1st battalion 1940 Kenneth William Francis white

[Pj]

Hello everyone, I'm trying to find out as much as I can about the first battalion before they were captured in Singapore. My grandfather was Kenneth white who enlisted in 1940 ( so records say ) . We know the camps he was in and what part of the Thai/ Burma railway he would have worked on and if still survived would have been sunk on the Toyoku Maru 21/09/1944. I would just like to know where he was before all that.

[rafboy]

Welcome to the forum Pj.
The 1st Bn were already in Singapore in 1940 so your grandfather would have joined them there from UK. I'm sure someone else will come up with information on where he would have been in the UK and when and how he went to Singapore.
I have turned your photo for you and attached it with this reply.
Have a look at this photo page  http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=610.15 at the bottom are 2 photos of groups of POWs in Singapore the few that have been identified are all from 1st Bn Manchester's you may find your grandfather in one of them. These photos do not have all the Bn in them.
If you PM me with an email address I can send you high res versions of them.
Cliff
Modified to add a photo of a group of men taken at Ashton Under Lyne, some in this are also in the one you posted so I thought it may be of interest.

[pete th]

Hi PJ, there is an excellent book which will help:

History of the Manchester Regiment - First and Second Battalions 1922-1948 by A.C. Bell (published by John Sherratt & Sons, Altrincham 1954)

Your local library may be able to track down a copy through their inter-library service. I know my local library has a copy.

Best regards
Pete

[Pj]

Thank you for that Pete.
Pj x

[rafboy]

Hi Paula

Not sure if you will see this and cannot remember if I sent you this link to his page on the Roll of Honour: https://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/regiments/Manchester_Regiment/html/w_database_15.htm
Cliff