|
All the Information in the ‘FEPOW Family’ belongs to the writer and are not ‘Public Domain’. Permission must be obtained before any part is copied or used.
Killed in Action
118 Field Regiment
Royal Artillery
History
Compiled by Ron Taylor
Thailand-Burma Railway
Working parties had increased, and many of the 118 Field Regiment were on the roll to be transported overland to Thailand with the June Mainland Party on the 24th June 1942. They were told conditions and food would be better at the new camp as Changi was suffering from overcrowding and a very poor supply of food. Rice and green leaves were their diet at Changi, the water had to be boiled and the sanitary conditions were terrible, so the PoWs were glad to get away.
With a party of 600 under the command of Major P.D. Weir of the 118 Field Regiment, RA, and Major M.T. Read, 196 Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C., the 18th Division party were herded into cattle trucks and driven up Malaya and into Thailand.
Cattle trucks to Thailand
by Charles Thrale
The route in cattle trucks to Thailand:-
2nd Day - Kuala Lumpur (0300 hrs), had rice and dried fish at Ipoh (1600 hrs)
3rd Day - Reached Pai (0200 hrs), arrived Haadyi (1700 hrs)
4th Day - Water in cattle trucks very short, heat stifling in trucks all day..
5th Day - reached Ban Pong, Thailand
After five days in those cattle trucks, which were very cold at night and stiflingly hot during the day, they were very grateful to arrive at Non Pladuk and were treated very well, the food was a lot better then at Changi.
Atapi Shelter
Picture Supplied by Helen Elliott
Their first job was to clear a large area of trees and put up our atapi shelters, they were told a Japanese workshop was to be built there, then word got around that it was to be the start of a railway line to go 415kms to Burma.
By October the now infamous Death Railway was under way and the guards now arriving were Koreans and Sikhs, they were a lot more sadistic then the Japs, being held under by the Japs for a long time, it was now their turn to serve out the punishment and this they did with gusto. A large bamboo cane was carried by the guards, this was nicknamed the 'bamboo interpreter', if they wanted to get the message across, you would feel it on the most sensitive parts of your body.
The Japanese Railway Engineers had a time deadline as the Japanese wanted their troops supplied in Burma for an assault on India and deaths had been very high, therefore limiting the workforce, so in April 1943 the many sick from Changi were also forced on trains to Thailand, this group was known as ‘F’ Force.
After the long five day route to Thailand in the cattle trucks, the PoWs were ordered off and had a nearly a mile walk to a transit camp where they were then informed they would be marching North West along the railway route in 14 mile stages. Many of the PoWs tried to sell their possessions to the Thais but not at a good price as the Thais knew the the PoWs from ‘F’ Force were already in bad shape and could not carry their baggage for long.
After two days of walking through the night, as it was too hot in the daylight sun, they reached the small town of Kanchanaburi. Many who tried to carry their possessions left them at this staging camp.
Walking at night caused many problems as the track was uneven with bamboo shots cutting into their feet, in time tropical ulcers would form.
After one month in these appalling conditions they reached Songkurai, with many of the PoWs dropping out along the almost 300km route.
‘F’ Force had the most deaths on the Thailand Burma Railway.
‘F’ Force Summery
|
|
British
|
Australian
|
Total
|
|
Departed April 1943
|
3336
|
3664
|
7000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Returned Dec. 1943 - Sime Road
|
175
|
165
|
340
|
|
Returned Dec. 1943 - Changi
|
835
|
2060
|
2895
|
|
Returned Apr. 1944 - Changi
|
295
|
411
|
706
|
|
|
1305
|
2636
|
3941
|
|
Less Died at Changi
|
17
|
32
|
49
|
|
|
1288
|
2604
|
3892
|
|
I.J.A. Custody (Including Changi Hosp.)
|
11
|
|
11
|
|
Alive as at 30th Apr. 1944
|
1299
|
2604
|
3903
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Died Thailand Burma Railway
|
2013
|
1014
|
3027
|
|
Died Changi
|
17
|
32
|
49
|
|
Missing
|
7
|
14
|
21
|
|
Total Casualties
|
2037
|
1060
|
3097
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casualty Percentage
|
61.03%
|
28.95%
|
44.21%
|
|
The railway tracks from Burma and Thailand were joined at Konkoita in October 1943.
The price paid 12,614 Allied deaths
Plus an estimated 80,000 Romusha (Native Labour) deaths.
Death Roll
Thailand-Burma Railway
Please click on the  next to each date below to extend information
| |
Died
|
Name
|
Service/No
|
 |
1942/11/04
|
Foley, William Henry
|
1116228
|
|
1942/11/23
|
Collier, Henry Victor
|
1084191
|
|
1942/11/30
|
Hart, Robert Charles
|
909979
|
|
1942/12/05
|
Wharton, Arthur
|
1119537
|
|
1942/12/10
|
Bardwell, Bertram George
|
910575
|
|
1942/12/31
|
Cooper, Alfred John Charles
|
911261
|
|
1943/01/01
|
Duce, Edward Cecil
|
947829
|
|
1943/01/25
|
Roberts, Arthur Charles
|
945396
|
|
1943/01/29
|
Ansell, Clifford Peter Heasman
|
908540
|
|
1943/01/30
|
Hazel, Richard Roland William
|
166631
|
|
1943/02/13
|
Harwood, William James
|
909331
|
|
1943/02/15
|
Wennell, Walter Stanley
|
908737
|
|
1943/03/18
|
Smith, Frank
|
1115891
|
|
1943/04/07
|
Standbridge, Leonard Arthur
|
915807
|
|
1943/04/21
|
Heath, Frederick Henry James
|
945395
|
|
1943/04/22
|
Forsyth, Sidney
|
13100075
|
|
1943/04/22
|
Gray, Edmond George
|
914065
|
|
1943/05/04
|
Boodle, Thomas
|
1078817
|
|
1943/05/05
|
Coleman, Frank
|
909984
|
|
1943/05/10
|
Wilkins, Christopher Arthur
|
901386
|
|
1943/05/16
|
Mccarthy, Edward
|
914693
|
|
1943/05/19
|
Wilkins, Ronald Gordon
|
945393
|
|
1943/05/22
|
Murrell, Keith Edward
|
907815
|
|
1943/05/22
|
Ferguson, Malcolm James
|
906771
|
|
1943/05/28
|
Denny, George Edmund
|
964210
|
|
1943/05/28
|
Hawke, Edward Rawlings
|
1112384
|
|
1943/05/30
|
Litster, John Hill
|
1101524
|
|
1943/06/01-1943/07/31
|
Young, William George
|
902248
|
|
1943/06/02
|
Baker, Charles Herbert
|
902323
|
|
1943/06/03
|
Cox, Harold Stephen
|
901360
|
|
1943/06/05
|
Scott, Charles Sidney
|
946055
|
|
1943/06/07
|
King, William Frederick
|
908565
|
|
1943/06/07
|
Pickering, Frederick Walter
|
947562
|
|
1943/06/08
|
Allen, William James
|
1119433
|
|
1943/06/11
|
Matthews, John
|
1094257
|
|
1943/06/11
|
Wickerson, Sydney
|
909393
|
|
1943/06/11
|
Anderson, Sidney Charles
|
902254
|
|
1943/06/11
|
Rixson, Ronald Alfred
|
909989
|
|
1943/06/13
|
Gilbey, Bernard Victor
|
837699
|
|
1943/06/14
|
Gosling, Norman Arthur
|
908742
|
|
1943/06/14
|
Nunn, Alec
|
1119532
|
|
1943/06/15
|
Watts, James
|
1085715
|
|
1943/06/15
|
Burrows, Thomas
|
1119516
|
|
1943/06/15
|
Wells, Roy Albert
|
945539
|
|
1943/06/15
|
Busby, Robert George
|
1106333
|
|
1943/06/16
|
Culpin, William
|
1098140
|
|
1943/06/16
|
Crocker, Henry
|
1087631
|
|
1943/06/16
|
Bubb, Leonard
|
1106199
|
|
1943/06/17
|
Taggart, Matthew
|
1123025
|
|
1943/06/18
|
Hill, Arthur Ernest
|
1113315
|
|
1943/06/20
|
Chalmers, Joseph Allen
|
1087624
|
|
1943/06/22
|
Morley, Eric
|
1557750
|
|
1943/06/22
|
Meggs, Frank
|
908634
|
|
1943/06/23
|
Clelland, John
|
1076097
|
|
1943/06/24
|
Brown, George Charles Atton
|
944677
|
|
1943/06/25
|
Horlock, Kenneth Audsley
|
913381
|
|
1943/06/25
|
Stout, Ernest Charles
|
990386
|
|
1943/06/25
|
Hudson, Dudley Parker
|
964418
|
|
1943/06/27
|
Croxford, John Dennis
|
950247
|
|
1943/06/27
|
Balls, F W
|
6205587
|
|
1943/06/28
|
Webb, Charles George
|
907833
|
|
1943/06/29
|
Swift, Ralph George
|
913380
|
|
1943/06/30
|
Hutton, Albert Henry
|
910591
|
|
1943/07/01
|
Spooner, Charles Henry
|
990286
|
|
1943/07/03
|
Brett, Edgar
|
954491
|
|
1943/07/04
|
Buck, Maurice William John
|
901390
|
|
1943/07/05
|
Crofts, Peter Henry Francis
|
92517
|
|
1943/07/05
|
Dadd, George Henry
|
1106350
|
|
1943/07/06
|
Barnes, Alfred Edward
|
1112245
|
|
1943/07/06
|
Dickins, Peter Hambleton
|
915378
|
|
1943/07/08
|
Smith, Ronald Arthur
|
913315
|
|
1943/07/12
|
Foskett, Alfred Wilson
|
902313
|
|
1943/07/13
|
Ryan, John William
|
968931
|
|
1943/07/13
|
Hughes, William Stanley
|
1109185
|
|
1943/07/14
|
Juneman, Henry James
|
1101520
|
|
1943/07/15
|
Brown, Arthur Thomas William
|
1112255
|
|
1943/07/15
|
Tickell, Richard Henry
|
904538
|
|
1943/07/17
|
Martin, Lester Dudley
|
908744
|
|
1943/07/19
|
Richardson, Henry Charles
|
11054802
|
|
1943/07/21
|
Hill, William Alfred
|
908621
|
|
1943/07/21
|
Hatcher, John Arthur
|
896035
|
|
1943/07/21
|
Currie, Harry
|
816987
|
|
1943/07/24
|
Thomas, Matthew David
|
124089
|
|
1943/07/26
|
Yule, Sidney Richard
|
907811
|
|
1943/07/26
|
Chalk, Henry Humull
|
964383
|
|
1943/07/27
|
Wilson, Victor Charles
|
904589
|
|
1943/07/27
|
Pooley, Maurice Fred
|
907161
|
|
1943/07/27
|
Burns, Alan Douglas
|
1108695
|
|
1943/07/28
|
Curd, Maurice Frederick
|
1558367
|
|
1943/07/31
|
Wardell, Robert Henry
|
901320
|
|
1943/08/01
|
Bone, Albert Raiseberry
|
901348
|
|
1943/08/04
|
Keen, Leonard Arthur
|
910109
|
|
1943/08/05
|
Walker, William Roland
|
945531
|
|
1943/08/06
|
Hilliard, Lenard George
|
964477
|
|
1943/08/11
|
Webb, Stanley Richard
|
901796
|
|
1943/08/11
|
Collinson, Cyril
|
1123239
|
|
1943/08/12
|
Sowery, John James
|
964401
|
|
1943/08/12
|
Williams, Frederick
|
945529
|
|
1943/08/12
|
Siggins, Charles Henry
|
908508
|
|
1943/08/14
|
Underwood, Henry Leonard
|
1101539
|
|
1943/08/17
|
Hamlyn, Henry Harry
|
757963
|
|
1943/08/17
|
Bradley, Frederick
|
908509
|
|
1943/08/17
|
Sumpter, Albert Edward
|
1106390
|
|
1943/08/17
|
Ivison, William George
|
904861
|
|
1943/08/18
|
Basham, Bennett Thomas
|
913693
|
|
1943/08/20
|
Cory, Andrew William
|
946126
|
|
1943/08/23
|
Ockenden, Eric William
|
945400
|
|
1943/08/24
|
Gunn, William Alfred Charles
|
1112273
|
|
1943/08/25
|
Christian, George Frederick
|
908678
|
|
1943/08/25
|
Norris, James
|
1084032
|
|
1943/08/27
|
Plumridge, Henry Charles Arthur
|
964473
|
|
1943/08/27
|
Mansfield, George James Henry
|
902247
|
|
1943/08/29
|
Roper, John Henry
|
1101534
|
|
1943/08/29
|
Basham, Sidney Robert
|
913698
|
|
1943/08/30
|
Pearce, Ernest George
|
1101531
|
|
1943/08/30
|
Anderson, Archibald William
|
1112241
|
|
1943/08/31
|
Williamson, Stephen
|
945537
|
|
1943/09/01
|
Duggan, Michael Desmond
|
902311
|
|
1943/09/02
|
Baldock, Victor Alfred
|
1074819
|
|
1943/09/04
|
Stevens, Kenneth James Cloete
|
102296
|
|
1943/09/05
|
Weir, Thomas Joseph
|
1123155
|
|
1943/09/05
|
Voak, Frederick James
|
901325
|
|
1943/09/07
|
Pawley, Edward Wilfred
|
909320
|
|
1943/09/09
|
Heal, Eric Frank
|
909319
|
|
1943/09/11
|
Whiting, Leslie
|
907860
|
|
1943/09/11
|
Spurrell, Victor Charles George
|
908620
|
|
1943/09/14
|
Wilson, Jack Ewson
|
912993
|
|
1943/09/15
|
Brown, Ernest William
|
1112256
|
|
1943/09/18
|
Strand, Thomas William
|
902269
|
|
1943/09/19
|
Butler, Bernard Frank
|
915391
|
|
1943/09/19
|
Wicks, Cyril Joseph
|
964435
|
|
1943/09/20
|
Mead, Robert Edward
|
912991
|
|
1943/09/20
|
Young, Stanley
|
891190
|
|
1943/09/20
|
Sampson, Dennis Grenville
|
909735
|
|
1943/09/22
|
Seager, Percy Leonard
|
964449
|
|
1943/09/23
|
Wall, Robert Charles Croft
|
901347
|
|
1943/09/27
|
Breakspear, Albert William
|
1101506
|
|
1943/09/28
|
Vernon, Henry William
|
946029
|
|
1943/09/30
|
Moran, William James
|
1101528
|
|
1943/10/05
|
Jeppesen, John Niels Peter
|
1101518
|
|
1943/10/12
|
Kimber, George Robert
|
990341
|
|
1943/10/15
|
Phillips, Robert John
|
955386
|
|
1943/10/15
|
Ward, Cyril James
|
990066
|
|
1943/10/16
|
Freeman, Arthur George
|
910577
|
|
1943/10/22
|
Paterson, William Leonard
|
1115158
|
|
1943/10/23
|
Gardner, Trevor Thomas
|
1089352
|
|
1943/10/23
|
Hull, Jacob Elliot
|
1106365
|
|
1943/10/26
|
Broadhurst, William Charles
|
1558475
|
|
1943/10/26
|
Gaunt, Albert Charles
|
1119411
|
|
1943/10/29
|
Burchell, Arthur Edward Gerald
|
1112260
|
|
1943/11/04
|
Simmons, Lawrence Frederick
|
964177
|
|
1943/11/04
|
Trevena, Arthur Herbert
|
907148
|
|
1943/11/05
|
Gosling, Ernest Sidney
|
909327
|
|
1943/11/11
|
Owers, Alfred Robert
|
1089363
|
|
1943/11/14
|
Burt, Harry Ernest
|
1084190
|
|
1943/11/14
|
Sale, John Trevor
|
990000
|
|
1943/11/14
|
Sabourin, Leonard Charles
|
901311
|
|
1943/11/15
|
Baylis, Edward
|
1112247
|
|
1943/11/19
|
Butters, Frank George Arthur
|
902321
|
|
1943/11/21
|
Rutherford, Henry
|
1108644
|
|
1943/11/26
|
Neller, Arthur Alfred
|
902299
|
|
1943/11/27
|
Breacker, Ronald Victor
|
905157
|
|
1943/11/28
|
Wade, Norman Harold Alan
|
836497
|
|
1943/11/30
|
Smith, Harry
|
964467
|
|
1943/12/02
|
Heal, Brian
|
908659
|
|
1943/12/02
|
Gardner, Gerald Charles
|
900325
|
|
1943/12/07
|
Dilley, Harry Elliss
|
964193
|
|
1943/12/07
|
Kewell, Reginald
|
911883
|
|
1943/12/13
|
Collischonn, Kenneth Charles
|
1089179
|
|
1943/12/16
|
Simpson, William Harry Ernest
|
946004
|
|
1943/12/21
|
Simpkin, Christopher
|
1112166
|
|
1943/12/22
|
Jeffries, Sidney Albert
|
902295
|
|
1943/12/22
|
Haggar, Charles Roy
|
941899
|
|
1943/12/23
|
Dowsett, Bertram Harry
|
917938
|
|
1944/01/13
|
Smith, Leslie Thomas
|
909342
|
|
1944/01/15
|
West, James Frederick William
|
909982
|
|
1944/01/16
|
Brown, Jack
|
964476
|
|
1944/01/17
|
James, Ernest Arthur
|
1558431
|
|
1944/01/20
|
Neill, Charles Henry
|
1101530
|
|
1944/01/21
|
Harper, Harry William George
|
909318
|
|
1944/02/10-1944/03/10
|
Evans, Henry John
|
904537
|
|
1944/02/18
|
Foster, Daniel Edmund
|
990319
|
|
1944/03/20
|
Little, James Henry
|
901305
|
|
1944/06/15
|
Campbell, James Tom
|
984867
|
|
1944/09/07
|
Plummer, Ronald Patrick
|
1101532
|
|
1944/11/06
|
Haywood, Charles William
|
904862
|
|
1944/11/29
|
Briars, George William
|
818455
|
|
1945/01/08
|
Hunwick, Thomas Edward
|
901332
|
|
1945/05/19
|
Francis, Ernest Thomas
|
915013
|
|
1945/05/21
|
Nash, William
|
946088
|
|
1945/07/05
|
De Whalley, Geoffrey Richard
|
896984
|
|
1945/07/25
|
Heywood, David
|
1108338
|
|
1945/08/07
|
Trenell, Stanley
|
893690
|
|
|
