Guestbook

My uncle James Victor Harrington Was A Japanese
POW in Singapore his service number is 913383 I am
Thailand soon and want to retrace his steps to share
with 90 year old Mum (His younger Sister)

Hi Jill. Private John William Culshaw, imprisoned Changi from Feb 42 to May 42, then moved to Havelock Road Camp. Moved back to Changi in Dec 42. Sent to the Siam Railroad on 21.03.1943 on train 7 with 'D Party'. Banpong Camp from March 43 until Jan 44 when he was sent to Kanchanaburi. In June 44 he moved to Nakom Paton and possibly ended the war here. There was not a Camp 4D, it just refers to a group of men over a wide area.

Am seeking further information on my late uncle Jack - John William CULSHAW, Pte 5949717 of 5th Bttn, Beds and Herts. Jack was a POW from his capture in Malaya in 1942 until liberated on September 2, 1945. He, too was in 4D Camp and I would be grateful for any further details regarding his incarceration.

Hi Kemal, Lance Corporal C. A. Windsor, 6020727 of 46, Dillbridge Road, Colchester, Essex. Imprisoned Changi until 31.10.1942 when he was sent in Party R to the Siam Railroad. Chunkai Camp from Nov. 1942 until May 1944. Nakon Paton from May 1944 until Feb. 1945. Petchburi from Feb.1945 until Aug 1945 where he was probably involved in building a new aerodrome.

Looking for any information on my grandad Cecil Alfred charles Windsor

I am looking into my elderly mother in law's family for her. My mother in laws uncle was Alberton Middleton of the Gordon Highlanders (2 Battalion?). Family stories tell of him being in Singapore with his family prior to being captured in the fall of Singapore. Apparently his wife, Jean, and two children got onto the final boat to Australia. Albert sent to Changi prison camp. Notg knowing if his family had survived, Albert lists his NOK as his mother, Christina Margaret Cables Middleton.
Any help much appreciated. Alan

Hi, thanks for getting back to me.... my dad is finding some more stuff out... I'm dad says that after the ark royal he went into destroyers and is trying to find out more.... my grandad never really shared much of his war days but my dad said also try William John Norris or john William Norris as he used both.... he went into the navy when he was about 14 .... and was born either in Wiltshire or Dorset.... dad said he spent his childhood in Hindon Wiltshire ... he's also asking his sister his dob as he can't remember ... I will let you know anything else I find out

Hi Erika, The reference to your Grandfather being a gunner on HMS Ark Royal must be a separate wartime episode to him being a Japanese POW as this ship was sunk in 1941 off Gibraltar. From an initial search there were 7 J.Norris who were POWs of the Japanese. 4 of these can be eliminated as 1 was Canadian, 1 was Australian and 2 died in captivity. This leaves 3 who MAY be your grandfather. Can you post any further information ? e.g. middle name, where he lived, date of birth, parents christian names, wife name, job before war etc.

Hi my grandad John Norris was on the Ark Royal as a gunner in WW2 .... He ended up a POW in Japan... He never really spoke about his time there and unfortunately has passed away now ... If anyone has any information on this I would be very greatful.... I have asked my dad about it but he told me that my grandad never really spoke about it so I'm assuming it was horrendous for him and he blocked it out...

Wayne, is it the same Arthur Bancroft whose story is told on the 'Articles' pages of this website ? Served and sunk on HMAS Perth ? (copy and paste link:) http://www.pows-of-japan.net/articles/61.htm

Second cousin of Arthur Bancroft, a family treasure. Found two other Bancroft's on the Memorial in Ballarat. Any info would be appreciated.

Looking for any information you may have on Willem johanne koster who was sent to changi at the age of 13 as he was considered to be an adult. He was born in batavia on 23 Oct 1941. Any information would be appreciated.

Hi Mike,
Thank you very much for the information. It has been very helpful.
Kind regards,
Simon

Simon, Nike camp was 281Km north of the start of the railroad, just 19Km from the Burma border. Alternative spellings are Niike, Nikki, Nieke and Ni Thi.

Hi Simon, Private J Gore, address shown as (very feint) 57, Ingle Thorpe Street, Fulham, London SW6. Although the CWGC website lists him as REME, all the documents from Changi in 1942 list him as RAOC 14th Division. He is listed as being sent to the Siam Railroad in the ill fated 'F Party', on 29.04.1943, in train 12. 7,000 men were sent over 12 days, made up of 3334 British and 3666 Australians. they were to suffer the highest casualties of any group. They remained under the control of the Malay Command, not the Thai-Burma Command so they suffered in the distribution of supplies. Another factor was the forced march of some 300 kilometres in shocking conditions to their work area near the Burma border. The final disaster on top of over work, poor rations, and diseases rife in the area was the cholera epidemic, which struck during the wet season. 3,100 of 'F Force' died. James was one of those who died of cholera, and that is why he is listed on the Singapore Memorial rather than having a grave in Thailand, due to cremations.

Hi, I have just found this site, and was hoping someone could help me.
I am currently researching my wife's Grandfather, 7651411 Craftsman James Gore REME, who was captured in 1942 and is reported to have died in Malai, Nike, Thailand in August 1943.
Does anyone have any other information about him, or cn you tell me where this camp was?
I know that he is on the singapore memorial.
many thanks,
Simon

Hi Jenny,

Hi,
I am trying to fond out as much as I can about my Grand dad. His name was William John Bedford, from North London (Tottenham area). He joined up and was a Japanese POW. He died many years ago now as have all my family that would have known any information. I believe he was a medic . He never really spoke about the war years but from the little I have gathered his life was proabably spared because he was a medic and he used to do deals with the guards. Whether this is true or not is something that I guess I will never know for sure. Again going back years I believe the Japanese apologised for the PPW's treatment and in the event of his death the payment made as compensastion was made to my late grandmother. I know much about my grandmothers family during the war. Their house got bombed while her brothers were on leave and she los many family members. I am told that William John Bedford had a sister married to her brother and that they both died during this bombing along with other family home on leave. The mystery though is my grandfather and I would love to be able to pice together a bit about his life during the war so that I can pass the information onto my children . So many fought for freedom and yet so many stories are lost :-( If anyone can help me I would be eternally grateful. Many Thanks. Jenny

Thanks Mike. would you have any idea where the Honbu (HQ) would have been.

Maria, 'Honbu' is the Japanese for headquarters.

I have a list of camps/work areas from TBRC of where my father was, but recently found 2 more not on that list on FMP one was "Thailand or 4D Camp" which I see from other comments means Group 4, but what does Group 4 mean? and the other I found was "Honbu Camp" My father was with the AIF. thanking you in advance.

Thanks Mike for your help with information on Allen Capstick. You will be pleased to know that he settled in Canada with his wife after the war and brought up a family in Ontario.

My dad was in raoc in camp 1 &3 I know that from post card sent from cam
His name was William e Westwood service no 7633175

Rab, re L/Bdr John Anderson,

Hi Richard,