Guest-Harold

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

1591190

Lance Bombardier

Harold Guest

1920/05/16 Born Manchester

Son of John Edward and Mary Guest

Royal Artillery

239/77 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment

Service

The Territorial Chester area 21st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment together with the 48th L.A.A Regiment, 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 Mombassa 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 48 L.A.A Regiment was formed in 1940 and comprised of 49, 95 and 242 Batteries.

48 LAA Regiment, Royal Artillery, on arrival in Batavia, deployed the 49 Battery around Kalidjati airfield, North of Bandoeng. The 95 Battery were deployed at Andir airfield, Bandoeng and HQ together with 242 Battery were in Batavia.

The 77 H.A.A Regiment less 239 Battery, were transported by train to Surabaya setting up their guns to defend Eastern Java against enemy aircraft. The 239 battery stayed in defense of Batavia.

1942/02/06 - At 0300 hrs a troop train carrying part of 77 HAA Regiment crashed into an ammunition train on a single track bridge just outside Surabaya, 30 were killed and 100 were injured.

1942/02/28 - A strong Japanese force landed on the North Coast of Java at Eretenwetan. Using tanks they soon reached Kalidjati airfield, destroying the 49th Battery of the 48 L.A.A. Regiment.

1942/03/04 - By this time the Dutch forces in Java were being severely hit by the Japanese advance. The 239 Battery, 77 H.A.A and the 242 Battery, 48 L.A.A were ordered to move and defend the Bandoeng area.

1942/03/08 - Java surrendered to the Japanese.

1943/02/01 - WO 417/58, Casualty List No. 1083. Missing.

1943/05/12 - WO 417/60, Casualty List No. 1132. Previously reported Missing, 01/02/1943, Casualty List No. 1083. Missing believed to be a Prisoner of War.

1943/07/15 - WO 417/63, Casualty List No.1187. Previously shown on Casualty List No.1132 as Missing believed Prisoner of War, 01/02/1943. Now reported a Prisoner of War.

Japanese PoW

1942/03/08 - Captured Java

PoW No. III 12502

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

Before leaving Sarabaya Camp the PoW were examined, well they walked past the doctor in single file, that was the examination, everyone was passed fit.

1943/04/17 - The morning of the transport Squadron Leader Pitts was without warning badly beaten in front of the assembled PoWs. it went on for about 15 minutes the assailant was Sergeant Mori who was trying to impress the 2,060 British and Dutch awaiting transport.

The holds of the two ships Cho Saki Maru (1,030 PoWs) and Amagi Maru (1,030 PoWs) were very cramped with just enough room for the PoWs to lie down, head to toe with those next to them. The latrines were two buckets with holes in them suspended over the side of the ships. The ships remained in Sarabaya harbour for days and dysentery broke out due to cramped and unhygienic conditions on board. Eventually the ships got under way in convoy.

Transported to the Haruka, Spice Islands, then to Ambon.

1943/11/25 - Departed Ambon in Suez Maru for Surabaya, Java

1943/11/29 - Attacked and sunk by USS Bonefish, off Kangean Islands 6 degrees 22' South by 116 degrees 35' East.

Japanese Captain Kawano ordered the shooting of the prisoners in the water. From 14.15 - 16.30 the Minesweeper W.12 massacres the survivors using machine gun and rifles. No survivors.

Died

Age 23

1943/11/29

Died in the sinking of the Suez Maru

Loved ones

Son of John Harold and Miranda Guest.

Husband of Elizabeth Ann Guest, of Miles Platting, Manchester.

Memorial