|
1058699
Lance Bombardier
Charles David West Newell
Known as Charlie
1903/12/12 - Born Middlesex
Son of Charles and Sarah Newell
Occupation Laundry Man
1931/06/06 - Married Edith Lucy Fleet in Brentford Registry Office, Brentford, Middlesex.
1939/08/16 - Enlisted as Army Reserve
Royal Artillery
7th Coast Regiment
Service
1924/09/17 - Enlisted at Kingston upon Thames
The 7th Heavy Regiment were at Singapore on 24th February 1939, it was re-designated as 7th Coast Regiment on 18th December 1940, disbanded February 1942, lost at Singapore.
Comprised of 4 Battery's:-
11th RA
31st RA
5th HKSRA
7th, HKSRA
The 7 Coast manned guns at:-
Beting Kusha Battery - 2x6inch guns
Each of Johore's Battery's guns had its own ammunition bunkers. These were about 500 metres apart, arranged in a line that stretched from the present site onto what are now the runways of Changi Airport. Though these guns were originally intended to stop an attack from the sea, two of Johore Battery's guns could turn around and fire to the rear, towards Johor Bahru. The third, the one located at this site, could only fire out to sea.
1941/12/08 - Japan entered the war by attacking Pearl Harbour, Hong Kong and Malaya.
Japanese troops landed at Singora and Patani, Thailand plus Kota Bharu, Malaya.
The Japanese troops which landed at Kota Bharu, soon took control of the airfield and the defending troops then had very little air cover.
The battle hardened Japanese quickly gained a foothold and pushed the defending troops back to Singapore Island.
The 7th Coast Regiment were in action at Johore Battery- 3x15inch guns, two of which were used against the Japanese as they could be turned to target them on Johore and Singapore.
The 7th Coast Battery was within the 9th Coast Regiment, manning the 15inch guns of Jahore Battery, and the 22nd Battery manning the 9.2inch guns on Pulau Tekong, being the nearest to the mainland.
On the 31st of January 1942, the Causeway joining Malaya to Singapore was blown in an attempt to halt the Japanese troops.
After the causeway was blown the 7 Coast’s 31 Battery RA and 7th Battery HKSRA were situated on the West side of Singapore City.
On the night of the 8th of February 1942, the Japanese landed on the North West side of Singapore Island. General Percival had made strong the North East coastline thinking that is where the Japanese would attack, but the Japanese bluff worked.
From 5th to 12th February 1942, the two guns of the Johore Battery that could turn around fired landward in Singapore's defence. They shelled Japanese infantry positions from Johor Bahru, just across the Causeway, eastwards to the area North of Tanjong Punggol. They also joined in the battles for Bukit Timah Road and Pasir Panjang. The guns of Johore Battery fired 194 rounds before their demolition by the British on the night of 12th February. This demolition, and the postwar upgrading of Changi aerodrome, means all the remains are the underground tunnels on this site, which once housed ammunition and power plants.
By the 15th February 1942, Singapore was forced into surrendering.
The guns were destroyed before the surrender of the British army and the tunnels were sealed up after the war. The location remained a secret until the Singapore Prisons Department rediscovered them in April 1991.
Charles David Newell Royal Artillery Record Card
1942/03/16 - WO 417/40, Casaulty List No. 772. Reported ‘Missing’.
1943/08/13 - WO 417/64, Casualty List No. 1211. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 772 as Missing, now reported Prisoner of War. (Previously shown with Initials as C D).
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
Changi
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Hapanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/18 - Transported oversea in ‘Kenkon Maru’ with 600 Gunners Party
400 men were put into the first hold and the remainder into the smaller aft hold.
Destination New Britain
Under miserable conditions with only a thin layer of straw on the floor the prisoners found it hard to breath and also the the stench from sweating bodies. The ship called at Timor, Bali and the Halmarhera Islands, the first casualty was when Battery Sergeant Major Tommy Lamborne of 11 Coast Regt. dying on his way to the benjo (toilet), he was buried at sea during that afternoon.
1942/11/05 - Arrived Simpson Harbour, Rabaul which the Japanese had captured from the Australians in January 1942.
The local villages were known as Kanakas and they lived under the constant threat from volcanoes, one of which was very active.
Bgr. E.G. Gray was the first casualty on Rabaul, being badly beaten he was then tied to a stake and left to die.
On the 16th November, 517 of the 598 prisoners were selected for transportation, the destination was said to be New Guinea, their personal belongings were stowed away at Kokopo, the sick remained at Rabaul. Charles was among the sick to stay at Rabaul.
Capt. Dance R.A. 3rd R.A. Regt. R.A., Capt. H.M. Oxley R.A. and Capt. McCoubrey R.A. were the three senior officers that remained. with those at Rabaul, but they were without a Medical Officer but L/Bdr. Blythe 35th L.A.A. Regt. who was a medical orderly worked endlessly for the sick. Supplies of Medicine, were practically non existent but L/Bdr. Blythe was on his feet day and night caring for the sick. He was very often told by the Japs that he would have his head cut off if they did not get more men for a working party.
On March 13th 1943 they had to move their camp about a mile in heavy rain, the downpour hastened on the death of four men.
At the beginning of February 1944, they were moved to Tanora. There were, now only twenty one left out of the original eighty two. A short time after on the 24th there was another move, it was to an island called Watum, this was a fairly small Island, approximately five miles by three miles and about six miles north west of Rabaul. The island was being used by Jap Companies and they were split up into small parties and allotted so many to each Company.
In June 1945, it was apparent that the Japanese were now on the defence as a Jap N.C.O., who was in charge of the PoWs, told them that if the Island was attacked the arrangements were that the English P.O.W's must be killed.
On the 18th August the PoWs who were on the Island, were brought together again.
1945/09/07 - Liberated
They remained on Watum Island till September the 7th then they were taken back to Rabaul. The day after a destroyer appeared in the bay with a great R.N. Ensign fluttering at the mast. This was the Australian destroyer "Vendetta" which they later boarded. Sailing to Jacqiuniote Bay, which was a Base in North New Britain.
Charlie on left, in the Australian Army 2/8th General Hospital
They stayed there in hospital for a few days then they travelled by plane to Lae in New Guinea. Remaining in Lae till a a plane flew them to Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney and on to Melbourne, where they were hospitalised.
1945/11/02 - Boarded the H.M.T."Andees" sailing for the UK.
1945/12/03 - Arrived Southampton, United Kingdom
Liberation Questiopnnaire written by Charles when Liberated.
1946/01/04 - WO417/100, Casualty List No. 1951. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1211 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
|
|
|
|
|
Pacific Star
|
War Medal
|
1939-1945 Star
|
|
|
|
Far East Medals
Post War
1946 - Charlie with daughters Sheila and Eileen
1946/07/03 - He was transferred to the reservists.
1954 - He was discharged from them as being 'overage'.
Died
Following a road traffic accident
Charles died in hospital 25th November 1960, Isleworth, Middlesex
Information
Kim Kitson - Granddaughter
7th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery
600 Gunners Party
Transport Home
‘What Price Bushido’ by Alf ‘Blackie’ Baker
KEW Files:- WO 361/774, Wo 345/38, WO 361/774, WO 392/25, WO361/2187, WO 361/773, WO 361/2206,
|
