3rd HAA Regiment RA, POW Singapore 1941 to 1945

Paul,

Welcome to the forum. Your grandfather served under Lt-Col F.E. Hugonin, a very highly regarded officer. Search for Lt Col Hugonin on the internet and you will find a very detailed piece of research on the 3rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment available for download in pdf format. I don't know the name of the author, having just found it myself, but it is a wonderful piece of work. Start with that.

John

 

Thank you John , I appreciate it

 

Paul,

L/Bdr John Thomas Abbott, next of kin shown as mother, Mrs A Barker, Grindale, Bridlington, Yorks.

Sent overseas, 1100 men under command of Lt-Col F.E. Hugonin on 4th April 1942, by hellship Nisshu Maru, to Saigon, arriving on 10th April 1942.

Sent to the Death Railway on 22nd June 1943. (700 men)

Mike

 

Hi mike , can you tell me the link you got this from as his mothers name varies from post to post.
Paul

 

John, have you got the link for the pdf of lt Col hugonin I can't find it , many thanks
Paul

 

Paul,

The page I got my information from is not online, I have it at home.
If you send me a PM with your email, I am happy to send a photo of the page to you.


In advance of John replying, I believe the PDF he refers to is the Saigon Battalion, which is at this link:
http://www.fepow.org/uploads/4/3/1/3/4313799/the_saigon_battalion_record_book.pdf

You need to look at PDF pages 34 and 35.(not book page numbers)

Mike

 

Good Morning Paul and Mike,

As Mike says, the website "Saigon Battalion" has the pdf referred to, and much more. I do not know how to contact the authors to congratulate them on their great work but they say they have "scoured the National Archives at Kew" and are called Jean Roberts and Frank Clark. For all I know they may be forum members. I will send you a personal message ( usually abbreviated to PM ).

John

 

Thank you to you both again

 

Paul,

Have now sent you a pm with my email address. It is not a good idea to publish your email address openly, so I suggest you edit your last post.

John

 

Done thanks John

 

Hi
I have followed this topic with great interest as I too have been researching local lads from my home village who were prisoners in Singapore. I found the two attached cards on FindmyPast; can someone please help with further details.

 

Dannemois

I suggest you obtain the other side of each card. This will describe which camps they were sent too and when they were liberated.

See my 'does anyone here speak Japanese' thread for further guidance.

 

Hi SDP
I have looked for the thread 'does anyone here speak Japanese' but I can't seem to find it, where can I locate it?

 

Dannemois

Hopefully this link will work.


http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/58885-does-anyone-here-speak-japanese/?p=683079

 

Hi Dannemois,

I cant read Japanese but I can interpret vaguely most of the detail on the Index Card of THOMAS WILLIAMS:

Sent OVS (Oversea) from Changi on 16.08.1942 as part of 'B Party' on the hellship Fukkai Maru (also known as Fuji Maru)
Arrived Takao, Formosa on 29.08.1942. Spent 2 weeks working dockside loading rice.
Sailed 15.09.1942 for Pusan, Korea., arriving 22.09.1942.
Made to march for several hours around the streets to jeering crowds, who had turned out in force to witness ‘the collapse of the mighty British Empire’.
(Index card updated as 17-9-25 (25th Sept. 42)) imprisoned in Chosen OA Keijo Camp (Seoul).

(Index Card: 18-7-20 (20th July 1943)) The Japanese symbols seem to suggest he was sent to a camp in Osaka, Japan, but I cannot see evidence of this.

(Index card: 20-5-10 (10th May 1945)). Moved to Fukuoka 27B Tagawa. This was a coal mining camp.

(Index Card: 20-9-22 (22nd Sept. 1945)). Exact date unknown but had already returned to Allied troops.

(See page 4 of PDF)
http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/fukuoka/fuk-27-tagawa/FUK-27_Brit_US_Aus_Dut_rosters-s.pdf

More than happy for any corrections to be made, by those more experienced.

Mike

 

SDP
Many thanks for the link, very much appreciated

 

Hello Mike
Thank you so much for the details on the back of Tom Williams's card; I doubt if I would have managed it without you guys and I can not thank you enough.

Roy

 

David Harris 1605205

The rear of his Index card gives no information except that his liberation date was September 1st 1945.

The Liberation Questionaire from COFEPOW gives good detail about his camps in Siam.

Mike

 

Mike; Once again many many thanks you have been very helpful.

Best Regards, Roy

 

Hi Mike
My eyesight isn't as good as it was but with glasses and magnifying glass I have made an attempt to transcribe the Liberation Questionaire and I wondered if you would cast an eye over it.

Camp or Hospital Dates Leader
Banpong June to Col Williamson
Chunkai Sept 42 - Feb 43 Col Williamson
Wampo North Feb 43 - Apr 43 Capt Davison
Chunkai (Chinikai) ? Apr 43 - Aug 43 Col Williamson
248 KM camp Aug - Dec 43 Col Swinton
Chungkai Dec 43 - Aug 44 Col Owlran ?
? unable to read Aug 44 - Nov 44 Maj Nelson ?
Tamakan Nov - Jan 45 ? unable to read
N Paton Jan - Aug Col Coates