4276676
Fusilier
Norman Huston
1915/04/15 Born Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Son of John and Alice (nee Tully) Huston
Brother to Neville, Stanley (Norman’s Twin), John Thomas, Lillian, Winifred and Irene
Occupation Painter and Decorator
1940/06/13 - Enlisted
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Service
The 9th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers were formed in 1939 as an offshoot of the 7th Battalion. In August of that year they were amalgamated into the 18th Division and transported to Norfolk, defending the coast between Wells-on-Sea and Great Yarmouth.
Norman and his twin brother Stanley enlisted together in 1940 with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
(From Front Stanley left and Norman right)
In January 1941 they moved to the Scottish Boarders for training with their HQ at Bowhill House.
Norman’s brother Stanley injured his hand getting into the lorry as they were leaving, so was not transported oversea with the rest of the 9th Battalion of Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
1941/10/30 - Equipped for Middle East the 9th Royal Northumberland Fusiliers left Liverpool in the Warwick Castle, Convoy CT.5.
1941/11/08 - Arrived Halifax and after much debate amongst the troop at Halifax the 9th Battalion eventually boarded the USS. Orizaba, which was not a luxurious ship.
1941/11/10 - The 18th Division left Halifax in Convoy William Sail 12X and was escorted by the US Navy.
Convoy Willam Sail 12X
(USS Ranger was flying on antisubmarine patrol for the convoy)
The convoy passed through the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and St Domingo, arriving at Trinidad on 17th November in glorious sunshine so our tropical kit came out, but unfortunately no shore-leave, the convoy left after two days of taking on supplies. On 24th the equator was crossed and there was a crossing the line ceremony.
1941/12/02 - USS Orizaba was refuelled at sea
After a month the convoy arrived at Cape Town, South Africa. By this time the Americans were in the war as the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbour and attacked Malaya and the rumours were that they were heading for the Far East and not the Middle East as first thought.
1941/12/13 - The convoy left Cape Town and sailed along the coast of East Africa past Madagascar and into the Indian Ocean heading for Bombay.
1941/12/27 - After 17,011 miles at sea Bombay was reached and the troops disembarked for training.
1942/01/17 - Embarked Felix Rousell and the convoy sailed the next day with a British escort, the H.M.S. Exeter and H.M.S. Glasgow with British and Australian destroyers. Japan had entered the war by attacking Malaya on 8th December 1941, destination was the far East. The Prince of Wales and the Repulse had both been sunk by the Japanese off Malaya. Passing Colombo, (Ceylon), crossing the equator for the third time, the convoy passed through the Sundra Straits between Java and Samatra and then the Banka Straits. The convoy was then bombed by Jap Planes, there was no damage
1942/01/29 - The Convoy reached the safety of Keppel Harbour, Singapore on the 29th January 1942. Ships were ablaze in the harbour, clouds of smoke drifted across the sky and the smell of fumes was overpowering, this was not the best of greetings. The Japanese had taken most of Malaya in the last three weeks and were only thirty miles away from Singapore.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese
1942/04/15 - WO 417/41, Casualty List No. 798. Missing
1943 - WO 417/61 - Casualty List No. 1150, Now reported a Prisoner of War
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Chancery Lane, Singapore
Commander Lt-Col. Flowers, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/11/07 - Transported overland to Thailand
30th Train from Singapore to Thailand
Commander Lt-Col. Flowers, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
New PoW No. I 17375
Under the command of Lt-Col. Flowers, Norman would have been ‘Track Laying’ at camps such as Nong Pladuk, Tha Kilen, Wang Pho, Tha Sao, Tonchan, Tampii, Kinsaiyok, Prang Kasi, and Tha Mayo.
1944/05/27 - Transported back to Singapore
1944/06/29 - Transported to Japan in Japan Party 2
Commander Captain Thornhill, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
Osaka Pow Camp No.16 - Norman is on the roster
New PoW No. I 42456
Work included Chemical Manufacturing
1945/04/06 - Name and jurisdiction changed to Nagoya 4B - Iruka, Japan
1945/09/09 - Liberated
Repatriation
USS General Howze
Evacuated to US - 27th September 1945
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American Military
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694
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American Civilians
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47
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WD Employees
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2
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Norwegian Civilians
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3
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British Military
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678
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British Civilians
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7
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Total
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1431
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1945/09/27 - Safely taken aboard USS General Howze in Manila, boarding No. 469. Departed for San Francisco via Hawaii.
1945/10/15, 08:55 am - Passed under The Golden Gate Bridge on homeward journey.
1945/10/19 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1888. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1150 as reported 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
1949/03/26 - Married widow Margaret (nee Mustoe) Mackie
At Church of Divine Unity, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Became stepfather to daughter Margaret
They were later blessed with three children Susan, Rosemary and Stephen
1989 - Margaret and Norman Celebrating Ruby Wedding Anniversary Party
Died
18th October 1991
Cause of death - cancer of the oesophagus
Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland
Information
Sue Huston Dalgliesh
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Mike Heather
Japanese Transports
Thailand-Burma Railway
Roger Mansell - Nagoya 4B - Iruka
Liberation Questionnaire - COFEPOW
KEW Files:- WO 361/2170, WO 392/24, WO 345/27, WO 361/2005, WO 361/2060, WO 361/2166, WO 361/2177, WO 361/2166,
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