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985975
Aircraftman 2nd Class
Robert Boocock
Known as Bob
1919/01/07 - Born Newcastle-on-Tyne
Son of Robert and Annie (nee Kirton) Boocock
Occupation Clerk
1940/04/09 - Enlisted Padgate
Royal Airforce
242 Squadron
Japanese PoW
1942/03/08 - Captured Pamegatan, Java
PoW No. J-10188
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/09/11 - Transported from Batavia, Java with Java Party 16 in Harugiku Maru (also known as Van Waerwijck) to Singapore
519 PoWs - 360 British, 159 Dutch
Commander Captain P. Williams
1943/09/14 - Arrived Singapore
1943/09/20 - Transported oversea in Seishin Maru to Japan in convoy SA-12 also consisting of tanker KIRISHIMA MARU and transports TEIKO (ex-French DâARTAGNAN) MARU and USSURI MARU escorted by fleet oiler ASHIZURI and subchaser CH-19.
1943/09/25 - South China Sea. In midmorning, lookouts aboard Cdr Frederick C. Lucas' USS BILLFISH (SS-286) spot convoy SA-12 to the west. Lucas signals Lt-Cdr Joseph H. Willingham's USS BOWFIN (SS-287) of the sighting. Lucas submerges and tries to close the range, but the convoy zigs away.
Nearby, Willingham's BOWFIN, on her first war patrol, receives sister-ship BILLFISH's signal. At 1130, BOWFIN surfaces and begins tracking the convoy. At 1310, Willingham torpedoes and sinks KIRISHIMA MARU at 09-53N 112-10E. 14 crewmen are KIA. CH-19 counterattacks, but is unsuccessful.
At 1403, USN codebreakers intercept and decrypt a message from CH-19 that reads: ‘At 1030, arrived at the scene. At 1233 (10-02 N, 122-01 E) sighted crew [of KIRISHIMA MARU] and at 1330 picked up a total of 53 men including the Captain. Continuing the search for the others’
1943/09/26 - At 1600, USN codebreakers decrypt another message from CH-19 that reads: ‘At 1425 picked up 9 more men. Above makes total of 62 of 87 (including passengers) rescued from KIRISHIMA MARU ----- heading for Saigon’
1943/09/29 - The remaining ships from Convoy SA-12 arrived Philippines
1943/10/08 - Arrive Takao, Taiwan
1943/10/12 - Arrive Moji, Japan
1943/10/23 - Transported to Fukouka 19B - Inatsuki, Japan
New PoW No. 30106
1944/04/19 - Renamed Fukouka 11D
1945/08/15 - Renamed Fukuoka 8B, Japan
1945/09/21 - Liberated, reported as healthy
Liberation Questionnaire
Post War
Married Rosemary
They were blessed with children Robert, Nick, Anna and Katie.
Granddad to Elisabeth, Alex, Millie and James.
100th Birthday
Card from the Queen
Died
Aged 101
7th September 2020
At home in Escrick
Information
Robert (Nobby) Boocock - son
Japanese Transport
Java Index
Roger Mansell - Fukouka 8B
Liberation Questionnaire - COFEPOW
KEW Files:- WO 392/23, WO 345/6, WO 361/2009, WO 361/2217,
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