832284 Albert Edwin James LAWRENCE, 95 Bty, 48 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artllery: 14/12/1942

Thanks so much again for your help, I will have a look on FMP and see what I can come up with.

 

Thanks so much for all the information you have given, I will follow up on all the leads you have mentioned (I'm pretty much hooked now). I want to tell these brave Thurrock men's stories the best way I can and every bit of info is so important to me. Kind regards, Steven

 

Hi Extreme, many thanks for the reply. Yes please, if you have any more information at all, regarding anyone on my list, then I would be more than grateful, thanks and kind regards, Steven

 

Another interesting one.
ARCHER H F
Archer was a Merchant Seaman on board SS Lyle Park. Lyle Park was sunk in the South Atlantic 11 Jun 42 by the German Raider 'Michel'. Michel transferred the survivors to the German Supply Ship/Tanker 'Karl Knudsen' who eventually handed them over, along with survivors from other German raider sinkings, to the Japanese at Singapore on, I think, 1 Oct 42. You'll see on his Index Card that 'Place of Capture' is a Lat and Long ref.
I've PM'd Hugh Maclean, one of the Forum's MN experts who may come along and add more.

Tim

 

mANY

Many thanks again Tim, how interesting to hear that,
Steven

 

Quite correct. Straight and Featherstone were on the Hofuku Maru. Roll

However Daniels was on the Kachidoki Maru, sunk the same day 12/9/44 as the Rakuyo Maru. Kachidoki Maru

Tim

 

ss BENNEVIS 9.12.41 captured by Japan off Hong Kong r/n GYOKUYO MARU, Japanese Government;
14.11.44 torpedoed and sunk by USS SPADEFISH at 31.04N 123.56E.

Attached cards for ECP White RN DEMS gunner - BENNEVIS
and a H F Archer - LYLE PARK.

Regards
Hugh

 

Again, so many thanks, doing plenty of printing and searching this end.

 

Hugh, thanks so much for the info and attachments, they are so important to know so that I can eventually record them in book form.
Kind regards and many thanks again,
Steven

 

Steven,Brief details below:

5946345 Sergeant George Bloss, A Company. Locations at Singapore - Birdwood Camp, Seletar aerodrome (North coast defences). Battalion split into two sections 11 February 1942. A Company went to Malayan Command, fought at Hill 125 (Rochester Park) Buona Vista Road where they engaged the enemy. Withdrew to area of Hock San Brickwork and Hill 100.

Sent to Thailand 24/10/42 from Sime Road/ Adam Park in a party of 94 5th Bedfords under Major Ditton. Mostly this party went into the Tonchan area April 43, some admitted to hospital at Tha Sao.

Surname: BLOSS
First Name(s): George
Rank: Sergeant
Occupation: Labourer
Service No: 5946345
Company: A
Date of Birth: 26/05/1907
Date of Enlisting: --
Age at Enlisting: --
Date Captured, Overland X-Singapore: Captured 15/02/1942, Overland 24/10/1942
Date Overseas: ...
Work Group Thailand/Japan: Group 4
Train Sub Group: Bukit Timah Party - "H" (12) Bn, (Major Jackson, 7th Coast)
List of camps -/- Place of Death -/- Ships: Singapore, Thailand,(Tonchan South)
Letter Party Comnd/Camp/Leader/ Detachment Leader:
Fate: Died in captivity, Thailand.
Date of Death: 23/06/1943
Cause of Death: Cholera
Age at Death: --
Next of kin: Wife, Mrs E Bloss of, 33, Manor Rd, Greys, Essex, Son of Fred and Mabel Bloss.
UK County: Essex
Place of Death: Tonchan South Cholera Cemetery.
First Buried/ Grave number: Grave No. 012
C.W.G. Cemetery: Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Grave Number: 6.A.6
Local Memorial UK. ...
C.W.G. Memorial: Kanchanaburi War Memorial Roll of Honour.
Column: ...
Evacuation - /- Last Camp: ...
Repatriation Ship: N/A

 

Oh my God, what fantastic information, so many thanks and so useful to my researching.
Also, fantastic to have the picture of the man himself.
Many many thanks for your time.
I assume that you do not have the same or any information regarding Briggs G.E. who was also in my original list.
Once again, many thanks,
regards,
Steven

 

GENT J A Sgt 1653654, 49th Battery 48th LAA Regt.
Captured Java 9 Mar 42. Transported in Java Party 2 to Singapore arriving 26 Sep 42. Left Singapore 9 Oct 42 for Borneo. POW in Batu Lintang Camp. Died 19 May 45 and buried Lintang Camp Cemetery, Kuching. Cause of death (as above) Tropical Ulcer. Re-interred Labuan War Cemetery 3 Sep 46.


Tim

 

Once again, thanks so much, it's great to have the death certificate as well as all the other information. Thanks Tim,
Regards Steven

 

Dear Steven
I have written a book 'The Borneo Graveyards 1941-1945' which tokk 12 years of research and five years in writing. It traces the five AD regts from their being raised in the UK, deployement to SE Asia, fighting in Sumatra and Java and into captivity. As can be seen from the title it is mainly about Borneo, the POWs, internees, locals and Japanese. Borneo was a bridesmaid in the war against Japan and very little is written about it. It is a story that has to be told; hence my book.
I have attached my book flyer which summarises the book and me (the author).
Best wishes
John