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2574168
Corporal
Leonard Gordon Scott
1919/09/19 - Born Battersea, London
Son of Gordon Ernest Richard and Hilda Alice Scott
Occupation Regular Army
Next of Kin Parents, G E R and H A Scott, Tyneham Road, London, SW11
Royal Corps of Signals
9/11 Indian Division Signals
Service
Leonard was stationed in Singapore.
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’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. 7491
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/25 - Transported oversea in England Maru with ‘Z’ Party to Taiwan
With 1100 British PoWs
Commander Lt-Col. E.W.F. Jephson, 5th Field HQ, RA
1942/11/06 - Arrive at Keelung, Taiwan
New PoW No. IV 1101
1942/11/14 - Disembarked Keelung and transported by train to Taihoku, the capital of Taiwan. The PoWs were marched through the streets in front of a large civilian crowd.
Taihoku, Camp 6
Work included building a memorial park and a man-made lake
1943 - Moved to Kinkaseki (Camp 1)
Worked in copper mine
Kinkaseki Camp
(The mine was joined to the camp by a 1.25 mile tunnel)
The mine had no timber props to shore up the rook and they were constantly showered with debris and in danger of it caving in. The tunnel from the camp to the mine had to be used twice daily and it was a constant worry to the PoWs as it was very unsafe.
Written and Composed by Trumpeter Arthur Smith
`Kinkaseki´ POW Camp Taiwan 1942
There's a song in old Formosa that the Nips they loudly sing,
In the billets every evening you should hear the music ring,
Now they sing to British soldiers who have travelled from afar,
To fight for king and country, now they’re prisoners of war,
But they know they'll see their homeland in the future once again,
Listen, while I sing to you the Nipponese refrain.
Chorus:
Down the mine bonnie laddies down the mine you'll go,
Though your feet are lacerated you dare not answer no,
Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swine,
Down the mine bonnie taddies down the mine.
Now the boys were fairly happy till one cold and cloudy day,
When the 'Bunsho dono' he came out and he to them did say,
Now expect you all are wondering why you're out on this parade,
The reason is, you must be taught, the Taiwan serenade.
Chorus:
Down the mine bonnie laddies down the mine you'll go,
Though your feet are lacerated you dare not answer no,
Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swine,
Down the mine bonnie taddies down the mine.
You should see us work with 'chunkles' and we work with baskets too
Though the method is old-fashioned to the boys its something new,
And we'll work away with patience till the dawn of freedom's day,
But until then the Nippon men will all be heard to say.
Chorus:
Down the mine bonnie laddies down the mine you'll go,
Though your feet are lacerated you dare not answer no,
Though the rice is insufficient and we treat you all like swine,
Down the mine bonnie taddies down the mine.
1944/10/25 - left Kinkasaki for Kagi
1945/March - The mine was closed as the Allies were sinking the ships carrying the ore to Japan.
1945 - Transported to Shirakawa Camp 4, Taiwan
The camp became known as the Officers Camp, but there were also enlisted PoWs as well. Farming was the main work at the camp.
1945/09/07 - Liberated Shirakawa, on camp roll
1945/10/11 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1881. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1150 as reported Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
Repatriation
Transported by ship to Manila.
'USS Gosper'
The ship had good medical facilities.
1945/09/15 - Departed Manila
1945/10/12 - Arriving at destination San Francisco, California .
British then entrained to the East Coast and transported to UK.
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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
1947 - Married Marjorie I Steene in Battersea.
Leonard found work at Watney’s Brewery in Mortlake.
Leonard and Marjorie were blessed with three sons Paul, Keith and David.
Leonard passed away in 1989 in Richmond upon Thames
Information
Becca Scott - Granddaughter
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Royal Corps of Signals
Repatriation Rolls
Never Forgotten - Taiwan
KEW Files:- WO 345/46, WO 361/1968, WO 361/2190, WO 361/1475/1, WO 361/1536, WO 361/2068. WO 392/26, WO 361/2050, WO 361/2064,
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