Guestbook

Nigel

England

I am researching my fathers ancestry. His mother
had a brother called Harry Douglas Davis. He was a
Private in the Suffolk Regiment - service
number 5950407. He died on 21 August 1943.
He is buried in Kanchanaburi cemetery. I
found this much info from the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission. However, would welcome
and further information sources where
I might find whether he died in action etc.
Many thanks

Guestbook contributor

Lorraine Macdonald

Scotland

My great uncle AbieTaylor was a pow in burma for 5 yrs he never ever spoke of his time there any I information would be fantastic

Angela

England

I wonder if this part of my father's Liberation Qustionaire may help anyone else. Under the attempts to escape section he wrote Cpl. Anderson & Pte. Mc Gee both of the Gordon Highlanders. It was generally known that these two men went out at night and brought back food and medical gear. Spoke many times that they had offers to escape but until things got better, they would not take the risk. On August 5th 1945, whilst staying at RAH-HENG they escaped and after the Japanese Surrender, were found living in Thai Barracks. Under the section Did you Observe any courages Acts. He wrote CQMS STEELE 4th Royal Norfolks. Ran a wireless set at Bukitima for over 6 months. On one occasion, whilst repairing set, was interrupted by Japanese Cpl who was searching for chunkles and axes. At the time of the Japs entry into the room he was soldering some wires to the set. The Jap asked he had any chunkles etc. Steele replied no and the Jap walked out.

Mike

UK 12.07.2018

Hi Elizabeth, your Grandfather, Driver Robert Screen was taken POW at the fall of Singapore on 15.02.1942. Imprisoned at Changi until 01.11.1942 when he was entrained in

Elizabeth

Scotland UK

Im trying to find some information on my grandfather Robert Screen who was a driver with the RASC.His service number was T/274668.I know when and where he died but im interested to learn where he was when captured.He was Japanese prisoner of war.I would be very grateful if anyone could point me in the right direction on how to go about finding out any information on him.

Angela

UK

Hi, I wonder if you can help. I only know that my Grandfather John Frederick Cowley b.1920 was a POW in Japan - I don't know which force he served with or anything. I don't know if you can offer me any information but Im hoping you can.

Geoff

New Zealand

I know my father who ran a tin dredge on the Thai peninsula as a civilian was one of three civilians caught by the Siamese police. One was shot and he and the other were interred in what is now Thammaset University in Bangkok for the duration of the War. He was repatriated via Raffles Hotel to NZ after the war. I have visited the University but finding out any details has been difficult . His name was James Frederick Mills b1909 in NZ. He travelled on a British passport as was the norm in those days.
I understand from information at the University the British 136th Force set up comms at the university and maybe they had some involvement with the internees . I have read about the Free Thai movement of that time . Any leads would be most grateful . Where would one for example look for a list of internees .

Mike

UK 08.07.2018

Robert, your uncle, Stanley Reay, was part of one of the worst atrocities of WWII. He died/murdered on one of the Sandakan death marches in Borneo. If you Google Sandakan or Ranau you will see the full horrors. There is a website to honour your uncle here: http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/atrocities/sandakan/R/html/re_database_5.htm and also more information about the 1,400 who died/murdered here: http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/atrocities/sandakan/

Robert Avery

Tasmania

I am trying to find some information re my uncle Stanley Reay he was captured in Singapore & died several weeks before end of WW2

Mike

08.07.2018

Frank, Anything to do with Hong Kong I would suggest you contact Tony Benham at his website: http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/. He has all the expertise to give accurate information. You can also email him directly from the website.

Frank fairgrieve

Edinburgh, Scotland

Hi, trying to find out more info on two great uncles,
Who were in the sham shui po pow camp, and put on to the Lisbon maru,
Thomas macdermid burns service number 3055018 lance corporal in Royal Scots,
died on Lisbon maru,
James burns service number 3054824 lance corporal Royal Scots
He managed to make it home,
I have Thomas in a war grave in sai Wan momorial.
This is as far as I've got any help would be great.

Thanks in advance
Frank fairgrieve

Mike

01.07.2018

Chris. Email sent

Chris Smith

Scotland

Hi Mike, hope you can help, pretty hard finding information when you don't know where to look. My dad had 3 Uncles who served with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers in Burma, he believes they worked with the Chindits. Their names are Davey or David Jolly, James Jolly and Mark McQuarrie. They're all from Whithorn. We know they were captured by the Japanese in Burma, and all 3 survived the war, but they never talked about it. I know James was a dispatch rider when he was caught, but other than that, information is extremely light. The only person who still has any real knowledge of then is now in her 80's, and she's not sure where their records are. Came accross your page while trying to find out myself, but not easy. Thanks!

Philippa Deane

London

My dad Barry Deane was in camp in HK then Japan. He was shipped to Sydney Sept 45. He died at 86 in Brighton.

Mike

UK 24.06.2018

Tracey, are you able to add any more details? Did your Grandad survive the war and came home ? There is only 1 William George Wood listed in the master file of POWs, and he died in March 1944. However, there are 4 x men listed as just George Wood. 2 of these died, and the other 2 show they were captured in Hong Kong and NOT Singapore. If you can add any further information from family members, this will help to identify which man to follow.

Tracey

Australia

I wonder if you have information about my Grandad William George Wood. He was in the British Army and was captured in Singapore. The Japanese ship he was on was sunk bt the americans and grandad was recaptured and sent to Kobe as a POW.
Thankyou.

Mike

UK 02.06.2018

Hi Jerry, Gunner Alec Osborne , 9th Coast Rgt, was on the Rakuyo Maru, torpedoed and sunk on 12/09/1944 by the USS Sealion. 1,160 POWs lost their lives. No grave, listed on Singapore Memorial.

Jerry Murland

Coventry, Warwickshire

I am looking fir the PoW camp that gunner alec Osborne was in. He died in captivity on 2 September 1944 and was in 9/Coast Regiment when he was captured.

Lyndis Greatrix

United Kingdom

Hi there, can anyone help with any info on my Dad please? 1107374 Gunner George William GREATRIX - Royal Artillery.
Served in Burma and received the Burma Star, I know he was a POW but don't know where he was captured or when, for how long etc.
Any thing would be greatly appreciated.
Thamkyou.

Mike

UK 10.05.2018

Hi Melissah. re Roland George Smith. I have very little information on Australian troops and was waiting to see if anyone else could help. However, as you probably know he was with the 3 Reserve Motor Transport Group. He was part of Java Party 4 who were sent from Java to Singapore in the Kenkon Maru on 08.10.1942. He was then shipped to Rangoon, Burma on 14.10.1942 in the Maebashi Maru. My trail then goes cold until one of my files shows him listed in Hen-Da-Tai Camp with the men of Group 3. However, this camp name is found only a couple of times in Google searches and is virtually unheard of. I believe it is probably known as Hindato or Hindate which is 198km up the railroad.

Martyn

Perth

You could contact the Thailand to Burma Railway Centre at Kanchanaburi, they have extensive records on the Australian POWs

Jessica

Western Australia

Currently researching my great uncle, Frank Ware, WX10711. 2/3rd mg bn AIF. He was caught by the Japanese in Java and transferred to Thailand via Changi with Java party 6.

Melissah Collins

Australia

Hi I am looking for information on my great Uncle, Roland George Smith service number QX15239.
He was captured in Java and and then worked on the Thai Burma railway as far as i know but i dont
know which camp he was at or which group he was in.
I beleive he was a prisoner at Changi at some stage too. If anyone could point me in the right direction
I would be forever grateful. Thanks for your time.

Mike

07.05.2018

Richard, to add a little more detail. He was taken prisoner in Java, and then shipped to Singpaore on 22.09.1942 as part of Java Party 2, arriving on 26.09.1942. Interned Changi until 09.10.1942 when he was shipped to Kuching on an unnamed ship generally referred to as NN Maru 14.