Brewis-John-Raffield

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

1120348

Gunner

John Raffield Brewis

1904/12/03 - Born Byker, Newcastle

Son of William Anderson Firth and Jane Brewis

Brother to Jennie, Robert William, Chretona, William, Deborah and Edward.

Occupation Painter

Next of Kin, Wife: 23 Burnaby Street, Newcastle on Tyne

Royal Artillery

85th Anti Tank Regiment

281 Battery

Service

1941/03/13 - Enlisted

1941/09/23 - The 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery was formed.

Four batteries were detached from other regiments and joined the 85th Regiment on the dates mentioned below:-

1941/09/23 - 270th Battery

1941/09/27 - 251st Battery

1941/09/27 - 281st Battery

1941/09/29 - 45th Battery

SS Narkunda

After training in Essex, the 85th and their equipment were loaded on to the SS Narkunda, a ship in Convoy William Sail 12Z.

1941/11/12 - Sailed from Liverpool and the Clyde.

1941/11/13 - The convoy formed off Oversay as below:

*11L* *ADRASTUS*	*21L* *MATAROA*	*31C* *NARKUNDA* *(Commodore)*	*41L* *ORDUNA*	*51C* *DEUCALION*

*12L* *EMPIRE STAR* Â	*22L* *DUCHESS OF BEDFORD* *(Vice Commodore)*	*32C* *AORANGI* *32C* *EMPRESS OF JAPAN* *(same position number)*	*42L* *MONARCH OF BERMUDA*	*52C* *ABBEKERK*

*13L* *SUSSEX*	*23L* *EMPRESS OF ASIA*		*43L* *CAPETOWN CASTLE*	*53C* *RIMUTAKA*
		*34C* *ARUNDEL CASTLE*

When the convoy departed the docks, the 85th were heading for the Middle East via the Cape of Good Hope. The 85th equipment was painted in desert camouflage. The convoy sailed south to Durban, South Africa.

1941/12/08 - The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and invaded the Philippines.

The 85th were diverted from their original desert destination to Singapore in Convoy DM 1 (Durban Military):-

AORANGI

MOUNT VERNON

NARKUNDA

SUSSEX

They became part of the 53rd Battalion. as reinforcements of the Singapore Garrison.

Escorted by EMERALD, a rendezvous was made at the fuelling stop at Addu Atoll from where the escort was reinforced by the cruisers Durban and Exeter.

1942/01/09 - Sloop Jumna joined convoy

1942/01/10 - The Dutch cruiser De Ruyter was present for the next three days. The destroyers Encounter, Jupiter and Vampire joined the convoy until the convoy reached Singapore.

1942/01/13 - Convoy DM 1 arrived Singapore

1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese

1942/04/21 - WO 417/42, Casualty List No. 803. Reported ‘Missing’.

1943/09/17 - WO 417/66, Casualty List No.1241. Previously shown on Casualty List No.803 as Missing, 15/02/1942.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore

Changi

PoW No. M-7722

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/11/06 - Transported overland to Thailand with Letter Party ‘L’, train 13

Commander Lt-Col. Cubitt, 6th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment.

Work Group 2

New PoW No. II 5169.

Camps in Thailand;-

At Chungkai then at various camps to Tha Khanun by May 1943.

1943, July - Evacuated to Kanchanaburi Base Hospital.

1943/10/25 - The lines from Thailand and Burma were joined near Konkoita, Thailand

1943, November - To Chungkai Hospital .

1944, May - John was transferred to Nakhon Pathom Hospital.

1945 - Back to Chungkai.

Early August 1945, he then returned to Nakhon Pathom Hospital .

New PoW No. II 3441,

1945/08/31 - Liberated

Flown from Bangkok to Rangoon Recuperation Centres, then shipped home.

Liberation Questionnaire, Filled in by John after being liberated.

1945/09/24 - WO417/96_2, Casualty List No. 1866. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1241 as Prisoner of War now not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.