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165340
Lieutenant
Eric Sutherland Lomax
1919/05/30 - Born
Son of John and Elizabeth Lomax
Eric left the Royal High School, Edinburgh, aged 16, obtaining employment at the Post Office.
On the 8th April 1936, he became a sorting clerk and telegraphist in Edinburgh. On the 10th March 1937, he was promoted to the clerical class.
Next of Kin Parents, John and Elizabeth Lomax, 11 Bedford Terrace, Joppa, Midlothian
Royal Corps of Signals
Southern Area Signals
Attached to 5th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
Service
Before World War II broke out in 1939, aged 20, Eric joined the Royal Corps of Signals . Following time in the 152nd Officer Cadet Training Unit, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on the 28th December 1940.
After being transported on the Liner RMS Strathmore to Bombay, Eric was attached to the 5th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Then after shore leave Eric joined the troops in the RMS Orion, being part of the William Sail 11X . Departing 9th September 1941 to Singapore.
Arriving Keppel Harbour on the 6th November to a band of the Manchester Regiment playing ‘There’ll Always Be An England’. He was then transported to the East Coast of Malaya.
Early on the 8th December the Japanese entered the war by bombing Pearl Harbour and landing troops in Malaya and Hong Kong.
The Japanese troops quickly gained ground and took control of the airfield at Kota Bharu, which limited air-cover to the defending troops.
Eric was at the time at Kuantan, and this is where ‘Z’ Force sailed, only to be destroyed by Japanese Bombers, a great loss as the Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk on the 10th December.
By the 31st January the surviving troops had been pushed back to Singapore Island and the causeway joining Malaya to Singapore Island was blown up.
On the 9th February the Japanese launched an attack on the North West coast line of Singapore Island. They were ruthless in their advance and soon were in control of the reservoirs which supplied Singapore City with water.
Singapore Surrender by Leo Rawlings
Singapore surrendered to the Japanese 15th February 1942.
1942/04/03 - WO417/2, Casualty List No.788. Reported ‘Missing’.
1942/12/16 - WO417/004, Casualty List No. 1008. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 788 as Missing, 15/02/1942. Now reported a ‘Prisoner of War’.
1945/10/05 - WO417/9, Casualty List No. 1877. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1008 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. Previously shown with rank as 2nd Lieutenant.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
As a Lieutenant, he was captured by the Japanese following the surrender of Singapore. Eric, along with other Far East prisoners of war (FEPOW), undertook a forced march to Changi Prison.
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/24 - Transported overland o Thailand with ‘Y’ Party, train 1
Commander Major P.S.F Jackson, 7 Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery
PoW No. 32
Work Group 1
Eric worked at Ban Pong, Nong Pladuk and Kanchanaburi.
In 1943 he and five other prisoners were tortured by the Kempeitai and convicted of "anti-Japanese activities" after a clandestine radio was found in the Kanchanaburi camp. He was transferred to Outram Road Prison in Singapore for the remainder of the war.
New PoW No. 944
1945/09/05 - On Changi Roll
Liberation Questionnaire filled in by Eric after being liberated
Attached Sheets
Officers in Captivity
Escapes - Sheet 01
Escapes - Sheet 02
Escapes - Sheet 03
Repatriation
Eric was transported in the RMS Devonshire to India.
Then on the Dutch ship, ‘Johan van Oldenbarnevelt’ to Southampton, arriving 30th October 1945.
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Far East Medals
Post War
Eric was mentioned in dispatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while a ‘Prisoner of War’.
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The Shetland News
Thursday 13th December 1945
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Eric and Agnes were blessed with daughters, Linda May and Charmaine Carole, but were also accompanied by sadness when son Eric died at birth.
Eric retired from the army in 1949 and was awarded the Efficiency Medal. He was also granted the honorary rank of captain.
Lomax joined the Colonial Service and was posted to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) until 1955. After studying management he worked for the Scottish Gas Board and the University of Strathclyde.
In 1981 Agnes and Eric separated, and in 1982 were divorced.
Lomax married his second wife, Patricia "Patti" Wallace, in 1983.
Eric Lomax put his experience in the book, ‘The Railway Man’ which became a best-seller in 1995.
Lomax was the first patient of the ‘Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture’. His later life included reconciliation with one of his former Japanese torturers, interpreter Takashi Nagase of Kurashiki, Japan.
Eric died aged 93 on the 8th October 2012
Just after Eric died, the film ‘The Railway Man’ was released, directed by Jonathan Teplitzky.
Information
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Japanese Transports
Thailand Burma Railway
Repatriation Ships
‘The Railway Man’ by Eric Lomax (Book and Film of the same name)
KEW Files:- WO 392/25, WO 345/32, WO 361/2196, WO 361/2186, WO 361/1954, WO 361/1385, WO 361/2189, WO 361/2165, WO 361/2229,
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