Latham-Bernard-George

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

3527717

Private

Bernard George Latham

1918/05/31 - Born Ardwick, Manchester

Son of William and Norah Latham

Occupation Labourer

1936/07/24 - Enlisted

Manchester Regiment

1st Battalion

Service

At the outbreak of the Second World War the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment were assigned to a beach defence role, which entailed setting up of Machine gun posts, searchlights and ant-ship, and landing craft obstacles.

In November 1937 the battalion had become a machine gun unit and in January 1938 with a strength of 980 officers and men the 1st Battalion were transported to Palestine as Jewish Community protectorates. They were housed in Tiberius at ‘The Central’ and ‘Elizabethan’ Hotels. A B C and D companies occupied trouble spots at Mielia, Safad, Sarafand Jeruslem and along the Jordon border

Dilwara

Under orders on 4th October 1938, the 1st Battalion sailed in the ‘Dilwara’ for the Far East and Singapore. At Port Suez they had a few days in the Western Desert while peace talks took place between Chamberlain and Adolph Hitler. Then back on the ship, arriving in Singapore on the 20th October 1938. As part of the 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigade, they saw action during the Japanese invasion of Singapore island in February 1942.

1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.

1942/03/23 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 778. Rank Corporal. Missing.

1944/07/28 - WO417/78, Casualty List No. 1510. Casualty List No. 778. Previously reported Missing, 15/02/1942. Rank Corporal. Prisoner of War in Japanese Hands (Thailand).

1944/08/09 - WO417/79, Casualty List No. 1520. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1510 and No. 778, 15/02/194? as posted Missing. Correction to previous Casualty List - both List No. 1510 and 778 referred to in original source. Rank should read ‘Private’.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore

PoW No. 3478

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/10/27 - Transported overland to Thailand in ‘V’ Letter Party

19th Train from Singapore to Thailand

With 650 PoWs

Commander Lt-Col. J.H. Stitt, 2nd Gordon Highlanders

New PoW No. II 15732

Camps on the Railway:-

Chungkai, Thailand

1942/12 to 1943/01 - Chungkai, Hospital with Malaria and Ulcers

Lin Thin, Thailand

Prangkasi, Thailand

Tha Khanun, Thailand

Chungkai, Thailand

Lonsii, Burma

New PoW No. II 10075

Aperon, Burma

Building Steel Bridges to replace the original wooden bridges

1945/08/19 - Tha Muang Hospital with Malaria

1945/08/30 - Liberated Thailand

1945/09/09 - Evacuated to Rangoon

1945/09/28 - WO417/97_1, Casualty List No. 1870. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1510 (Corrected by Casualty List No. 1520) as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.