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2323602
Lance Sergeant
Harold William Newsham
1917/01/10 - Born Belfast, Northern Ireland
Son of Minnie Newsham
Brother to Robert Ernest
Next of Kin Mother, M Newsham, Grange Drive, Monton, Lancashire
Royal Corps of Signals
Fortress Signals
Service
1934/05/30 - Enlisted in Service
Harold was stationed Singapore, in the Southern Area Signals
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
1942/05/09 - WO 417/43, Casualty List No. 819. Reported ‘Missing’.
1944/07/20 - WO417/78, Casualty List No. 1503. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 819 as Missing, 15/02/1942. Now reported ‘Prisoner of War in Japanese Hands’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
Changi Camp
Camp Leader Lt-General Percival
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/24 - Transported overland to Thailand with Letter Party ‘Y’, train 1
Commander Major P.S.F. Jackson, 7 Coast Regiment, RA
Work Group 4
New PoW No. IV 4055
Camps in Thailand:-
1942/10/15 - Tonchan, 138 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col. McKellar
1943/April - Tha Markhan, 56 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col. Toosey
1943/10/25 - Rail lines from Thailand and Burma joined at Konkoita, Thailand
1943/November - Chungkai, 60 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col. Toosey
1944/June - Tha Muang, 38.90 km from Nong Pladuk
Camp Leader Lt-Col. Knight
1945/April - Nakom Nai
New PoW No. IV 11978
Camp Leader RSM Stimpson
1945/08/30 - Liberated
Liberation Questionnaire filled in by Harold after being liberated
1945/10/16 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1885. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1503 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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Far East Medals
Post War
Harold stayed in the army.
Stationed in Germany.
1n 1949 Harold married Elabeth E Glosek, in Iserlohn, Germany.
They were blessed with daughters Lizzy, Mary and Silvie
Harold was also stationed Cyprus and England.
Harold passed away Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1987
Information
Lizzy Homes - Daughter
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Thailand Burma Railway
Royal Corps of Signals
KEW Files:- WO 345/38, WO 361/2196, WO 361/1955, WO 361/2172, WO 392/25, WO 361/2169, WO 361/435, Wo 361/1987, WO 361/2190, WO 361/2062,
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