Guestbook

Peter, it

A very interesting website. Must have taken lots of research. I never knew there were so many doctors on the line. How about more info on the orderlies who assited the doctors.

I'm Sir Albert Coates's 1st. Grandchild. I'm a Christian and I believe that even though he never spoke much of his faith; nonetheless that is what saw him through that horror.

My Dad, James Patrick Gass served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Burma between 1939 and 1944) and was discharged on 29th October 1946. He served in Assam Burma from 1939 to 1942 and in Malaya from 42 to Discharge. Dad often spoke about harrowing experiences in the trenches and Japs 'seraching for him' as a sargeant. There was however, one part missing which he would never talk about. I suspect he was a POW at this time. He mentioned names like Pekoku, Lungshay, and Rangoon. He also mentioned names like Muir, Sweeney, Campbell and Jenkins all of whom I have no idea about. His experiences were character builders for us youngsters and I now know why he lapsed into silence and the drink whenever he bought this part of his life story up, Must have been the trauma.
Dad died on 22nd November 1985 and took with him some of the most disturbing war tales I have ever heard. Is there someone out there who may have heard of Sgt James Patrick Gass and his time with the RAMC? Be glad to share stories.

Marshall Gass

I am very pleased to have found this great site. Congratulations to all involved in making this information available.
I am researching my wife's great uncle Brig. Duncan S Maxwell MC who was a POW in Changi, Formosa and Manchuria. Although he was veteran of Gallipoli and the Western Front and an infantry brigade commander in WW2, he was also a medical doctor. Family tradition says that eventhough he was a "senior officer" he served as a medical officer while a POW.
I'd appreciate any information or leads that anyone may have about Duncan Maxwell.
Many thanks

I am trying to find out more information about my Granddad. His name was Sidney Browne and he was a nurse with the Royal Norfolk Regiment. He died when I was 8 years old, I am now 25 and wishing he was here to answer my questions. I have been getting quite emotional reading this website. I have just found this book online Behind the Fence: Life as a P.O.W. in Japan 1942-1945 and wondered if anyone could tell me if it was any good or not? Also where on earth do you go to find out more info about P.O.W? Thanks, Sophie

my father Peter Watt was taken POW when the Encounter went down in the Java Sea. Cant find him on any camp rosters. were the survivors of the "Encounter" kept together? if so does anyone know which Camp they were held in ?

Trying to discover which camp my late father-in-law was in after capture somewhere nr Java or Timor.
It has been said he was taken by ship via Hong Kong to Fukuoka but which one I do not know. He was repatriated after the war and spent abt 6 months in Canade. sadly but understood he never spoke of his time there so we are still searching for information after his death in 1998. He was Frederick Charles Bailey RA.
other details like army number i can give if needed. thank you

trying to find out anyhting about my great uncle. arthur thomas fisher. he died thailand - burma railway. he was in the royal army ordance corps. died on 27/12/1943. thats all i know. if anyone has any ideas about further places to research i would be very grateful.

the name of my oncle is sgt m.j. Arbouw, died and burried in Kanburi his grave number is 230006-vak 7 rij a no 38 and died 10.12.1943

who can tell me something about him???

I first joined the Army in 1974 and resigned my commission in 2006. Having just read Wayne Pelling's reflections I am amused that he thinks he understands the life and sacrifice of soldiers during times of war. It is not all heroics and anzac day. Stories sometimes have the habit of of reaching mythical porportions. While soldiers are definitely brave to keep in the front lines even when they suddenly become aware of the dangers of war (as are those who face danger in civilian employment)it is quite another to make heroes of people who are supporting war efforts which is really all about killing. Unless Wayne has served in the army there is no way that he could appreciate what soldiers go through, even in ties of peace.

FANTASTIC Web Site! We have added a link to our monthly newsletter so that more veterans can be made aware of this tremendous resource. Also, please visit our web site to learn about hidden government benefits you are eligible for and how to significantly increase your service-connected compensation or VA pension. http://www.veteranprograms.com

I am doing a family history of Keith Ruthven Portbury - POW in Changi and then the Burma Railway. IHe was in the 2/4th Anti Tank Regiment and was kpresumed dead when the ship Rakyuo Maru was torpedoed by American submarines. I am trying to locate the camp that he was in and wouldc love to know if there are any people reading this sight who may have any knowledge of him.

I am researching 2/10AGH medical core. Australian war records of POW's. My great uncle was inturned in Singapore. If anyone has information on this I'd dearly love to hear from you. There's not much written about the 2/10AGH, very sketchy indeed.
Regards Sharon
(A family research project)

Hi

My Dad was Sgt Nicholson in...

"A composite story of POWs in Hoten Camp, Mukden, Manchuria"

Stealing drugs for Doc Des Brennan...

I dread to think what would have happened if he'd been found out - I sometimes think it's a miracle I was ever born.

Rob
xxx

My daughter Shani just discovered this website and was so surprised and proud to read the articles about my Uncle Harry Badger as I have been as well. I never knew much about my Uncles involvement during the War except that he was a POW. Now I also know where to find him I will make contact. Thankyou for producing this website and to all who have participated in it you should be very proud Australians as I am of you.

My fathers uncle Thomas Bates of the signal corp, was a P.O.W. and worked on the railway and bridges, I know very little,we had his cffin plate for over 25 years, and my father put it on his uncles coffin when he died in the mid 80's.He suffered from having experiments done on him and the usual diseases that went with the region, UP TO HIS death he could not forgive the japanese brutality, and could not understand any englshman buying a japanese product, he would get so angry when japanese dignitories met the queen,and it was on tv and in the papers.Despite this he was a very caring person and loved his family and yorkshire cricket immensly. Thank you.

My uncle Joe was a POW at Makassar from March of 1942 to 1945.
He was on the USS Pope when it was sunk by the Japanese Navy on March 1, 1942. He died in May of 1969 when I was only 9 years old. Does anyone have futher information on this camp? Are there any living survivors from any of the ships that were involved in the second Battle of the Java Sea? Please write me back at Show email address. Thank you so much.

I commenced general nurse training in 1974 at a small metropolitan hospital in Melbourne.I looked after many WW2 veterans, and I remember on a very busy night, when we had an old man being quite stroppy because there was not enough staff to supervise his smoking, two patients who were about to be discharged the next day offered to watch over the old bloke. They told me-they were mates- that they had been in Burma during the war and had spent many nights awake watching over mates. They said no more.It was only in the last 8 years ,did I realise that I had witnessed a piece of history ,in that no POW died alone in those man made hell holes.There was always someone there with them until they passed away.

Our family doctor for ten years was AJM White,a tall,thin,quietly imposing figure.My 21 year old son,informs me that White's father was the CO of the Light Horse Regiment that became cannon fodder on the Nek in Gallipoli ,but I do know how accurate that is. I recall that Dr White died of an illness that I presume was as a result of his POW experiences. I am 51 on Sunday ,and I hope that the experiences of the POW camp doctors ,will not be forgotten by our Society nor the next generation of Medical Practitioners.
As the Book of Ecclesiasticus says"
"These were merciful men whose righteousness hath not been forgotten"

I am looking for information about my mother Adriana Georgina Grootenboer (aged 10 years in 1945) and my grandmother May Turner who was a teacher who were both kept in a prisoner of war camp in Sumatra, and evacuated to Singapore at the end of WW II. Both survived.

Peter, Your article about the life of Captain (Dr) Don Cumming's life and his wartime experiences moved me to tears. Thankyou. I believe you have certainly covered all the main aspects of his life and you have compiled an amazing account of his years as a Japanese POW. I was particularly interested to read Les Hall's notes of Don "treating by voice alone" as for a short time after graduation Don worked at "Broughton Hall" hospital for nerve and trauma patients, which evidently stood him in good stead under the tragic conditions of the camps, and the lack of supplies. Postwar and following his return from London,as you reported, he resumed practices in Newcastle and Sydney, but soon consolidated his professional activites to a very large partnership which he and Dr Ross Moxham built in Paramatta. Except for Don's medical abilities and reputation I think you could describe him as one of this world's "Quiet Achievers", so I appreciate your work in recording the history of men and women such as these true heroes of our time and nation. Joye,(his cousin).

A wonderful website bringing descendants of soldiers/POW's together so that memories and information are shared . Is there anyone out there who remembers Sgt. Keith Walter Scott Ireland NX14368, my father. He came home and lived until 1972. He worked as a prisoner of the Japanese on the Burma/Thailand railway at the Burma end of the railway.

Son in law of the late Pvt John Browne 2nd 2nd Clearance Battalian Medical Corp
POW after the fall of Singapore and served with Weary Dunlop Group on the Burma Railway My wife Cheryle has a video he recorded before his death, she will contact you

Thank you for this site. I have been looking for anyone or any information on Private Peter Ripley Gale VX67597, 2/ 10 Ordnance Field Park, Australian Army Ordnance Corps. Disembarked from Singapore on the 26th January 1942, he was then reported missing on the 16th February 1942, & on the 2nd Nov 1942 he was reported as a POW. He left Changi on the 28th March 1943 on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island in the 15th April 1943 he along with the other POW's were held the until the 5th June when they were taken to Sandakan by barge. The next day the were transferred to the 8 mile Camp. After being a POW for 3yrs & 2 mths on the 16th April 1945 my Uncle Peter died. If you have any further information or if anyone new him I would love to hear your thoughts & memories of my Great Uncle Peter Ripley Gale. Thank you..

Enjoyed your company on our recent to Singapore where we visited the Battle Box, Changi Museum, the Ford Factory and other battle sites. Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge on WW2 with me