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2982180
Piper
Charles Duncan Stuart
‘Charles Boy Stuart’
1923/11/29 - Born Calcutta, India
Occupation before enlisting - a Scholar
Next of Kin - Father: R V Stuart, 3 May Road, Hastings, Calcutta, India
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
2nd Battalion
Service
The 2nd Battallion Argyll and Sutherland Highlander Regiment arrived in Singapore from India in September 1939. Lt-Col Ian Stewart prepared them for jungle warfare in Malaya, preparing them in the harshest terrain in tactics which gave them the nickname of ‘The Jungle Beasts’. They became part of the 12th Infantry Brigade.
On the 8th December 1941 the Japanese invaded the North of Malaya after landing troops on the South East coast of Thailand, they soon gained a foothold after ‘Operation Matador’ was not put into action.
The already battle primed Japanese Troops infiltrated behind the defending troops forcing them to fall back to Singapore.
1942/01/31 - At 7.30am the Argyll and Sutherland began crossing the causeway from Malaya to Singapore and the Pipes of Charles ‘Boy’ Stuart and Piper McLean played ‘A Hundred Pipers, and the Argyll’s quick march ‘Heilin’ Ladie as the Argylls withdrew in open order. Ian Stuart then gave the order to blow the causeway to prevent the Japanese an easy route to Singapore.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.
1942/03/14 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 770. Reported ‘Missing’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. M- 252
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/ - Transported to Thailand
New PoW No. I 1306
Attached to Group 6 working in the area around Kinsaiyok
1943/11/ - Evacuated sick to Kanchanaburi
1944/03/ - Nakhon Pathom
New PoW No. I 15394
From Nakhon Pathom Charles was sent to work on the Mergui Road.
The Allies saw the danger and bombed the railway, succeeding in slowing down these supplies in 1944. By this time the Japanese had reached India and the Battle of Kohima took place. The Japanese were defeated at Kohima and the Allies were on the offensive, driving the Japanese forces back into Burma. It was evident that if the Japanese were pushed back through Burma it could result in their forces being cut off, an escape route was required, the Mergui Road was built for this reason.
The Mergui Road started construction in April 1945, the prisoners that survived were still working on the road when the Japanese surrendered on 18th August 1945.
Approximately fifty per cent of the work force were selected from the Nakom Pathon hospital patients by the Japanese medical officer, Neguchi, who showed no regard for their physical condition. The Japanese said the work party of 1000 prisoners was for light work in Malaya.
Many of the prisoners at Nakom Pathon had worked for the last 12 to 18 months on the Death railway and were very ill and undernourished but they saw Nakom Pathon as a place of death and many wanted to get away. This false promise from the Japanese of light work was yet another lie, the work force was for the construction of the Mergui Road, the road was to be made over a mountainous region between Mergui in Burma and Prachuap Khiri Khan in Thailand.
1945/08/30 - Liberated Thailand
1945/10/01 - WO417/97-2, Casualty List No. 1874. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1158 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
Post War
Charles served with the Argylls in Germany, Korea and Hong Kong.
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Above are his WWII Medals
Died
Charles died at Erskine Hospital on 7th December 1990
Information
Page asked for by Serena Gear
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Jonathan Moffatt - supplied photos of Charles
Thailand Raiway and Mergui Road
KEW Files:- WO 345/50, WO 361/2172, WO 361/1955, WO 361/2196, WO 392/26, WO 361/2166, WO 361/2166,
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