Lee2 - I am trying to find any Veterans (or anyone with any info), who knew my Gt Uncle Pte 5833402 Percy Bradbury, 5th Bn Suffolk Regt. He was captured at Singapore and died in a camp on 21 July 1943. He is buried at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row P, Collective Grave 54-58.
He came from Bankside in Southall, Middlesex.I do not know anything about him, his service, the fighting in Singapore or his whereabouts from training to his death.
Any info would be gratefully received.
pkmorrell - Hello Lee, I`m afraid I can`t tell you a great deal about the 5th Suffolks, but I can tell you they sailed for Singapore as part of 54 Brigade 18th Division, aboard the USS Wakefield. For a little background information have a look at "Albert`s War" on the Britain At War link on this site. I am sure you will get a lot of help in your search.
Ron - The Suffolks travelled in the cattle trucks from Changi to Thailand on the 31st October 1942, as one of the 'Letter' parties. This was Letter Party 'R' under Lt-Col. A.A. Johnson, 4 Suffolks.
They were at Tochan in work party IV from Nov 42 to Jul 43, they were then moved to Konkuta in August 43 and stayed there till Nov 43 by this time the railway was joined near their camp to the Burma section (Oct 43).
The line was completed near Konkuta in October 1943
The sites below have excellent coverage on the Suffolks.
Convoy William Sail 12X
http://www.fepow-community.org.uk/Research/Convoy_William_Sail_12x/
The Convoy William Sail 12X is written by Paul who answered your message first and it is a one off stopping place for the 18 Div. journey out to Singapore.
Tamajoa 241
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jellytree/
The author, Ernest Warwick (Ed Warton in the book), was born in Brighton in 1918 towards the end of the first World War, the 'Great War' - the so-called 'war to end all wars!' Like many others, he had a tough upbringing through the slump and poverty of the thirties. The eldest of eight children, with four brothers and three sisters, he was forced to leave school at 13 years of age: his father had been killed the day before in a road accident!
At the the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939, he was called up and, after eight weeks basic training in the Essex Regiment, he was posted to the Fourth Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, HQ Company, Intelligence Section for the duration of World War 2. This formed part of the ill-fated 18th Infantry (Combat) Division of the British Army.
Brandon at War
~http://www.btinternet.com/~sgthomer/singapore.htm
One major tragedy for East Anglia during the Second World War was the capture of Singapore by the Japanese. Just a week or so before it's fall the Territorial Battalions of the Suffolk Regiment were transported by ship from Britain to Singapore in a vain attempt to boost it's defences. The 5th Battalion in particular recruited from Bury St. Edmunds and the surrounding districts, including Brandon.
Hope this helps
T.R. BUTCHER - TRB_CAB@HOTMAIL.COM
4th Bn SUFFOLK TERRITORIALs
MY FATHER WAS A R.Q.M.S. JUST CURIOUS IF ANY ONE REMEMBERS HIM R.Q.M.S BUTCHER P.F.[PUT]
ROBERTHARVEY - 5 BATTALION SUFFOLK REGIMENT
I AM THE NEPHEW OF FRED JACK ALLEN OF BURY ST EDMUNDS. HE DIED ON THE RAILWAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW OF ANY BOOKS WRITTEN THAT INCLUDES THE 5 SUFFOLKS.ALSO DOES ANYBODY KNOW OF HIM HE WAS 25YEARS OLD AND APPARENTLY DIED FOLLOWING LEG ULCERS AND SUBSEQUENT AMPUTATION.
