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4626478
Private
Barnet Abramson
1915/01/18 - Born Leeds
Son of Isaac Joseph and Lily Abramson, of Leeds, Yorkshire.
Occupation Cabinet Maker
Next of Kin Parents Isaac Joseph and Lily Abramson, of Leeds, Yorkshire
Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)
2nd Battalion
Service
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was originally formed in 1702 as Huntingdon's Regiment. Owing to its links with the Duke of Wellington, the title 'The Duke of Wellington's Regiment' was granted to the 33rd Regiment on 18th June 1853, on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in the year following Wellington's death. In 1881 the 76th Regiment, which shared the same Depot in Halifax as the 33rd, was linked to the 33rd, under the Childers Reforms, to become the 2nd Battalion. Although retitled as the Halifax Regiment (Duke of Wellington's) this title only lasted six months until it was changed on 30th June 1881, in a revised appendix to General order 41, to:- The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), or 'W Rid R' for short. In January 1921 it was again retitled to The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding), or 'DWR' for short.
World War Two
The 2nd Battalion were based in India in 1941.
Japan entered the war on the 8th December 1941 by bombing Pearl Harbour, and attacking Malaya and Hong Kong. In February 1942 the 2nd Battalion was hastily mobilised from India as part of a force sent to reinforce troops defending Rangoon in Burma. Within a week of landing at Rangoon, they were under severe pressure from the Japanese from and forced to retreat from Rangoon.
They disengaged from the enemy under cover of night, and fell back 30 miles westwards along the track that led to Sittang Bridge. The Sittang Bridge was an iron railway bridge spanning several hundred yards across the River Sittang.
The Japanese 214th and 215th Regiments advanced, aiming to cut the British forces off at Sittang. A small British Indian force made up of detachments from several different units which included the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment defended the bridge.
Fearing paratroop landings, Commander Smyth deployed the 1/4th Gurkhas to the western end of the bridge to hold it against attacks from the rear while the 17th Division crossed. He was obliged to send them back again when the Japanese 33 Division attacked from the east. Their first charge nearly took the east end of the bridge, and a British field hospital was captured. 3rd and 5th Gurkhas, approaching the bridge from the east, counter attacked and drove off the Japanese.
Smyth had ordered his sappers to get ready to blow the bridge. In the early morning on 23rd February, it became clear that the bridge might fall within the hour. Smyth ordered the Sittang Bridge to be destroyed, stranding more than half of his own troops on the wrong side. Counting from the east bank only the Number 5 Span, dropped into the river, while Spans 4 and 6 were damaged but remained in place.
Lieutenant General William Slim did not agree with the bridge being blown and the loss of his troops, Smyth was dismissed. He never received another command. Brigadier David Cowan replaced him in command of the division.
As the Japanese wanted to advance quickly they disengaged the troops at Sitttang Bridge and headed north in search of another crossing-point and a long retreat for the 2nd Battalion was faced, many of them were captured by the advancing Japanese, including Barnet.
1942/05/18 - WO 417/43, Casualty List No. 826. Correction to entry on Casualty List No. 796. Date of casualty should read Approximately 1942/02/23. Reported ‘Missing’.
1945/06/18 - WO417/93-1, Casualty List No. 1785. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 796 (Corrected by Casualty List No. 826) as Missing approximately 23/02/1942. Now reported ‘Died whilst Prisoner of War in Japanese Hands’.
Japanese PoW
Captured Burma
Barnet was held at Moulmein where a decision to complete the railway connecting Moulmein with Bangkok was taken in June 1942.
Died
Age 28
3rd April 1943
Loved Ones
Son of Isaac Joseph and Lily Abramson, of Leeds, Yorkshire
Memorial
5. H. 10
Rangoon War Cemetery
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Burma Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Far East Medals
Information
Tony Abramson - Nephew
Rangoon Jail Report
Rangoon Jail
KEW Files:- WO 417/43, WO417/93-1, WO 304/12
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