Guestbook

Mike

UK 14.11.2018

Judy, I can only add a little information. Service number 1794654, taken prisoner in Java. Imprisoned at Tandjong Priok, Batavia until February 1943. On 09.02.1943 boarded the Roko Maru for Changi, Singapore, as part of Java Party 13. On 06.05.1943 sent from Changi to the Burma/Siam railroad. No further details.

Judy

Yorkshire

Hi I am trying to gather some information about my father Maurice Bennett from Wakefield in Yorkshire I know he was a POW in Changi jail during WW2 but very little else as my father very rarely spoke about this time in his life

Nicky

Thank you so much for the information about Albert Heap.

Mike

11.11.2018

Nicky. Re Pte Albert Heap. Service No. 4979934, Sherwood Foresters Regiment. Address shown as 17, Warren Road, Northampton. He was initially sent to the Siam Railroad on 13.10.1942 after being imprisoned at Changi in Feb 1942. Later he returned to Changi. On 04.09.1944 appx. 2000 POW were sent to the docks in Singapore and boarded 2 hellships. The Kachidoki Maru and Rakuyo Maru. These two hellships were torpedoed and sunk by USS Sealion and USS Pampanito in the South China Sea as they headed for Formosa (Taiwan). 1500 POWs lost their lives on 12.09.1944. So he had never been a POW in Japan and was certainly not on his way home. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial as one of the 24000 with no known grave.

Amy

Hi, I am looking for any info about my great grandfather Henry Humfrys of the 135th Herts Yeomanry field rgt royal artillery. I know he was captured in Singapore on 15th Feb 1942 and he died 6th Aug 1945

Martin Chambers

Gateshead

Hello Im trying to find details about my Great Uncle George Boothroyd. He was a radio telegraph operator, captured, then we believe he was lost in the Lisbon Maru incident.

Nicky

Northampton

My great uncle Albert (heap) was killed in friendly fire in 1944

Jacky Paffard

Wales

I was searching for details of my Uncle (my maternal
Grandmother's brother) who died in 1942 as a PoW
of the Japanese. I was not born when he died but it
affected my Grandmother badly and she never forgave
the Japanese for "murdering her little brother.

He was a volunteer (not sure what that is) and I have a
newspaper cutting saying he was in Java. Itraced
his grave to a war cemetry on an Island called Amman.
It was a particularly cruel camp apparently and many
Australian PoWs were beheaded. I am not sure
where to look to find our how my uncle died.

Kerry

Coventry UK

We've got very limited info. He often mentions being captured and escaping on rare flashbacks when his mind comes back..
My mother in law has his service book still which is dated the early 1940's. He may have travelled to Singapore afterwards which would explain the marriage.

Mike

09.11.2018

Kerry, do you mean he was a civilian, an internee, rather than a POW ? DOB 1926 means he was only 15 when Singapore fell. Where did he escape to?

Mike

09.11.2018

Nicola, you forgot to give us a name.

Mike

09.11.2018

Camille, can you give us a regiment or service number?

Kerry

Coventry UK

Hi, I am looking for any information regarding my partners grandad..
Name - Sidney William Sly
Born - Edmonton, Middlesex, UK
D-O-B - 08/02/1926

He has strong links to Singapore as married a Singaporean woman after his escape, the only S.Sly I can find that was a POW is registered as dead, he is however alive at 92 years of age. Sadly dementia has taken his mind from us so we're desperate to find out anything we can about his past. Thank you so much in advance

Nicola Vernon

Derbyshire

My Great uncle was a pow after the HMS Exeter sank. He is buried in the Ambon War Cemetery but am trying to find out which prison camp he was in. Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks

Camille mclelland

Wiltshire

I believe my grandad was a POW in Japan his name was Robert Macdonald from Glasgow many thanks

chris

thetford

sorry Labuan is where my granddad is
buried,, would be interested in
knowing which camp he was sent to

chris

thetford

hi, looking for some more information on my
granddad, Lawrence leonard mansi, from
cranfield Bedford, royal artillery,
gunner 1563176 of 42 bty, 2/1lt A.A regt,
was sent to Labuan pow camp borneo,
died trying to escape apparently 01/01/45
many thx.

Danielle

Gloucestershire

Mike. Thank you so much for finding that
information. It is most definitely Harry on the
index card, so everything is now explained!
That article makes it incredibly clear what
a horrific experience he, and his colleagues,

Mike

UK 06.11.2018

HI Danielle. Henry Robinson was indeed a submariner on HMS Strategem, and sunk on 22.11.1944. I have no information apart from what I can also see on the internet. There is probably all the information you need, which mentions him by name and also shows his POW Index Card at the following website. Dont be put off by the fact that it appears to be about another crew member, read through to the end. https://timdracup.wordpress.com/2017/06/25/derek-george-rendel-dracup-1923-1944/ You cannot click on this link, you need to copy and paste

Danielle

Gloucestershire

Having done a little internet research today
I

Danielle

Gloucestershire

Hi. My mum has told me a fascinating story

Mike

01.11.2018

Wendy, email sent

Wendy

Western Australia

The numbers on the reverse show 20.8.30

Wendy

Mike

Martyn, sorry , postings crossed at same time

Mike

31.10.2018

Wendy, I can find very little about his wartime. Signalman with Malaya Command. Wife Phyllis. Address, 27 Lime Street, Grimsby. Probably in River Valley/ Havelock Rd camps on Singapore. Work Party whilst in Singapore. Apparently in Thailand, but no entrained details listed. On the reverse of his POW Card, where all the Japanese writing is, does it show a date ? e.g. something like 18 3 16 at the start of a line? He is listed in the file of Work Group 4, so this identifies the area (of many camps) where he slaved. This is the area around Tarsao (Tarso) at 130 Km. If you repost with email I will make direct contact and send copies.