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1SSVF
Captain
Thomas Percy Fergus McNeice
Known as Percy
1901/08/16 - Born Trillick, Co. Tyrone, Ireland
Son of William Gilbert and Mary McNeice
Educated Bradford Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford.
1925 - Cadet FMS
1927 - Chinese Protectorate after learning Cantonese in Macao.
Later posted to Christmas Island. Police Magistrate SS. Chief Inspector of Chinese Schools FMS Education Dept.
Occupation Malay Government Service
Next of Kin, Rev W C McNeice, St. Johns Vicarage, Bowling, Yorkshire
Straits Settlement Volunteer Force
Service
Percy was in 3 Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, (Negri Sembilan Battalion) as a Lieutenant. Then later on the 12th January 1942, enlisted in the Straits Settlement Volunteer Force as Captain.
1941/12/08 - Japan enters the war by Bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Hong Kong and Malaya. Japanese troops land the Malayan border with Thailand at Kota Bharu (Malaya), Singora and Patani (Thailand).
As the Japanese had taken the airfield at Kota Bharu, the Allied troops had very little air cover and by the 31st of January 1942, Allied Troops were pushed back to Singapore. The causeway joining Singapore to Malaya was blown to stop the Japanese advance.
On the 9th February the Japanese attacked the North West coast of Singapore. General Percival had set his main defence on the North East coast line, and the Japanese quickly gained the advantage.
By the 15th February the Japanese were in danger of taking control of the water supply at the reservoirs, which would endanger the Singapore City water supply. General Percival had no alternative but to surrender.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
Changi
Commander Lt-General Percival
PoW No. M-284
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/28 - Transported overland to Thailand with ‘U’ Letter Party, train 4
Commander Lt-Col. James Oliphant Mackellar, 4th Battalion, F.M.S.V.F.
Work Group 4
New PoW No. IV 5455
Camps in Thailand:-
1942/11/12 - Kinsiayok, 191.40 km from Nong Pladuk
1942/11/29 - Kannyu - 152 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col More, Royal Artillery
1943/03/30 - Chungkai, 60 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col. Outram, Royal Artillery
1943/10/25 - Rail lines from Thailand and Burma joined near Konkoita, Thailand
1944/05/28 - Tha Muang - 38.90 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col. Knights
1945/01/27 - Kanchanaburi - 52 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col. Toosey
New PoW No. 1068
1945/07/07 - Nakom Nayok
Camp Leader Lt-Col. Toosey
1945, August - On roll in Thailand
1945/09/04 - Liberated Thailand
Liberation Questionnaire filled in by Percy after Liberation
Post War
Returned 1946 as Secretary for Social Welfare, Singapore.
June 1947 - Married Yuen Peng Loke Singapore.
They were blessed with a son, Anthony Terence, and a daughter, Shelagh.
1947 - Order of the British Empire, OBE.
1947/01/01 - Page 22 - London Gazette.
Member 1951 Legislative Council and President Singapore City Council.
1953 - Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the Coronation Honours List.
1956 - Percy was created a Bachelor Knight in the New Years Honour List.
Thomas Percy Fergus died aged 96, on the 8th February 1998, at Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore.
Information
Terry McNeice - Son
Jonathan Moffatt
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Japanese Transports
Thailand Burma Railway
KEW Files:- WO 361/2169, WO 361/2196, WO 361/1954, WO 245/34, WO 361/1979, WO 392/25, WO 361/2069, WO 361/1987, WO 361/1954,
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