|
1700123
Gunner
Henry Owens
1910/08/20 - Born Mansfield Woodhouse.
Son of Bernard and Ellen Owens of 179, Blake Street, Mansfield Woodhouse.
Brother to Reg and Arthur.
Henry's mother died in 1925, leaving his father a widower.
Occupation above ground coal sorter at Sherwood Colliery.
1939 - Married Helen (known as Nellie) Barks.
The married couple lived near Henry’s mother and father in Blake Street.
Henry enlisted 1940/09/30
Next of Kin - Wife: N, Blake Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire
Royal Artillery
144/35 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment
Service
The 35 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (TA) was raised at Oxford and the 144 Battery was formed 6th August 1939.
1941/11/12 - The 35 L.A.A. Regiment sailed close to midnight in the Empress of Japan with Covoy WS 12X, arriving in Durban on 18th December where shore leave was allowed.
On returning from shore leave they changed ships to the Narkunda and Convoy DM1, leaving Durban on 24th December, reaching Singapore the 13th January 1942.
The 144 Battalion and two troops of the 89th Battery crossed the causeway into Malaya. 78 Battery and B Troop of 89 Battery were deployed in defence of Kallang airfield and the Naval Base. The Japanese were already in South Malaya and seeing Malaya was lost, the troops were eventually withdrawn back to Singapore.
78 Battery and B Troop 89 Battery were then attached to 6 H.A.A. (RHQ and 12&15 Batteries). 3 Battery remained Singapore) and they were deployed to Sumatra 25/1/42 to defend the two airfields P1 & P2 and the oil refineries at Palembang.
Overwhelmed by an attack by Japanese paratroops they retreated to Java (alas without their guns). In Java they were employed as ground defence troops protecting other AA Batteries. Battery HQ and the other two troops (A&C) followed on 30/1/42 but they were sunk en route. Luckily all survived bar one L/Bdr but they lost their guns and ammunition.
Regimental HQ and 144 Battery remained in Singapore.
As FEPOWs, about 100 were sent to Saigon and many of the others were in the Gunner's 600. However there is a notation on the 35th's BRE Roll that Henry Owens went to Java on the MS Abbekerk..
MS Abbekerk was the storeship that carried 35 Regiment’s guns, ammunition, stores and transport from UK. She was also loaded with a lot more ammunition, bombs etc so much that on arrival at Singapore she was not allowed into Keppel harbour but was left out at anchor. The ship was unloaded as best they could into barges. Abbekerk already had a detachment from 89 Battery onboard to assist the DEMS gunners on the passage from UK and others were sent out at Singapore to assist in unloading. Henry Owens remained on board when Abbekerk sailed for Oosthaven arriving 1942/02/02 where all the gunners were disembarked.
Java fell to the Japanese 1942/03/08.
1942/08/21 - WO 417/48, Casualty List No. 908. Reported ‘Missing’.
Japanese PoW
1942/03/08 - Captured Java
1942/08/15 - In Batavia Hospital with Skin Diseases
PoW No. J-2644
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/09/14 - Transpored Oversea in Harugiku Maru to Singapore and arrived Changi, Singapore with Java Party 16
1943/09/20 - Transported oversea to Japan
Fukuoka 8B Camp
Died
Age 34
9th January 1945
Fukuoka 8B Camp, Japan
Japanese Death Certificate gives cause of death as Stricture of the Heart.
Loved Ones
Parents Bernard and Ellen Owens of 179, Blake Street, Mansfield Woodhouse
Wife Helen Owens, Black Street, Mansfield Woodhouse
Memorial
Brit. Sec. N. C. 11.
Yokohama War Cemetery
Japan
|
Pacific Star
|
War Medal
|
1939-1945 Star
|
|
|
|
Far East Medals
Information
Barbara J Berry
Tim Lloyds
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Commonwealth War Grave Commission
KEW Files:- WO 361/1367, WO 417/101, WO 361/1357, WO 361/2217, WO 392/25, WO 361/1325, WO 361/2192, WO 361/2009, WO 361/1325, WO 345/39,
|
