Guestbook

Paul Beardshaw

England

Hello Peter

I'm trying to piece together what happened to my grandfather in the time between him being captured by the Japanese and his death. I am hoping that you might be able ton contribute some information. I

Leading Aircraftman Herbert Beardshaw - 643141

I will be visiting his memorial on Labuan island, Malaysia, later this year.

Thank you.

Mike

22.08.2018

Elizabeth, the name and service number you gave, was a POW who definitely died as stated. I assume you mean therefore that you found this service number against the name and assumed it was your Grandfather. Do you therefore know for CERTAIN that he was RAOC or did you assume it when you gathered the service number ? There were 7 POWs by the name of William Reid. Can you give a home town or any other useful information that may help to identify him ?

Elizabeth

England

Hi Mike, I must have some incorrect information as my mother was not conceived until 1948 so he definitely survived. His details show the same mother but this may be a coincidence.

Elizabeth

England

Hi Mike, I must have some incorrect information as my mother was not conceived until 1948 so he definitely survived. His details show the same mother but this may be a coincidence.

Mike

UK 22.08.2018

Elizabeth, Unfortunately your Grandfather never reached Japan alive. He died onboard the 'Singapore Maru' as it made its hellship voyage to Moji in Japan, on 25.11.1942. 50 men died during the voyage through neglect.

Elizabeth

England

Hi I am looking to see if I can find any information on where my Grandfather was kept as a POW in Japan. His name is William Reid, he was a private in Royal Army Ordnance Corps service number 7632372.

Robert

Cheshire

I

Mike

19.08.2018

Jackie, there were 5 men named William Robertson who were POWs. Can you add any more information. Sometimes a middle name or home town might be enough, but a service number or regiment are useful as well if known.

Jackie Howell

Bedfordshire

Looking for information about my great

Mike

UK 18.08.2018

Hi Linda, I know the story of Sgt. William G. Anderson quite well. Service number 309928, a member of the 155th Field Regiment, Lanarkshire Yeomanry. (not Signals). Taken prisoner at Singapore in February 1942, and transported to Formosa (Taiwan) in October 1942, on the hellship

LINDA SILLIMAN MILLAR

PERTHSHIRE

Hi all,

I am looking for info on my husbands grandfather who's name was WILLIAM GILFILLAN ANDERSON he was a sergeant in the Royal Signals, we have only just found out about him.
Unfortunately my mother in law died having never told us much about him or where he is remembered/buried.

All we know is he was that he died in a Japanese camp

Many thanks

Linda

EMMA

Scotland

Ie John Muir
Apologies my e-mail is Show email address

Emma

Scotland

Looking for any info on my Great Uncle - John Muir, he was a lance corporal in the Cameron Highlanders, went to Burma and was a POW. He was born 1917 from Scotland.

Mike

UK 10.08.2018

Dawn, on the Commonwealth War Graves website, there is no one by the name of Kenneth Jessop listed as having lost his life in WWII. Can you supply any further details ? https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/

Dawn Russell

London, UK

Hi, I am trying to find details about my
mother's uncle who served in Burma during
the 2nd world war and was killed.

He had married a Burmese lady.
His name is Kenneth F Jessop born 1916
in Barnsley, Yorkshire.

I would be grateful for any information. Dawn

Janet Turner

Reading

My uncle Private John Knox was in the 1st Manchesters in Singapore and was taken as a pow. He survived thankfully but I know nothing about him and would be interested to know more. Can anyone help?

Mark Biddle

London

I have 2 Great Uncles 1 on dads side 1 on mums
dads uncle was John Henry Stuart Devonald born 1917 Tendering he landed in Sinagpore in 1942 Cambridge regiment

the other was mums uncle Gordon Meredith evans a Marine on HMS Exter which sank in Java sea both captured

Marie

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Mike, Yes Thanks! I knew some of that but wasn't sure if he worked on the railroad or not. I find the whole thing completely heartbreaking. Thanks for your help with this.

Mike

UK 31.07.2018

Hi Marie, ref: Fus. Edward Hall, 4278913, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Address shown as Sedgemoor Avenue, Scotswood, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Taken prisoner at Bukit Tima Heights Singapore. By his liberation questionnaire it appears that after initially being in Changi, he then was enslaved at Keppel Harbour until 07.11.1942. On this date he was sent to the Siam Railroad, but I cannot trace his camps. In May 1944 he arrived at the Iruka Camp , and it was from here he was liberated. As you are possibly aware, Iruka was quite unique in that the locals post war created memorials to the 16 British who perished there, and have held annual services since. The local copper mine museum also has a POW display. Photos of 1942/45 files showing his name available if you want them.

Julia walker

Uk

One of our local shops has found a letter
Sent to a private 5773933 William Frederick Gower .
Who was in the pow camp in Thailand.

Marie Hall

Newcastle upon Tyne

Trying to find more info on my grandfather Edward Hall. Its so difficult as there are so many Edward Halls. I know he was in Nagoya 4B - Iruka and his service number is 4278913. We never knew him and have no photos of anything. I wish I could have known him.

Steven

Down Under

Anyone remember Samuel Jones a Senior Prison official talen by the Japs in Malaya and in Changi for many years

MIchele Stevens

Kent

I have just found out that my Grandfather William John Stevens who i believe was in the Middlesex Regiment was a Prisoner of war in Japan.

I am wondering how i can find out some more information as he passed away quite a few years ago and there is no one on his side of the family with any information.

Mike

UK 18.07.2018

Nigel. re Harry Douglas Davis, 5950407, 5th Btl.Suffolk Regiment. Taken prisoner Singapore on 15.02.1942, later engaged in Work Parties around Singapore. This could have been anything from working in the docks, road repairs, clearing bomb damage etc. Sent to the Siam Railroad on 27.04.1943 by train as part of Overland F Party. He died at Nieke Camp (alternative spellings Nikki Camp, Nikhe, Niki, Niki-Niki, Nike) which is at the 282 Km point. His death is recorded as due to diarrhoea, a generalisation for the fact he wasted away through illness, cruelty and neglect .

Jean Bruley

Essex

My father Edward James Preston born in Strattford London 1916 was in Royal Norfolk Regiment .Was on the ship Manhatton captured sent to Burma Death Railway He was lucky he came home.Anyone with any information please let me know ThankyouI