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1872731
Sapper
Frederick James Parham
Photo above shows Fred with Violet Clements
Royal Engineers
History
Born 1st October 1919 in Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire
Fred and Violet’s Wedding
A special friend of Fred's was Sapper Ronald Authers ( S/N 832650) from Tiverton
Service History
Joined in 1936 Chatham
Sent to Singapore in 1938.
He was a very good football and rugby player and during the 5 years he
served in Singapore before it fell, played football in Penang.
His pay book is written Acting Warrant Officer WO2 2nd class (22years old)
Japanese POW
 
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Translation of the POW Diary of Fred Parham
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Captured in Singapore
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1942/02/15
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Moved to Changi
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1942/02/17
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Moved to Thailand
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1942/10/26
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Arrived Kawi River Camp
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1942/11/06
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Worked on Railway & Roads between Kwai 1-2-3-4
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1942/Nov
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1943/Jul
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Evacuated from Kawi III with dysenteiy + Malaria + BeriBeri
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1943/06/22
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Moved to Tamakan to build Road Bridge (Bridge Over River Kwai)
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1943/12/08
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Saw first Allied Plane in Thailand (Yank B-29)
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1943/12/24
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Moved back to Tarsao
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1944/01/30
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Moved to Tamuang (Tha Maung) and built new 4 Group H.Q. Camp
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1944/02/08
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Moved back to Singapore to work on Dock
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1944/06/24
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Left Singapore for Japan on 'President Harrison' (ex U.S.) Now called the Kachidoki Maru (carried 900 British POW’s)
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1944/09/06
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Collision at Sea
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1944/09/11
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Torpedoed Sunk (Sunk by US submarine Pampanito, North East of Hainan Island off China, )
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1944/09/12
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Picked up by Japanese Destroyer 1830???? On Marine Depot Ship
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1944/09/13
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Transferred to a Tanker
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1944/09/14
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Transferred to 'Whaler" (name given of P .O.W.)
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1944/09/16
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Arrived in Japan (after calling at Fukuoka? being chased by Sub's
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1944/09/29
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Moved to Omuta (25b Camp)
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1944/09/30
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First Incendiary landed on 25b camp
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1945/01/17
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Second Incendiary landed on camp
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1945/07/26
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Saw Atomic Bomb Fall on 'Nagasaki'
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1945/08/09
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Dive Bombed and Machine Gunned
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1945/08/10
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All over for us
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1945/08/15
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Left Omuta for Nagasaki
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1945/08/16
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Left Nagasaki on " U.S.S. Cape Gloucester" (aircrafl-carrier)
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1945/09/18
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Arrived Okinawa
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1945/09/19
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Left Okinawa
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1945/09/21
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Arrived in Manila
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1945/09/26
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Left Manila
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1945/10/09
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Arrived Honolulu
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1945/10/23
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Left Honolulu
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1945/10/24
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Arrived in San Francisco
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1945/11/01
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Left San Francisco
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1945/11/02
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Arrived Tacoma
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1945/11/03
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Left Tacoma
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1945/11/07
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Travelled Via Seattle to Vancover then on C.P.R.
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Then Route across Canada to Montreal then down to to New Jersey
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New Jersey and on the Queen Mary
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Arrived Southampton
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1945/11/18
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Fred had a splendid moustache and refused to shave it off so was pulled round by the guards by it!
While at Omuta, Fred worked in a coal mine and got 'arceyes' as there was no protection for their eyes.
Post War
Fred went on to enjoy life, loved fishing, his allotment, cigars, cards, making home made beer and wine. Always smiled and had a ready joke to share.
Died
3rd October 1984 in Gosport, Hampshire
Violet is now 89yrs and enjoying life in Gosport (2012)
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