regular in the Foresters before the war, and was stationed in Palestine.  He was then captured at the surrender of Singapore and became a Japanese POW, we assume in Thailand but only because he mentioned being on the railway.
After this we know next to nothing, any information on where he was sent, or where he ended up will be very gratefully received by myself and my mother who is keen to know more about him.
The documents I have found have sadly been mostly blank.

Name James Haynes
Nationality British
Rank Private
Birth Date 31 Jul 1918
Birth Place Alfreton Derbyshire England
Military Date 15 Feb 1942
Military Place Singapore
Regiment 1st Liecestershire Rehgt
Service Number 4974508
Mother Louisa Yeomans

Ann Smith

Margate UK

That"s brilliant. He sketched and named several camps - now I can read the names!
Would like any documents, but am particularly interested in a newspaper article - maybe the Times when the war ofice thanked him for the many records he made of graves in the camps
Where would I start searching for that?

Mike

UK 01.08.2025

Hi Ann. Regarding your father RQMS W.Rutherford, 770351, 85th Anti Tank Regiment. Address shown as Maghull, Liverpool during the war and Belvedere, Kent after the war.
POW in River Valley Camp Singapore until 11.10.1942 , then sent by train to the Siam railroad on 11.10.1942, to join Group 4 workforce. Tonchan camp 10/42 - 8/43. Tarsao camp 8/43 - 4/44. Nakom Patom (hospital camp) 6/44 - 4/45. Mergui Road 4/45 - liberated. Liberated 30/08/1945.
Most likely route home would have been flown to Rangoon and then shipped home via Suez.
Several documents available if you want them emailed.

Ann Smith

Margate UK

Am trying to find out more about my father RQMS Wilfred Rutherford 7.4.1007

He talked very little about his experiences but I remeber attending FEPOW services with Padre Harry Thorpe in St Martins in the Fields, and Christmas parties in Central hall Westminster

Mike

uk 29.07.2025

Freya and Joseph. Joseph you have done a typing error that could be important to Freya if she is to pass information on. The date he was sent to the railroad was 14.10.42 not 14.02.42

Freya

Australia

Thank you Joseph! That was just what my dad had told me but I"m grateful for your clarification. Can you tell me how you know this/where this info is available?
Thanks.

Joseph

UK

Freya re Kenneth Douglas. Your info isn’t quite right. Kenneth was captured in Tebrau, Malaysia on 1.2.42 before Singapore fell. He was initailly imprisoned in Pudu Jail, Kuala Lumpur but was sent from there overland to the Thai Burma Railway on 14.2. 42. He remained in Thailand until he was liberated on 30.8.45. He wasn’t ever a prisoner in Burma

Freya

Australia

Hi all, I’m looking for information about my grandfather Kenneth Gore Douglas (British). 
He served in the Garhwal Rifles and was captured in Singapore. I believe he was a POW in Burma among other places, and he worked on the Kwai Bridge.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 

Mike

Uk 25.07.2025

Lyn, please list what you already know, so we don’t duplicate previously known information.

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