Murder of Lieut. Cootes and Pte. Nicholls at Bukit Kulai

Discussion in 'Non-Commemorated War Dead' started by Martin Elliget, Jul 16, 2013.

  1. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    Hi Chris and all.

    My first non-comm query for WW2 (have done a couple for WW1). This may not be in the right spot, as I am seeking additional info on the said subject but I am guessing there's a possibility, if further facts can be found, that it is a non-comm. The only info I have is a document held by the NAA, which is not yet scanned:

    Title: Murder of Lieutenant Couttes and Private Nicholls at Bukit Kulai
    Contents date range: 1946 - 1949
    Barcode: 32163630

    I will order the document to be examined and copied, if necessary, but I first wanted to see if there's any trace of the event elsewhere. I have done some searching of NAA, Trove, etc., however, I cannot find anything so far. Unfortunately the document title doesn't include a date for the event. The NAA's date range could mean that the event took place in 1946 or it could have happened earlier and the date relates to subsequent correspondence.

    According to CWGC, only one man named COUTTES was killed in WW2, a Petty Officer on HMS Landrail. There were two Lieutenants named COUTTS killed in WW2:
    Percy Gordon Coutts, South African Air Force, d.14/08/1944
    Campbell Eskine Coutts, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, d.18/08/1944

    However, I couldn't locate anyone named NICHOLLS or similar having died on either of those two days (assuming both were murdered on the same day).

    I thought perhaps it could be a POW/war crime event but couldn't find anything in relation to the location.

    So basically, we have very little information at all. If anyone has any ideas or theories, would be glad to hear them. Otherwise, I will bite the bullet and order the NAA document.

    regards,

    Martin
     
  2. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

  3. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Hi Martin

    Have checked the Times & nothing there. A check on the Armed Forces Memorial shows no Couttes & all of the Nicholls are nowhere near the dates.

    Get the file Martin & we will take if from there.

    Chris
     
  4. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Just checked Roll of honour for Malaya 1948-60
    no Couttes, one Nicholl A.R. Gnr Royal Artillery 12/3/49
     
  5. BCT

    BCT Member

  6. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

  7. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    Thanks for your efforts guys. As the contents date range of the NAA item starts at 1946, I was guessing that the murder occurred either in that year or earlier. It's strange that nothing pops up on a simple Google search on the names, including spelling variations, the location and the word murder/murdered. As you've suggested Chris, I think the only way forward is to get the document so I've requested that it be examined (it's not currently available for public access). I just noticed that it's held here in Melbourne, not in Canberra, so after it's been examined I can view it at the Vic Archives Centre. It may be a wild goose chase but you never know.

    Thanks again.

    Martin
     
  8. BCT

    BCT Member

    This one may be him.......

    VX23029 Pte Arthur Clifford Nicholls C Coy 2/29 BN

    Joined 29/11/40

    Date of death 12/03/42

    Area of Death - Malaya

    Locality - Kulai

    Cause of death - Executed
     
  9. BCT

    BCT Member

    Found the other one too.

    VX39165 LT Ronald James George Cootes C Coy 2/29 Bn

    Joined 16/12/40

    Date of death 12/03/42

    Area of Death - Malaya

    Locality - Kulai

    Cause of death - Executed

    Service Record available on NAA
     
  10. BCT

    BCT Member

    Found them both on here.

    www.229battalion.org.au/229honourroll.pdf‎
     
  11. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

  12. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Just for interest two more were executed different time, different place.



    VX50944 Pte Bell Joseph D 26/01/42 A 11/06/42 Burma Mergui Exec
    QX20799 Pte Davey Arthur Francis C 13/02/42 A 11/06/42 Burma Mergui Exec
     
  13. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    Well found indeed, BCT! Thanks a lot for that. Glad to see that they are commemorated. I've changed the topic name to the correct spelling of Cootes.

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2100693/COOTES,%20RONALD%20JAMES%20GEORGE
    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2229381/NICHOLLS,%20ARTHUR%20CLIFFORD

    Funnily enough, I did land on that page with one of my searches but saw a Cpl Coutts and thought that couldn't be him.

    A search of NAA for the two surnames locates a 3 page witness statement from two other prisoners. Sadly it seems Lt. Cootes and Pte. Nicholls were murdered because their captors thought they might have a contagious disease. RIP

    On with the search.
     

Share This Page