Boswell-Ernest-Henry

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

1807104

Gunner

Ernest Henry Boswell

Known as Ernie

1921/07/11 - Born Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Son of George and Florence Bertha Boswell

Occupation Nursery Worker

Royal Artillery

21 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

1943/03/25 - WO 417/58, Casualty List No. 1092. Reported ‘Missing’.

1943/04/28 - WO 417/60, Casualty List No. 1120. Previously reported Missing on Casualty List No. 1092, 01/02/1943 now reported Prisoner of War.

Service

1941/12/06 -The Territorial Chester area 21st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment together with the 77 H.A.A. and 18 L.A.A. Regiments of the Royal Artillery left the Clyde for the Middle East in Convoy William Sail 14X.

1941/12/08 - Japan attacked Malaya entering the war against Britain

1942/01/13 - By the time WS 14X had reached Durban, South Africa their destination had changed to the Singapore and they sailed in Convoy DM-2 (Durban Malaya -2).

1942/01/19 - Off Mombasa at 01.05 N, 91.28 E they merged with Convoy Bm-12 (Bombay Malaya -12) and were re-routed to Batavia, Java with their supplies.

1942/02/03 - Arrived Batavia in Empress of Australia.

The 21 L.A.A Regiment deployed one battery to Surabaya airfield defence in the east of Java and a further battery was sent to Koepang, Timor.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/23 - Captured Timor

PoW No. 3499

Ambon Camp

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/10/21 - When the draft for transportation was assembled, there were many stretcher cases and many of the PoWs collapsed on the march to the docks. At the Tandjong Priok Docks the Tanjong Priok P.O.W. Camp draft of 1000 ( 90 Officers and 910 O.R.s approx ) was joined by a draft of 300 R.A.F., under command of Wing Commander Frowe, and 500 R.A. personnel under command of Lt. Col. Saunders, Royal Artillery.

At 1600 hours the daft of 1800 PoWs embarked onto the Yoshiba Maru and were crammed into the holds.

1942/10/22 - The Yoshida Maru sailed from Batavia with the 1800 PoWs to Singapore in very bad conditions as the tarpaulins leaked and the water entered the holds.

1942/10/25 - Yoshida Maru arrived at the Roads of Singapore.

1942/10/26 - Reached Keppel Harbour, Singapore. 32 sick PoWs were taken to Changi-Hospital. The remaining PoWs were herded onto the quay, disinfected and tested for dysentery and cholera (glass rod test). Then herded back aboard the Yoshida Maru

1942/10/28 - Wing Commander Frowe was instructed to draft 200 of his men to join Lt. Col. Saunders' party of 500 being transferred to another ship. Fourteen of the more seriously sick from Tanjong Priok Camp were then transferred to Singapore Hospital.

1942/10/29, 1400 hours - The remaining 1086 disembarked onto the Quay and were disinfected. During the day a further 19 went sick and were sent to shore hospital and 14 replacements were received from Changi P.O.W. Camp, making a total of 1081.

1942/10/29, 1900 hours - The 1081 embarked on the S.S. "Singapore Maru"

Commander Lt-Col. E.R. Scott and the Singapore Maru group were known as the Scott Party (Mystery Party 2).

1942/10/27 - The Singapore Maru (1100 PoWs), Dainichi Maru (1200 PoWs) and Tofuku Maru (1200 PoWs) set sail to Japan in a convoy. Some of Java Party 5a, 5b and 5c who had sailed earlier from Java and taken to Changi, joined the PoWs in this Japan daft.

1942/11/03 - Arrived Saigon, French Indo-China

Lt-Col. Scott asked for the sick to be taken off the Singapore Maru but his request was refused.

1942/11/13 - Arrived Takao, Taiwan

8 bodies sent ashore for cremation from the Singapore Maru.

600 Japanese Soldiers embarked on the Singapore Maru.

Departing Taiwan was delayed as there was a bad storm.

1942/11/27 - Arrived Moji, Japan

There are some unknown facts:-

When the Yoshida Maru reached Singapore it stayed in the dock area and no roll was carried out at Changi, so this Java Party is known as a Mystery Party.

At the dock area we understand 500 PoWs of this 1,800 Mystery Party were transferred from Lt-Col. Saunders party of Royal Artillery and a further 200 RAF, from Wing Commander Frowe’s Party to another ship in the convoy.

It is not clear which one of these three ships Ernest Henry Boswell was transported to Japan in.

1942/11/27 - Arrived Japan

PoW No. 181

Fukuoka 1-B - Kumamoto, Kyushu Island

Worked on Kengun airfield

Kyushi Island, Japan

Was on the roll at Fukuoka 1B - Hakozaki

Camp consisted of:-

*British*	*140*
*American*	*153*
*Dutch*	59
*Australian*	28
*Norwegian*	1
*Canadian*	1
*Total*	*381*

1945/09/14 - Liberated

Repatriation

1945/09/24 - USS Admiral Hughes

119 Boarding number

Departed Manila, Philippines

Via:- Equimalt, British Columbia

1945/10/09 - Arrived Victoria, Canada

Travelled home on Queen Mary

1945/10/11 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1881. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1120 as reported Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Netherlands East Indies.