Private Leslie Steele 3529123

[jeffg1706]

Hi,

I'm trying to find any information available relating to Pte. Leslie Arnold Steele, 3529123.

Leslie was my Father's step-brother and was in 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment. Seemingly he joined up before the war and was captured at Singapore. He died in 1944 when the Hofuku Maru was bombed off the Phillipines

Any information, or tips on where to look for information would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

[sphinx]

Jeff,

All I can add is to corfirm what you already know and to say that his home address was 11 Eccles St. Higher Openshaw, Manchester.

The presumed date of his death was 9.11.1944.

regards

[pete th]

Jeff, I always find the below weblink useful for info on 1st Bn in WW2. Scroll down to the heading "A Battalion in Captivity":

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/museumsgalleries/mom/history/1919-1945

Cheers
Pete

[rafboy]

Jeff, if you can visit the Regimental Museum in Ashton Under Lyne http://www.tameside.gov.uk/museumsgalleries/mom and the Archive which is in another buiding not too far from the Museum. Contact the Archive before you go and they will make available anything they have on him.
I will try to get back to you later today with a little more information on where to look.  Try a Google search on "Hell Ships" for information on the Hofuku Maru
Cliff

[Robert Bonner]

Jeff.

The following link contains an excellent extract from the Regimental Journal.  Under the sub-heading From Singapore to Formosa in 1944 is an accurate account of the sinking, written by Captain Nigel Evans - one of the survivors.

http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/regiments/Manchester_Regiment/html/history.htm

Robert

[rafboy]

Jeff, there is a Hell Ships Memorial in Taiwan see: http://www.powtaiwan.org/The%20Camps/camps_detail.php?The-Taiwan-Hellships-Memorial-20&name=Hellships Memorial

Leslie Steele is remembered on the Kranji War Memorial Singapore. See:http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1444536  You don't need to buy photos of the Kranji War Memorial there are plenty available free on the net.  The one below is quite a good view of the layout.

Have a look in the Forums Photo section, scroll down on the home page to find it and follow through these pages; Photos and Postcards by Battalion, Far East Photos, Changi and pictures from the Far East at the bottom of page 2 are two photos of groups of POW's taken in Singapore if you have any photos of Leslie you may find him in one of them, the few identified so far have all been from the 1st Bn Manchester Regiment, I can provide you with higher resolution copies of these 2 group photos if you wish.  As you go through these pages you will find an example of a POW Record Card, there should be one for Leslie in the National Archive at Kew, Para 6 on this Forum page gives you relevant information:  http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=1118.0

You can also get hold of his Service Record for about £30.00 The 2 PDF files refer.

Hope this helps.
Cliff    

[jeffg1706]

Hi Cliff,

Many thanks indeed for your prompt response. Much appreciated.

Jeff

Jeff, there is a Hell Ships Memorial in Taiwan see: http://www.powtaiwan.org/The%20Camps/camps_detail.php?The-Taiwan-Hellships-Memorial-20&name=Hellships Memorial

Leslie Steele is remembered on the Kranji War Memorial Singapore. See:http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1444536  You don't need to buy photos of the Kranji War Memorial there are plenty available free on the net.  The one below is quite a good view of the layout.

Have a look in the Forums Photo section, scroll down on the home page to find it and follow through these pages; Photos and Postcards by Battalion, Far East Photos, Changi and pictures from the Far East at the bottom of page 2 are two photos of groups of POW's taken in Singapore if you have any photos of Leslie you may find him in one of them, the few identified so far have all been from the 1st Bn Manchester Regiment, I can provide you with higher resolution copies of these 2 group photos if you wish.  As you go through these pages you will find an example of a POW Record Card, there should be one for Leslie in the National Archive at Kew, Para 6 on this Forum page gives you relevant information:  http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=1118.0

You can also get hold of his Service Record for about £30.00 The 2 PDF files refer.

Hope this helps.
Cliff