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2877794
Private
Edward Skene Smith
Known as Eddy
1920/01/07 - Born Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, Scotland
Son of Archibald and Isabella Smith
Elder Brother to:- Mary Christie, William, Phyllis’s Jean and Hugh Wallace
Gordon Highlanders
2nd Battalion
Service
The 2nd Battalion arrived at Singapore in 1937 with new recruits joining them in 1939.
The new recruits had trained at Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. Training in the snow-bound winter, then taking an uncomfortable 24 hour journey from Aberdeen to Dover, crossing to France. They sailed in the ‘Andes’ from Marseilles, via the Suez Canal, with a 12 hour leave at Port Said. The on to Calcutta for stores without a shore leave, sailing down the Burma Coast and Malay coast to Singapore Harbour.
The 2nd Battalion were stationed at Selerang Barracks before the Japanese attacked Malaya on 8th December 1941.
Singapore surrendered 15th February 1942.
1942/03/14 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 771. Reported ‘Missing’.
1943/01/14 - Casualty List No 1342. Previously posted on Casualty List No 771 as Missing now reported ‘Prisoner of War in Japanese Hands’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Singapore
Changi Camp
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942, November - Transported overland by train to Thailand
Work Group 2
Thailand Camp:-
1942, November - Bang Pong
1942, December - Chungkai (60 kms from Nong Pladuk)
1943, January - Wan Lan (68.59 kms from Nong Pladuk)
1943, June - Wan Pho (111 kms from Nong Pladuk)
1943, October - Railway line from Thailand to Burma joined at Konkoita
1944, October - Tha Makham (38.90 kms from Nong Pladuk)
1944, November - On Thailand Roll
1945, January - Nakhon Pathom Hospital
1945, August - On Thailand Roll
1945/09/04 - Liberated
Liberation Questionnaire
1945/0925 - WO417/97_1, Casualty List No. 1867. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1342 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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Post War
Edward returned to Laurencekirk Scotland after the war.
1952 - Edward married Isobel Christie Spence
They were blessed with a daughter Eileen Frances
1953/06/23 - Sailed with wife and daughter from Glasgow in ‘Captain Hobson’ to Wellington, New Zealand. Aged 33, occupation ‘Male Nurse’.
Edward joined the New Zealand Army Medical Corps.
In New Zealand they were blessed with the births of Edward, Neil, Jenifer, Leslie, Keith and Bruce.
Edward never returned to Scotland.
Died
19th May 1989
Christchurch, New Zealand
Information
Ian Wallace Smith (Nephew)
Japanese Transports
Thailand-Burma Railway
Liberation Questionnaire - COFEPOW
KEW Files:- WO 460/466, WO 361/2167, WO 361/1955, WO 345/47, WO 361/2196, WO 392/26,
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