Guestbook

julie prettyman

uk

I am looking for any information regarding my grandad George Davidson a private in the Royal Norfolk regiment, possibly 4th/5th battalion. He was captured in Singapore on the 15th February 1942 and we believe sent to Thailand to work on the railway. He was liberated on the 2nd September 1945 and we believe he returned home via India on an American troop ship. If anyone has any further information I would be very grateful.

David Irving

New Zealand

oops I mean did Richard Irving also go to

David Irving

New Zealand

I am looking for information regarding my grandfathers
cousin ROBERT IRVING a gunner in the

James O'Connell

Sale

My paternal grandfather, james O'Connell, was a sapper in the Australian army captured at Singapore and sent to Sandakan where he died. He sold a horae and decided to go and retrieve the horse blanket but was charged with theft. he had an alternative to a conviction by joining the army which he did. My father, kevin was a teenager at the time. He could never eat rice after hearing of the small ration of rice received by his father. If anyone knows of the circumstances of his capture and eath I would be interested, I never met that grandfather. His service number was vx61050.

Martin Davies

Truro, Cornwall

I have a piece of music called Spirit of Mercy, Truth and Love written for male voices by Denis B Soul in Changi Jail and dated 17 May 1943.
I would be very grateful if anyone has any further information as I would like to perform this piece in honour of VJ Day later this year.

David

Mike, I did notice the mis -spelling and assumed that it had not been actually written by him. Maybe he was disorientated, my mother had told me he wasn't in good condition mentally as well as physical and spent a while in hospital upon his return home. Thanks for the additional information I'm very grateful.

Mike

UK 06.05.2015

David, I can add a little more prior to his arrival in Borneo. Did you notice on the Liberation Questionaire that he spelt his name slightly different to your two options. Gunner Wilfred Grievson, service number 838878, member of 6th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment. (6 HAA). Taken prisoner in Java. Sailed from Java to Singapore on 14.09.42 on the Nishi Maru, arrived on 18.09.42. This was known as Java Party 1. Sailed from Singapore on unnamed vessel on 09.10.42 for Borneo. Remained in Kuchin until September 1945.

Mike

UK 06.05.2015

Steve, Im sure visitors can only benefit by you adding any contribution about Borneo. Mike

David

Gateshead

Steve, thank you for your reply. As it happens a chap called Jonathan emailed me with information that my father spent the first 7 m0nths at Tanjon Priok and the remainder at Batu Lintang. Jonathan included a link to the image of my father's Q Lib. I will be eternally grateful to this site for this information, thanks again.

Steve

Southampton

David, There were three camps in Borneo for British servicemen, Jesselton and Sandakan (inc. Ranau) in British North Borneo and Batu Lintang (Kuching) in Sarawak. At the end of the war there were no survivors left at Sandakan therefore I assume he was at Batu Lintang. Lists if those who died in Borneo are available but there are no published lists of survivors. However a marvellous lady called Pam Stubbs has just completed a book listinf all army POW held by the Japanese. She has already pubished books for the RAF and Navy. I should be able to confirm with her that Wifred was held at Batu Lintang.

Steve

Southampton

Mike, I had been away on holiday that is why I did not reply before. I understand your point. I was not being critical. You seem to be doing a very good job. In future I will gladly handle Borneo questions if I am able. I will ask Australian historians if they have more info. on NN Maru 14.

Mike

UK 05.05.2015

Hi Steve,
Borneo is not my field of knowledge, and when someone posts a query I usually wait hoping that someone with the knowledge will step in to help them. When this does not happen I will attempt to reply with the best information I can find, as the alternative seems to just ignore them and leave their questions unanswered.
On my reply to Donna of 09.04.2015, I did state that I hoped you would post some information, but you failed to do so until nearly a month later when you inform me that my information is wrong. I would much rather leave all posts relating to Borneo for you to answer, as you have the knowledge, but how long do I wait for you to do so ? In my reply to Gail of 03.04.2015, I stated

David

Gateshead

I have been trying to find out which camp my father was held prisoner. He was captured 9 March 1942 and ended up in Borneo.
He survived the war but would never talk about it. He was gnr Wilfred McRuth Grieveson sometimes spelled Grieveon. I wonder if anyone knows of lists or if his name has cropped up in research.

Steve

Southampton

Gail. There were three separate death marches. The second started on 29/5/45 and the third on 15/6/45. As
Aubrey died on the 5/6 he must have been considered to be too ill to march. I can only assume he must have been gravely ill.
The fact
that the Japanese gave cause of death as malaria may have hidden the real reason for Aubrey's death . Malaria was used as a standard reason for many deaths. Dates of death were recorded pretty accurately by the japanese except where muliple deaths happpened eg massacre of the sick at Ranau. I would recommend the book 'Sandakan - A Conspiracy of Silence' by Lynette Ramsay Silver . Usually sold on ebay or Amazon.

Steve

Southampton

I was very interested to to read your comment that the vessel that transported1850 British POW to Kuching from Singaore on 10.10.42 had the Japanese name of NN Maru 14. This is the first time i have seen a name given to this vessel. It is always quoted as a 800 ton former British steamship. Historians, authors and reseachers
have all failed to put the British name to this ship. Could you tell me the source that gives the Japanese name NN Maru 14.
My father travelled on this hellship to Kuching where it dropped off 1000 of the POWs.
The remaining 800 were then transported to Jesselton by the same ship (not the Deklerk). Therefore I have to point out that your information that they were transported on another ship is incorrect. This is verified by my father's notes and two officers' diaries plus all the written accounts of this transport. However some website statistics are incorrect.

Gail

Wales

Mike I have found out my cousin Ernest Aubrey Marsh cpl641845 211 sqd died od Malaria in June 1945in Sandakan but would like to know if he was ever on one of the Death Marches

Steve

Southampton

Salma, I know this will not be of much help to you



but your grandfather's name is not listed in the 'Register of War Dead' at Labuan Cemetry, Borneo. It lists the names of 34 Indian soldiers who died either fighting the Japanes in Labuan who were imprisoned there.

Amanda Ferguson

Australia

Hi I'm searching for any information regarding

Linda Clarke

NSW Australia

would like to know what actually happened to my great uncle Private Thomas Richard Noble died at ambon from injuries on 26/11/1944. I know he was a POW at ambon but would like any further information on him. he was with the 2/21st battalion. any information would be greatly appreciated.

Alison Johnston

UK

I'm trying to find out about my uncle Douglas Shaw who was a prisoner in Changi. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and returned there after his release from Changi. He emigrated, possibly to Canada, in about 1953. Despite efforts made in the past we've been unable to find out what happened to him after he left the UK.

Max

UK

Hi, I'm looking for information on my grandfather Frederick Attwood. I really don't know much about him other than he was a WWII Japanese POW, survived and rose to the rank of Major. This doesn't exclude him from being Major before WWII. I also think he served during WWI.

Thanks so much for any help.

Gail Simmons

Cardiff

Thank you for the information regarding Cpl Ernest Aubrey Marsh Service No641845 I've tried to find out where he was taken but can find no trace od him landing at Sandakan or anywhere else I know he was a prisoner for 4 years. Hope you can help me

robyn pearson

Australia

Hi I am asking if anyone has any information about a POW
names Arthur Charles Pearson who was in Changi or know anything about him
thanks

Mike

UK 29.04.2015

Hi Tracey, Cpl J J Barker, 36 Heminsford Road, Cambridge. 2nd Btl. Cambridge Regiment. Cant add much for you, except it appears that he spent his entire POW time in Changi. Most others of the 2nd Cambs were sent to the railroad on 22/10/42, but there is no travel date for John. Against him name is lightly pencilled what may state (unclear) " SF ORD". Maybe, but its only guesswork, the ORD may mean he was working as an orderly with the sick, which may explain why he was not on the train with the rest of the regiment. He also shows up in the 1945 file at time of release, that he was still in Changi.

Tracey radford

United kingdom

Hi i am trying to find out any information concerning my grandfather. His name