Another request for advice please forum members, and hoping that I am posting this in the right section. Alexander Robertson is one of the names on the Perth Academy War Memorial, and his details are shown below. Having looked at the cemetery information on the CWGC website, it would suggest that he died when he was a prisoner of war, and possibly when working on the Burma-Siam Railway. I don't know how much information is out there (admittedly I have only tried googling his details), but are there any websites dedicated to recording details of this period of the war in the Far East? Any pointers at all would be much appreciated. Many thanks, Dave Name: ROBERTSON, ALEXANDER LINDSAY Initials: A. L. Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Signalman Regiment/Service: Royal Corps of Signals Unit: Singapore Fortress Signals Age: 27 Date of Death: 29/11/1944 Service No: 3193921 Additional information: Nephew of Miss Jessie L. Robertson, Perth Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: II. K. 44 Cemetery: KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY
Hi Dave, Yes, Alexander was a POW for sure. He features on the Cofepow database. Not surprisingly, from his date of capture, he was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore: Record Details
Dave, Sgm A. L. Robertson of 12, South Methuen Street. Perth. Sent from Changi to the Siam Railroad on 25.10.1942 as part of 'X Party'. Died at Tamakan (Bridge on the River Kwai) on 29.11.1944, originally buried in grave H11 at Tamakan Main Cemetery. Mike .
Mike, Thank's very much for that. I have to confess that, like a lot of people, most of what I knew about the bridge on the River Kwai came from the film. I looked up Burma-Siam Railway before posting my request, and now realise that it bore very little resemblance to the true story. So important that these stories are told, and that they are never forgotten. I will make sure that the students know the full story of what happened to one of their own. Best wishes, Dave
I was born in Perth and have a feeling that "South Methuen Street" might be a transcription error - more likely South Methven Street.
Good morning Incredibledisc, Nice to hear from someone who was born in the "Fair City"! I myself was born in Scarborough, but have been in Scotland for 47 years. You are, of course, absolutely correct! I had noticed it, but it's nice to know that members of the forum carry out quality assurance, and make sure the information is accurate. Cheers, Dave
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to tag another request onto the same thread, but there is a link between the two, so her goes. Using the link on bamboo43's post I entered the details of another of the names on the school memorial, David Ronald Robertson (don't think he is any relation to Alexander), and find that he was taken prisoner on 15th February 1942. I have included his details below. He died on 15th March 1943, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial. Would he have worked on the Burma-Siam Railway as well? Thanks again, Dave
Sorry! Forgot to paste his details. Name: ROBERTSON, David Ronald Initials: D. R. Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Hong Kong & Singapore Royal Artillery Unit: 2nd Anti-Aircraft Regiment Age: Date of Death: 05/031943 Service No: 158708 Additional information: Son of James and Maggy McRae Robertson, Perth. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 3 Cemetery: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
In a further amazing coincidence my surname is also Robertson - spooky eh? One of my relatives is buried in the same cemetery after also being captured at Singapore. His name was Alexander William Findlay and he was a member of the Australian 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion. He died 19/1/44. He was born in Inverurie - just down the road from where I live now and is commemorated on a family headstone in one of the local cemeteries.
Definitely spooky. But, just to make it a bit spookier, there are four Robertson's on the school memorial who fell in WW1. One of them (Robert Somerville) even lived in North Methven Street!
Hi Dave, Oh dear, you have certainly picked one here that is going to need you doing a lot of reading to present the full story to your group. This one falls into the category of one of the worst Japanese atrocities of the war. Lt. David Ronald Robertson, parents address: 24, Tulloch Terrace, Perth. Sent by Japanese hellship, probably the Kenkon Maru, on 18.10.1942, in the group that became infamously known as “The 600 Gunners Party”. Sailed to Rabaul, New Britain. One man died onboard. Mid November, 517 sailed for New Guinea. 82 too sick to travel. ALL 517 who sailed either died through starvation/illness or bombing, but the majority were murdered and buried in one mass grave. Of the 82 sick men at Rabaul, only 18 survived. This is why Lt. Robertson is named on the Singapore Memorial as he has no known grave. Every one of the men from the mass grave now has a grave in New Guinea, but every single grave is marked: ‘A Soldier of the 1939 -1945 War Known Only to God’ Mike
Mike, Thank you so much for your help. As you say, this is going to be difficult to explain. It is also difficult to find suitable words to respond to this information. Terribly sad. Would this incident be covered in any books about the war in the Far East which I could read? Some small comfort in the fact that they all lie in their own grave, and that they rest in peace. Thank you, Dave
