The War Graves Commission have a record of the burial of Hugh Young, civilian, aged 50, Malaya, 2nd June 1942. On enquiry for more information they gave me a grave number: 11634 at Bidadari Christian Cemetery, Singapore, but have no other details. I find that this cemetery was closed in 1972 and cleared between 2001 and 2006. I have tried the website of BACSA without success. I would like to know what records might exist in Singapore, while knowing what the war situation was at that time. I have a family member of that name and age who is unaccounted for, and this is a forlorn hope of linking the two. In 1940 he wrote to the War Office from HMS Peterel to ask for copies of his army discharge papers which had been lost while he was serving in the Merchant Navy, between wars. He described himself as 'Engineer P.O.' but I have been advised that he might have been serving in some civilian capacity. I have read about the sinking of the gunboat Peterel in 1941 off Shanghai and doubt if the two are connected but would welcome any thoughts. Daggers.
Hello Daggers As you are possibly aware civilian casualties do not have the grave site logged with CWGC (although the did have grave details) and they only publish the reporting authority. When you say a family member who is unaccounted for can you give further details? Sinking of HMS Peterel - Shanghai 1944 | NHSA https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?58973 regards Clive
Just for info UK, WWII Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945 Name: Hugh Young Estimated birth year: abt 1892 Death Date: 2 Jun 1942 Death Place: Malaya Age at Death: 50 TD
You could also download this - if it is the right person Medal Card of Young, Hugh Place of Birth: Glasgow Date of Birth: 1892 | The National Archives Reference: BT 351/1/156394 Description: Medal Card of Young, Hugh Place of Birth: Glasgow Date of Birth: 1892 Date: [1914-1925] Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Language: English Creator: Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992 Closure status: Open Document, Open Description TD Possibly him aged 9 in 1901 Scotland Census 1901 Scotland Census Name: Hugh Young Age: 9 Estimated birth year: abt 1892 Relationship: Son Father's name: Hugh Young Mother's name: Agnes Young Gender: Male Where born: Paisley, Renfrewshire Registration Number: 573/1 Registration district: Paisley Civil Parish: Paisley County: Renfrewshire Address: 37 Gt Hamilton Street Occupation: Scholar ED: 13 Household schedule number: 253 LINE: 5 Roll: CSSCT1901_204 Household Members: Name Age Hugh Young 38 Agnes Young 42 David Young 13 Christina C Young 11 Hugh Young 9 Agnes Young 8 Mary Young 4 Martha Young 8 Mo
Maybe you need a copy of this book Three of the crew of HMS Peterel were onshore during the Japanese attack; two were captured but the third (PO Telegraphist James Cuming) remained at large in Shanghai for the duration of the war, working for a Sino-American spy ring. The Lonely Battle, an account of Cuming's tale, was written by Desmond Wettern in 1960. HMS Peterel (1927) - Wikipedia TD
Thanks for your interest. Hugh Young was at sea before and after WW1 and in the army in that war. No marriage traced and all his generation have gone. His army records include the 1940 letter asking for his discharge documents and it appears to be written from HMS Peterel but with no locality given. He was born in 1892 and no matching death record has turned up in UK. Not much else known apart from a few bits of MN service. Daggers
Just caught the later posts. I have the medal card but the Census is for the wrong family. He was in Liverpool in 1901. I’ll look for that book. Thanks again
You may have Googled this but it might indicate why he was buried at Bidadari Bidadari Cemetery - Wikipedia During World War II the land was requisitioned by the British army and then used by the Singapore Volunteer Field Ambulance Corps.
