Dodson-Claude-Verdun

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

6202921

Private

Claude Verdun Dodson

1916/04/12 - Born London

Son of William and Esther (nee Coppock) Dodson

1936/03/16 - Enlisted

Next of Kin - Parents, William and Esther Dodson, 60 Farmers Road, Camberwell

Middlesex Regiment

1st Battalion

Service

Middlesex Regiment

Claude is thought to be second from right at 6ft 4in tall

The 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment were stationed in Hong Kong in 1939 when war broke out.

The Japanese entered the war on the 8th December 1941 by bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Malaya and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese 25th December 1941.

1942/01/21 - WO 417/37, Casualty List No. 726. Reported ‘Missing’.

1942/08/07 - WO 417/47, Casualty List No. 896. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 726 as Missing, 25/12/1941. Now reported a ‘Prisoner of War’.

Japanese PoW

1941/12/25 - Captured Stanley Fort, Hong Kong

1941/12/26 - Stanley Camp

1941/12/30 - North Point

1942/02/09 - Sham Shui Po

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/09/03 - 1st draft in Shi Maru to Tokyo, Japan

The first draft was formed of the men who were known as the ‘hard men’, many had refused to sign the ‘No Escape’ document.

1942/09/15 - Shinagawa Camp, Tokyo

PoW No. 111

1942/09/25 - Renamed Tokyo Main Camp

1943/05/22 - Shinagawa Camp, on camp roll

1943/06/20 - Nown as Omori Camp

1943/08/01 - Shinagawa Hospital in operation

1945/08/30 - Liberated

Liberation Questionnaire written by Claude after liberation

1945/09/19 - WO417/97_1, Casualty List No. 1862. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 896 as reported Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Hong Kong.