FEPOW died aboard Tamahoko Maru

My family thought he was taken in singapore, I worked out the truth after my dad died when I went through the paperwork (which I donated to the Royal Artillery Museum).I found his memorial through the war graves commission.

 

He should have a Japanese POW card somewhere, hopefully some of our far east experts will be along to help out, but a name etc might he useful

Do you have his service records

TD

 

Hi John.
Maybe there is more story to uncover if you give us a name.
I thought those who died on the 'Hellships' were on Kranji Memorial, Singapore, not Sai Wan , Hong Kong. The date for Tamahoko was recorded as 24.06.1944 and cant see any listing for that date at Sai Wan.

Just realised you never said he died by the sinking. Assuming this uncle is your Dads brother and therefore also named Patrick, then Sai Wan shows a death on 20/06/44 which is 4 days prior to the sinking. This makes sense as the ship called into Formosa and he would have been buried there, or at sea. All Formosa deaths were moved to Sai Wan post war.

Mike

 

Thank you this makes sense I wondered about the difference

 

I found the death certificate as they were done en masse Iwas able to check others from my uncles regiment, I found they were posted missing at sea on 20.6.1944 Ionly found two reported on 24.6.1944 one also had 20.6.1944

 

To avoid duplication could you let me know what information and paperwork you already have. A quick look shows your uncle in Java Party 20 which left on 19 May 44, changed to unknown (as yet) ship in Singapore. Sailed Singapore 3 June, arrived Takao, Formosa 18 June and transferred to Tomahoko Maru 19 June and sailing 20 June. His Japanese Index Card records his death as 24 June (obviously incorrect). All who died in the sinking of the Tomahoko Maru are recorded on the Singapore Memorial. As previously pointed out this seems to indicate he died in Formosa however I am confused by his being on the Sai Wan Memorial rather than being buried (re-interred) in the Sai Wan Cemetery. Being on the Memorial indicates no known grave, which is what I find confusing. Once I hear what you already have I'll have a better look.

Tim

 

I have the letters and scroll sent to my grandmother and Japanese records from fold3 one shows his death as 25.6.19 (Japanese year symbol for 1944 is 19) another list date of liberation 24.6.1944 missing onboard ship. he is listed as being at camp JA (I guess that is java camp)

 

Sounds as though you already have your uncle's Japanese Index Card. Here's a bit more you may not have:
WO 361/2195 - Java Roll

WO 361/2220 - Java Party 20


Other links:
https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Java_Index/P/html/pa_database_254.htm
https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Hell_Ships/Tamahoko_Maru/html/history.htm

You may also find reading WO106/2563 - Java story of 21 LAA 1941-42 (Report by Lt Col MDS Saunders, CO of 21 LAA) very interesting. For a small fee you can get a copy from Forum member Drew 5233. I know it's on his system as he copied it for me some time ago.

Still mystified by the Sai Wan Memorial - I am making some enquiries to see if I can resolve it.

Tim

 

Thank you I did not have these documents
I have a copy of a survivors report witch is held in the Australian war Museum drawn up by Prepared by:
Lt. John Hickley, RN, Senior surviving English Officer
Lt. Van Oortmensen, RNEI Army, Senior surviving Dutch Officer
Lt. Lance Gibson, AIF, Senior surviving Australian Officer
Sub-Lt Philip Cranefield, RN
It looks like there was confusion over the date as I have found 3 dates but looking at the death certificate's drawn up afterwards most names are listed as 20.6.1944

 

I'll have to take a closer look. Having checked a few from the Tamahoko death roll (on which your uncle is not listed) all so far have 24 Jun as the date of death and are commemorated by CWGC on the Singapore Memorial. I am almost 100% certain that the Tamahoko was sunk on 24 Jun and this is the date given in the survivor's report you mention, which is also included in the link in my last post.
You could contact CWGC to see what information they have for your uncle's death and the reason he is commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial. I have found them most helpful in the past.

Tim

 

I have had another chance to look at this. I am becoming more convinced that your uncle died when the Tamahoko Maru was torpedoed and that the CWGC entry is based on incorrect information.
In the list in your Post #28 there are two others (Orrah and O'Shaughnessy) who have the same information as your uncle (20/6/44 and 'now reported missing at sea'). Both these were in Java Party 20 and are listed by CWGC as dying on 24 Jun 44 and are commemorated on the Singapore Memorial. Your uncle is further listed:
WO 361/1745 (Casualties at sea en route to Japan) List of officers and O/Rs known to have perished at sea 25/6/44.

WO 361/1222 (Far East: Java; lists of deaths of POWs)

F1 = Sunk on way to Nippon by Allied action 24 Jun 44.
The date of death also agrees with his Japanese Index Card.
In my previous Post, I said your uncle was not on the Tamahoko death roll. This roll will have been back calculated using the Java Party 20 list and CWGC information so will be incorrect.
The only way forward that I can see is to contact the CWGC. I have done this before and am happy to do so in this case if you prefer.

Tim

 

I have got a certificate from the CWGC and a picture from the Sia Wan Memorial

 

I understand that, however my contention is that CWGC may have got it wrong. They are very careful but they act on information provided by others, they do not have access to all the information. In the case of your uncle the information most likely came from the War Office Casualty Branch and if they got it wrong then CWGC will get it wrong. For the sake of accuracy the only way ahead is to present the above information to CWGC who will examine it and make a decision when compared to the information they already hold.
This is not an unusual situation. I have previously shown CWGC that their records are incorrect and they have amended dates and places of death accordingly.

Tim

 

I would like to thank you for all your help I have contacted the CWGC I would like to let every body on this forum who have been so helpful in understanding my family's war history

 

Can you let us know how you get on.

Tim

 

Will do, hope to hear within 20 days

John

 

John,

Have you seen this document?





Regards

Bruneval

 

Yes but the one I got is fuzzy I have put this in my records Thank you
John