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199552
Captain - Education Officer
Charles Frederick Tabeart
1909/07/24 - Born, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire
Son of James William and Elizabeth Tabeart
(Father James William, was an agricultural labourer)
Charles won a scholarship to Soham Grammar, and from there a scholarship to Fitzwilliam, Cambridge
After graduating and in the depression, there were very few opportunities.
1932/12/13 - Enlisted.
Charles joined the Suffolk Regiment as a private soldier.
Royal Army Education Corps
Headquarters 11th Indian Division
Service
Whilst serving in India Charles heard that degree men were wanted for the Royal Army Education Corps, and would become instant sergeants, so he applied for and was granted a transfer.
1937 - Married Avice Hatch at St George's Church, Littleport, Cambridgeshire
1940/02/05 - Son Colin was born in British Military Hospital, Singapore.
1941/07/19 - Regular Army Emergency Commission - 2nd Lieutenant
1941/12/22 - Regular Army Emergency Commission. Temporary Captain.
1942/01/31 - Son Michael Trevor b 31 Jan 1942, British Military Hospital Singapore.
1942/02/06 - Waiting for Michael to be born before escaping from Singapore aboard the Devonshire, the last escorted troopship to leave before Singapore surrendered.
1942/03/28 , WO417/2, Casualty List No.783. Missing
1942/12/23 - WO417/004, Casualty List No. 1014. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 778 as reported Missing, 15/02/1942 with rank as Acting Captain. Now reported a Prisoner of War.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
1942/02/17 - Changi
PoW No. M-8189
Commander Lt-Gen. A.E. Percival
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/25 - Transported with ‘Z’ Force in the England Maru to Taiwan
1100 PoWs
Commander Lt-Col. William E.S. Napier
1942/11/14 - 500 PoWs sent to Kinkaseki, Taiwan - Camp 1
New PoW No. IV 1532
Commander William E.S. Napier
Work at the Kinkaseki 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 eveing 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.
1943/08/20 - Shirakawa, Taiwan - Camp 4
Commander Air Vice Marshal Maltby
Shirakawa became known as the 'Officers Camp', as most of the men in the camp were senior officers.
Work involved farming.
Charles wrote an autobiographical story called ‘Marjorie’ while a PoW.
1945/02/19 - Transported from Keelung to Moji, Japan in the Taiko Maru
1945/03/10 - Arrived Fukuoka 12 - Kyushu, Japan
Lt-Col. Edward W.F. Jephson, 5 Field Regiment, R.A.
1945/04/25 - Transported from Fukuoka Harbour with the ‘Special Party’ in the Fukuji Ferry.
With 150 PoWs.
1945/04/29 - Arrived Hoten, Mukden, Manchuria
Commander Air Vice Marshal Maltby
Liberated by Lt Col Skriknikov of the Red Army Guard
Liberation Questionnaire
Pages:- [1] [2] [3]
1945/09/20 - WO417/9, Casualty List No.1863. Previously shown on Casualty List No.1014 as Prisoner of War, Malaya. Now Not Prisoner of War.
Post War
After the war Charles returned to England to the Royal Army Education Corps and was posted to Eltham Palace, London.
1947/09/01 - Charles Frederick Tabeart (199552) with seniority, regular Army Short Service Commissions. Captain, Royal Army Educational Corps.
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Charles as a Major in Egypt 1948
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In 1948 Charles was promoted Temporary Major and posted to Moascar Garrison, Egypt, where the family joined him soon after. When Charles’s superior, Colonel "Tank" Chamberlain, went sick he was promoted Temporary Colonel, to revert back to temporary Major when Col. Chamberlain returned.
1949/04/29 - Son Stuart Charles was born , British Military Hospital, Moascar, Egypt.
1950 - Charles was posted back to Britain and worked at the Barracks at Beverley, Yorkshire.
1954/09/01 - Captain C. F. Tabeart (199552) relinquishes his command on completion of service and is granted the Honorary Rank of Major.
Charles obtained a teaching post at a school in East Suffolk, becoming head of the English department until final retirement.
London Gazette Announcements
Died
Charles died of heart failure 3rd January 1992
Norwich Hospital
Information
Colin Tabeart - Son
Japanese Transport
Special Party
Promotion 1947 - London Gazette 1665-2018, page 5012
Honorary Rank of Major - London Gazette 1665-2018 - Page 5500
KEW Files:- WO 361/1968, WO 392/26, WO 361/2064, WO 361/2068,
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