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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
Suffolk Regiment
5th Battalion
History
Compiled by Ron Taylor
Japanese Attack
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
Up till now the destination of the convoy was the Middle East but with Japan entering the war, it became obvious that the 18th Division would be sent to the Far East.
At this point the convoy was split with one part going to Mombassa and then on to Malaya and the Wakefield going to India, arriving at Bombay on the 5th January 1942, then on by train to Ahmenager, which was inland from Bombay where more training took place for the Far eastern climate. The 54th Infantry, which included the 5th Suffolks stayed at Ahmenager for three weeks, then back to Bombay where the Wakefield had waited, sailing once again this time to Singapore arriving 29th January, just two days before the causeway was blown between Malaya and Singapore.
Singapore by this time was under siege and the battalion found themselves in old tents in a rubber plantation along Tampines Road. With the departure of the RAF to Sumatra and Java there was very little air cover and slit trenches were a necessity.
The 5th Battalion were moved to take up positions along with other regiments of the 18th Division along the North-East Coastline overlooking the Straits of Johore between Singapore and the South Coast of Malaya at Ponggol Point. The Japanese attack on Singapore was suspected to be made in this area, the assumption was thought to be correct as the Japanese had these regiments under constant Mortar and air attacks.
This was a Japanese bluff as they attacked the North-East Coast and not the North-West Coast. Being of little use in these positions the 5th Battalion was moved by the RASC bus company on the 10th February to Thomson Road, taking over positions of the 1st Cambridgeshires who moved further along towards the Japanese attack positions on Bukit Timah Road.
On the 15th February from their positions at Battalion HQ, near Raffles College clouds of smoke could be seen as the oil tanks of Singapore were destroyed. To the Battalion it seemed just a matter of time before a surrender was called and in late afternoon they were told to destroy their weapons.
Surrender of Singapore
by Leo Rawlings
Percival surrendered, just 18 days after the USS Wakefield had docked at Singapore.
Death Roll
Defence of Singapore
8th December 1941 - 15th February 1942
Please click on the  next to each date below to extend information
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Date
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Name
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Service/No
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1942/02/05-1942/02/15
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Hawkins, Alfred
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5952336
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1942/02/06
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Wesley, Reginald Charles
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5828518
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1942/02/06
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Whayman, George Cecil Henry
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5821066
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1942/02/13
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Blackburn, Albert
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5835260
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1942/02/13
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Green, Arthur Jack
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5832622
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1942/02/13
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Stannard, John Robert
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5828460
|
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1942/02/13
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Bradford, Edward Charles
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5834551
|
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1942/02/13
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Sims, Joshua John
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5950634
|
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1942/02/13
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Hunt, Albert
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4805368
|
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1942/02/13
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Dench, Dennis Edward
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5828780
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1942/02/14
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Carriage, Reginald Arthur
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6020080
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1942/02/14-1942/02/15
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Burgess, Kenneth
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5933926
|
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1942/02/15
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Cox, Frederick William Isaac
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5833741
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1942/02/15
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Creek, Harold Edwin
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5828927
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1942/02/15
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Edgeley, Harry John
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5834603
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1942/02/15
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Bungay, Ronald Percy
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5828649
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1942/02/15
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Frost, Frederick Arthur
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5828611
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1942/02/15
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Bolton, Howard Gerald
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6020683
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1942/02/15
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Cansdale, Reginald George
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5827402
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1942/02/15
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Bayfield, Alan David
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193368
|
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1942/02/15
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Highton, Hubert Thomas
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4805364
|
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1942/02/15
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Jarman, John
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5834118
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1942/02/15
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Jordan, Patrick Joseph
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5834470
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1942/02/15
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Pickard, Horace Arthur
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5830934
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1942/02/15
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Plumb, Arthur William
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5833089
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1942/02/15
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Regan, Morris Joseph
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5834765
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1942/02/15
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Rose, William Edward
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5834772
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1942/02/15
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Simpson, William
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5950749
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1942/02/15
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Smith, Frank Ernest
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5828557
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1942/02/15
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Sneesby, Sidney
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5830929
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1942/02/15
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Thorpe, Leslie William
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5830926
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1942/02/15
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Upson, Leonard George
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5828459
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1942/02/15
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Hearn, Geoffrey Charles
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5828465
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Acknowledgements
This information was collated using:-
The ‘Roll of Honour’ FEPOW Family
‘Tigers in the Park’ by Jon Cooper
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