Guestbook

Alexandra Angus Rennie

Australia

Does anyone know anything about the POW camp

Jimmy

Northumberland

Dear all.. Inherited some letters from my late mum's uncle Alex.
He died as a POW at Kamburi
on 30/9/43. His sister, my grandmother, never knew what really happened to him. My mum's aunty found out by chance and visited the grave (camp grave 169) I'm putting the story together bit by bit, but alas I'm the last one now to gather the information, however my daughters will be given the materials....some day. Thanks for this site, if only my late grandmother (died 1986), my Grandfather (1967) and my late parents could have seen these few snippets of knowledge, it would have answered many questions. Alex's details were: Alexander Richardson, Northumberland Fusiliers, Died at Kamburi 30/9/43.

Mike

UK 17.01.2014

Hi Diane, The 2nd Loyals file is extremely faded, and has been overwritten in many instances. W.Williams actually appears in the file as I. Williams, but I am able to confirm it is the right person by the service number of 3356427. For extra confirmation it shows an address of 1 Church Walk, Westhoughton. The 1942 file shows that he was one of the earliest to be sent to the Railroad on 26.06.1942. This was known as First Mainland Party, and their task initially was to build the housing camp at Non Pluduc.

Diane

Canada

Correction.. News article 2 Nov 1945 is when it says he recently returned from camp

Diane

Canada

I'm researching my great uncle William Edward Williams. News article dated 2 Nov 1938 says he recently returned to Westhoughton from a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp. Before enlisting in Jan 1938, he was employed at Cleworth Collery Tyldesley. He was married in Andover, Southampton Oct 1938 which includes info No. 3356427 Private Loyal Regt - Jellalabad Barracks, South Tidsworth. Father also William Edward Williams.

Carl Autie

Oldbury in UK

Leonard Autie

carl

autie

Both my uncles where on that terrible railway especially my uncle Len who really never got over the experience he passed away of which I miss him
He never did speak off his time but ones imagation can only guess

Mike

Annette, that is all we needed, once we have this confirmation it is now possible to follow through via his regiments records. I will send some file photos through by email.

Annette Taylor

melbourne

We have found some exact information from speaking to a relative its not much but its something. His name was William Amhurst Taylor

Mike

UK 11.01.2014

Annette, There is a lot of uncertainty about which Taylor is your Granddad. I dont think it is right for me to post certain details on the web in case we are referring to the wrong person. I will send email with some details to try and establish some facts.

Carolyn Tate

Shepperton, Middx

My late father Lt. Douglas McKenzie of the Royal Artillery was POW on the Death Railway and told me briefly the story of a radio being hidden and some men being beaten. He never got over the war and died young. I believe he might have know Eric Lomax - how can I find out?

Annette Taylor

Melbourne

Mike, Weay have found something on the net which makes us think his full name is
Reginald William Amhurst Taylor and we think he may have been in the royal Norfolk regiment.
My husband remembers his grandad
used to have a tin which was given to
his late uncle and inscribed on that
small tin was one of the Japanese pow
camps which another prisoners have engraved while In the POW camp.

Annette taylor

Melbourne

All we really know is he was born in swaffam, Norfolk. We know he was married to Myrtle Patterson

Mike

Annette, I think I have found him, but there are a lot of William Taylors. Are you able to confirm what town he lived in ?

Annette Taylor

melbourne

I am trying to help my husband start to try and find out some history about his grandfather who we know was a POW but thats really about it. His name was name was William Amhurst Taylor

Mike

UK 10.01.2014

Andy, Gnr Robert Rowley was a member of 240 Battery, 77 H.A.A. and taken prisoner on 08.03.1942 on Java. He was sent to Singapore, arriving as part of Java Party 13, on 13.02.1943 He was then sent by train to the Burma / Siam railway on 17.05.1943, which I believe was part of 'H Force', and Initially this group went to Tonchan Camp 139 Kilometres north of Non Pluduc.

AndyKeeling

Staffordshire UK

My grandmother recently passed away and within her documents was the details of her father. I knew that her father died when she was young but we never spoke about any detail. I discovered he was gunner Robert Rowley (1627511) of the Royal Artillery and is buried at Kanchanaburi Thailand. Date of Death is 4/12/1943. Does anyone on this site have any advice or assistance in finding any more about him?? Anything would be appreciated. What a great site as well!!!

Mike

UK 05.01.2014

Hi Lynne. Your Dad is listed as being sent on train 4, on 22.10.1942. This was known as the Sime Road Party or Workgroup 4. Initially they would have arrived at the base camp (Camp 1 ?) at Nong Pladuk. Although I cannot view your Dads Liberation Questionaire, I can see a copy of one of the men from his regiment who travelled on the same train. Although there is no guarantee they travelled together to all camps, this is what Lance Bdr. Norman Dean wrote: ..... Tamakan Camp, Oct 42 - June 43 under Col Toosey (bridge on the River Kwai). Takanaki (? very feint) July 43 - Oct 43. Tarsoa Nov 43 - Jan 44 (Lt Col "Weary" Dunlop). Chunkai Jan 44 - May 44. (Weary Dunlop) Nakhom Pathom ( Hospital Camp) Jun 44 - Aug 45..

Lynne Davies

United Kingdom

My father, John Idwal Davies (No 964083-135th Field regiment, RA)

joanne boosey

United Kingdom

hi mike
my aunty gave you some information on james
edward preston ( edward james preston (ted) )
army number 5472470 member of 4th btl norfolk
you said in reply he was sent overland on 21.10.42
where was he sent from and have you or know where
i could get more information please any photos would
be amazing id be very gretful for any information links
anything many thanks jo

Alexandra Angus Rennie

Australia

Many thanks for both Mike and Jonathon for their
invaluable help in tracing my relatives, Alexander and Angus Rennie, captured by
the Japanese. Could not have done it without them.

Annie Whelan

United Kingdom

Hi there, trying to find out more about my grandfather Bernard Scott who not

Jess Beck

UK

Reginald Victor Wills, working for the Singapore Straits Times newspaper at the time of the Japanese invasion. Taken prisoner and interned initially in Changi Gaol. Then moved to a camp in Burma I believe and ended up working on Burma-Siam railway. Released at the end of the war by American troops I think. I've been unable to track anything down on POW websites as he was a civilian. Any help gratefully received

Mike

UK 30.12.2013

Hi Alexandra, ....... Cpl Angus Rennie of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, service number 2979984. Taken prisoner in the jungle of Malaya, probably on 7th January 1942 at the Battle of Slim River. Imprisoned at Pudu Gaol, Kuala Lumpar. Sent to Ban Pong on the Railroad on 14th October 1942. Arrived at Tamarkan Camp on 23rd October 1942. Died 29th November 1944, now buried at Chunkai Cemetery.

I cant help regarding Alexander (service number 14364524), but I am rather puzzled by the fact that he is recorded as having died nearly 2 months after the end of the war, on 13/10/1945, yet does not have a grave, and is remembered on the Singapore Memorial. I can only assume that this is the date he was identified as missing from all rolls of POWs.

Mrs Alexandra Angus Anderson

QLD, Australia

I am named after two uncles who were
Japanese POWs. They were Pte Alexander Rennie , Army Catering Corps. His brother was Cpl Angus Rennie of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Both died while prisoner. Does anyone know anything about them?

Alexandra.