Trooper James Croston 18th(5th BN. The Loyal Regt.)Regt. Reconnaissance Corps.

Please can anyone help i'm researching my wife's family tree, Her grandads brother was
Trooper 3865450 James Croston born abt. Aug. 1920.
He served with 18th(5th BN. The Loyal Regt.)Regt. Reconnaissance Corps.
His name is on the Singapore Memorial column 96 showing his death was between 05/02/1942 and 12/02/1942.
My wife's grandad always believed he had drowned after his ship was attacked but had no idea if this was true.
If anyone has any information it would be much appreciated.
Thank you

 

UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
Name: James Croston
Given Initials: J
Rank: Trooper
Death Date: Feb 1942
Number: 3865450
Birth Place: Wigan
Residence: Wigan
Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
Theatre of War: Malaya
Regiment at Death: Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) (Recce)
Branch at Death: Infantry


Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current
Name: Trpr James Croston
Death Date: 5 Feb 1942
Cemetery: Singapore Memorial
Burial or Cremation Place: Kranji, North West, Singapore
Has Bio?: N
Trpr James Croston (Unknown-1942) - Find A Grave...

Hopefully some of our Far East experts will be along to help out

You can also obtain his service records - only available from the MOD - forms here Request records of deceased service personnel
You dont need a death certificate but you do need to download the certificate on his CWGC record Casualty Details | CWGC scroll down and you will find it on the left hand side just below 'Additional Info'

TD

Is it possible he was aboard RMS Empress of Asia - Wikipedia

 

Thank you for the above information, We do believe he was on the Empress of Asia, but would like to find out if he made it to land, or drowned in the sea.

 

He is on the Singapore Memorial meaning his body was not recovered or found after his death.

SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, bearing the names of over 24,000 casualties of the Commonwealth land and air forces who have no known grave.
Cemetery Details | CWGC

 

Your man enlisted into the 5th Bn in December 1940.

 

James Croston is listed on the 18th Division Pilot Roll (WO 361/1263) compiled by the BRE at Changi after the surrender.

It had occurred to me that he might (as TD says) have been on the Empress of Asia due to the date. From the COFEPOW website at SS Empress Of Asia | COFEPOW we have from the Master of the ship:
"On Saturday, 7th, I learned from OC Troops that a check had been made and only 15 of his men were not accounted for but he pointed out that some of these men might have got adrift in the town after landing and might yet turn up." So it is a possibility.
He appears on Casualty List 1905 dated Nov 45.

Nov 45 is interesting as it indicates new information probably from released/repatriated FEPOWs. Note also that the entry is 'Previously posted Missing now reported Killed in Action' - to me this indicates some definite information being received as otherwise the entry would be listed under 'Previously posted Missing now presumed Killed in Action'. There is probably information on James in WO 361/1231 - Enquiries into missing personnel - 18th Reconnaisance Regt - Empress of Asia, held at TNA Kew.

Tim

 

I am afraid I am way out of my depth here but:

3865450 James Croston is mentioned in WO 361/435:
Search results: "WO 361/435" | The National Archives


According to Wiki the Rakuyo Maru was sunk 12 September 1944:
SS Rakuyō Maru - Wikipedia

He is also mentioned on these:
WO 361/1623
Far East: death index; soldiers' names entered from files in the series SS/330/141; entered to SS/330/141/689
WO 361/2176
Prisoners of war, Far East: 18th Division headquarters and infantry; pilot roll, A-E
I am sure that someone will be able to explain.

 

Unfortunately this is either a case of misfiling (often happens) or was being used to cross check against the lists for Rakuyo Maru. Whilst the file is named Rakuyo Maru and starts off with this, the list with James Croston is not related. The clue is at the top of the page 'Reconnaissance Corps (18th Battalion) - Missing Malaya'.

Tim

 

Trooper JAMES CROSTON
3865450
Who died age 21 between 05 February 1942 and 15 February 1942
Son of Samuel and Ellen Croston, of Ince, Wigan, Lancashire.
SINGAPORE MEMORIAL Column 96.

Missing since 5 February

 

A big thank you for all the Information, It's very much appreciated. Looks like a visit to Kew is on the cards when everything is back up and running.