Hi, I am trying to identify all the Cameronians who were prisoners in WW2 and have hit a problem with the POWs in Europe book (now available on Ancestry aswell). There are a large number of names quoted as Cameronians and I am pretty sure they are Cameron Highlanders. I have already ruled out about 40 as Camerons, but have another 82 suspect names. They all have Service numbers in the CH's block (29*****) and not the Cameronians block (32*****). Does anyone have a full list of Cameron Highlanders POWs for Europe/Africa? I recently borrowed the "Historical Records of the CH's" books from a friend, but this only gives some POW names. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I would post the list but feel it is too many to ask someone to check for me. While i am at it, does anyone know any 1st Bttn Cameronian POWs from the Burma campaign? I am really struggling and have very few names - only 17 so far. Thanks, Smithy
Hi Smithy, Cameronian POW's held in Rangoon Jail during WW2 attached. Might have some more information for you, such as Japanese index cards for some of these. Steve View attachment Cameronians RJ copy.xls
The quickest way is to look at missing men files. They tend to have a list (not always) of POWs from regiments. With everything though I suspect it wouldn't be 100% accurate. This could then be followed up by looking through the PoW Liberation Reports, the problem with this though I believe there is around 100,000 of them and only 40 to 50% of the forms were completed by soldiers. Both these resources can be found at the National Archives. Happy to help with the Missing Men files but the reports would be a major job.
Hi Smithy Have you tried contacting http://www.cameronians.org/contact/index.html - they may already have the info you need. Having had a quick look through some info on Forces war Records (I know its not the best site in the world) re the Cameronians (ie search by regiment) some of those shown as being in the regiment do not have a number starting 32 - am I reading that wrong or........??? TD
Thanks for the replies. Steve, thought i had all the Rangoon Jail lads names - obviously not from your list! That was very useful to add a few more names. Drew, may end up asking for help with this once i have exhausted all other avenues? TD, They don't have POW lists at the Museum, I will pass the POW info to them once I have got as far as i can. I am friendly with Barrie - the main guy there. I don't find Forces War Records very good, and it is expensive to use. I agree not all Cameronians are in the 32***** number block, there are even some who have Cameron Highlander numbers who are genuinely Cameronians when captured, but many have been miss-recorded - especially in the POW Book. Cheers, Smithy
Steve, on updating my list i noticed that Lt.Col Tynte actually Died of Wounds at Battle of Taukkyan on 10/3/1942 - the Battalion was informed of his death at the time, so i am doubtful he was a prisoner? Although he is buried at Rangoon, which is a few miles from Taukkyan? Smithy
Hi Smithy, I think I have some of the MIA lists that Drew mentioned, but for the Burma campaign, not Europe. I will try and dig these out for you. There are also some sundry witness statements and reports surrounding some of the Cams from that list. To be honest it is a bit of a hotch-potch of documents, but your welcome to them. Let me know. Steve
Smithy, Found my Cams cache. See if these (attached) are of use. There are only 12 jpegs, so if you want them I can email them over to you.
Smithy, Here is an example of one of the Cams Japanese index card. As I mentioned to you, nearly all of them survived their incarceration in Rangoon, which is pretty impressive and goes against the statistics of the jail. Cheers Steve
Steve, that is very interesting documentation. Not that i can read Japanese, but i have worked out the dating system. The first date is the Year of Showa Emperors Period - it started in 1926 (being Year 1) and ended 1989, therefore the 17th year is 1942. Basically add 16 to 1926. The middle figure is month and last is day. So 12/3/1942 was his capture date. That was the easy bit, i cannot translate the place or anything else (yet!). Smithy
Smithy, Absolutely spot on with the Showa Period. 17=1042. There are index cards for most POW's held by the Japanese during WW2, but sadly not all. Some of the Cams were captured after the battle at the Yenangyaung oilfields, which reminds me, I must remember to include Captain 'Bunny' Bunten's index card, he was quite a well known character in Rangoon Jail. Steve
