18th Battalion Reconnaissance Corps Tpr Leslie Place (B coy - 12 platoon)

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Nick Place, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    Tpr Leslie Place 18th Battalion Reconnaissance Corps.JPG

    I am currently researching any information I can find on my Uncle; Tpr Leslie Place (4133575). In the image, along with his cap badges (Loyals & Recce), is a portrait photo, which was taken in December 1941 in Cape Town and I have also included his mess tin which he decorated while serving as a POW after capture in Singapore. I am currently sifting through letters he received and sent while in captivity as well as some hand written notes tracing his movements after capture. I'm more than happy to post more material if it would be of interest.
     
  2. idler

    idler GeneralList

    There's a healthy Recce presence here so I'm sure they'd be interested. And anything on the Malayan Campaign is always welcome.
     
    Nick Place likes this.
  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Welcome Nick, some information to be getting on with:

    4133575 PLACE Tpr L C
    Casualty List No. 797 Dated 14 Apr 1942 - Reported missing 15.2 42
    Casualty List No. 1159 Dated 12 June 1943 - Previously reported missing now reported POW
    Casualty List No. 1872 Dated 1 October 1945 - Previously reported POW now not POW

    Date of liberation 2.9.45 Camp TH

    WO 361/1955 Prisoners of war, Far East: Thailand POW Camp, name list, as of 1 November 1944; volume II.
    First name(s) Leslie Clifford
    Last name Place
    Year 1944
    Rank Private
    Service number 4133575
    Card No. New 12948
    Card No. Old 11099
    Prison camp or ship Thailand - Camp 4
    Country of imprisonment Thailand

    WO 361/2070 Prisoners of war, Far East: parties transferred overseas and overland from Changi, Singapore
    WO 361/2169 Prisoners of war, Far East: British military personnel, No 4 Group, Singapore; nominal roll.
     
    4jonboy and Recce_Mitch like this.
  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    4jonboy and Recce_Mitch like this.
  5. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    Thank you so much for this Tony. Definitely something to keep me busy! I'll post updates with some of the original documentation that I have now that I can put it into some kind of order.
     
    4jonboy and Tony56 like this.
  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Of course if you really wish to trace his wartime experiences you should apply for his official service records, they are ONLY available here:
    Get a copy of military service records

    His service number indicates that he enlisted with the Cheshire Regiment so you will need to find out when he transferred.
     
  7. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

  8. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    Fantastic, thank you for this Paul. I also look forward to posting more material which I hope has not been seen before. Watch this space!!
     
  9. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    His POW Liberation Questionnaire is available on the COFEPOW website, but it is rather disappointing for information:

    Place, Leslie Clifford
     
  10. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    thank you for this!
     
  11. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    18th Battalion - B Coy - 12 platoon  - photo reduced.JPG 18th Battalion - B Coy  -12 platoon - names reduced.JPG

    I have also come across this photo of B Coy - 12 platoon with all the names written on the back. Does anyone here know of or recognize any of the names?
     
  12. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Nick,

    You could search the COFEPOW database using these names to see if you can pick up any of the others captured with your uncle. I'm not sure if you could assume that all of the 18 Recce stayed together during their captivity though, so tread carefully. Other forum members may know more.
     
  13. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member


    Thank you, I'll try that. Unfortunately, I don't know when the photo was taken, and whether it was in the UK or abroad. I do know that he stayed in touch and was very good friends with a Leslie Horrocks and Sumpton (I'm afraid I don't know his first name...)

    I have also just transcribed some of his hand written notes explaining the camps he was in after capture....

    Bangpong – First camp to

    Kanohanaburi – sickcamps

    Chungkai – sick camps

    Wampo – Building bridge 10 days

    To Tarsah build embankments jungle clearing 4 day march

    To Kinsaiyok base camp went Nº Jungle camp got beri beri back to base camp.

    Sent back to Tarah sick camp: 6 months with jungle ulcer sores

    After railroad finished back to Nong Pladuk built new base camp for 30,000

    Partys left for Singapore to ship to Japan.

    Remaining POW’s went back to mountain railway at difficult places.

    I went with 200Party to 229km works of TAMURON Part. The job was maintain the line here. I took over a Chinars garden and grew greens to help the food supply.

    The yanks bombers smashed up the line bombed all the engines and bridges and the line closed. One bomb killed 89 POW’s at TAMURON Part. All supplies of food stopped. We returned to NONG PLADUK by river boat.

    I'm going to see if I can put a timeline to this information.
     
    bamboo43 likes this.
  14. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    I have his record of service card. Quite a few transfers for 6 years service although as I understand they automatically changed to the Royal Armoured Corps towards the end of the war.
    Record of Service card reduced.JPG
     
    Recce_Mitch likes this.
  15. ypres5

    ypres5 Junior Member

    I have a pow group to a smith from Bolton who was in the 18th Battalion. It's a good chance it's him, but Smith is a common name ?. I have also got groups to Grundy from Hindley Green Pow, and one who Dow ( shot through the throat) from Lincolnshire and one who died on the Death Railway from Farnworth. .
     
  16. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    18th Recce was formed by the conversion of 5th Loyals and I think the move to Recce was more to do with who they fell under for administration purposes, so I'd say the Cheshire's to Loyals was the only real transfer
     
    Recce_Mitch and Nick Place like this.
  17. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    POW notification 26.03.42 reduced.JPG POW notification 08.04.42 reduced.JPG POW notification 25.05.43 reduced.JPG
    These are the notifications sent to my Aunt with news of his capture and subsequent updates. They tie in with the information you kindly send concerning his dates of capture.
     
    4jonboy, Recce_Mitch and Tony56 like this.
  18. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    Yes, that would make sense. I wish I'd asked him more about his service but we are always clever with hindsight! I would like to know why he transferred from the Cheshire´s to the Loyals...
     
  19. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    A lot of those names are of deceased personnel but without first names I am loath to say who.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  20. Nick Place

    Nick Place Member

    Totally understand. Thought it might also be of interest to put the photo up if anyone had a relative and hadn't seen it before.
    On another note, thank you for all the information you've collated and shared for the site. I'm finding it very useful and its filling in a lot of background material that is new to me! All the Best, Nick
     

Share This Page