Trying to track the movements of my Great Grandad FEPOW

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by Chris Bailey, Mar 5, 2020.

  1. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    Hi all

    I have only recently found out that my Great Grandad was a POW in the Far East during WW2.
    I was wondering if anyone on here could shed some light on what his life might have like during the three years he was captive?

    His name was Arthur John Bailey. He made it back home and passed away in 1971.

    What I have found out so far is his soldier number 5952384 and that he served in the Suffolk Reg 5th Battalion. Forces-war-records shows he was in Malai 4 at some point.
    Also that on 20/0/42 he was "missing" (Casualty List No. 802. - WO 417/42), on 12/8/43 was then reported as POW (Casualty List No. 1210. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 802 as Missing, now reported Prisoner of War. - WO 417/64) and on 19/11/45 he was obviously not a POW (Casualty List No. 1914. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1210 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. - WO417/99).
    I have found this brilliant article 5th Suffolk Regiment | COFEPOW that guides me through movements but where can I find the specific camps he was held in? Does anyone know much about Camp Malai 4?

    Thanks

    Chris
     
  2. CL1

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

    hello Chris and welcome
    firstly please do not pay money for any site on the internet they will not have the details

    apply for his service records here Get a copy of military service records
    Our POW experts will be along shortly to assist you further

    regards
    Clive
     
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  3. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    Thank you Clive, good to know.
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Hi Chris & welcome

    We have members on here who will be able to help you, but please follow CL1's advise so that you start from the best possible information

    TD
     
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  5. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    Hi,

    Welcome to the forum.

    bamboo43 might be able to assist re links to FEPOW records.

    Id echo comments regarding FWR - if you signed up to pay for information check and make sure you didn’t tick the box for recurring monthly membership.

    Steve
     
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  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Chris - if you open up your original post by clicking the edit option, it should allow you to edit the thread title, would be worth adding FEPOW or Far East to drag in those members who specialise in that area

    TD
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Done.
    :)
     
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  8. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    Thank you
     
  9. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    Thank you Owen, was struggling to find how to do that!
     
  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

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  11. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Found this image.
     
  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    timuk likes this.
  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Can't anything apart from broken image link icon.
     
  14. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    Yer I am not sure why that is. Will try again
     
  15. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    That is brilliant thank you so much! And the link to other threads about Suffolk reg is going to keep me busy for a while
     
  16. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

  17. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    The WO356 card says nothing but it means he completed a "Q" form, or "Atrocities" form, which will almost certainly not exist any longer.

    He was at Bukit Timah building the shrine then went overland to the Burma/Siam railway leaving Singapore on 17th October 1942.

    WO347/ 63 needs to be checked to see if there is a hospital record.

    The IJA card looks like an original. He was in Group 1 which may mean he was up in Burma.

    Ideally there would be a liberation questionnaire.

    WO356 card ( apologies for poor focus, I sometimes missed.)

    Bailey WO356:10:521.jpg


    And the Bureau of Record and Enquiry 5th Suffolk record from WO361/2126:

    Bailey WO361.2126 jpg.jpg
     
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  18. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    Thank you so much this is all amazing. I couldn't find his questionnaire with the others on COFEPOW. But will look again.
     
  19. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

  20. Chris Bailey

    Chris Bailey Member

    Thanks again John.

    Do you know whether the liberation questionnaires on COFEPOW are complete or just the ones they have access to?

    Best wishes
     

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