Hello Cliff
Many thanks for your reply. Courtesy of Arthur Lane, you and I have been in contact via normal email but you have suggested I reply via the forum so others may be able to offer information. Dad’s details are Thomas Fanahan Finn, 3527532. He was an Irishman and voluntarily joined up Nov 14th 1934 and left after his 12 years were up. With the 1st battalion, he was a signaler with HQ in D company, in Egypt and Palestine, then moved to Singapore. Captured on 15/2/42, he was in Thailand camps until mid 1944, mostly in the anti malarial party, sakai butai, then survived a hellship journey to Japan. Osaka first, then finished at Naoetsu when the two bombs were dropped, and came home via Manila and Canada.
As I have been researching for over a year, I've done pretty well as I have Dad’s service record, copy of his entry in the enlistment book and nominal roll, his liberated questionnaire, his Japanese card. Yesterday I browsed through the Gazettes at the archives and was delighted to come across his name when he achieved a First Class Cert of education, and his hockey and boxing activities. At the moment, I’m trying to find out how Dad would have spent his time after being freed. According to his service record, Dad arrived home via Canada, on 31/10/45. He was posted to 24 Machine Gun Training centre. Where was that and what would he have done there? Released to Class Z reserve on 23/3/1947, what does that mean? Discharged on 12/2/52. I know he met Mum in 1946 at Dale Barracks, then trained as a teacher. Any new information would be gratefuly appreciated.
