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3529518
Lance Corporal
Eric Higham
Also known as Edward
1919/12/29 - Born Gorton, Manchester
Son of William Thomas and Jane Higham
1937/11/27 - Enlisted
Photo above shows Eric at 18 years old
Occupation Regular Soldier
Manchester Regiment
1st Battalion
Service
At the outbreak of the Second World War the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment were assigned to a beach defence role, which entailed setting up of Machine gun posts, searchlights and ant-ship, and landing craft obstacles.
In November 1937 the battalion had become a machine gun unit and in January 1938 with a strength of 980 officers and men the 1st Battalion were transported to Palestine as Jewish Community protectorates. They were housed in Tiberius at ‘The Central’ and ‘Elizabethan’ Hotels. A B C and D companies occupied trouble spots at Mielia, Safad, Sarafand Jeruslem and along the Jordon border
Under orders on 4th October 1938, the 1st Battalion sailed in the ‘Dilwara’ for the Far East and Singapore. At Port Suez they had a few days in the Western Desert while peace talks took place between Chamberlain and Adolph Hitler. Then back on the ship, arriving in Singapore on the 20th October 1938. As part of the 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigade, they saw action during the Japanese invasion of Singapore island in February 1942.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.
1942/03/23 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 778. Missing.
1943/09/01 - WO 417/65, Casualty List No. 1227. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 778 as Missing, 15/02/1942. Now reported a Prisoner of War.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured
Changi
PoW No. 490
Serangoon Road
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/04/25 - Transported oversea with ‘G’ Force to Japan in the Kyokko Maro
With 1500 PoWs - 300 British - 200 Australian - 1000 Dutch
The Dutch were from Java
Commander Major R. Glasgow, 8th Div. Amm. Sub. Pf. AIF
Dysentery on board, 2 Dutch deaths.
Stopped at Cape St Jacques, French Indo-China
Stopped at Takao, Taiwan
1943/05/21 - Arrived Moji, Japan
300 British by train to Tokyo Camp 9B, AOMI Japan
New PoW No. 2499
Work at a Quarry and Cement factory, Open hearth furnaces and chipping out the carbon ingots.
Tokyo 9B (later renamed 13B), Japan
Painting of Omi camp by Basil Were (NZ)
Painted during the 2 weeks they were waiting to be liberated
One third of the camp were put to work on the Furnaces which caused many accidents because of ‘blow-outs’. The work was continuous in two twelve hour shifts.
In the first two summers one fifth of camp worked in a limestone quarry where the work was very hard and the Japanese civilians in charge had no consideration for the PoWs welfare. Of the 96 men who started work in the quarry 26 died. When in April 1944 100 Americans arrived at the camp, they were put to work in the quarry, later in November all work in the quarry was stopped.
The remainder of the PoWs worked in the factory, shovelling slag and coal, while others moved the lag and coal by boxes on their backs. A few skilled PoWs were employed in sheet metal work.
After eight months in the camp the PoWs were allowed to hold concerts as a few musical instruments were supplied and a gramophone. 100 books were also supplied by the YMCA and American Red Cross.
In 1943 there was no medics in the camp but relied on a Japanese doctor’s occasional visits to the very sick. When the Americans arrived in 1944, they brought with them Captain Pizer of the US Medical Corps and he started organising the sick parades which stopped the very sick working and from this time on only five deaths were reported. In May 1945 Captain Rizzolo, US Army Medical Corps arrived with 200 Americans from Osaka and the sick from then on were very well cared for.
1943/08/01 - Camp renamed Tokyo 7D
1945/08/ - Camp renamed Tokyo 13B
1945/09/06 - Liberated
Liberation Queationnaire
Repatriation
PoWs sent by train to Yokohama, Japan for repatriation.
From Yokohama Docks to Atsugi Airfield, then to Okinawa, then Manila then to 5th Replacement Depot.
1945/09/24 - Embarked SS Admiral Hughes
List 13 - Embarkment No. 752
1945/09/25 - Sailed from Manila, Philippines
Via Equimalt, British Columbia
1945/10/09 - Arrived Victoria, Canada then sailed for Southampton
1945/09/29 - WO417/97_1, Casualty List No. 1870. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1227 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
In 1946 Eric married Margaret (Peggy) Cobley
They were blessed with twin boys, Paul & Peter.
Died
11th December 1984
Eric died at St Anne's Hospice, Heald Green, Stockport, Cheshire
of Cancer.
R.I.P. Uncle Eric
Not known by me but never forgotten
Information
Margaret Burgess - Niece
Japanese Transports
Tokyo 13B Omi
Roger Mansell - Tokyo 13B
KEW Files:- WO 361/1970, WO 361/1970, WO 392/24, WO 345/25, WO 361/1984, WO 361/2060, WO 361/2070, WO 367/2,
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