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Showing 2,226–2,250 of 2,581

Margaret McQuillen

Victoria

I would love to hear from anyone who might have known my dad VX17884 Frank (Bluey) Phillips who was a prisoner of war and I believe Changi. He didn't speak much about his time abroard, and it saddens me that I really know nothing of what he and his mates went through.

Pauline

Canberra, Australia

Anyone know where I can find information about my Great Uncle - QX9887 Arthur Harold James Weeks, 2/26th BTN and a member of "F"Force. Any info kindly appreciated.

John Kelly

Wirral, UK

Good Evening,
Re: Sjt. Francis Joseph Kelly Executed in 1943, Fusilier Timothy Kenneally Executed in 1943, Sjt. Edward Reay Executed in 1943 and Private Patrick Fitzgerald Shot while escaping from village they were hiding in 08.03.1943. I have been researching the executions/murder of my Uncle and his three co escapees.
I have just returned from a visit to my Uncles Grave in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.What it was - my wife Sue was at a Conference in Hua Hin - we arrived on Sunday 11th March and had to return the evening of Thursday 15th.
It was too good an opportunity to miss to visit my Uncles grave, so I tagged along - we only had time for a fleeting visit to the Cemetery before we had to get back to the Airport at Bangkok for our flight home.
My father, Staff Sjt. J.P.Kelly - who was a career soldier himself and served in Africa and Europe through the war always planned to visit his brothers grave when he and Mum retired but never got the chance and he died suddenly in 1978 aged 62.
He tried to do his own research after the war but in those days it was a very slow process but I believe certain diaries/paperwork he managed to recover are now held by the Imperial War Museum in London.
I always told him that I would go and visit his brothers which I have now done - so I know he and Mum would have been made up with that.
Franks (Francis) daughter managed to visit his grave with her husband but Franks two sons didn't manage to get there - they have all passed away now - but he still has grandchildren, great grandchildren and just last year has his first great, great grandchildren.
If I had been a bit more savvy I would have done far more research before I got to Thailand and planned my visit in a bit more detail but I suppose I had it in my mind that to visit the grave was the main objective.
I should have visited the execution site which, from the print out supplied at the Death Railway Museum in Kanchanaburi, I now know to be at Khao Pun Execution Site - something I didn't know before - I had no idea how close to the cemetery the museum is.
The bodies were exhumed from Khao Pun and re interred at Kanchanaburi in 1956.
I really didn't know about the museum until I was at the cemetery and saw it over the hedge.
Arthur Lane an ex FEPOW and author has sent me one of his books which outlines the details of him witnessing the executions so there is a bit of detail there but I am sure there is a lot more.
I would be very interested to see any further information you have on the events of those sad days for my uncle and his mates - Arthur referred to them as the "four rebels" - presumably something to do with them all having Irish surnames?
I would like to let the families of Kenneally, Fitzgerald, and Reay that I have visited their graves on they are in immaculate condition although the dates on the headstones conflict with some of the information I have gathered.
(if you want to let anyone who has an interest in this incident or are relative of these men my email address is here and that is fine)
By all accounts the four were hiding in a Thai village but were sold out to the Japanese - the first time the Japs entered the village the four ran away - it was at this time that Private Fitzgerald was shot dead on 8th March 1943.
The others still believing the village to be a safe haven returned to it only to be sold out again and were recaptured - some accounts say they gave themselves up.
What is not in doubt is that they were badly beaten before execution by firing squad - consisting of some 32 men and murdered/executed at Khao Pun - the dates are not clear as the headstones say the 23rd of March 1943 but a lot of accounts say the executions took place on 27th March 1943.(anniversary tomorrow)
I have also found out that Major General Makoto Sasa was executed at the Singapore War trials for giving the go ahead, without a court martial or trial for these four brave men. The museum at Kanchanaburi has a lot of documentation and eye witness accounts.
As an aside - While I was in the cemetery I met a wonderful Dutch couple who noticed the four flower posies made of purple orchids I was carrying that I had bought from the museum (they really were nice) and they asked if they could return to the graveside with me.(I had already put a rose on each grave)
Turns out this man as an 8 year old had been a prisoner, along with his Mum, of the Japanese and witnessed the most terrible atrocities.He asked if he could say a prayer which of course I agreed - it was probably the most moving moment of my life when we stood there by the graves praying and all of us were crying.I will never forget him and his wife - I just wish I had asked for his contact details.
Memories are made of moments like this!
Anyway - hope this is of interest to you,
Kind Regards,
John Kelly

Matthew

London, England

Looking for any information regarding my uncle, Jack Cady, who was with the Suffolk Regiment, and was a prisoner of war in CHhngi, with "F Force". Died on the railway, 12 Aug 1943.

maree

dunkeld

Looking for information on Private Harry Rowbottom VX 455113 of 2nd 29th Battalion "A" Company and was a prisoner held in changi. He died in March 1972

Jonathan Moffatt

United Kingdom

Hello, Phil
Website

philip harrison

newcastle upon tyne

can any one help with any information about my father major bertram james thomas harrison captured singapore 1942 i have not got a serial no which is a major set back

Rachel

Lancashire england

Looking for anyone who has heard of Sgt Robert J Webster 13017
died in 1943 on the Burma railway reg was SSVF Englishman married to florence. I believe he may be a close relative of mine and would really like to know anything relating to him. Thanks.

Lawrence Finn

Sydney Australia

I'm looking for any accounts of the 2/12 RAE and its actions in Singapore and Malaya.

My Great Uncle Lovell Glendower Tresham NX52907 was captured there and eventually sorted into A Force, (worked the Burma Railway) , survived that, then transported to Japan on the Ryuko Maru and lost at sea when that was torpedoed by American Subs.

I've read the excellent "Heroes at Sea" by Don Wall and I've pulled his attestation records from the War memorial in Canberra but now I want to find any personal accounts of him and or the 2/12 RAE and what they did in Malaya and Singapore.

Regards

Lawrence

Website

Will Moore

Squamish, BC

If anyones has information about my grandfather, who is also named William Moore, I'd appreciate it. All I know is that he was captured at Hong Kong, that he survived, but died in the 60's.

beth williams

wales

would dearly like to hear from anyone regarding my grandfather - GORDON THOMAS GARFIELD WILLIAMS- I know he passed away in Changhi and was a deeply religious man who would have probably been involved with the church there. He was from Crwys road in Cathays , Cardiff, had a wife Edna and two children.

Margaret

UK

My Dad died when I was 10 and I really don't know anything much about him. I do know that he was a prisoner and worked on the railway. His name was Frank Robert Allibone. I would be grateful if anyone has any info. Thanks for the opportunity to ask.

Rose Corney

Tasmania

ANy info on my Uncle - Lawrence Trevor Ling - called Trevor. He never returned to Tassie. He apparently drowned whilst being taken to JApan. The POW ship was sunk by an American sub.

Caroline

USA Southern California

My opa Albert Wacquier was a POW in Dutch East Indies

Julie Peters

United Kingdom

I'm trying to find out any information about my Dad Wilfred Leicester who was a prisoner of war in Changi. I don't really know where to start to be honest.

Peter Morris

Sydney

Interested in any information about my father Lieutenant John Morris TX6015, 8 Supply Personnel. Australian Imperial Forces, became POW at fall of Singapore. Particularly interested in which POW camps he may have been interred in.

gloria

sydney

Appreciate information on Pte. Thomas Hubert VELLELY service number VX23369 who was a POW and died in Thailand.Buried at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.Son of Thomas Hubert & Catherine Ada VELLELY.His profession prior to War was a Baker.National Archives has not digitized his records as yet,Above information obtained through Australian War Memorial,World War 2 Nominal Roll& Commonwealth War Graves Commission.Would like to know which camp he was at in Thailand.Roll of Honour states cause of of death 'illness', presume Cholera -which was rife during 1943, the date he died was 2nd August 1943.

Ian McKenzie

Edinburgh

Iam interested to find information regarding my late uncle Andrew Swanson

Tim Clark

Nottingham, UK

I'm a current 3rd year History undergraduate at the University of Nottingham in England researching for my dissertation on Allied Prisoners of War under the Japanese and their memories and how their experiences differed. Although memoirs and diaries etc are a fantastic source for me to use, nothing is better than speaking in person to POWs. I was thus wondering if anyone could help put me in touch with any?Thanks Tim

susan campbell

sussex

I am looking for information about my Husbands Aunt Kathleen Mary Jenkins who was a nurse with the Queen Alexandra Imperial Nursing Service and was a Prisoner of War in Japanese camp

Michael Pyne

Australia Sydney

Can anyone give me the number of UK soldiers captured by the Japanese in WW2 (not including commonwealth/empire forces - just UK based forces) and the number of these who died at the hands of the Japanese?

Chris Cooke

Devon England

Looking for any information on any of the following men who all served with my grandfather, Sergeant Fred Cooke, in the 1st Battalion,Manchester Regiment in Singapore, 1942 when tey were captured and were POW at Changi prison. The men are Stanley Dawson, James(Jimmy ) Coogan, Peter Derbyshire, Joseph Reilly,William Dow. Any information would be greatly appreciated as my Dad and I are trying to compile his memoirs. My Dad was evacuated with his Mom from Singapore on 30 january 1942 on the "Duchess of Bedford"

jon

liverpool

hi am looking for information on my grandad he was a british POW in changi his full name was francis joseph roche he was in the merchant navy i think?he was only 17 when he was took to the camp he surivied the camp and set up a life in liverpool as as butcher,my mum lost contact with him when he left my nan he was born 1923 in liverpool i think march 27th,would really love some info on him.

patricia jacobs

san diego ca. usa

Seeking info about the family of WWll POW, Robert MacColl, who died after liberation from Burma.

Ralph Adison

Toowoomba Australia

My Da was a POW in Changi he was a Argyle and Southern Highlander
Ihave very little information on his time as a POW or militery career or Family.Can anyone fill afew gaps for me

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