Hi folks, In recent research I came across a list from WO361 showing Royal Artillery casualties and missing personnel Far East. It showed two soldiers whose history may be useful to me: 1794133 Gnr Casey A 35LAA OVS 5.4.42 3315812 Gnr Casey D 6HAA M Am I correct in assuming that "OVS" is an abbreviation for overseas and "M" is an abbreviation for missing? Do the service numbers give any indication where they might have signed up? Also, I should appreciate ideas where to research for the history of these units during the Far East campaign but especially at Singapore.
Thanks Clive! I do get nagged for not linking my research but there is so much now! Sometimes I find it clutters people's responses too. Daisy
Daisy might be worth you contacting forum members who have an interest in 6 HAA and 35 LAA 6 HAA 6 (HAA) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery - Survivors might be worth contacting Rob 6 HAA 12 Bty Fepow 6 HAA Regiment Casulties 35th Regt LAA 35 light anti aircraft regiment ra | WW2Talk
UK, World War II Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: Arthur Joseph Casey Rank: Gunner Birth Date: 21 May 1912 Birth Place: Salford Lancs Military Date: 1939-1945 Regiment: Royal Artillery Service Number: 1794133 Father: Casey H. Mother: Mrs Casey F. E. Description: 9: Japanese Index Cards of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees, World War II: Campbell-Chaplin
Thanks Tricky! That solves one problem. I had a suspicion that one of the two might have been my elusive father in law. Your information deletes one "suspect". I finally believe I am getting closer! Daisy
Hi Daisy, Re reading your previous posts you categorically stated that he was not a Prisoner of War yet the remaining casualty list is for a PoW its from 361/2184 Prisoners of war, Far East: Royal Artillery; nominal roll, A-C and the page has been cropped so that number appears to be an assumed one or possibly the transcribers guess that 1st `3` could be a `5` or a `6` even? If the transcribers guess is right this D Casey originally enlisted into the Highland Light Infantry. The Ancestry tree for Dominic Cunningham Casey now reads:- When Dominic Cunningham Casey was born on April 14, 1922, in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, his father, John, was 34 and his mother, Martha, was 30. He had 14 siblings. He died in 1951 at the age of 29 in London.[ ????] I notice your post which Clive signposted stated his marriage was annulled in 1951 because he had failed to return but if he died in London in 1951 he must of returned at some point? Just to throw a bit of a spanner in the works I found this Scottish confirmation document for Dominic Casey who was given the name `Michael` I know you had `Dominic Michael Stringer` and `Dominic Cunningham Casey ` could he have actually used a confirmation name which is amix of the two `Dominic Michael Casey` ? Kyle
Hi Kyle, I appreciate your confusion, this has been 35 years of research by stages with note on both computers that have since died and lots of paper notes. Perhaps it is time for a brief history of Dad. Born in Glasgow and named Dominic Cunningham Casey on 14.4.1922 to John Patrick Casey and Martha Burt. Dominic was the 10th of 15 children, only 5 survived to adulthood. He married on 30/12/1940 and his marriage certificate states he was "Gunner RA now on war service". We have eye witness proof that he was at Singapore and we can trace part of his escape. By December 1942, he was in Trinidad and Barbados and serving in US uniform. He married using the name Dominic Michael Stringer (again - yes it was dodgy!) in Barbados Cathedral on 30/1/1943. My husband was born the following December. We have surviving envelopes sent between him and his wife showing ships and censor marks. By May 1944, Dominic Michael Stringer is in Montreal and serving in the British Merchant Navy! He ws repatriated to the UK arriving in Liverpool 10/7/1945. He did not return to Scotland but eventually settled in London where he was joined by his wife and son from Barbados in 1946. Hid first wife not knowing that he had survived the war and wanting to remarry had her first marriage to Dominic Cunningham Casey annulled on the presumption of his death. That took place in 1951. Dominic Michael Stringer died in London in November 1986. Hopefully, that sorts his timeline. I suspect the Ancestry tree has auto-created the story and misplaced his death - I need to correct that thank you. You stated in your post, "the remaining casualty list is for a PoW its from 361/2184 Prisoners of war, Far East: Royal Artillery; nominal roll, A-C and the page has been cropped so that number appears to be an assumed one or possibly the transcribers guess that 1st `3` could be a `5` or a `6` even? If the transcribers guess is right this D Casey originally enlisted into the Highland Light Infantry." I am curious to know how you come to the conclusion that D Casey was in the HLI when the unit listed by his name shows 6HAA and the letter M? Surely the "M" stands for missing? Also the document is clearly entitled "WO361 Casualties and MISSING personnel 1939-1945" If this D Casey was indeed in the HLI then I am grateful to you as it may prevent me from chasing the wrong lead. Thank you for your time and input. Daisy
Hi Daisy if the transcriber is right and 3315812 then this is a Highland Light Infantry number each regiment had their own. He enlisted in the HLI and transferred out and ended with the RA. The casualty listing is definately from 361/2184 Prisoners of war, Far East: Royal Artillery; nominal roll, A-C . WO361 is titled as you say but this listing has an additional prefix of 2184 I have amended my original post with something which you may or may not think a possibility Kyle
Hi Kyle, I just love spanners! LOL! Where did you find that document? It does not seem to refer to a particular church, which might help me understand more. Though as it is dated June 1929, that would have made Dominic a little over 7. Is that not a little young for confirmation? Another line to follow! BTW, we have had DNA results that show DCC and DMS are one and the same. Also, Michael was the name given to the youngest of the Casey clan. He was born in December 1929 and died the following December. Daisy
As RC Bishops were often only able to visit parishes for confirmation purposes every 3 or more years you regularly find several primary school year groups were confirmed at the same ceremony (I have 2 uncles confirmed at the same ceremony albeit 2 years apart in age). They do seem to have confirmed children at an an earlier age than is usual nowadays. Steve
There are references to a Casey D in WO361/2101. WO361/247 may have more information. WO 361/247 War Office: Department of the Permanent Under Secretary of State: Casualties (L) Branch: Enquiries into Missing Personnel, 1939-45 War. | Malaya: 3rd Battery, 6th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery; missing personnel | Malaya: 3rd Battery, 6th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery; missing personnel. | Held by: The National Archives, Kew 01/01/1942 31/12/1946 Former Reference Dep: M 369 Enclosure 3
Just to clarify WO 361/2184, whatever title it may have been given is not a list of POWs. It is the nominal Roll of the RA. It is an 'unofficial' document completed by the Bureau of Record and Enquiry (BRE), a POW organisation in Changi POW Camp. It was an attempt to record where personnel were and what happened to them. It will only contain information that the BRE had available. Tim Edit: WO 361/247 - The file illustrated and shown as 30 is another BRE file.
if you can get birth date and death cert for this chap then you could solve this one as well 3315812 Gnr Casey D 6HAA M
To give an example of the BRE files. My Dad's entries on the various files show 'Java ?' - his Battery had been moved to Sumatra. 'Java' - information was received by other members of his Battery passing through Changi that he was indeed in Java. 'Now a POW at Tandjong Priok' - more information received by BRE. And there the entries stop - in fact Dad was later moved to Japan but the BRE never knew this. The Casualty Branch in the UK made extensive enquiries during and after the War to establish what had happened to Missing Persons and their files will often provide information. Tim
Good Morning Daisy, Just to answer youre question regarding the Catholic Document : It`s on Findmypast from the Catholic Archives , Scotland Roman Catholic Parish Congregational Records, Lanarkshire, Scotland, The Church was St Josephs ,Glasgow,Lanarkshire and took place on 2nd June 1929. Official Reference MP/65/1/3/3 . No idea who compiled or titled the The ` 361/2184 Prisoners of war, Far East: Royal Artillery; nominal roll, A-C` I`m just passing on what the document is currently filed under so it can be found and viewed if required:- Prisoners of war, Far East: Royal Artillery; nominal roll, D-H | The National Archives Cheers Kyle
Daisy me again the thick one When the London underground circle line actually went around in a circle (well more of a shaved circle really) I would sit on it and go round and round in circles This was your Dad after he changed his name? is it your Dad or your Father in Law? otherwise it looks like you married your brother Dominic Michael Stringer died in London in November 1986. This was your Dad/Father in Law before the name change? Dominic Cunningham Casey on 14.4.1922 You state that on the marriage cert it states RA Have you applied for his service records yet or at least called them and asked for advice. Eye witness proof he was in Singapore from whom? what proof do you have that Dominic Michael Stringer is Dominic Cunningham Casey Why dont you talk to a genealogy company and give them the story they might think it is worthwhile chasing for you at a small cost I find it very difficult for a person to go missing even in war time. Jumping from the far east to the Windies
Hi Steve, Some swift research shows that age 7 was quite common for confirmation in the RC church - older in other faiths I believe. Age 7 makes this document all the more interesting as on 2 June 1929 DCC would have been just over 7! Daisy
Hi all, Papiemache and Timuk: thanks for the file references, I shall have to visit the PRO as with my eyes I cannot see the attached copies too well. I have added the file references to an ever growing list! Mr Jinks, thanks for letting me know the record came from Find My Past, it is frustrating that different records are on different subscription sites. It is peculiar that apparently this record does not show on Scotland's People. Dad went to St Joseph's RC Primary School, but I cannot find a church near the school of the same name. Maybe it has been closed and demolished? The two nearest were St Columba and St Aloysuis. From memory, many of the family marriage records were St Columba. CL1 most, if not all of your questions are answered by my response to Kyle earlier in this thread. It is confusing but Dominic Michael Stringer Snr called his son Dominic Michael. The younger one is my husband. Naming son;s for father;s is very common practice in Scotland.
But have you emailed or spoken to the records office to see if they have the service records Circle line
