832284 Albert Edwin James LAWRENCE, 95 Bty, 48 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artllery: 14/12/1942

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by steven cape, Sep 8, 2020.

  1. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Hi all, can anyone give me any details regarding the death (in prison it would seem) of 832284 Lance Bombardier Albert Edwin James Lawrence 95 bty. 48 Lt. A.A. Reg. RA who died on 14 Dec 1942 and is buried within Labuan War Cemetery
    regards Steven


    Casualty Details | CWGC
     
  2. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Hardly in prison as such. L/Bdr Albert Lawrence was a Japanese Prisoner of War. Originally buried at Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu), N. Borneo. Died of dysentry. I'll have a look for more info later.

    Tim
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2020
  3. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Death Certificate:
    upload_2020-9-8_23-26-11.png

    Tim
     
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  4. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    So many thanks for that Tim, I did expect that it would be from illness in captivity but now I know. The picture of the death certificate was a revelation though and much appreciated. Can other certificates be seen or accessed on a site anywhere, I've quite a few local men who I am currently compiling a book about who sadly befell to the same fate and would love to see their certificates also. Many thanks again Tim, regards Steven
     
  5. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    His POW Cards from Find my Past; oops changed the attachment as I posted the same one twice.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Sep 9, 2020
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  6. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Hi Steven,
    Presuming you are talking about FEPOWs then I am happy to help. I am no expert but there are others on this Forum who are better. In my experience finding a death certificate is quite rare although there are quite a few lists that give the cause of death. In the case above it was more luck as I had previously looked into some of my Dad's Regt that went to Borneo. The Japanese destroyed a lot of information and what is available has often been compiled from other sources. The Japanese Index Cards (as shown by 51highland) do exist and can be seen on Find my Past or Fold3.
    Anyway post the names of those you are looking into and we'll see what we can discover. Good luck with the book - anything that can be done to remember these poor souls is worthwhile.

    Tim
     
  7. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    51highland, so many thanks for the info and the POW card pics. Now I know they can be found on findmypast I'll rejoin the site and have a look, kind regards Steven
     
  8. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Tim, many thanks for your reply and info. I'll now have a look on findmypast for the index cards. I will post the names of those men that I am researching in a couple of days as you have kindly offered to look at. For now many thanks and kind regards, Steven
     
  9. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Hi again Tim,
    Here are the names and dates of death of the men from my area of who I am compiling a book regarding, who, I presume, died as a result of being in captivity as POW's. There are a total of 29 and I hope you can have a look and see if you can find out any details. Copies of any death certificates would be very welcoming. If this is too much then I will totally understand.
    Kind regards, Steven

    GODSALVE F.G. (RAMC) 17.3.44
    GENT J.A. (R.A.) 19.5.45
    GAME G.T. (SUFFOLKS) 13.6.43
    JENKINS T.W. (R.A.) 2.10.42
    COPPING E.E. (NORFOLKS) 11.8.43
    STRAIGHT H.T. (CAMBS) 21.9.44
    ASHDOWN S.S. (SUFFOLKS) 20.9.43
    BLOSS G. (BEDS & HERTS) 23.6.43
    BRANDON H.P. (SUFFOLKS) 7.6.43
    WAKEFIELD R.W. (CAMBS) 30.6.43
    BANNISTER A.H. (SUFFOLKS) 1.10.43
    BEARMAN F.J. (SUFFOLKS) 14.2.42
    CHAPMAN C. (SUFFOLKS) 24.9.43
    GALE D.A. (YORKS & LANCS) 24.7.44
    TWAITE S.C. (NORTHANTS) 4.4.45
    WHITE E.C. (RN) 9.3.44
    LEGG H.J. ( RAFVR) 22.9.44
    MERRIFILED V.B. (R.E.) 10.11.43
    COE-WELCH E. (RASC) 12.11.42
    FEATHERSTONE A.E. (R.A.) 21.9.44
    DANIELS J.F. (RAOC) 12.9.44
    BABBS A.G. (SUFFOLKS) 14.2.42
    RAWE H. (SUFFOLKS) 6.8.43
    PEARL G.R. (CAMBS) 18.7.43
    ENGLAND S.J. (SUFFOLKS) 16.10.43
    ARCHER H.F. (MERC. MARINE) 10.7.45
    BRIGGS G.E. (BEDS & HERTS) 27.6.44
    JAMIESON W.E. (SUFFOLKS) 14.2.42
    LOWE P.R. (R.E.) 1st to the 30th June 1943
     
  10. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    I'll try and work through the list as and when time permits. I am presuming you are getting the Japanese Index Cards yourself.
    Three were not POWs.
    JAMIESON W E Pte 6021140 4th Btn Suffolk Regt
    Killed in action 14 Feb 42. Buried Krangi War Cemetery. Initially buried Kheam Hock Rd 16 Mar 42 (MR 815141).
    upload_2020-9-11_15-15-48.png

    BABBS A G E Pte 6020675 4th Btn Suffolk Regt. Buried Krangi War Cemetery. Initially buried Bukit Brown Cemetery. Interestingly the entry for Babbs has Killed in action 14 Feb 42 but it has been amended to Died of Wounds 17 Feb 42.
    upload_2020-9-11_15-12-3.png

    BEARMAN F J Pte 6020083 4th Btn Suffolk Regt. Died 14 Feb 42. Commemorated Singapore War Memorial, which indicates his body was not found.

    Tim
     
  11. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    GODSALVE F.G. (RAMC) 17.3.44 - BB, MALARIA & Blood Poisoning
    GENT J.A. (R.A.) 19.5.45 - TROPICAL ULCER
    GAME G.T. (SUFFOLKS) 13.6.43 - CHOLERA
    JENKINS T.W. (R.A.) 2.10.42 - DYSENTRY
    COPPING E.E. (NORFOLKS) 11.8.43 - MALARIA
    STRAIGHT H.T. (CAMBS) 21.9.44 - AT SEA (probably sunk in pow transport )
    ASHDOWN S.S. (SUFFOLKS) 20.9.43 - DIARRHOEA
    BLOSS G. (BEDS & HERTS) 23.6.43 - CHOLERA
    BRANDON H.P. (SUFFOLKS) 7.6.43 - CHOLERA
    WAKEFIELD R.W. (CAMBS) 30.6.43 - NO DIAGNOSIS GIVEN
    BANNISTER A.H. (SUFFOLKS) 1.10.43 - BERIBERI & TROPICAL ULCER
    BEARMAN F.J. (SUFFOLKS) 14.2.42 - DIED OF WOUNDS AS POW
    CHAPMAN C. (SUFFOLKS) 24.9.43 - No diagnosis - cremated in pow camp. see attachment
    GALE D.A. (YORKS & LANCS) 24.7.44 - DIED OF WOUNDS NOT POW
    TWAITE S.C. (NORTHANTS) 4.4.45 - NOT POW
    WHITE E.C. (RN) 9.3.44 - HMS PEMBROKE
    LEGG H.J. ( RAFVR) 22.9.44 POW Died on board Jap ship maros maru, buried at sea
    MERRIFILED V.B. (R.E.) 10.11.43 - Amoebic Dysentry
    COE-WELCH E. (RASC) 12.11.42 - DIED AS POW
    FEATHERSTONE A.E. (R.A.) 21.9.44 - Presumed KIA at sea whilst POW.
    DANIELS J.F. (RAOC) 12.9.44 - KIA at sea whilst POW
    BABBS A.G. (SUFFOLKS) 14.2.42 - DIED OF WOUNDS- KILLED SINGAPORE
    RAWE H. (SUFFOLKS) 6.8.43 - DYSENTERY
    PEARL G.R. (CAMBS) 18.7.43 - ACUTE ENTERITIS
    ENGLAND S.J. (SUFFOLKS) 16.10.43 - MALARIA
    ARCHER H.F. (MERC. MARINE) 10.7.45 -- Food Poisoning, buried Fukuoka camp
    BRIGGS G.E. (BEDS & HERTS) 27.6.44 -- PRESUMED DIED
    JAMIESON W.E. (SUFFOLKS) 14.2.42 - KILLED SINGAPORE
    LOWE P.R. (R.E.) 1st to the 30th June 1943 --- MISSING -Later reported Died as POW

    Will update as and when.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Sep 11, 2020
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  12. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Tim, that's fantastic, so helpful to my research. I did wonder about the three who were KIA because of the date, but wondered anyway. How would I go about getting the index cards, until you mentioned them I didn't know they existed. Thanks once again and look forward to your findings. Regards Steven
     
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  13. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Thanks so much for all this, it is so invaluable to me for my research in remembering these men via my future book. If you come across anything else I'd be extremely grateful. Once again many thanks Steven
     
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  14. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Index cards are available on Find my Past but the easiest way I have come across to find them is to use Fold 3 (you can get a month's access for about £7). If you first use British FEPOWs you will see if the Card exists and find it's box number ie: WO 345/**. Then you can easily find it on Fold 3 where the file WO 345 has been copied in entirety and the card can then be downloaded.

    Tim
     
  15. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Thanks for that info Tim. I've just rejoined Findmypast so I'll get them from there. Regards Steven
     
  16. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Since the RN is another of my interests I had a look at this one, which you might have found confusing.
    WHITE E C
    Japanese Index Card shows him as a civilian. However he is:
    White E C P AB C/JX 259190, a DEMS (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship) Gunner. He was captured on SS Ben Nevis 8 Dec 41 (rather unfortunate as this was the day the war with Japan broke out). Died 9 Mar 44 in one of the Osaka Group Camps (not yet sure which one) of Croup pneumonia. Although an RN DEMS Gunner he would be entered on the ship's books as a civilian. More info on his CWGC entry is in the concentration reports attached to that entry.
    upload_2020-9-12_0-24-40.png
    Don't be put of by HMS Pembroke II, that is merely the Accounting Base in the UK where his records were held.

    Tim
    PS I would be inclined to change the title of this thread to better reflect your quest and attract the right Forum members.
     
  17. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Once again many thanks for that info Tim. So interesting to know that so much information is out there if you only know where to look. I would definitely have not known that he had been aboard Ben Nevis for instance. This again is invaluable to me. Regards Steven
     
  18. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    A lot of the causes of death are hand written notes, on lists sometimes witnessed by, I assume the senior officer in camp. There were very few index cards on FMP. for your list.
     
  19. papiermache

    papiermache Well-Known Member

    I don't remember all the 907 casualties who are recorded as having died on the Hofuku Maru on 21/9/44 and some of those given that date of death by Commonwealth War Graves Commission actually died before that date but I am fairly certain that Straight ( 2 Cambs ) and Featherstone ( 3 Bty, 6 HAA ) are on the lists I have on a different computer. See this thread for the background, if you've got the time, but you've got a large task:

    Hofuku Maru

    Daniels ( 4 OSC RAOC ) date of death may mean he died when the Rakuyo Maru sank.

    Tim will come along and direct you to lists on his favourite website.

    For the Beds & Herts member "Extreme" will tell you all you need to know but he is not a regular visitor. I'll wake him up with a PM or conversation and copy you in. ( he's in Western Australia ). Or you could see his Facebook page.

    5th Beds & Herts in the Far East

    All the Suffolks are 4th Battalion. I could have helped you had they been 5th Suffolks.

    By the way, "Norfolks" should be Royal Norfolk Regiment, sometimes shortened to RNR which can be confusing.
     
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  20. Extreme

    Extreme Tha Khanun explorer

    I can help with G Bloss - died at Tonchan (Cholera) and was in H Battalion (Major Jackson) - G E Briggs was in the 1st Battalion, Beds and Herts, check CWG website

    Can provide more information on G Bloss if required.

    Regards
     
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