This is what i have SHEATHER, WILFRED ETHELBERT. Rank: Corporal. Service No: T/104617. Age: 25. Date of Death: 02/02/1944. Royal Army Service Corps. 55 Inf. Bde. Coy. Grave Reference: 2. D. 39. Cemetery: KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Wilfred Ethelbert and Edith Marie Sheather, of Beckley, Sussex. “Forever in our Thoughts – Mum and Dad” Taken prisoner at Singapore on 14 February 1942 and died in captivity 2nd February 1944. The British 55th Infantry Brigade was a British Army brigade, part of the British 18th Infantry Division, was sent to Singapore in 1942 where it was surrendered to the Japanese army. One of the many thousands who died during the construction of the Burma Railway. In 1942 Kanchanaburi was under Japanese control. It was here that Asian forced labourers and Allied POWs, building the infamous Burma Railway, constructed a bridge; an event immortalised in the film Bridge on the River Kwai. Almost half of the prisoners working on the project died from disease, maltreatment and accidents. The Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway, the Burma-Siam Railway, the Thailand–Burma Railway and similar names, was a 258 mile railway between Bangkok, Thailand, and Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar), built by the Empire of Japan in 1943, to support its forces in the Burma campaign of World War II. The line was closed in 1947, but the section between Nong Pla Duk and Nam Tok was reopened ten years later in 1957. Forced labour was used in its construction. About 180,000 Asian civilian labourers and 60,000 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) worked on the railway. Of these, around 90,000 Asian civilians and 12,399 Allied POWs died as a direct result of the project. The dead POWs included 6,318 British personnel, 2,815 Australians, 2,490 Dutch, about 356 Americans, and about 20 POWs from other British Commonwealth countries (the Indian Empire, New Zealand and Canada). [NOTE: The Burma Railway was completed by October 1943, therefore it is possible that Wilfred died whilst being transported elsewhere.] Can anyone add more? PoW Number, where he dies, what from? There seem to be many Australians dying about that time, was there some sort of punishment going on?
He is on the Cofepow database Kevin, so he should have a Japanese index card to his name at the National Archives. This should tell you more, certainly about his demise. http://www.cofepowdb.org.uk/cdb2/Controller.jsp?action=showfepow&id=38166 The index cards form file series WO345, Wilfred should be located in box 46, full reference WO345/46.
Thanks, I must have made a mistake when searching the COFEPOW database previously. Used to live in Acton Green, so often visited Kew (Gardens and TNA) but no longer easy. Hope you're not too bothered by the flight path. At Dukes Meadow, I spent more time plane watching than playing golf (badly)! I thought the Death Railway had been completed before Wilf died, were PoW's kept on for maintenance etc rather than moved elsewhere on the hell ships?
Hi Kevin, Not too bothered, get used to it very quickly. Always guaranteed to be worse when the suns out and a barbie is in the offing. Yes, I'm pretty sure the Japanese kept on maintenance parities for the railway, repairs etc. I played football and cricket at the Polytechnic and Civil Service sports grounds which are both in the general area of Dukes Meadows. Those days are long gone since I began to come off the pitch with broken bones.
Hi Kevin, Been a long time coming, so apologies for that. Hopefully one of the more knowledgeable chaps might be able to add something about Wilfred and his time as a POW. There is plenty of information on the reverse, just need a Japanese translator now.
Thanks, adds DoB, occupation and address in Beckley, so all useful info. I wonder if the 2 2 19 might refer to his Date of Death 2 February 1944 if the 19 signified the number of years Hirohito had been Emperor, 19 years = 1944? No idea of the Japanese, might be cause of death and/or location as I thought the Burma Siam railway (River Kwai and all that) had been completed in 1943, so he might have been transferred elsewhere.
Some background from Ancestry you may or may not have: England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 about Wilfred Ethelbert Sheather Name: Wilfred Ethelbert Sheather Probate Date: 26 Mar 1946 Death Date: 2 Feb 1944 Death Place: Sussex, England Registry: Lewes Wilfred Ethelbert Sheather Birth 23 Dec 1918 in Beckley, Sussex Death 02 Feb 1944 in Burma The above info is from the Family Trees section and his name appears 15 times but 13 of them are the same originator. Unfortunately there is no further info than that above. I could send the originator an PM within Ancestry to see if he/she actually has anymore - if you want me to follow up on that send me a PM. TD
Thanks, adds DoB; occupation and Gooselye Farm, so all useful to flesh out his connections with Beckley. The 2/2/19 could be Date of Death being 2nd February, could the 19 be a reference to how long Hirohito had been Emperor, 19 years = 1944? No idea what the Japanese other information is, presumably cause of death, summed up no doubt as a result of maltreatment
Hi Kevin, Yes that is exactly right. Showa calendar refers to Hirohito's reign as Emperor, so 19 equals 1944, 20 = 1945 and so on.
Sorry, TD, your post must have been in cyberspace, as not seen when replying. I've Ancestry so I can make contact - unless you wish to do so. Never stop a volunteer! Beckley recently had a "Beckley Boys" display and talk on their WW1 casualties, in which I got involved, and it seemed natural to carry on with WW2 so I'll pass this on to their History Society as they may want to do a follow up. There is usually a weekly Village Voice section in the Battle and Rye Observer with a section for Beckley so the Tree Owner can check for any activity, and I'll post anything I hear on here..... Thanks, all. Now all I need is to know which language set, Kanji, Romaji, Hiragana!
Hi Kevin, It is generally Kanji in my experience. The members on this site, see below, are sometimes willing to do a translation. This should give you the time (literally), place and cause of death. Hopefully some other information too. http://www.jref.com/forum/translations-201/need-word-phrase-translated-6407/#.UyILdP3TTHi
Hi Kevin This is TD from cyberspace - I think I can safely leave the contacting of the family tree on Ancestry to yourself or one of the 'Beckley Boys' perhaps, as I am still trying to catch up on work in the garden and house for she who must be TD
Thanks, both - and understand the Imperial Command "Yes dear!" ... and I Learnt Something New today - Romaji and Hiragana are also Japanese language/alphabets.... useful for Scrabble!
