Frederic Gerald Hayes 127468 RAOC PoW Singapore

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by Rob Centa, Apr 19, 2017.

  1. Rob Centa

    Rob Centa Member

    Hi all,

    I'm trying to find any information on 14 section RAOC in Singapore, or H6 officers party in H Force who left Singapore in 1943 and we're sent into Thailand by their Japanese captors.

    My grandfather lt. colonel FG Hayes was one of them, he barely lasted a few weeks before he died. So any information anyone has will be much appreciated.

    Regards

    Rob
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 19, 2017
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  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    For forum members info he is Remembered on family headstone in Hatfield Road Cemetery Hertfordshire
    upload_2017-4-19_16-58-39.png
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. Rob Centa

    Rob Centa Member

    IMG_0177.JPG Thanks CL1, hopefully attached is a photo of the PoW cemetery where was originally buried in Thailand.
     
  4. Rob Centa

    Rob Centa Member

    IMG_3889.JPG And here he is!
     
  5. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    His name does not appear in cards in WO356 as a "dead victim", which is little comfort, given the circumstances, but one less file at Kew to check.

    In file WO305/3009 at Kew there is a "History of 3 Base Ordnance Depot" by Col. H.R.Alden, published in October 1965.
    I attach a list of those present at a "guest night" held at Changi in March 1942, which appears in the book as an appendix.
    I hope they had more than rice to eat, but the food the British Army was used to was then becoming scarce, and "blown" tins of meat or fruit were regarded as prized luxuries.
    Guest Night 1.jpg Guest Night 2.jpg
     
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  6. Rob Centa

    Rob Centa Member

    Thank you Papiermache,

    That's interesting to see, there's a couple of other names I recognise too. One being brigadier C G Evelegh, I have a letter from him that he sent to DOS (director of ordnance services ?) on 19/7/42 suggessting my grandfather should be up for promotion after the war, obviously he never made it that far.

    The other familiar name is Lt. Col. L G Manning, he was my grandfathers friend from before joining the army, he gave my mother away at my parents wedding. He said the difference between himself and FG Hayes was that he was carrying more weight when they were sent to the railway, he said my grandfather was already very thin when they left Singapore.

    Thanks again

    Rob
     
  7. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    Rob,

    Thank you.

    The code for Tarsoa or Tarsao or Tasao in WO356 is JC/27. There are numerous reports but only one war crimes case referred to the camp in a charge which is in file WO235/918 at Kew relating to events in September 1943. Searching for "Usuki" on the Singapore War Crimes Website will give you brief details of the contents of WO235/918. The Adelaide News newspaper gave a brief report of the result of the trial on Friday 23rd August 1946 and can be found on Trove, the Australian National Libraries digital newspaper site. There will be other newspaper reports on Trove, an invaluable free archive.

    Lt.Col. Manning made several affidavits in early January, 1946, and I attach copies of the cards in WO356/12 ( "Singorge" card ) and WO356/17 ( Manning card ). I have not seen the affidavits.

    Far East case affidavits were usually obtained in England by Judge Advocate General Staff or local police officers and forwarded to Singapore. Some were copied using a blue ink or "cyclostyled" ( in the 1960's this was a Gestetner copy, sometimes referred to as a gelatine copy.) The JAG in London worked from Spring Gardens, Westminster ( just south of Trafalgar Square). The card says that Lt.Col.Manning was "reporting here 9 Jan.") This was in 1946.

    The other card refers to the suspect he mentions in his affidavit.

    I've sent you a pm ( personal message).

    John

    Manning A'vit.jpg

    Manning A'vit X-ref.jpg
     
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  8. Rob Centa

    Rob Centa Member

    Tarsao nowadays is a beautiful area next to the river, where a small Thai resort has been built, albeit nothing built where the cemetery's were. It was hard to believe whilst standing there the atrocities that had happened years before.
     

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