Author Topic: Hello  (Read 7848 times)

Offline WX4000

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Hello
« on: August 01, 2016, 09:51:25 AM »
Thank you for adding me to the Manchester Group.  I am researching a POW camp at a town called Ubon Ratchathani in North East Thailand.  It was set up by the Japanese in February 1945 to build an airstrip.  About 3,000 POWs were sent to Ubon from Thai-Burma railway camps by train.  Fifteen hundred were British POWs (plus about 1400 Dutch, 100 Australians and 4 Americans). 
I have the names of three soldiers from the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment (but there may be more) from a list compiled by the TBRC in Kanchanaburi.  I would like to find more information about these men.  They are:

Lance Corporal Charles William BLEASE (3528232)
Company Quartermaster Sergeant William DOW (3519322)
Private DUNN (1666857)

I have copies of the Liberation Questionnaires for L/C Blease and Pte Dunn.  I am interested in contacting any surviving family relatives to see if there are any stories or possessions connected to the Ubon camp that will add to the story.

I am a regular visitor to Ubon (I live in Lancashire and my wife lives near Ubon) and I have located the airstrip and the site of the camp and other interesting sites connected to it.  I also belong to a group of very interested retired professionals in Ubon who are keen to provide a lasting memorial for the town dedicated to the camp and its POWs.

What I am particularly interested in finding out is the journey these men made from their homes in Britain to the Far East, when, where and how they were captured, what camps they were in and their return home, including how the horrendous experience affected their lives after their return.

Anyone wanting more information about the Ubon camp is welcome to contact me.

Thanks


Offline rafboy

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Re: Hello
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2016, 11:52:33 AM »
Welcome to the forum WX4000.
I am attaching a copy of both sides of the POW Record Card for Private Robert DUNNE Service number 1666857 note the different spelling of Dunn.
I believe the service number is a Royal Artillery one.
Unfortunately I don't have anything on the other two men it's possible that Roy (themonstar) may be able to help further.
It's is almost certain that all 3 would have been captured at the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942.

Hope this helps.
Cliff
« Last Edit: November 20, 2020, 10:56:58 PM by rafboy »
Cliff P Son of 3525679 Sgt Arthur Phillips 1st Bn Manchester Regiment and RAPC

Offline WX4000

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Re: Hello
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2016, 12:22:23 PM »
Thank you rafboy.  I will correct my record for the spelling - thanks.
« Last Edit: November 20, 2020, 10:57:54 PM by rafboy »

Offline themonsstar

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Re: Hello
« Reply #3 on: August 01, 2016, 04:03:59 PM »
Hi WX4000

Most of the records for British PoW (WW2) servicemen are on findmypast you could have a look on there.

Cheers Roy

Offline WX4000

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Re: Hello
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2016, 08:13:29 AM »
Thanks themonsstar.  Good advice. 

Do you know if there are any surviving FEPOWs from the Manchesters?

Offline rafboy

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Re: Hello
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2016, 11:32:42 AM »
Hi again WX4000 don't know if you have seen this: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0ahUKEwiIrLb9gaXOAhWmC8AKHe6xB2gQFgg8MAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffepowhistory.files.wordpress.com%2F2015%2F11%2Fubon-pow-database-2-master-file-fepow-history-290516.xlsx&usg=AFQjCNGs4dAV99gSH8-77Jw5nLQm_3rooA&bvm=bv.128617741,d.d24.

If you can get hold of a copy the late Arthur Lane's book "One God Too Many Devils" ISBN 1-872518-00-1 will give you some insight into the Battalion from it's time in the Middle East up to the Japanese surrender. Prior to the Middle East the Battalion was in the West indies.  Looking at the 2 Manchester's service numbers it is most likely that they were with the Battalion in the West Indies and Middle East. My father was, his number falls between your 2. (3525679). Check out other posts on this forum. On the way from the West Indies the troop ship stopped at Southampton for 6 hours, special trains were run from Manchester for the men's families to spend a short time with them, there is a photo somewhere.
Cliff
Cliff P Son of 3525679 Sgt Arthur Phillips 1st Bn Manchester Regiment and RAPC

Offline WX4000

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Re: Hello
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2016, 07:22:18 PM »
Thanks rafboy.  The link to the spreadsheet on the Ubon Medical Diary is actually all my own work!  I transcribed the Diary from the records at Kew.

The book sounds interesting and that's just the anecdotal stories I am looking for - thanks again.

Offline pete th

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Re: Hello
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2016, 08:11:19 AM »
Hi, welcome to the forum. L/Cpl 3528232 Charles George Blease is mentioned in our book 'Two Towns Go To War' (note: I have his name as Charles George from a newspaper article, which could easily be an error). I'm on holiday at the moment but will post info when I get back, about 12th August (pls remind me if I forget).

Best regards
Pete
Remembering

Pte Sidney Lee (36719), 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regt - dow 18.02.17
Sgt Charles Roberts (13668), 11th Bn, Manchester Regiment - kia 18.05.18
Bombardier John Hesford (70065), 147th Heavy Battery, RGA dow - 04.09.18
Pte Sidney Lee (4131324), 8th Bn, Cheshire Regiment -  kia 12.03.41

Offline WX4000

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Re: Hello
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2016, 09:17:22 AM »
Thanks Pete Th. 

Offline pete th

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Re: Hello
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2016, 07:12:35 PM »
Hi, extract from Two Towns Go To War (photo attached):

A 28 year old man, Charles George Blease (pictured) of 6 Railway Cottages, Barton Moss, Eccles was killed on Wednesday, 8th May 1946 whilst attempting to cross Barton Moss level crossing. He was hit by the Earlestown-Manchester passenger train. Charles was a former soldier (Lance Corporal 3528232) and had been demobilised from the Army having served 12 years, including over three years as a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp during the war. He was captured on 15th February 1942, probably when Singapore fell to the Japanese.

Hope this helps
Pete
Remembering

Pte Sidney Lee (36719), 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regt - dow 18.02.17
Sgt Charles Roberts (13668), 11th Bn, Manchester Regiment - kia 18.05.18
Bombardier John Hesford (70065), 147th Heavy Battery, RGA dow - 04.09.18
Pte Sidney Lee (4131324), 8th Bn, Cheshire Regiment -  kia 12.03.41

Offline WX4000

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Re: Hello
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2016, 04:14:47 PM »
Hi Pete TH
Apologies for not replying earlier. 

Thanks very much for the info and picture of Charles George Blease.  Very sad that he had survived as a POW and then died in an accident.


Offline WX4000

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Re: Hello
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2017, 10:33:31 AM »
After a little bit of research by Andrew Snow at the Thai Burma Railway Centre in Kanchanaburi (please visit if you are in the area) he has sent me the following information about Pte Dunn (1666857) (See below - rafboy).  Please note the spelling of Dunn on these records is 'Dunn' without the 'e'.

The attached Manchester Regiment Roll also has Dunn and shows him leaving (OVL) Overland 15/10/1942.
From the Index Card
At the top it has 3 Stamps which mean Thailand and Roman Numeral 1 which is Group 1 (Headquarters at Nong Pladuk) and his last PoW Number 6000.
The Stamp after CAMP means Malaya and NUMBER is Camp 3 (River Valley Road)
On the back page it says that he was recovered from the Japanese on the 30/08/1945 
The attached questionnaire shows him at:
Nong Pladuk from November 1942 until June 1944
Nakhon Pathom June 1944 until Feb 1945
And Ubon March 1945 until Sept 1945.

His age (40 at time of Capture 41 when he came to Thailand)  points toward him working in Camp at Nong Pladuk and Nakhon Pathom instead of coming up the railway perhaps as a hospital orderly or as a Driver which was his pre war Occupation.

I am giving an illustrated talk at Dukinfield library on Wednesday 11 January (2017) starting at 10:15 about the Ubon camp. All welcome.   Maybe somebody there will know of any surviving relatives of Pte Dunn, or know a bit more about him.

Offline themonsstar

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Re: Hello
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2017, 11:12:29 AM »
Well done with all the research and all the best with the talk.

Offline WX4000

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Re: Hello
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2021, 03:50:58 PM »
I must admit I've not been posting on the forum for sometime, but thought I would let you know that my research on the Japanese POW camp in Ubon northeast Thailand is now in book form. It's called 'Ubon: The Last Camp Before Freedom' and available on Amazon.