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1864338
Staff Sergeant
Leo Wilfred Snell
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Date of Birth:-
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12th June 1903
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Place of Birth:-
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Toxteth, Liverpool
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Trade on Enlistment:-
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Painter and Decorator
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Religion:-
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Roman Catholic
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Service Record
Enlisted at: Liverpool (Economic Recruitment)
Date of Enlistment: 13 October 1925
Royal Engineers
War Record
Shanghai 1938 - 1940
Malaya (Kota Bahru) 1940 - 1942 S/Sgt
13th September 1940 posted form Shanghai to Malaya. Arrived Malaya 10th October 1940 to form part of the permanent Garrison. Deployed to Kota Bahru and employed in the construction of fixed and beach defences.
At Kota Bahru, defended by the 8th Indian Brigade (Comd Brigadier Berthold W. ‘Billy’ Key (3/17th Dogra Regt/2/10th Baluchistan Regt/2/12th Frontier Force Regt/1/13th Frontier Force Rifles)), home of No. 1 Sqn RAAF. SSgt Snell engaged in preparing beach defences. Kota Bahru, the most vital link in the Kelantan air-power chain. Situated a mile and a half inland from the beachfront.
2345hrs Sunday 07 Dec 1941 the Dogras reported x3No enemy transports anchored in heavy seas of their section of coast.
1225hs Saturday 08 December 1941 Japanese troops begin their attack on the Malay Peninsula (Japanese 25th Army under command of General Yamashita). Japanese troops swarm ashore. Key’s requests air support but the request is denied by Brooke-Popham.
1640hrs rumours spread that Japanese troops had reached the perimeter of KB airfield. An unidentified source put the airfield denial scheme into operation. The rumours were false but it was too late to save the airfield. It was closed down under orders from Pulford. The premature evacuation of the airfield sealed the fate of Kelantan.
Malaya (FEPOW (Kranji)) 1942 - 1945 S/Sgt-WOII
SSgt L W Snell along with others commandeered a furniture van and began their long trek towards Singapore and ultimately captivity. Imprisoned at Kranji. Remained a FEPOW for three and a half years.
1942/03/17 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 773. Missing
1943/06/16 - WO 417/62, Casualty List No. 1162. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 773 as Missing, 15/02/1942. Previously shown with Rank as Acting Serjeant. Prisoner of War
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
Roberts and Kranji Hospitals Singapore
Commander Lt-Col. Collins, Royal Army Medical Corps
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1945/09/07 - Liberated
1945/10/23 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1891. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1162 as reported Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
Home (Liverpool) 1945 WOII
Med discharged 1946 Mr L W Snell
Date of Discharge: 15 April 1946 (Discharged as medically unfit – 18mths short of 22 yrs service – no full career, no pension)
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Help Wanted
I am the grandson of the above named soldier. Like my Grandad I too have served in the Royal Engineers. I'd like to be able to liaise with a soldier(s) who may have known my Grandad ?
Contact:- Graham George Hayes - Graham.Rebekah@btinternet.com
Information
Graham Hayes
Liberation Questionnaire - COFEPOW
KEW Files:- WO 367/3, WO 361/2064, WO 361/2191, WO 392/26,
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