to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead

27.0 HMAS PERTH

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Perth_(D29)

One might be inclined to ask why I have included this Section. The men of the PERTH fought, died, were captured and then worked alongside the Americans. It seems fitting that we should honor their memory.

27.1 PERTH by the numbers

Even though there were nearly as many HMAS PERTH crewmen who survived the sinking (330) as those from the USS HOUSTON (74 USMC & 334 sailors), they took somewhat rather diverse paths during their captivity. Of those, only 221 returned to Australia; 109 deaths is a death toll of 34%. The overall death toll for all Australians in this theater is generally accepted as 21%.

By my accounting, a total of 280 men worked the TBR; all but 15 in the Burma sector. Of those, 184 were liberated; 44 were sent on to Japan and another 36 were en route to Japan when the Rakuyo Maru was sunk.  [see below for details on those who worked the TBR in Thailand versus Burma]

The following chart depicts the overall fate of the various groups who worked the TBR:

PERTHPOWs  
group 5A (Bu)Williams (Bu)Dunlop (Th) on TBR
liberated 47 130 7 18465.7%
deceased        7  81 8  9633.9%
assigned 54 211 15 280on TBR
% grp dcd11.3%38.4%53.3% 

Of the 280 PERTH crew men who worked the TBR, 184 (66%) were eventually liberated; 96 died. There were three separate groups who worked the TBR: 15 worked in Thailand with the Dunlop Group in what I call the highlands of Thailand just beyond HellFire Pass [see Section 8.10 ]. Eight (53%) of them died; 7 while working and 1 later in Kanchanaburi after the TBR was completed.

The other two groups worked in Burma. The smaller Group known as 5A worked almost exclusively in the highlands of Burma; while the Williams Group first worked the lowlands then shifted east into the highlands (Kilo 55 and beyond). 38% of the Williams Grp died: 27 (33%) while working in the highlands during the Speedo period; only 6 (7%) died while they were working the lowlands. Following the completion of the railway, 9 (11%) died in Kanchanaburi; 6 (7%) after being transferred to Japan and 33 (40%) were KIA in the sinking of the Hellships that were transporting them to Japan.

The 5A Group (known to the US contingent as the Tharp Grp) had only 54 PERTH crewmen. Whereas for the Americans, the 5A Group suffered the worse deprivation and the most deaths while working the Burmese highlands, the PERTH contingent fared somewhat better. Only 7 (13%) of the 54 died; 4 of them during the Speedo period in the highlands. Two other members of the 5A Party were KIA when the Hellship carrying them to Burma was bombed by the AAF, therefore they never actually worked the TBR.  

The overall death rate of the TBR workers was 34% (96/280). 40% of those deaths occurred while working in the Burmese highlands. A total of 34 TBR veterans died in the sinking of their Hellships. 11% died in Kanchanaburi after TBR completion and 7% succumbed after being transferred to Japan. Only 6% died while working near Thanbyuzayat in Burma. This matches well with the experience of the US Fitzsimmons Group who spent most of their TBR time in that same area.

To date, I have uncovered no information saying that any of the PERTH crew were executed or killed by direct actions of their captors. For many of the 61 (55%) of the 112 crewmen who perished while POWs we have no recorded cause of death; so we can’t be sure that they all died of disease / deprivation. But what we do know is that another 40% died tragically due to what could be called ‘friendly fire’. Only 6 men (5%) died due to enemy action in the hours after the sinking. Another 2 were killed by angry natives soon after coming ashore without ever actually becoming POWs.

Of the 43 men who perished by ‘friendly fire’, the majority (34) died when the Hellships they were on were torpedoed by Allied submarines. Another 7 were killed during Allied bombing raids. Three of those 7 had survived the sinking of the Rakuyo Maru only to die a few months later in Tokyo.

The overall death rate of 34% for the PERTH crew is quite high as compared to other groups of Allied POWs. But the fact that 40% of those were due to ‘friendly fire’ is quite extraordinary! It is also worth noting that the Dunlop group arrived in Thailand in JAN 43, months after the twoBurma-based groups.

27.2 crew men deaths

Let’s begin documenting the saga of those who made it off the ship but who died prior to becoming POWs. Lt. Neville McWilliam is documented as succumbing to his head wound while in the arms of a shipmate on a lifeboat. Almost immediately after coming ashore on Java, Stoker Claude Maslem died from burns and exposure. Neither of their remains were recovered post-war. In a tragically strange turn of events, PO John Harvey was beheaded by a group of angry villagers on the beach. While he was being attacked, those with him fled into the jungle. In a separate by similar incident, on 14 APR Able Seaman Ernest Owen died of wounds he had received when his group was also attacked on the beach by villagers. The fate of four others (Leading Seaman George Bretheton, Able Seamen John Cochrane & Henry Vivian and Artificer Donald Smith ) went undocumented except that they died prior to being apprehended and are buried in the War Cemetery in Batavia. The only other POW to die early on Java was PO Cook Frank Cadge (31 MAR) at the Bicycle camp.

No further deaths occurred until these men were being transferred to Burma. While en route from Singapore to Burma, the Hellship Moji Maru carrying US, Dutch and Australian POWs was attacked[3] by a flight of US B-24s. Stoker George McCredie and Steward Robert Smith were KIA in that attack. Their remains were eventually recovered in Burma and re-buried in the CWGC cemetery at Thanbyuzayat.

1 MAR 1943, the anniversary of the PERTH’s sinking saw the first TBR death: Stoker Cecil Stokes (of malaria). His was also the only pre-Speedo death. Between JUN 43 and the completion of the TBR in mid-OCT, 28 PERTH crew men perished. The majority of them died in Burma and are interred at the Thanbyuzayat cemetery.

Once the TBR was complete, the slow consolidation of POWs to Kanchanaburi began. But many of the Burma-sector POWs, which included the majority of the US and PERTH POWs, remained in the jungle until early in 1944. Between OCT and MAR 44, an additional 21 TBR-POWs died; mostly at the Kanchanaburi camp. They are buried at the Don Rak or Thanbyuzayat CWGC cemeteries.

On 12 SEP 44, the Rakuyo Maru was sunk en route to Japan; 36 PERTH crewmen died in that attack. Miraculously, 4[4] were rescued by US submarines and returned to Australia by the end of the year. Three others (Lead Seaman Allan HAWKE and Able Seamen Eric BOND & Hugh CAMPBELL) also survived the sinking but were picked from the sea by Japanese ships. Fatefully, by JAN 44, all three died[5] in Japanese POW camps. Apparently, RAAF Lead Aircraftman Ernest Toe[6] (assigned to the PERTH) was also taken on board a Japanese ship but succumbed to wounds 2 days later.

Back in Kanchanaburi in DEC 44, Lead Stoker Ronald GRIEVE[7] and Able Seaman Kenneth IKIN were KIA when stray bombs aimed at the bridges fell on to the nearby POW camp. The final three deaths in Thailand took place on 2 JAN Stoker Malcomb BLACK died of malaria; on 23 APR PO Cook Fred CLARK and Lead Signalman Jack Jackson (11 JUN 45) the latter both died at the Nakorn Pathom hospital.

In MAR 45, PO Richard McConnell died at the Yokohama camp.

A bombing raid on Tokyo on 13 JUL 45 killed three PERTH TBR veterans: PO Thomas JOHNSON and Able Seamen Patrick MAJOR & Keith MILLS. Overall, a surprising 7 men were KIA by friendly-fire in the three different bobmbing raids mentioned herein.

Two other PERTH crewmen had a rather uniquely tragic journey to their deaths. Bandsman Henry KELLY and Able Seaman George MORRISS had apparently been left in Singapore during the transfer of POWs. They found themselves bound for Borneo and both died at Sandakan POW camp; KELLY in JAN and MORRISS in MAY 45.

The final PERTH POW death was Lead Seaman Stanley ROBERTS[8] whose death tragically occurred at the Bicycle camp on 16 AUG 45 = one day after the official Japanese surrender!

27.3 other liberated crewmen

Not all of the PERTH POWs worked the TBR. To the best of my knowledge (limited by available records), it appears as though 19 POWs were initially left on Java when the others departed. Of those, 13 were seemingly liberated from the Bicycle Camp. Six were transferred to Singapore where upon one was sent to work on the Sumatra Railway.

We know that soon after the sinking two groups of men ‘commandeered’ boats from the small islands in the Sunda Strait. One group sailed south then east. After almost three weeks, they made it to the port of TjilatJap where the Japanese were waiting. The other group sailed west making landfall on the eastern tip of Sumatra, They too were soon rounded up by the Japanese. Nine men appear to have spent their captivity on Sumatra. Adding Bandsman George VANSELOW, who was sent from Singapore to work the Sumatra Railway, it seems that ten were eventually liberated from Sumatra.Two others (Bandsman HENRY KELLY and AbleSeaman George MORRISS) died on Borneo in 1945.

27.4 limitations

Given that I am limited to two sources of information consisting of on-line records and published survivor accounts and that the digitized Australian military records are by no means as comprehensive as those of the US POWs, I have lain out above my current level of under-standing of the saga of the PERTH crewman. I must acknowledge the contribution of author Mike Carlton who included a ship’s roster in his book CRUISER that formed the basis of my crew list.

I have expanded the information on many of the crew using the Japanese POW rosters provided in the MANSELL collection of WW2 documents. After a long search, I located a MANSELL roster that listed the 211 crew men who were assigned to the Williams Group; by default the other Burma-side TBR veterans (54 of them) were in the 5A Group. These numbers correlate well with those published elsewhere.

[1] I have resolved the journey of 2 liberated POWs that had formerly been undetermined

[2] Not all had worked the TBR

[3] see Section 9.2 for a full story of this incident

[4]

ARTHURBANCROFTAbleSeamanF3239
RobertCOLLINSAbleSeaman22177
JohnHOUGHTONAbleSeaman23917
LloydMUNROStoker 3cS5186

[5] They are buried in the Yokohama CWGC cemetery.

[6] Toe’s remains were not recovered (buried at sea?); he is memorialized at Singapore War cemetery

[7] GRIEVE’s remains were not recovered; IKIN is buried at the Don Rak cemetery

[8] Roberts is interred at the Jakarta CWGC cemetery.

27.5 Those who died in the Battle of the Sunda Strait

The HMAS PERTH was sunk alongside the USS HOUSTON on 1 Mar 1942. To the best of my ability, here are the 355 men who died in that sinking. LEST WE FORGET

https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/73675/Waller-Hector-Macdonald-Laws-Hard-Over-Hec.htm

CaptainHECTOR MACDONALD LAWSWALLERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
CommanderWILLIAM HAROLDMARTINPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
Commander (E)ROBERTGRAYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72. Column 2.
ChaplainThe Rev. RONALD SUTTONBEVINGTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
Lieut-CommanderGUY DOUGLASCLARKEPORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 61, Column 3.
Lieut-CommanderJOHN KAVILLJOHNSONCHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 51, Column 1.
Lieut-CommanderLLEWELLYN LEIGHWATKINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
Lieut-Commander SurgeonALLEYNE CHARLESTREGEARPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Lieut-Commander SurgeonERIC MORTIMERTYMMSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
LieutenantPETER SAMUEL FULLERTONHANCOXPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
LieutenantMICHAEL HOWARDHIGHTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 62, Column 3.
LieutenantNEVILLE DAVIDMcWILLIAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 1.
LieutenantCYRIL HAMILTONPALAIRETPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 62, Column 3.
LieutenantDAVID JOHNSUTTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
Lieutenant (E)WILLIAM HENRYGIDNEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 1.
Lieutenant (E)ARTHUR HAROLD JOHNMEARSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
Sub-LieutenantALBERT LEONARDBALLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 1.
Sub-LieutenantJACK STEELLESTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 2.
Sub-LieutenantTHOMAS BEECHWOLLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 1.
Commissioned ShipwrightHAROLD THOMASHAYLOCKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
MidshipmanFRANK MURRAYTRANBY-WHITEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Warrant EngineerJAMES ERNEST HARRYTUERSLEYPORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 62, Column 2.
Warrant MechanicianHENRY CHARLESHILLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72. Column 3.
Master at Arms17759HUBERT ROWLANDCREBERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Chief Electrical Artificer19670JOHNHUGGANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Chief Electrical Artificer13763REGINALD PAULWHITINGPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Chief Engine Room Artificer16056VINCENT JAMESEDWARDSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Chief Engine Room Artificer19839JOHN JAMESMADGEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Chief Engine Room Artificer20543JAMES HERBERTWYTHESPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Chief Ordnance Artificer19448ALBERT GRAHAMROBBINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Chief Petty Officer16506ROLANDHUBBARDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Chief Petty Officer15239ANDREW MATTHEWHUDSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Chief Petty Officer12688DONALD MATHIESONVINEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Chief Petty Officer Supply14509CHARLES GEOFFREYMARTINPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Chief Stoker4695GERWYN LLEWELLYNEVANSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Chief Stoker6750LACHLAN RAEMACQUARIEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73. Column 2.
Chief Stoker13283HARRY WYNNETHOMASPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Chief Yeoman of Signals13124HERBERT EDMONDHATWELLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Leading Cook (S)S3555ALFRED JOHNFINNEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 3.
Leading Cook (S)20995JOHN NOELHILLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading Cook (S)20860HERBERTLANGDONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading Seaman19038ROBERT MALCOLMBORWICKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading Seaman20772GEORGE HENRYBRETHERTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading Seaman17574RONALDDEVERILPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading SeamanPA1627ERIC RONALDECKERMANNPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Leading Seaman19811CHARLES EDWARDESSEXPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading Seaman22510HARRY MERVYN VICTORLAMBDENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading Seaman16976GEORGE AUSTIN THOMASROWLINGPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading Seaman20446WILLIAM GEORGE JOSEPHSTILLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading Signalman21195EDWARD FRANCISLANIGANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73. Column 1.
Leading Signalman20330WILLIAM GEORGENOYCEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Leading Steward12341CHARLES WESLEYBULLOWPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading Steward20993LAURIE KEITHCUTHBERTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading Steward16212WILLIAMHUTCHINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading Steward21377ALEXANDER THOMAS LESLIE GEORGEMcKENZIEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading Steward20284LOUIS LAWRENCESMITHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading Stoker22288LEOPOLD JOHNBURGESSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker21333JAMES DUNCANEWINGPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker19133ALLAN RICHARD GEORGEFARLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker21273RONALD ERNESTFAYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker20680JOSEPHHARTLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker21365ARNOLD HILLYEARKIRBYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker17621PERCY PHILLIPLARMERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker12420ALBERT EDWARDMcKINNONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker22921FRANCIS HENRYMUNNSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker18229ROBERT WILLIAMNUNNPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker22302FREDERICK GEORGEOLSENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73. Column 2.
Leading Stoker15407GEORGE CHARLESPERRYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker22652LEOSTEVENSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Stoker21076THOMASWILKINSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Leading Supply Assistant22868GORDON ADDISONGRAHAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Leading TelegraphistPM2460JOHN DOUGLASDAYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Leading Wireman24517COLIN MERVYNCHEADLEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Leading Wireman24516JOHN EDWARDINNESPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Petty Officer19716THOMAS JAMESBAWNPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer19584LEONARD CYRILBRANFORDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer19131ARTHUR JOSEPHCLOSEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer20953JOHN FREDERICKHARVEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer19559GEORGE EXUMHATFIELDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer19648EDWARD WILLIAMPAYNEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer17775WALTER JAMES THOMASSALMONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer19297WILLIAM PETERSPEERSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer19590GEORGE IRELANDWOODGATEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Petty Officer Cook (S)16756ARTHUR JOHNENDACOTTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Petty Officer Regulating19149ALBERT VICTORFUREYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Petty Officer Steward16354WALTER JOHNMORRISPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Petty Officer Stoker14299CHARLES GORDONALFORDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker19796ALBERT WILLIAM JOSEPHBLAKEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker20143IVAN JOHNCUNNINGHAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker19173REGINALD CROMBIEFROSTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker16160CLARENCE NEAL STUARTHILLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker17867WILLIAM JOSEPH HODSONREECEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73. Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker15223JOHN EDWARDROBSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker19703PATRICK GEORGE THOMASSANDSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 92, Column 2.
Petty Officer Stoker20566FRANCIS EDWARDSTEELEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Petty Officer Supply20191ERIC SAMUELBURTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Petty Officer Telegraphist19349ARTHUR EDWINSPRIGGINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Petty Officer Writer20771FRANK ROWLANDWATSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Sergeant RAAF3635HaroldSparksSINGAPORE MEMORIALColumn 422.
Yeoman of Signals19258ERIC LUCIUS MEACHERPIPERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73. Column 1.
Yeoman of Signals14723PERCYSTOKANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able Seaman23786DALLAS SYDNEY NEILABBOTTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanH1435CHARLES BYRONASHLINPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPA1727DOUGLAS SACKFIELDASPLINPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPM2929ERNEST JOHNATKINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanB2798WILLIAM JOHNATKINSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman23868LEONARD JAMESAUTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able Seaman20272VERDUN REGINALDBLACKWELLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able Seaman23002GEOFFREY FREDERICKBLINCOPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72. Column 3.
Able SeamanB2940LEONARD GEORGEBROOMFIELDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPA1352LAURENCE JOHNBUCKLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75. Column 2.
Able SeamanB2909EDMUND JOSEPHBURKEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman14854GEORGE FREDERICKCATMULLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanW1700ERNEST RICHARDCHILDSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman24471JOSEPH SHARPCLEVELANDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able Seaman23261LLOYD DAVIDCOATESPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able Seaman19928STANLEYCOCHRANEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able Seaman20188DAVID GEORGECOLESPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2690LIONEL PERCYCOLLINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman20908WILLOUGHBY STEBBINSCONNOLLYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanPM2575CHARLES LEWISCOPELANDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanS2859ERICCOPPINGPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanB2440JOHN JOSEPHCOXPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanB1611NORMAN ANTHONYCUMMINGPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman19511REGINALD HUBERTCUNNINGHAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanS4162FREDERICK JOHNDELBRIDGEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanW981NORMAN FREDERICK HAIGEDIXONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPA.1953THOMAS TERENCEEDWARDSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75. Column 2.
Able SeamanF.2632WALTER ERICFILDESPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman20791RAYMOND HAROLDFIRMINGERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanS3455WILLIAM CARNEGEFURNESSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanS2506JAMES WILLIAMGALEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman24875WILLIAM JOHNGIRVANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanPM2862GEORGE ALBERTGLAUMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanS4505SYDNEY CLARENCEGLOSSOPPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman23792RUSSEL NORMANGODDARDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 72, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2741THOMAS HENRYGOODMANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanF2700PETER WOODROWGRAHAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanS3404ROBERTGROVESPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman18944JOHN JAMESGUBBINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanF3377EDWINHALLETTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPM2719LEOPOLD ALBERTHARWARDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanS4145DAVID SEYMOURHASKINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman19814DAVID FREDERICKHEADFORDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanPM2592ROBERT INNESHOFFMANNPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanH1354REGINALD CHARLESHORTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPA.2013SIDNEYJAMESPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanS3399HAROLD KEITHJARVISPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPA.1949NEALE EDWINJEFFERYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanF3350ROBERT LEONARDJOHNSTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman16507ERIC MAXWELLJUSTELIUSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanF3211DENIS HOWARDKINGSTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able Seaman22173KENNETHKITEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanH1486MAXWELL DERWENTLANEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanH1493DOLPH JAMESLAWLERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Able SeamanF2614GEORGELAWSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanPM3377ATHOL VICTORLEARYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75. Column 2.
Able Seaman22418LEONLOHRISCHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanW667JOHN ALLISONMACMILLANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2731DARRELMANNINGPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanPM3426GERALD HUGHMAYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2779KEVINMcCORMACKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 2.
Able SeamanF2283CHARLES ALEXANDERMcCOSKERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanPM3378RONALD RATTRAYMcFARLANEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2719EDWARDMcWHIRTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able Seaman21911WARWICK CLEMENTMORRISPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able Seaman15012WILLIAMMUTTOCKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanS1943FRANK OWEN CARLISLENEWSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanB2898WILLIAM MICHAELNOLANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF.3208WILLIAM JOHNO’BRIENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanS3347GILLESPIE LEONARDOGILVIEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanS3281REGINALD CHARLESOWENSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able Seaman23241WALTER RICHARDPARRYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able Seaman18938NOEL ALEXANDERPATONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanF3392RUSSEL JOHNPERRYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2730RONALD CHARLES ALECREYNOLDSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanPM2928LEONARD LLOYDRIGHETTIPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanPM3101WILLIAM JAMESROBERTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF1954PHILLIPROVETAPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able Seaman20939CHARLES GASTONRYANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanH1509JOHN ARNOLDSALTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanB2610CHARLES SANDERSONSCULLIONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanS5251JOHN WILLIAMSIEVEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2310LESLIE CLIFFORD MERVYNSMITHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF2476FREDERICK EDWARDSMITHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanPM3309THOMAS WINSERTHOMPSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able Seaman22210RONALD JAMESTOMSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanH1446CLIFTON VICTORTURNBULLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able Seaman20962CLARENCE WILLIAMVERDONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanB2261LESLIE CORNELIUSWALMSLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanW1470PETER STOREYWATSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanF3309ROBERTWEGERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanS4727KEVIN ERNESTWESTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75. Column 3.
Able SeamanS4415EDWARD JAMESWESTBROOKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanH1365ARTHUR CHARLES MALCOLMWHERRETTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able Seaman20011ARTHUR ROBERT GLENWHITEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73. Column 1.
Able Seaman19971RONALD KEITHWILLIAMSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able Seaman23488ROBERT ALEXANDERWILLIAMSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Able SeamanPM2968ALICK LEONARDWILSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Able SeamanPA1485JOHN GEOFFREY HUNTWISDOMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Bandmaster19529WALTER ERNESTDOUGLASSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Bandsman19182HARRY WILLIAMFREESTONEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Blacksmith 2c18207ALFRED ALBERTSAUNDERSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Cook (O)22682FRANCIS JOHN SUVLABRINERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Cook (O)22162CLIFFORD JOHNCHAMBERLAINPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Cook (S)S5042NOEL ARTHURALDERMANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 3.
Cook (S)23340HARLEY GEORGE MAYORSBATEUPPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Cook (S)PA1906LESLIE JOHN SHOWLERCOOTEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 3.
Cook (S)24008WILFRED HARRYMINEARPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Corporal RAAF9358ColinNottSINGAPORE MEMORIALColumn 422.
Corporal RAAF9030PhillipWillSINGAPORE MEMORIALColumn 422.
Electrical Artificer 2cS495HENRY CHARLES BRYCEPORTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer 2c19876JOSEPH IANSNELLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer 4cPM1823WILLIAM CHARLES RICHARDGUMMOWPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Engine Room Artificer 4cPM3774FREDERICK CHARLESHUTTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Engine Room Artificer 4c23743WALLACE ROBERT ALEXANDERLENNONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer 4c23276VINCENT BERNARDMcGOVERNPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer 4cPM3885ERNEST JOHNMIDOLOPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Engine Room Artificer 4c23610DESMOND ERNESTSCALLYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer 4c23644FRANCIS JAMESTREVORPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer 4c23742SYDNEY WILLIAMWARRENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer3c22208ARTHURLEWISPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer3c20445ROBERTMcAULEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer3c22592FRANCIS JOHNSWEENEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Engine Room Artificer3c20524EDMUND SAMUEL SPRAYVINNICOMBEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Joiner 3c21031TERENCEWRIGHTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Mechanician5925ROBERTNAISMITHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Mechanician 1c16526SPENCER JAMESBLANCHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Mechanician 2c20050DONALD GEORGEBROWNPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Mechanician 2c19416THOMAS KINGWRIGHTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
Ordnance Artificer 4cPM3178ALFRED VERNONFORDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Ordnance Artificer 4cPM3450HARRY WILLIAMHEWETTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Ordinary Coder24900GEOFFREY DAVIESWARDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanS5229RICHARD RAYMONDBENHAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Ordinary Seaman24801ROY WILLIAMBENTLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary Seaman23825WILLIAM SYDNEYBOREHAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary Seaman24803ARTHUR RONALDBOYDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanF3319ROBERTBURCHALLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Ordinary Seaman24873JOHN INGRAMCAMPBELLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary Seaman24322JOHN FRANCISCARMODYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanPM3477GORDON JOHNHOPEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Ordinary SeamanS5788WILLIAM JOSEPHJAGOPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Ordinary SeamanS5821WILLIAM KEITHLAMONTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Ordinary SeamanW. 1425AMBROSE DEVINEMEEHANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 75, Column 3.
Ordinary SeamanPA. 2014JACK EDWARDPAYNTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary Seaman24843SYDNEY JOSEPHPORTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanB2861EDGAR LESLIEROBERTSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanPM3601WILFRED JOHNSANDSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanPA 2351PETER STOKESSEPPELTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanS5253ROBERT JOHNSIMSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanPM 3600KENNETH SPENCERSLOGGETTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanPA.2055ARTHUR GEORGESUMMERSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76. Column 1.
Ordinary Seaman23651RONALD ROBERTTHOMASPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanPA.2329PETER CHRISTOPHERSENTIMMENSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanF3326JACKTURNERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanF3329GEORGE RICHARDWARDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanS5099EDWARD DOUGLASWARDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanS5826KENNETH WILLIAMWHATSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanH1462MAXWELL ROLANDWILSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary SeamanPM3485ROY ALLENWILSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary Seaman24995JOHN HENRYWITTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary Signalman24466JOHN CHRISTOPHERNESBITTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary Telegraphist24363ALFRED KEITHDEGNERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Ordinary TelegraphistS4235WILLIAM NEVILLEGREENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary TelegraphistPM3348WILLIAM CHARLESNEWMANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Ordinary Telegraphist1838CHARLES SUMNERWATKINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76. Column 1.
Ordnance Artificer 4c23553CHARLES ERICCROISDALEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Painter 4cS3203RICHARD JOHNSTAPLETONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Sailmaker’s Mate14602WREXFORD JOHNO’HARAPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Shipwright22218FRANCIS JAMESKELLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Shipwright 1c13662ARTHUR ERNESTPURKISPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Shipwright 4c21025RUTLAND TOMDEARDENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Shipwright 4cF4010ERNESTHAYHOWPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Sick Berth AttendantS4488LESLIE FRANCISMcMILLANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Sick Berth AttendantPM3035DANIEL WILLIAMPADFIELDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
SignalmanS3493WILLIAM ARTHURBRACHERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
SignalmanB2356ROBERT CHARLES HAMMONTDODWELLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
SignalmanPM2289JAMES STUARTHISKENSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Signalman23632WALTER GORDONHOPTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Signalman23917TOM STEPHENSONRISLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Signalman24139RICHARD FREDERICKSHALEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Signalman23498HOWARD WILLIAMSNEYDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Steward23439JOHN ALBERTCOVERDALEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Steward23371MATTILLICHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74. Column 1.
StewardPM3337JOHNPOUNDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 3.
Steward22476ARTHUR ERNESTSMITHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
StewardS4583PERCY JONESSTEALEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 3.
Steward21575THOMAS CHARLESWEBSTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Steward21098ROWLAND FREDERICKWELLSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
StokerW2085HENRY STUARTABSALOMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker20619PETER GEORGEALLOMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 2.
StokerW2092JACK CROMARTYANGRAVEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker23859RODGER SYDNEY GEORGEBANKSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
StokerW1833CHARLES THOMASBENNETTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
StokerW1615URWIN HOWARDBOWMANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
StokerW2098JOHN HARRYBURDENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
StokerS4180DONALD CLEVEBURGESSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Stoker23927GEORGE PRIDEBUTTERSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker23971HENRY ALLANDRIVERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker20562DESMOND WALTEREASTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
StokerPM2177HORACE DANIELFOSTERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Stoker20478EDGAR ERNESTFRANCISPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker20681PATRICK JOHNKELLYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker23699DONALDKIRKMOEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker20471LANCE WILLIAM SMILEYLEALEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
StokerH1512WILLIAM TREVORLUCKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Stoker23037CLAUDE LESLIEMASLENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker23924FREDERICK GERALDMILLERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
StokerW1788STANLEYMYERSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Stoker19176PATRICK JOHNO’LEARYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
StokerW25ANDREW FULLERTONROBSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
StokerW. 1154HENRY HOWARD WILLIAMSMITHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker24275CLIFFORD CHARLESSTEEDPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker24330ARTHUR LINDSAYSTIRKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker20683ALLAN ROBERTSTREETPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker21793EDWARD ARTHURTHOMASPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker22241THOMAS HENRYTURNERPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker23822THOMAS GORDONWATTSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Stoker 2cW2086JAMES THOMASBAILEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2196JOHN DONALDCORLEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cPA2160DAVID JOHNCRICKPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2184ALBERT LAWRENCEHOBBINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2126JOSEPH ERNESTLANAGANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76. Column 2.
Stoker 2cPA2053SPENCER FRANCISLANEPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76. Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2084DONALD JOHNLEITCHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cF3575JAMES CHARLESLYNAMPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cH1632LYALL ELVINMARSHALLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2093KENNETH HAROLD DOUGLASMcCLUREPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2083RALPH BERNARDMcDERMOTTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cS5671LESLIE ROYMcMURDOPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW. 2234MORTON ALANO’LOUGHLINPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cPA2156JOHN WHITROBERTSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2066MORTON JAMESSARGEANTPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cS5316WILLIAM EROLSHARMANPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2c3574STANLEY FREDERICKTHOMASPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cW2177KEITHVICCARSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cB3077LEONARD PERCIVALWALSHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker 2cB3098COLIN RAOULWILLIAMSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Stoker3cH1689DONALD RICHARD GLENNKILBYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Supply AssistantPM3300RONALD THOMASCLOHESYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Supply AssistantB3010FRANCIS HERBERTGAVENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Supply Assistant24350WILLIAM REGINALDMATTHEWSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 74, Column 1.
Supply AssistantS5247LESLIE JOSEPH KITCHENERPETTYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 3.
Telegraphist24061WILLIAM GEORGEFITZGIBBONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
TelegraphistS3999CECIL WILLIAM DELAFIELDGWATKINPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 1.
Telegraphist24483ROBERT CHARLESNEWTONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
TelegraphistPAV31MAXWELLROBERTSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 77, Column 1.
Telegraphist23155THOMAS HENRYSTACEYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 1.
Wireman24670IAN OSWALDCAMPBELLPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Wireman24722CHARLES THOMPSONJACKSONPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
Wireman24690NORMAN THOMASPATTENPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 73, Column 3.
WriterF2775ADOLPHUS ERICCARYPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 76, Column 2.
Canteen AssistantCIVILIANKARL BRADFORDBOROUGHPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 77, Column 2.
Canteen AssistantCIVILIANJOHN HENRYMcCULLAPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 77, Column 2.
Canteen ManagerCIVILIANALFRED THOMAS ROYHAWKINSPLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIALPanel 77, Column 2.
  • there was a fourth civilian Canteen Asst; he was the 17 yo son of Manager Hawkins; He survived to become a POW.

Crew break-out KIA vs POW by rate/rank

ORNCOSNCOOFFCIV
crew46612237504
KIA2445523253
POW2226714251
crew %68.7%17.9%5.4%7.4%0.6%
% KIA69.8%15.7%6.6%7.1%0.9%
%POW67.5%20.4%4.3%7.6%0.3%

27.6 The PERTH POWs

Of the PERTH crew, 330 made it off the ship. 7 died prior to becoming POWs. Of the 323 POWs, 221 survived the ordeal = an incredible 32% POW death rate. Of those POWs, it appears as tho 274 worked the TBR. Even worse, of the small group who worked the Hintok area in the Thai sector 8 of 15 died! (see below)

One-third (35/102) of the POW deaths occurred in sinking of Hellships during transfer.

They are listed alphabetically here:

FNLNtitleSNgrpjourneycamp
HORACEABBOTTPO18818Dunlop-libTBR-TH to JapanHiroshima
CHRISTOPHERANDERSONStoker24438Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
ALANAXTONStoker 2cW2099Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
GOEFFREYBALSHAWPOD/JX 135023Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
ARTHURBANCROFTAbleSeamanF3239Williams-libTBR-B4 > rescued RMrescued by Queenfish
RAYMONDBARKERLieutenantofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
WilfredBARNESEng Rm Artificer 3c20475Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
AtholBARWICKOrdinarySeamanH1533Williams-libTBR-B4Hendatai
WilliamBEESignalman239225A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
CHARLESBELLLeading SeamanPA1311Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
LeslieBENSONLeading Seaman20796Williams-libTBR-B4Hendatai
LLOYDBESSELLStokerH1511Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
WILLIAMBEVANAbleSeamanF25505A-dcdTBR-5AThanbyuzayat
NeilBIDDELYoeman of Signals20149Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
WilliamBIRBECKAbleSeaman23029JAVA-libJava to SINGAChangi
KennethBLACKAbleSeamanW13845A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
GordonBLACKLieutenantofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
MALCOLMBLACKStokerW07785A-dcdTBR-5ADon Rak
RobertBLANDCPO Cook13018Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
HilstonBOLANDAbleSeamanS4930Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
EricBONDAbleSeamanW09425A-dcdTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
JOHNBOWERSPO Stoker19945Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
RonaldBRADSHAWWO RAAF175575A-libTBR-5ATamarkam
GEORGEBRETHERTONLeading Seaman20772JAVA-dcdDOW on JavaJava not rcv’d
WilliamBRISCOEAbleSeaman19708Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
LaurenceBROWNPO Stoker19490Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ErnestBROWNAbleSeaman14191Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
JamesBROWNAbleSeamanS3796Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ALFREDBROWNBandsman15171Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
ColinBROWNEAbleSeaman21999Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
LeslieBRUSEAbleSeamanF20165A-libTBR-5Atbr
LaurenceBULLIVANTAbleSeamanS28575A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
LloydBURGESSLieutenantofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
MaxwellBURKAbleSeamanH15875A-libTBR-5ANKP hosp
EDWARDBURLEYAbleSeaman223805A-dcdTBR-5AThanbyuzayat
FRANKCADGEPO Cook18324JAVA-dcdJavaBatavia
FRANCISCAMPBELLAbleSeamanW1199Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
GavinCAMPBELLSub Lt Pay MasterofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4tbr
HughCAMPBELLAbleSeamanS5787Williams-dcdTBR-B4 to Japan RMYokohama
PeterCARGILLStoker 2cS4590JAVA-libJavaBatavia
RoyCARTERLeading Seaman19592Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
ERNESTCASSERLYStoker21120Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
HaroldCHAFFEYLeading Seaman16140Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
FrancisCHATTAWAYOrdinarySeamanS59305A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
EdwardCLARKOrdinarySeamanPM3588Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
EdmundCLARKAbleSeamanF2489Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
FREDERICKCLARKPO Cook09597Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
WilliamCLIFFORDAbleSeaman22413Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
JOHNCOCHRANEAbleSeamanPM2665JAVA-dcdDOW on JavaBatavia
RobertCOLLINSAbleSeaman22177Williams-libTBR-B4 > rescued RMrescued by Sealion
RobertCOOPERLeading Seaman22438Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
FrancisCORCORANSteward192855A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
ROBERTCOSTINAbleSeamanB2339Dunlop-dcdTBR-THDon Rak
WILLIAMCOWDROYLeading Seaman21820Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
JohnCOXHEADBand Corporal19874JAVA-libJavaBatavia
ALFREDCOYNEPO17663Dunlop-dcdTBR-THDon Rak
RonaldCRICKAbleSeaman22886Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
JamesCUNNINGHAMCPO Sick Bay18755Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
EDMUNDDALYAbleSeaman09696Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
WilliamDAVIESPO19654Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
ALFREDDAVIESSignalman23176Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
WilliamDAVISPO Steward18526JAVA-libJavaBatavia
GrahamDeCOURCY-BROWNEEng Rm Artificer 2c20525Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
JohnDEEGANAbleSeaman16381Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
CharlesDELBRIDGE*AbleSeamanS4161Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
AllenDENICOrdinarySeamanF33085A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
SamuelDOBSONAbleSeaman136345A-libTBR-5AHendatai
CecilDOGGETTLeading Stoker21624Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
PAULDONELEYOrdinarySeaman24977Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
VINCENTDOUGLASAbleSeamanB2917Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
VictorDUNCANEng Rm Artificer 2c21589Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan RMTokyo
ROYDUNDONStokerW2173Dunlop-dcdTBR-THDon Rak
GORDONDVORAKStoker23163Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
GeraldELLENOrdinarySeamanH1544Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
AlanELLIOTOrdinarySeamanB2936JAVA-libJava to SINGAChangi
KennethELLIOTTSignalman21785Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
JosephELWOODLeading Stoker23106Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ReginaldFARRINGTONLeading StokerB2212Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
BERNARDFERGUSONStoker22734JAVA-seaJava > Jp TamTamahoko
DouglasFINDLAYAbleSeaman202045A-libTBR-5ANKP hosp
EdwardFIRMINStewardB32235A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
StanleyFOOTESignalmanB1775Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
GeorgeFORSYTHEng Rm Artificer 2c02368Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
DonaldFOWLERCPO Telegraphist12041Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
NormanFULLEROrdinarySeamanF3325Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
RobertGARDINERCookF2870Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
JESSEGARRETTAbleSeamanPM2572Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
WilliamGAYLieutenantofficerJAVA-libJava to Japan (Zg)Sendai
REGINALDGEBHARDTLeading Seaman20055Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
AllanGEEAbleSeaman /Bugler21440Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ALANGEIERWireman24896Dunlop-dcdTBR-TH-DunlopDon Rak
EricGIBBONSOrdinary Telegraphist243815A-libTBR-5Atbr
ATHOLGIBBSAbleSeaman24247Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
WILLIAMGILBYAbleSeamanF3075Dunlop-dcdTBR-THDon Rak
GEORGEGILESChiefStoker13416Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
FrancisGILLANLieutenant EngineerofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ClaranceGLOSSOPAbleSeamanF23745A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
LeslieGOLDINGAbleSeamanS36975A-libTBR-5A to JapanHiroshima
ThomasGOLDSMITHSignalmanW11795A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
CharlesGOODCHAPOrdinarySeamanB3093Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
MarcusGOODWINOrd Artificer 2c20133Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
HerbertGOSDENLeading SeamanPA1660Dunlop-libTBR-THTamarkam
JohnGRANTBandsman14107Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
DavidGRAYOrdinarySeamanF33335A-libTBR-5A to JapanJp
B4-GRIEVELeading Stoker23182Williams-dcdTBR-B4TH / KIA not rcv’d
DavidGRIFFITHSEng Rm Artificer 4c23595Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
NormanGRIFFITHSAbleSeamanB2912Dunlop-libTBR-THTamarkam
ArthurHADLEYLeading  Supply AsstS1692Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
JOHNHANNAFORDAbleSeamanPA691Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
AlfredHANSENStoker23165Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
JohnHARPERLieutenantofficer5A-libTBR-5A to JapanTokyo
SydneyHARPERStoker 2cF3541JAVA-libJava to SINGAChangi
JohnHARRISAbleSeamanJ/X212268Williams-libTBR-B4 to VNSaigon
GEORGEHARRISPOF0670Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
JOHNHARVEYPO20953JAVA-dcdKIA on beachJava not rcv’d
AllanHAWKELeading SeamanPA1661Williams-dcdTBR-B4 to Japan AwaYokohama
FrankHAWKINSComm’d Gunnerofficer5A-libTBR-5A to JapanJp
AlfredHawkins JrCanteen AsstcivilianWilliams-libTBR-B4tbr
ClarenceHAWSELeading Stoker06399Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
GeorgeHEDRICKPO17162Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
CliveHENRYStoker23834Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
ISAACHERMANAbleSeamanF2692Dunlop-dcdTBR-THDon Rak
ThomasHERRINGOrdinarySeamanS58475A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
AlfredHEWITTAbleSeamanF34285A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
JOHNHICKEYChiefShipwright18245Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
RonaldHILLCook22540Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
HaroldHILLAbleSeamanF2738Williams-libTBR-B4ChungKai camp
RonaldHILLSignalman23695Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
JOHNHODGEAbleSeamanPM3504Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
WILLIAMHOGMANPOStoker19356Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
TREVISHOSKINGAbleSeaman23005Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
JohnHOUGHTONAbleSeaman23917Williams-libTBR-B4 > rescued RMrescued by Sealion
JosephHUGHESEng Rm Artificer 1c147985A-libTBR-5ACamp 3
CarlosHUGHESTelegraphist22407Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
EricHURSTAbleSeamanF2281Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
KENNETHIKINAbleSeamanH1048Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
NOELJACKSONLeading Signalman21788Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
WalterJACKSONAbleSeaman19989Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
JACKJACKSONLeading SignalmanPM1783Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
MaxwellJAGGEROrdinarySeamanS5635Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
StanleyJAMESAbleSeamanS32415A-libTBR-5ANKP hosp
JohnJARRETTAbleSeamanW1419Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
RhonsleyJETSONStoker22653Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
AlbertJEWELLLeading  Cook22642Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
FRANKJOHNSONLeading Seaman22047Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
ThomasJohnsonPO21947Williams-dcdTBR-B4 to Japan RMTokyo
WALTERJOHNSTONAbleSeamanF33165A-seaTBR-5A > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
ALFREDJONESLeading Stoker18298Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
FrederickJONESAbleSeaman53805Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
HUGHKEITHLeading  Telegraphist20835Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
ReginaldKELLIEPO Stoker19271Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
HENRYKELLYBandsman19225JAVA-dcdJava to SINGA to BorneoSandakan /not rcv’d
MalcolmKERSTINGAbleSeaman23826Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ArthurKIESEWETTER [Kiesey]Elec Artificer 3c05460Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ERNESTKINGShipwright 3c22124Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
FrederickKIRKHAMPOStoker11745Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
DAVIDKITCHEROrdinarySeamanS5410Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
HarryKNIGHTOrdinarySeaman17467Dunlop-libTBR-TH to JapanHiroshima
AnthonyKUBEOrdinarySeamanH1510Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ErnestKYNVINPlumber 1c10907Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
CliffordLANGFORDAbleSeamanH0952Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ThomasLARKINLeading Seaman20159Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
FrederickLASSLETTChief ElectricianPM1848JAVA-libJava to Japan (Zg)Ohasi
JefferyLATCHStoker225155A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
NoelLAUGHERAbleSeamanB2913Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
DoanldLEARYOrdinarySeamanH1534Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
SOCRATESLIKIARDLeading  Supply Asst22989Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
OswaldLOMASOrdinarySeamanPM34295A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
RalphLOWELt Cdr Pay MasterofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
WILLIAMLOWISAbleSeaman24884Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
LeslieLUFFAbleSeaman22286Williams-libTBR-B4ChungKai camp
ARTHURLUNDOrdinarySeamanF3396Dunlop-dcdTBR-THDon Rak
NevilleLYONSComm’d Instructorofficer5A-libTBR-5Atbr
GEORGEMacDONALDTelegraphistPA1542Dunlop-dcdTBR-THDon Rak
LINDSAYMACPHERSONAbleSeaman23824Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
RICHARDMAHERAbleSeamanS1984Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
PatrickMAJORAbleSeamanPM3870Williams-dcdTBR-B4 to Japan RMTokyo
HUGHMALLEYLeading  Cook19993Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
DavidMANNINGOrdinarySeamanPM3925Williams-libTBR-B4Petchburi
JackMANTTANAbleSeamanB2669Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
JACKMARSHALLStoker 2cH1683Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
VERNONMARTINStokerW2255Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
JohnMARTINSub LtofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
CLAUDEMASLEMStoker23037JAVA-dcdDOW burnsJava not rcv’d
FrederickMASONStoker 2cW2128Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
JOHNMATHEWEng Rm Artificer 4cH1678Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
JamesMATHIESONChaplainofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
SydneyMATSENOrdinarySeaman242515A-libTBR-5A to Japan RMTokyo
WILLIAMMcCALLAbleSeamanF3455Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
RobertMcCARREYAbleSeamanF2273Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
RichardMcCONNELLPO16393Williams-dcdTBR-B4 to Japan RMYokohama
GEORGEMcCREDIEStoker 2cS54565A-dcdDOW > BurmaThanbyuzayat
WALTERMcDONNELLStoker23097Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
AllenMcDONOUGHPilotX-4070085A-libTBR-5Aubon
FRANCISMcGOVERN*AbleSeamanS3478Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan RMTokyo
BrianMcHUGHWireman24513Dunlop-libTBR-THTamarkam
DonaldMcLEANSteward229575A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
JohnMcMAHONChPOStores17649Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
DonaldMcNABWriterF2729JAVA-libJavaBatavia
JackMcQUADEPOStoker /SGT MAJ22449Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
NEVILLEMcWILLIAMLieutenantofficerJAVA-dcdDOW at seaJava not rcv’d
HaroldMEEAbleSeamanPM2539Dunlop-libTBR-THTamarkam
CEDRICMELLISHChief Eng Rm Artificer20247JAVA-seaJava > Jp TamTamahoko
JamesMILLERICKStokerW1574Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
KeithMILLSAbleSeamanS4074Williams-dcdTBR-B4 to Japan RMTokyo
WILLIAMMILNEPO13959Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
JohnMINIKENAbleSeamanJ8428JAVA-libJava to SINGAChangi
AndrewMITCHELLSickBerth AttdPA19455A-libTBR-5AHendatai
ThomasMOONEYAbleSeaman065135A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
SelwynMOOREAbleSeamanH1142Williams-libTBR-B4camp # 10
LouisMOORECPO Cook06758Williams-libTBR-B4 to SINGAChangi
AlanMORRISOrdinarySeamanPA1067/2076Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
GeorgeMORRISSAbleSeaman23670JAVA-dcdJava to SINGA to BorneoSandakan
MarmadukeMOUNTAbleSeaman11430Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
RobertMUIRHEADAbleSeaman129175A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
LloydMUNROStoker 3cS5186Williams-libTBR-B4 > rescued RMrescued by Barb
AlecMURPHYAbleSeaman232865A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
HerbertMYNARDStoker 2cW2178JAVA-libJavaBatavia
HARRYNAGLEAbleSeamanF3060Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
FRANKNASHLeading Seaman20027Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
LIONELNEALAbleSeaman24402Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
PETERNELSONTelegraphistSV705A-dcdTBR-5AThanbyuzayat
RONALDNICHOLLSAbleSeaman20910Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
ErnestNOBLELeading  SickBay AttPM22055A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
LionelNORLEYEng Rm Artificer 4c23551Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
RONALDO’BRIENAbleSeaman21470Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
MERVILO’DONOGHUEOrdinarySeamanF3472Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
CHRISTOPHERO’NEALEAbleSeamanS3393Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
GeorgeOSGOODOrdinarySeaman242875A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
PhilippOWENLt CdrPay MasterofficerJAVA-libJava to Japan (Zg)Sendai
ERNESTOWENAbleSeamanPM1704JAVA-dcdKIA on JavaBatavia
FrederickPARKEStokerW12185A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
AlbertPARKERLeading Wireman24521JAVA-libJava to Japan (Zg)Sendai
AlbertPARKESAbleSeaman22077Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
WilliamPARKINBandsman24799Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
RaymondPARKINPO19127Dunlop-libTBR-TH to JapanHiroshima
JOHNPARKSAbleSeaman19076Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
PercivalPARTINGTON*OrdinarySeaman21938Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
HENRYPARTRIDGEAbleSeamanS3244Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
DallasPASCOEStokerS4256Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
CharlesPEARCELeading SeamanS4385Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
VincentPEGLEROrd Artificer 3c21332Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
KeithPENGILLYAbleSeamanPA2015Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
CHARLESPETHEBRIDGEStokerW2164Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
HUGHPOHLOrdinarySeamanPM3758Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
ThomasPOLLARDMechanician 2c17873JAVA-libJavaBatavia
WILLIAMPRICETelegraphist23174Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
NORMANPROCTORAbleSeaman22062Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
JackRALSTONPO Telegraphist22058Williams-libTBR-B4Camp 1
UrbanRATLIFFPO Telegraphist19354Williams-libTBR-B4 to JapanFukuoka
FrederickRAWSONAbleSeamanS3282Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
RonaldREESPO23693Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
GordonREIDAbleSeamanPA1855Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
GeorgeREIVEPO18292Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
FRANKRITCHIEAbleSeamanS4094Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
DESMONDRIXTelegraphistSV69Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
ThomasROBBINSSub LtofficerJAVA-libJava to Japan (Zg)Sendai
WilliamROBERTSSub LtofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4Yokohama
GriffithROBERTSOrdinarySeaman24327Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
STANLEYROBERTSLeading Seaman20048JAVA-dcdJavaBatavia
ErnestROBINSONPOStoker14545Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
JohnROCKEYPOWriter19776JAVA-libJavaBatavia
JosephROHANLeading  TelegraphistSV5###Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
ALEXANDERROSEVEARStoker23025Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
GeorgeROSSComm’d Gunnerofficer5A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
RobertROWEAbleSeamanF2542Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
RICHARDRYAN*AbleSeaman21218Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
ValentineSAVAGEStoker215145A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
MERVYNSCOTTAsst CookS5052Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
WalterSHARPLeading Stoker20538Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
HerbetSIMONSStokerW15395A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
FrederickSKEELSAbleSeamanF34015A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
WILLIAMSLATTERYStoker24925Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
RAYMONDSMITHAbleSeamanB2832Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
LeonardSMITHComm’d GunnerofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4tbr
ROBERTSMITHSteward212385A-dcdDOW > BurmaThanbyuzayat
DONALDSMITHEng Rm Artificer 4c23968JAVA-dcdDOW on JavaBatavia
RonaldSPARKSBandsman230635A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
FrederickSPICERLeading  Telegraphist21660Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
LesterSTAYTAbleSeaman23916Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
SamuelSTENINGLieutenantSurgeonofficerJAVA-libJava to Japan (Zg)Sendai
CECILSTOKESStoker 2cB3106Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
BruceSTRANGEOrdinarySeamanS58045A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
AtholSTUARTAbleSeamanPM3312Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
LeonardSYMESEng Rm Artificer 4cPA2253Williams-libTBR-B4Meiloe
CYRILTALBOTLeading Seaman18541Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
JohnTANNERAbleSeamanF3006Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
FREDERICKTAYLORAbleSeaman21755Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
RaphaelTAYLOROrdinarySeamanPM3375Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
WilliamTCHANOrdinarySeaman03311JAVA-libJavaBatavia
JohnTHODELieutenantofficerJAVA-libJavaBatavia
AlfredTHOMASPO Butcher13891Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan RMTokyo
AlfredTHOMPSONOrdinarySeamanPM37855A-libTBR-5ACamp 3
AllanTHOMPSONLeading Stoker22447Williams-libTBR-B4 to Japan AwaFukuoka
ERICTHOMPSONAbleSeaman19866Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
CharlesTHOMSONPOF2514Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
GeorgeTIBBITSAbleSeamanB2931Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
ErnestToeLeading  Aircraftman40613Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
ErnestTOOVEYAbleSeamanB2965Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
NormanTOULMINStoker 2cW21995A-libTBR-5A to Japan AwaFukuoka
ROBERTTRIMBLEAbleSeamanW1928Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
JOHNTURNBULLPOStoker20401Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
RoyTURNERSickBerth AttdS4878JAVA-libJavaBatavia
Edward “Jan”TYRRELLPO20185Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
GeorgeVANSELOWBandsman23138JAVA-libJava to SINGA to SumatraSumatra
HENRYVIVIANAbleSeaman22163JAVA-dcdDOW on JavaBatavia
CecilVOWLESWO Electrician20097JAVA-libJava to Japan (Zg)Hakodate
RonaldWALHOUSEStoker 2cW1963Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
KennethWALLACELeading  Telegraphist21294Sumatra-libSumatraSumatra
JamesWARDOrdinarySeamanF33725A-libTBR-5A(Humbo)
GordonWEBSTERAbleSeamanS3853Williams-libTBR-B4NKP hosp
ErnestWEETMANSignalman23503Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
JohnWHITEAbleSeaman319055A-libTBR-5Atbr
NormanWHITESub LtofficerJAVA-libJavaBatavia
HAROLDWILKINSONAbleSeamanF3153Williams-dcdTBR-B4Don Rak
REXWILLIAMSAbleSeamanPA1776Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
LeonWILLIAMSAbleSeamanH1449Williams-libTBR-B4tbr
FrankWILLIAMSStoker19394Williams-libTBR-B4(Humbo)
EdwinWILLIAMSAbleSeamanH1456Williams-libTBR-B4Tamarkam
JackWILLISYoeman of Signals19311JAVA-libJavaBatavia
GEOFFREYWILLISAbleSeaman21894Williams-dcdTBR-B4Thanbyuzayat
LESLIEWILSONAbleSeamanS4360Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
CLIFFORDWINNETTAbleSeaman24382Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru
BrianWOODHEADOrdinarySeamanS5134Williams-libTBR-B4 to JapanHonshu #4
JOHNWOODHEADStokerW20945A-dcdTBR-5AThanbyuzayat
ClaudeWOODLEYWO SupplyofficerWilliams-libTBR-B4tbr
CyrilWOODMANAbleSeaman23663JAVA-libJavaBatavia
JohnWOODSAbleSeamanS4985Williams-libTBR-B4Tamarkam
CharlesWRAYWireman2418175A-libTBR-5ATamarkam
FREDERICKWRIGHTSick Berth Attd 2cS5523Williams-seaTBR-B4 > Jp RMRakuyo Maru

This is a work in progress, I’d appreciate any additions or corrections. I am working with on-line records and mentions in various books. The column in the above TABLE marked as CAMP is thought to be the place of liberation or burial for the deceased; Jp and tbr are used when the actual camp could not be determined. Humbo is the word for HQ; this places the POW as having worked the TBR but does not indicate the camp where he was liberated from.

BR AUS D US

No3 Group14-Oct-42Thailand791xxx791
Williams Force16-Oct-42Burmax14971111901800

In OCT 42, 7 PERTH crewmen were selected as part of the ‘technicians’ group (aka the Zeigler Grp for the US POWs) and sent to various camps in Japan.

WilliamGAYLieutenantofficer
FrederickLASSLETTChief ElectricianPM1848
PhilippOWENLt CdrPay Masterofficer
AlbertPARKERLeading Wireman24521
ThomasROBBINSSub Ltofficer
SamuelSTENINGLieutenantSurgeonofficer
CecilVOWLESWO Electrician20097

In her book CRUEL CONFLICT Kathryn Spurling details that 15 PERTH men were eventually dispatched to Thailand as part of the ‘Dunlop 1000’ who worked near Hintok.

These were:

ROBERTCOSTINAbleSeamanB2339POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
ALFREDCOYNEPO17663POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
ROYDUNDONStokerW2173POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
ALANGEIERWireman24896POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
WILLIAMGILBYAbleSeamanF3075POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
HerbertGOSDENLeadingSeamanPA1660POW-libTBR-TH-Dunlop
NormanGRIFFITHSAbleSeamanB2912POW-libTBR-TH-Dunlop
ISAACHERMANAbleSeamanF2692POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
ARTHURLUNDOrdinarySeamanF3396POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
GEORGEMacDONALDTelegraphistPA1542POW-dcdTBR-TH-Dunlop
BrianMcHUGHWireman24513POW-libTBR-TH-Dunlop
HaroldMEEAbleSeamanPM2539POW-libTBR-TH-Dunlop
HORACEABBOTTPO18818POW-libTBR-TH-Dunlop to Japan
HarryKNIGHTOrdinarySeaman17467POW-libTBR-TH-Dunlop to Japan
RaymondPARKINPO19127POW-libTBR-TH-Dunlop to Japan

Proving that Thailand was a more horrendous experience, half of then died there; 7 in 1943 while working the TBR and Wireman Alan Greier in 1944 while undergoing amputation of his leg. The latter three listed above were later trans-shipped to Japan and were liberated from the Hiroshima camp.

Another Crew list is presented at: https://www.hmasperth1memorial.com.au

27.7 the ordinals

Ordinals refer to the order (first, second, final) in which the deaths of crewmen occurred:

1-Mar-19421DOW at seaNEVILLEMcWILLIAMLieutenant
1-Mar-19422DOW JavaGEORGEBRETHERTONLeading Seaman
2-Mar-19421KIA JavaJOHNHARVEYPO
2-Mar-19423DOW CLAUDEMASLEMStoker
2-Mar-19424DOWJOHNCOCHRANEAbleSeaman
3-Mar-19425DOWHENRYVIVIANAbleSeaman
4-Mar-19426DOWDONALDSMITHEng Rm Artificer 4c
31-Mar-19421POW death Java [1]FRANKCADGEPO Cook
14-Apr-19422POW-KIAERNESTOWENAbleSeaman
15-Jan-19431POW-KIA >5A [2]GEORGEMcCREDIEStoker 2c
15-Jan-19432POW-KIA >5AROBERTSMITHSteward
1-Mar-19431Wm death [3]CECILSTOKESStoker 2c
8-Jun-19431Wm Spdo deathERICTHOMPSONAbleSeaman
19-Jul-194315A Spdo deathPETERNELSONTelegraphist
19-Jul-19431TH Spdo deathROBERTCOSTINAbleSeaman
20-Sep-19438final TH Spdo deathWILLIAMGILBYAbleSeaman
8-Oct-19438final 5A Spdo deathWILLIAMBEVANAbleSeaman
15-Oct-19438final Wm Spdo deathGEORGEHARRISPO
30-Jan-19449final TH deathALANGEIERWireman
24-Jun-19441Java at sea >Tam [4]BERNARDFERGUSONStoker
24-Jun-19442Java at sea >Tam [4]CEDRICMELLISHChief Eng Rm Artificer
14-Sep-19441DOW  at sea > RMErnestToeLeading  Aircraftman
8-Dec-19441Wm TBR KIA [5]RONALDGRIEVELeading Stoker
13-Dec-19442Wm TBR KIA [5]KENNETHIKINAbleSeaman
2-Jan-19459final 5A deathMALCOLMBLACKStoker
18-Jan-19451Wm Jp deathAllanHAWKELeading Seaman
20-Jan-19451Borneo deathHENRYKELLYBandsman
22-Jan-194515A Jp deathEricBONDAbleSeaman
29-May-19452Borneo deathGeorgeMORRISSAbleSeaman
11-Jun-19459final TBR death WmJACKJACKSONLeading Signalman
13-Jul-19451Wm KIA Jp [6]ThomasJohnsonPO
13-Jul-19452Wm KIA Jp [6]PatrickMAJORAbleSeaman
13-Jul-19453Wm KIA Jp [6]KeithMILLSAbleSeaman
16-Aug-194599final death Java [7]STANLEYROBERTSLeading Seaman

[1] Only 1 POW death occured on Java before the various Groups departed

[2] Two were KIA in the bombing of the Moji Maru

[3] One TBR death occurred prior to the Speedo period

[4] Two died in the sinking of the Tamahoko

[5] Two died during bombing of the Kanchanaburi camp

[6] Three died during bombing of Tokyo

[7] The final PERTH death occurred on Java 1 day after the official surrender date

27.8a Their journey

Although in many respects the saga of the PERTH crew parallels that of the HOUSTON, there are mentionable differences. First is that many more of the Perth crew were documented to have been wounded upon entering the water and many more survived to become POWs. Seemingly, most of the wounded HOUSTON crewmen did not survive to reach the shore. The only man documented to have serious wounds was Lt(jg) Francis WEILER who died of wounds/burns on 26 MAR 42. At least six Perth crewmen died on the beach but prior to becoming POWs. Ship’s surgeon Samuel Stening, himself wounded, is described in the book CRUEL CONFLICT as struggling to treat 14 other men who were taken as POWs while suffering from wounds. To his credit, he and all the others survived the war.

Almost alll of the HOUSTON crew were taken as POWs within hours (12-18) of the sinking, with the notable exception of ship’s doctor CMDR William EPSTEIN. He is noted to have been plucked from the water by a PERTH lifeboat. The HOUSTON had no lifeboats per se. What it had were wood and cork rafts tethered to the side of the ship. These were cut loose then the men dove in and swam to them. The PERTH lifeboats actually had sails to assist in navigation. The rafts had no such thing and were at the mercy of the currents. Two of the PERTH lifeboats had memorable journeys. In short, one sailed west all the way to Sumatra where 10 men were taken captive. Another survived at sea – coming ashore in the day to seek food and water – for two weeks sailing south through the Strait and over to the port of Tjilatjap only to find the Japanese had already captured that port!

Apparently, the PERTH was somewhat farther west than the HOUSTON. The HOUSTON crew largely came ashore in Bantam Bay, while many of the PERTH crew made landfall on the far western tip of the island. Unfortunately, some of them met with less than friendly locals. One man, Petty Officer John HARVEY was beheaded in one of these clashes and Seaman Ernest OWEN was so badly beaten that he died a few days later.

Eventually, most of the PERTH and HOUSTON POWs were gathered in either the city jail or a theater in Serang. They were later transferred to the Bicycle Camp in Batavia.

=================

A daughter of a PERTH crewman asked if I could tell her where her father had worked. I answered with the following:

While I can’t tell you precisely which camps your dad worked at, I can describe the journey in generalities. He was assigned to the largest group of PERTH POWs known as the Williams Group. They also had the most complicated POW experience. That group was later part of a group termed the Mobile Force #1, which means that they moved up and down the line in Burma where ever they were needed. Not all men underwent the same journey. The groups would sometimes be divided and then rejoined later.

The Williams group started in the lowlands of Burma, near Thanbyuzayat. This is where the US Fitzsimmons Grp spent the majority of their TBR time. They arrived in Burma in late OCT 1942. In May 1943, during the Speedo period, they moved into the highlands area. This is the time and place of the most TBR deaths in Burma.

After the completion of the Railway in Oct 43, most of the Burma-side POWs were moved into Thailand where they worked to cut wood for fuel for the trains. They weren’t consolidated to Kanchanaburi until MAR 44. There, they would have generally rested and recuperated from the TBR ordeal.

In JUN 44, POWs from Kanchanaburi began to be moved to Japan. Almost all went first to Singapore by rail then were placed on board the Hellships for Japan. It is not clear when the PERTH crewman went to Singapore. We only know that the Rakuyo Maru was sunk on 13 SEP with the loss of 30 PERTH crewmen; your dad among them.

27.8b Group 5A

For the US POWs, Grp5A led by LTC Tharp was the largest that worked the TBR, but only about 50 PERTH crewmen were in that group. They arrived in Burma in JAN 43 after narrowly avoiding disaster when their Hellship from Malaya was bombed [1]. Once in Burma, they were immediately moved passed the Williams group and began work in the highlands [see Section 8.11]. Their primary job was bridge construction. In those highlands, the rivers ran north to south across the path of the TBR. This required the construction of some of the largest bridges on th TBR. Not only were they in the most inhospitable region of the TBR, but it was monsoon season. The Tharp group suffered heavy losses during the Speedo period. [see Section 7.1]. Fortunately, the PERTH crew fared somewhat better; losing only 5 of 54 men.

Following the completion of the TBR, 5A was shifted into Thailand to work as wood cutters. In FEB 44, they seemingly passed thru the ChungKai camp for a short period and then on to Kanchanaburi. In DEC 44, 15 of them were herded aboard the Hellship Awa for the 11 day journey to the coal mines in Fukuoka Japan. During their time there, 1 crewman persished. The majority were liberated from camps in Thailand.

[1] Two Perth POWs were KIA in that bombing and were buried in Moulmein. Stoker 2c GEORGE McCREDIE and Steward ROBERT SMITH

27.8c The Dunlop Group

In Sep 43, the Group led by LtCol (Dr) Dunlop arrived at the Hintok area. This Group had been cobbled togther from men in Singapore. It included only 15 PERTH crewmen. Unfortunaltely, 7 of those died in just a few weeks; one more died after their consolidation to Kanchanaburi. Not much more is documented about this small group.

27.9 ANZAC Day 2022

On Apr 25th 2022, I visited the Kanchanaburi CWGC cemetery at Don Rak and photographed the 18 graves located there. They are listed and shown herein alphabetically:

SNrateFNMN1MN2LN
 W0778StokerMALCOLMDONALD BLACK
 9597Petty Officer CookFREDERICKDONALD CLARK
 B2339Able SeamanROBERT  COSTIN
 21820Leading SeamanWILLIAMROSS COWDROY
 17663Petty OfficerALFREDJAMESEDWARDCOYNE
 W2173StokerROY  DUNDON
 24896WiremanALANKEITH GEIER
 F3075Able SeamanWILLIAMHARVEYLEONARDGILBY
 F2692Able SeamanISAAC  HERMAN
 1048Able SeamanKENNETHWILLIAM IKIN
 PM1783Leading SignalmanJACK  JACKSON
 F3396Ordinary SeamanARTHURERNEST LUND
 PA1542TelegraphistGEORGENEILALEXANDERMacDONALD
 F3472Ordinary SeamanMERVILFRANCIS O’DONOGHUE
 S3393Able SeamanCHRISTOPHERCHARLES O’NEALE
 PM3758Ordinary SeamanHUGHGEORGE POHL
 22062Able SeamanNORMANWALTER PROCTOR
 F3153Able SeamanHAROLD  WILKINSON

There are also 38 of the crew buried at the Thanbyuzayat CWCG cemetery in Burma.

27.10 Key dates Timeline

Key datesfor the US and AUS POWs
Mar-42captured on Java / Sumatra
May-42consolidated at Bicycle Camp Batavia
Oct-42first grp of ‘technicians depart for Japan
Oct-42Fitzsimmons & Williams groups depart Burma via Singapore
Oct-42larger Grp 5 under Tharp depart for Singapore
Nov-42Fitzsimmons & Williams groups arrive Burma
Jan-43Grp 5 arrives at Burma highlands
May-43beginning of Speedo period; most TBR deaths occur
Jun-43Hellfire Pass completed by largely AUS force
Aug-43highest overall death toll of 1643 in this month
Sep-43200 F-Force at Changaraya KILO 300 die of cholera
Sep-43Dunlop Grp to Hintok
Oct-43completion of the TBR
Jan-44Burma sector POWs begin move to KAN
Mar-44IJA began to select men to tfx to Japan and Saigon
Mar-44Williams Force to KAN; following B-24 attack on 105 Camp
May-44all remaining US moved to KAN camp #1
Jun-44Tamahoko sunk by the USS Tang with loss of 17 US; 2 US survivors; 2 PERTH POWs lost
Aug-44sick moved to Nakorn Pathom
Sep-44Junyo Maru sunk off Sumatra (5600 KIA) by HMS Tradewind
Sep-445 Perth crew rescued by US subs
Dec-44Allies bomb Kui Yae (186Km in TH); 1 PERTH POW KIA
Dec-441 PERTH POW KIA in bombing raid at KAN
Jan-45many POWs moved from KAN to other camps
Jun-45many officers moved to Nakorn Nayok
Jul-453 PERTH POWs KIA in bombing of Tokyo
Aug-45LIBERATION
Sep-35AUS teams begin recovery of POW remains
Sep-45British & AUS POWs flown to Rangoon; US to Calcutta
Oct-45AUS POWs begin to arrive home
1948official opening of the 3 CWGC cememteries: Than has ### AUS graves with #### at Don Rak [1]
1948Thanbyuzayat has 38 PERTH graves; Don Rak 18
1948all US remains were re-patriated

[1] I’m still searching for these figures.

27.11

new memorial rises

Eighty years after the loss, a new memorial to the crew is taking shape in Perth.

https://www.hmasperth1memorial.com.au/

HMAS-Perth-booklet-info

Another missed opportunity to actually tell the story versus playing background music:

27.12 An Account of the Rakuyo Maru sinking and rescue of POWs

This most excellent account of the events leading up tp and following the sinking of the ROKUYO MARU was posted to the HMAS PERTH MEMORIAL Facebook page by Colin A Bancroft who has granted pemission to have it included here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.hmasperth1memorial.com.au/

Able Seaman Bob Collins was captured in March 1942 after the sinking of HMAS Perth and USS Houston at the Battle of Sunda Strait. After working on the Burma-Siam Railway, Collins was sent to Indo- China, then Singapore and was finally shipped to Japan on the RAKUYO MARU in September 1944. The entire convoy was sunk by United States submarines.

Hereis his accounts of events:

THE DAY CAME when we were moved back to our old camp in Singapore, and told that we were to be prepared to move down to the docks to board ship for Japan. As we approached the docks, the leading file of Australians turned right and boarded the Rakuyo Maru. I later learnt the Japs wanted us to board the President Harding, a captured American ship of the President line, but our boys weren’t having any. The Rakuyo Maru was bigger than the President ship.

The date was 1st September 1944.

We cursed and sweated at anchor in Singapore Harbour for three days. On 3rd September we sailed, thankful to get some sort of breeze from a ship under way. ‘Stowed thick and lousy’ is an old Navy saying, and it was no exception in this ship. There were roughly 1,300 men in this ship, made up of Australians and British. President Harding carried 800 British prisoners. They were battened down but it was impossible to batten us down, although it was tried several times without success. Among my travelling companions was Sergeant Noel Day, RAAF, who had worked with me on the Burma Siam Railway.

Six days out of Singapore we were attacked by a pack of American submarines operating out of Saipan. I have often read communiques which stated that ‘Units of the United States Navy engaged an enemy convoy off so and so. US Navy losses were nil. The entire convoy was sunk.‘ It was not that I didn’t believe them, but they seemed to be too smug or something, I don’t know. Now I knew.To the best of my knowledge, every ship in our convoy was sunk in two attacks by five submarines. Rakuyo Maru fired a few rounds at shadows, and then after the second torpedo had struck home, the crew abandoned ship. All of our chaps got into the water, some on ancient rafts that were practically useless except for morale value, and others with kapok life jackets. Unfortunately, there were not enough of these to go round. This was the second time in my young life that I had been sunk, so I had a few clues. ‘Keep your hats on, make sure you have your water bottles and don’t go over the side until I give the word‘, I said to two Army mates who were sleeping with me on deck.

Grabbing one of the tiny wooden floats and giving my mates a yell, the three of us jumped. So far so good. Now to pull away from a blazing tanker that was on fire from stern to stern just off our port quarter. Getting out of her way, we drifted away from our ship. I felt it was a pity to abandon her so prematurely, when she was holed fore and aft.

When I made this suggestion to an Army Captain, I was threatened with a court martial if I did not obey his orders and abandon. Later some returned to the ship ‘to organise something‘. But I said ‘No‘, when they asked me, because I considered the distance too far to swim. This was the last we saw of them.

At first morale was high but as the days passed our numbers became fewer. I was still in a small party of the originals with whom I had left Singapore. Things were getting desperate. A Jap merchant vessel was sighted bearing down on us during the late afternoon of the third day and our hopes rose accordingly. ‘About time that bloody ship got here to pick us up‘. However, to our dismay it turned away. I watched it as long as it was still visible, wishfully thinking that it was bound to turn back any minute. It did not and my thoughts sent it to the bottom with an American torpedo in its guts.

During the night several of my mates died. They were there one minute, and the moment you seemed to take your eye off them, they were gone. Morning brought a pretty desolate scene. There was about twenty of us left. There was no talking, just a mumble from someone in the last stages of delirium, and in all a very dejected bunch, when along comes a chap on a ship’s hatch board, about eight feet long and two foot six inches wide.

There was a mild skirmish to get on his ‘raft’, but he held off everyone. Sergeant Noel Day calmly surveyed the bunch of hopeful faces pointed in his direction and out of his Army and Air Force mates in the crowd, said ‘I’ll take Bob Collins‘. Me of all people. I couldn’t understand it.

The joy of sitting in the water and not hanging in it by your chin, suspended by your kapok lifejacket, is best appreciated if tried for some time. We picked up a piece of ship’s lifeboat, probably one of the strakes, and I scratched on it with a pencil, ‘Left to perish by the Japs, September 12th 1944‘. Also our names and addresses with some forlorn hope that some day someone might pick it up, and part of the story of what happened to about 600 AIF and a few sailors and airmen might be known.

Some time later I was paddling the raft, when Noel Day said, ‘You’re a Navy man Bob. What kind of ship is that?‘ ‘Submarine‘, I replied, not really interested. We had been in the water five days now, and I think my resistance was a little low. Noel shouted a few Australian adjectives at the man topsides on the submarine and that dispensed any ideas they had that we were Japanese.

Five days later we were landed at Saipan, and tucked into cots by nurses of the 148th General Hospital, who were also attending marines of the Second Division, who had hit the beach head a short time before.

Months later, back in Sydney, I looked Noel Day up and over a middy asked him ‘Why on earth did you pick me up, when you had all your other mates to choose from?‘ He replied, ‘Do you remember the dollar you loaned me to buy those boots? I may not have been here if I hadn’t bought those boots. I never forgot that, the day you loaned me that dollar. That’s why I picked you up.‘

Author Collins, R.A.C., Able Seaman, RAN

Published in December 1975 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

********

Editors Note:

The US submarine, Queenfish, rescued a total of four Perth survivors – AB Bob Collins, AB Arthur Bancroft, AB Jack Houghton and Stoker L. Munro. After the survivors had been questioned by Commander C.R. Reid, RAN, it was possible to publish the first account of the loss of HMAS Perth on 1st March 1942.

The other POWs rescued were British.

********

Further Information:

USS Sealion II (SS- 315) sank the Rakuyo Maru, a 477-foot Japanese-built passenger-cargo vessel carrying a load of raw rubber and, unknown to the crews of the submarine wolf pack pursuing her convoy, over 1300 Allied prisoners of war. Two of Sealion’s torpedoes hit the POW ship, one amidships and one in the bow. It took 12 hours for Rakuyo Maru to sink, which allowed the surviving POWs some time to make rafts and search the doomed ship for food and water. The Japanese guards had left the ship immediately after the attack using most of the lifeboats.

Four days later, USS Pampanito (SS-383) found two men on a makeshift raft. Pampanito’s log recorded: 1634 Hours – “The men were covered with oil and filth and we could not make them out…. They were shouting but we couldn’t understand what they were saying, except made out words ‘Pick us up please.’ Called rescue party on deck and took them off the raft. There were about fifteen (15) British and Australian Prisoner of War survivors on this raft from a ship sunk the night of September 11-12 1944. We learned they were enroute from Singapore to Formosa and that there were over thirteen hundred on the sunken ship.” Pampanito rescued as many as she could and radioed for help. Queenfish and USS Barb (SS-220) arrived at 0530 Hours on September 17th to begin their search for rafts among the floating debris. Just after 1300 they located several rafts and began to pick up the few men still alive. They only had a few hours to search before a typhoon moved in, sealing the fate of those survivors not picked up in time. Before the storm hit, Queenfish found 18 men, and Barb found 14.

The boats headed on to Saipan after a final search following the storm revealed no further survivors.

Of the 1,318 POWs on the Rakuyo Maru sunk by Sealion, 159 had been rescued by the four submarines: 73 on Pampanito, 54 on Sealion, and the 32 found by Queenfish and Barb. It was later learned that the Japanese had rescued 136 for a total of 295 survivors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka_G0LTj-wU

*******

THE DAY CAME when we were moved back to our old camp in Singapore, and told that we were to be prepared to move down to the docks to board ship for Japan. As we approached the docks, the leading file of Australians turned right and boarded the Rakuyo Maru. I later learnt the Japs wanted us to board the President Harding, a captured American ship of the President line, but our boys weren’t having any. The Rakuyo Maru was bigger than the President ship. The date was 1st September 1944.

We cursed and sweated at anchor in Singapore Harbour for three days. On 3rd September we sailed, thankful to get some sort of breeze from a ship under way. ‘Stowed thick and lousy‘ is an old Navy saying, and it was no exception in this ship. There were roughly 1,300 men in this ship, made up of Australians and British. President Harding carried 800 British prisoners. They were battened down but it was impossible to batten us down, although it was tried several times without success. Among my travelling companions was Sergeant Noel Day, RAAF, who had worked with me on the Burma Siam Railway.

Six days out of Singapore we were attacked by a pack of American submarines operating out of Saipan. I have often read communiques which stated that ‘Units of the United States Navy engaged an enemy convoy off so and so. US Navy losses were nil. The entire convoy was sunk. It was not that I didn’t believe them, but they seemed to be too smug or something, I don’t know. Now I knew. To the best of my knowledge, every ship in our convoy was sunk in two attacks by five submarines. Rakuyo Maru fired a few rounds at shadows, and then after the second torpedo had struck home, the crew abandoned ship. All of our chaps got into the water, some on ancient rafts that were practically useless except for morale value, and others with kapok life jackets. Unfortunately, there were not enough of these to go round. This was the second time in my young life that I had been sunk, so I had a few clues. ‘Keep your hats on, make sure you have your water bottles and don’t go over the side until I give the word‘, I said to two Army mates who were sleeping with me on deck.

Grabbing one of the tiny wooden floats and giving my mates a yell, the three of us jumped. So far so good. Now to pull away from a blazing tanker that was on fire from stern to stern just off our port quarter. Getting out of her way, we drifted away from our ship. I felt it was a pity to abandon her so prematurely, when she was holed fore and aft.

When I made this suggestion to an Army Captain, I was threatened with a court martial if I did not obey his orders and abandon. Later some returned to the ship ‘to organise something‘. But I said ‘No‘, when they asked me, because I considered the distance too far to swim. This was the last we saw of them.

At first morale was high but as the days passed our numbers became fewer. I was still in a small party of the originals with whom I had left Singapore. Things were getting desperate. A Jap merchant vessel was sighted bearing down on us during the late afternoon of the third day and our hopes rose accordingly. ‘About time that bloody ship got here to pick us up‘. However, to our dismay it turned away. I watched it as long as it was still visible, wishfully thinking that it was bound to turn back any minute. It did not and my thoughts sent it to the bottom with an American torpedo in its guts.

During the night several of my mates died. They were there one minute, and the moment you seemed to take your eye off them, they were gone. Morning brought a pretty desolate scene. There was about twenty of us left. There was no talking, just a mumble from someone in the last stages of delirium, and in all a very dejected bunch, when along comes a chap on a ship’s hatch board, about eight feet long and two foot six inches wide.

There was a mild skirmish to get on his ‘raft’, but he held off everyone. Sergeant Noel Day calmly surveyed the bunch of hopeful faces pointed in his direction and out of his Army and Air Force mates in the crowd, said ‘I’ll take Bob Collins‘. Me of all people. I couldn’t understand it.

The joy of sitting in the water and not hanging in it by your chin, suspended by your kapok lifejacket, is best appreciated if tried for some time. We picked up a piece of ship’s lifeboat, probably one of the strakes, and I scratched on it with a pencil, ‘Left to perish by the Japs, September 12th 1944‘. Also our names and addresses with some forlorn hope that some day someone might pick it up, and part of the story of what happened to about 600 AIF and a few sailors and airmen might be known.

Some time later I was paddling the raft, when Noel Day said, ‘You’re a Navy man Bob. What kind of ship is that?‘ ‘Submarine‘, I replied, not really interested. We had been in the water five days now, and I think my resistance was a little low. Noel shouted a few Australian adjectives at the man topsides on the submarine and that dispensed any ideas they had that we were Japanese.

Five days later we were landed at Saipan, and tucked into cots by nurses of the 148th General Hospital, who were also attending marines of the Second Division, who had hit the beach head a short time before.

Months later, back in Sydney, I looked Noel Day up and over a middy asked him ‘Why on earth did you pick me up, when you had all your other mates to choose from?‘ He replied, ‘Do you remember the dollar you loaned me to buy those boots? I may not have been here if I hadn’t bought those boots. I never forgot that, the day you loaned me that dollar. That’s why I picked you up.‘

Author Collins, R.A.C., Able Seaman, RAN

Published in December 1975 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

Editors Note:

Further Information:

USS Sealion II (SS- 315) sank the Rakuyo Maru, a 477-foot Japanese-built passenger-cargo vessel carrying a load of raw rubber and, unknown to the crews of the submarine wolf pack pursuing her convoy, over 1300 Allied prisoners of war. Two of Sealion’s torpedoes hit the POW ship, one amidships and one in the bow. It took 12 hours for Rakuyo Maru to sink, which allowed the surviving POWs some time to make rafts and search the doomed ship for food and water. The Japanese guards had left the ship immediately after the attack using most of the lifeboats.

Four days later, USS Pampanito (SS-383) found two men on a makeshift raft. Pampanito’s log recorded: 1634 Hours – “The men were covered with oil and filth and we could not make them out…. They were shouting but we couldn’t understand what they were saying, except made out words ‘Pick us up please.’ Called rescue party on deck and took them off the raft. There were about fifteen (15) British and Australian Prisoner of War survivors on this raft from a ship sunk the night of September 11-12 1944. We learned they were enroute from Singapore to Formosa and that there were over thirteen hundred on the sunken ship.” Pampanito rescued as many as she could and radioed for help. Queenfish and USS Barb (SS-220) arrived at 0530 Hours on September 17th to begin their search for rafts among the floating debris. Just after 1300 they located several rafts and began to pick up the few men still alive. They only had a few hours to search before a typhoon moved in, sealing the fate of those survivors not picked up in time. Before the storm hit, Queenfish found 18 men, and Barb found 14.

The boats headed on to Saipan after a final search following the storm revealed no further survivors.

The US submarine, Queenfish, rescued a total of four Perth survivors – AB Bob Collins, AB Arthur Bancroft, AB Jack Houghton and Stoker L. Munro. After the survivors had been questioned by Commander C.R. Reid, RAN, it was possible to publish the first account of the loss of HMAS Perth on 1st March 1942.

Of the 1,318 POWs on the Rakuyo Maru sunk by Sealion, 159 had been rescued by the four submarines: 73 on Pampanito, 54 on Sealion, and the 32 found by Queenfish and Barb. It was later learned that the Japanese had rescued 136 for a total of 295 survivors.

Francis J McGovern the last surviving member of the PERTH crew died 24 May 2023.

Lest We Forget