Sayles-Bernard

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

1463175

Gunner

Bernard Sayles

1922/03/02 - Born Brighthouse, Yorkshire

Son of Frank and Emily Sayles, of Brookfoot, Brighouse, Yorkshire

1939/04 - Enlisted

Royal Artillery

85 Anti-Tank Regiment

270th Battery

Service

1941/09/23 - The 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery was formed.

Four batteries were detached from other regiments and joined the 85th Regiment on the dates mentioned below:-

1941/09/23 - 270th Battery

1941/09/27 - 251st Battery

1941/09/27 - 281st Battery

1941/09/29 - 45th Battery

After training in Essex, the 85th and their equipment were loaded on to the SS Narkunda, a ship in Convoy William Sail 12Z.

1941/11/12 - Sailed from Liverpool and the Clyde.

1941/11/13 - The convoy formed off Oversay as below:

*11L* *ADRASTUS*	*21L* *MATAROA*	*31C* *NARKUNDA* *(Commodore)*	*41L* *ORDUNA*	*51C* *DEUCALION*

*12L* *EMPIRE STAR* Â	*22L* *DUCHESS OF BEDFORD* *(Vice Commodore)*	*32C* *AORANGI* *32C* *EMPRESS OF JAPAN* *(same position number)*	*42L* *MONARCH OF BERMUDA*	*52C* *ABBEKERK*

*13L* *SUSSEX*	*23L* *EMPRESS OF ASIA*		*43L* *CAPETOWN CASTLE*	*53C* *RIMUTAKA*
		*34C* *ARUNDEL CASTLE*

When the convoy departed the docks, the 85th were heading for the Middle East via the Cape of Good Hope. The 85th equipment was painted in desert camouflage. The convoy sailed south to Durban, South Africa.

1941/12/08 - The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and invaded the Philippines.

The 85th were diverted from their original desert destination to Singapore in Convoy DM 1 (Durban Military):-

AORANGI

MOUNT VERNON

NARKUNDA

SUSSEX

They became part of the 53rd Battalion. as reinforcements of the Singapore Garrison.

Escorted by EMERALD, a rendezvous was made at the fuelling stop at Addu Atoll from where the escort was reinforced by the cruisers Durban and Exeter.

1942/01/09 - Sloop Jumna joined convoy

1942/01/10 - The Dutch cruiser De Ruyter was present for the next three days. The destroyers Encounter, Jupiter and Vampire joined the convoy until the convoy reached Singapore.

1942/01/13 - Convoy DM 1 arrived Singapore

1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese

1942/04/24 - WO 417/42, Casualty List No 806. Reported Missing.

1943/06/19 - WO 417/62, Casualty List No. 1165. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 806 as Missing, 15/02/1942. Now reported a Japanese Prisoner of War.

Japanese PoW

PoW No. VII 2622

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/10/11 - Transported overland to Thailand

River Valley Road Party train 3 - 650 PoWs

8th train to Thailand

New PoW No. VII 14154

No.1 Aero Camp - Sanbunkensko, Thailand

Various camps (no Thailand Camps named in Liberation Questionnaire)

1945/08/30 - Liberated Thailand

Liberation Questionnaire

1945/10/29 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1896. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1165 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.