Guestbook

Mike

Salma. I have just read this article about Subedar-Major Sher Dil Khan , 2/15 Punjab Regiment. . . . "At the age of 55 he fought a rearguard action with the Battalion through the swamps and mountains of Borneo for about 900 miles, and by his courage and devotion to duty set a fine example to all ranks. As a prisoner of war, Subedar-Major Sher Dil Khan together with some 500 men of the Battalion. left Java for Singapore in July 1942 where he went into Saletar Camp. Being one of the most senior Punjab Musalman officers, every effort was made by the leaders of the I.N.A. to get him to join the movement. Captain Sher Dil Khan resisted all persuasions and in August 1942 was taken to the I.N.A. Detention Camp, Bida-Dari, where he was subjected to every form of menial indignity, mental and bodily torture and starvation.

Mike

UK 12.04.2015

Hi Salma, Dont give up with just yet. I will email you some documents and you can come to your own conclusion. I think you need to investigate WHERE the 2/15 Punjabs were when they became POWs. With what you know about Singapore there is a strong possibility that they may have become POWs in Borneo but were then shipped to Singapore. The file I have showing his name IS FROM SINGAPORE.

Salma

UK

Thanks Mike. Very exciting to read your post. The one thing I am certain of is that my grandfather was a prisoner in Singapore. He refused to work for the Japanese on the railways etc and did not join the new Indian Army. He resided in Simgapore after being released as a POW and married there to a woman named Marcia. I therefore I am sad to say it doesn't sound like the Mohammed Zaman you have located could be my

Keith Bettany

Adelaide

Dad, Des Bettany, was a POW who survived under the Japanese and helped others to survive by painting, often with humor.

Family have put his paintings on the web www.changipowart.com and in just 2 years over 60 additional painting he did and gave to his mates have been scanned and emailed to us for inclusion on the website. If you have any painting signed 'Bettany' or 'Des Bettany' or 'DB' could you scan and email them to us so we can put them on the web. We do not want the original as my dad gave it to his mate and it must remain in their family.
Thankyou.
Keith

christine corby

new south wales

trying to locate those who new my father Cyril sulman POW Changi

Mike

UK 11.04.2015

Hi Salma, I have found some information about Mohammed Zaman, but have no way of knowing whether it is your grandfather. The information is very vague and might raise more questions than answers. He is listed as being a member of the 2/15 Punjab Regiment, service number 7754, and holding the rank of naik (corporal). vague documentation seems to suggest that he was taken prisoner in Kuching, Borneo and then possibly he was in Java. These two places seem more likely than Singapore. That is all the information I have, so you need to research the 2/15 Punjabs. If you post your email I can send you the little information I have. Mike

Salma

UK

Hi Peter, I am very happy that I found your website. I do hope you can help. I am looking for any information on my grandfather Mohammed Zaman born in 1909 I think in what was then India. Fought with Indian Army (Bristish Indian Army) and was taken as a POW in Sinagpore from 1942-1945. Are there any records of Indian POWs? I don't know his rank or number unfortunately. Please let me know if you can help in any way. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in anticipation.

Mike

UK 09.04.2015

Hi Donna, (re Gunner Sidney Cliff ). Service number 890423. 95 Battery 48 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment (48 LAA). Taken prisoner on Java 08.03.1942. Sailed on the NN Maru 2 on 22.09.42 for Singapore, arriving 26.09.42. This was known as 'Java Party 2'. Rejoined members of Java party 1 at Changi, and resailed on 09.10.42 on NN Maru 14 for Kuching, Borneo. Resailed again on 03.04.43 on 'De Klerk 2' for Sandakan, arriving 08.04.43. Hopefully Steve might have some additional news about Sandakan. Mike

Donna

Uk 9/4/15

I am looking for information on both my grandfather who was involved with the liberation of Bergen-Belsen
also his brother Gunner Sidney Cliff who lost his life at the Sandakan

Steve

UK 8.4.15

Just a bit more information to add to what Mike said. E A. Marsh was given the POW number 2299 at Sandakan Camp. He died at
Sandakan Camp No. but was buried
in the cemetry at Sandakan No. 3 Camp
according to the author Lynette Silver.
He did not
go on the death marches to Ranau.
My father was at Sandakan however he was plus one other rank to return home. The remaining 782 other ranks died at Jesselton, Sandakan, on the death marches to Ranau, and Labuan area.g

tina

japan i think

i am looking for info on my grandad mr Edward Dare my believes he was a prisoner of war in japan but even with his record number I can not find him

Susan McCambridge

United Kingdom

I am looking for detailsof my grandfather James Henry Barton who I believe was in Bruma but I can not find any records of him. can you help? Susan

Dianne Cowling

Victoria

I am looking for the 8th Division Signals Association? can any one please help?

Mike

UK 03.04.2015

Hi Gail, (re Ernest Aubrey Marsh). He became a prisoner on 8th March 1942 at the surrender of Java (not Borneo). Service number 641845. He sailed from Batavia in the Nishi Maru on 14.09.42, and arrived Changi, Singapore on 18.09.42. This was known as "Java Party 1". Three weeks later on 09.10.42 he sailed for Kuching in Borneo, on ship name unknown so usually referred to as NN Maru 14. The probability (but not confirmed) is that he then sailed to Sandakan to build the airfield, and all the horrors that befell the men on the march thereafter.

Mal Leckie

Coolangatta Qld.

A wonderful resource, I look forward to further reading and finding out what I can of the experiences of my father Stuart James LECKIE who was in the 2/3rd MG with Dunlop's group and from Perth WA.

Gail Simmons

Cardiff

I am looking for information on Ernest Aubrey Marsh, Corporal in the RAF who was taken prisoner in Borneo on 3rd March 1942 and died 5th June 1945 He died a prisoner aged 23 any information would be good

Dianne Cowling

Melbourne Australia

I am looking for the son or grandson of Joe Higgins who was in the British Army, was taken capture at the fall of Singapore and was a POW under the Japanese. He was a medical orderly under an Australian doctor in the Cholera camp. He had a wife Winnie and a son Tom in England and returned to them after the war. He also had a grandson Paul. Joe was awarded an OBE for his bravery during his time as a POW

Dianne Cowling

Melbourne Australia

I am looking for descendants of Captain James Frederick Hardacre who wrote a manuscript "The story of F Force'

Hilde Doherty

Baja California, Mexico

I am seeking information on my uncle, Hylke Jan Hoogeveen, a lieutenant in the KNIL and a POW of the Japanese. He spent time on the Burma Death Railway and in Changi Prison. I would appreciate any information anyone might have of this man.

Mike

UK 27.03.2015

Leslie, (re Karel van Gessel). Using online information only from the Dutch National Archives : He was in Java Party 12, original prisoner number 127, reassigned prisoner number 353. Departed Batavia 05/02/1943, arrived Singapore 09.02.1943 on the Maebashi Maru 4. Departed Singapore 15.04.1943 on train number 60 for Burma to work on the railroad. This was known as 5 Group No. 3, or Java 3000 Group, and consisted of 3000 men, of which 2831 men were Dutch. Camps were probably Kinsayok , Rintin and Kuye.

Julia van Es [nee van Beek]

Sydney, Australia

I looking for any information of my father William van Beek who was a POW in a Japanese Concentration Camp in Indonesia for 3.5 years.

Van Gessel

France

I.m Looking for information on my fat her Karel van Gessel who was probable on Java Party 12 leasing Jakarta to Birma by boot, coule be the maeshibu maru.
Thank you for any information on the camps and dates.

Peter Fechner

Pimpama

Hi I'm looking for any information on George Mather from Kyogle NSW he was a POW on the Burma Railway and returned home after the war he was my great Uncle thanks

Denise

Hawkins

I have previously commented but have given the wrong emaiI address. I am trying to locate Philip James LAC RAF Sungei Patani Service No 1157267 who was captured by Japanese 17.3.42 at the f all of Java and was possibly at Palembang his military history and movements as POW.

Keith Edgington

Devon

Thanks Mike. This has given me so much more than my earlier research revealed
Keith