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7362945
Private
John Ballantyne
1919/01/29 - Born Kilmarnock, Scotland
Son of John Ballantyne
Occupation Crane Driver
Royal Army Medical Corps
Att. 137 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
Service
1941/10/30 - The main body of the 18th Division left Liverpool for Halifax in Convoy CT.5. After being transferred to American liners at Halifax, they departed 10th November 1941 in Convoy William Sail 12X, their destination was believed to be for the Middle East.
The 18th Division military equipment and supplies were just finished being loaded into the Empress of Asia in Liverpool.
1941/11/12 - The Empress of Asia sailed from Liverpool.
1941/11/13 - Convoy William Sail 12Z was formed off Oversay and included the ships with formation to sail to Freetown:-
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11L
ADRASTUS
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21L
MATAROA
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31C
NARKUNDA
(Commodore
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41L
ORDUNA
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51C
DEUCALION
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12L
EMPIRE STAR
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22L
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
(Vice Commodore)
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32C
AORANGI
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42L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
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52C
ABBEKERK
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32C
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
(same position number)
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13L
SUSSEX
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23L
EMPRESS OF ASIA
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43L
CAPETOWN CASTLE
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53C
RIMUTAKA
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34C
ARUNDEL CASTLE
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13th-16th November 1941 - Escort was provided by the destroyers Badsworth, Exmoor, Vanquisher, Whitehall and Witch
13th-17th November 1941- Destroyer Maori joined convoy
16th-19th November 1941 - Destroyers Foresight, Forester and Fury joined the convoy
21st November 1941 - Approaching Freetown, the destroyers Velox and Vimy joined convoy
22nd November 1941 - the corvette Clover joined convoy
25th November 1941 - the convoy arrived Freetown
28th November 1941 - Convoy sailed from Freetown to Durban
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11
SUSSEX
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21
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
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31
NARKUNDA
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41
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
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51
DEUCALION
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12
ADRASTUS
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22
EMPRESS OF ASIA
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32
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
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42
CAPETOWN CASTLE
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52
RIMUTAKA
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13
EMPIRE STAR
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23
MATAROA
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33
ARUNDEL CASTLE
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43
ORDUNA
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53
ABBEKERK
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34
AORANGI
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28th Nov.-14th Dec. 1941 - The escort consisted of the destroyers Dulverton and Southwold
28th Nov.-15th Dec. 1941 - sloop Milford and corvettes Hollyhock and Verbena joined convoy
15th-18th December 1941 - corvettes Aster and Marguerite joined convoy
28th Nov.-18th Dec. - the battleship Royal Sovereign for full voyage to Durban
18th December 1941 - Convoy arrived Durban
24th December departed Durban in Convoy William Sail 12ZB to Bombay
6th January 1942 Arrived Bombay
23rd January 1942 - Sailed from Bombay in BM12 (Bombay Malaya 12) destination Singapore
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Troop Carriers
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Empress of Asia
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2235 troops and stores (18th Div. ammunition & supplies)
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Felix Roussal
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157 troops and stores (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)
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Plancius
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987 troops and stores
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Devonshire
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1673 troops and stores
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City of Canterbury
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1053 troops
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16th-27th January - HMS Falmouth ((Anti-Submarine) joined convoy
27th-31st January 1942 - Light Cruiser HMS Emerald (Light Cruiser) joined convoy.
31st January 1942 - HMS Danae (Light Cruiser) joined convoy detached Banka Straits
31st Jan.- 4th Feb. 1942 - RNN Java (Light Cruiser) joined convoy, detached as low on fuel.
1st February 1942 - HMAS Yarra and HMIS Sutlej (Anti-Submarine) joined convoy
2nd February - Heavy Cruiser HMS Exeter joined convoy, detached Banka Straits
2nd February 1942 - HMAS Vampire (Destroyer) joined convoy
HMAS Bendigo and HMAS Woolongong (Mine-Sweepers) joined convoy Banka Straits
1942/02/05 - As the convoy entered the approaches to Singapore, they were attacked south of Sultan Shoal Lighthouse by nine Japanese bombers who centred their attention on the Empress of Asia causing a serious fire on board. Anchoring the damaged ship within the Sulton Shoal, crew and troops made their way to the stern to avoid the fire.
The commander of the HMAS Yarra, Wifred Harrington, edged his ship to the stern of the damaged ship and managed to take off 1,804 survivors.
The HMAS Bendigo, which had been in the harbour, then rescued a further 78 and the escort vessel HMAS Woolongong took off the last two, the Master and the Chief Engineer.
There were sixteen deaths who went down with the ship, five miles south of Singapore Island. Salvage attempts failed to rescue any of the military equipment or supplies.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to Japanese
1942/03/07 - WO 417/39, Casualty List No.765. Missing.
Now not missing a Prisoner of War
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. M-41
Changi Camp
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/06/26 - Transported overland to Thailand with June Mainland Parties
Included 600 PoWs from Southern Area and Medics
Train 5 from Singapore to Thailand
Commander Lt-Col. J.R. Williamson, 1st Indian H.A.A.
Transported to Nong Pladuk
New PoW No. IV 158
Camps in Thailand:-
Tha Sao
Tha Muang
1943/10 - The rail lines from Thailand to Burma were joined near Konkoita
New PoW No. IV 2407
1945 - Was transported to build the Mergui Road which would run from Pratchuap Khiri Khan, Thailand to Mergui, Burma.
This was an alternative supply route to the Thailand Burma Railway and also an escape route from Burma. Fifty percent of the workforce were selected from Nakom Pathon hospital, which led to an appalling death rate in the work force.
1945/08/30 - Liberated Thailand
1945/09/24 - WO417/96_2, Casualty List No. 1866. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1098 as Prisoner of War now not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Post War
Weighed 4.5 stones when liberated.
Went to Harrogate hospital to recover and met his future wife , who was a nurse at the hospital.
Lived Bradford in West Yorkshire after the war, for the rest of his life.
Died
5th September 1990
Information
Julie Walker
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Japanese Transports
Thailand Burma Railway
Mergui Road
KEW Files:- WO 361/2172, WO 345/3, WO 392/23, WO 361/1954, WO 361/1979, WO 361/2196, WO 361/2180, WO 361/2058
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