Ulph-William-James

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

1100639

Gunner (Driver)

William James Ulph

Known as Will

1908/02/27 - Born East Dereham, Norfolk

Son of William and Celia Louise Ulph

Brother to Ella Celia (born 1906) and Elsie Mary (born 1910)

1911 Census - family lived at 31 London Road East Dereham, East Dereham, Norfolk

Occupation Insurance Agent

1934/05/20 - Marriage Bans read at East Dereham

1934/06/16 - Married Olive Mary Bullard (Born 1912)

1940/11/14 - Enlisted

Next of Kin:- Wife, 31 London Road, Dereham, Norfolk

Royal Artillery

85th Anti-Tank Regiment

Service

1941/09/23 - The 85th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery was formed.

Four batteries were detached from other regiments and joined the 85th Regiment on the dates mentioned below:-

1941/09/23 - 270th Battery

1941/09/27 - 251st Battery

1941/09/27 - 281st Battery

1941/09/29 - 45th Battery

After training in Essex, the 85th and their equipment were loaded on to the SS Narkunda, a ship in Convoy William Sail 12Z.

1941/11/12 - Sailed from Liverpool and the Clyde.

1941/11/13 - The convoy formed off Oversay as below:

*11L* *ADRASTUS*	*21L* *MATAROA*	*31C* *NARKUNDA* *(Commodore)*	*41L* *ORDUNA*	*51C* *DEUCALION*

*12L* *EMPIRE STAR* Â	*22L* *DUCHESS OF BEDFORD* *(Vice Commodore)*	*32C* *AORANGI* *32C* *EMPRESS OF JAPAN* *(same position number)*	*42L* *MONARCH OF BERMUDA*	*52C* *ABBEKERK*

*13L* *SUSSEX*	*23L* *EMPRESS OF ASIA*		*43L* *CAPETOWN CASTLE*	*53C* *RIMUTAKA*
		*34C* *ARUNDEL CASTLE*

When the convoy departed the docks, the 85th were heading for the Middle East via the Cape of Good Hope. The 85th equipment was painted in desert camouflage. The convoy sailed south to Durban, South Africa.

1941/12/08 - The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and invaded the Philippines.

The 85th were diverted from their original desert destination to Singapore in Convoy DM 1 (Durban Military):-

AORANGI

MOUNT VERNON

NARKUNDA

SUSSEX

They became part of the 53rd Battalion. as reinforcements of the Singapore Garrison.

Escorted by EMERALD, a rendezvous was made at the fuelling stop at Addu Atoll from where the escort was reinforced by the cruisers Durban and Exeter.

1942/01/09 - Sloop Jumna joined convoy

1942/01/10 - The Dutch cruiser De Ruyter was present for the next three days. The destroyers Encounter, Jupiter and Vampire joined the convoy until the convoy reached Singapore.

1942/01/13 - Convoy DM 1 arrived Singapore

1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese

1942/04/21 - WO 417/42, Casualty List No. 803. Reported ‘Missing’.

1943/08/23 - WO 417/65, Casualty List No. 1219. Previously posted Missing. Now reported Prisoner of War.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore

PoW No. 2959

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/10/29 - Transported overland to Thailand with Letter Party ‘T’, train 5

23rd train to Thailand

Commander Lt-Col. J Dean, 125 Anti-Tank Regiment, RA

Party consisted of:

	*Officers*	*ORs*	*Total*
*HQRA*	3	28	28
*135 Field Regiment, RA*	7	*141*	*148*
*125 Anti-Tank Regiment, RA*	9	*133*	*142*
*85 Anti-Tank Regiment, RA*	6	*140*	*146*
*HQ 53 Infantry Brigade, 18th Div.*		8	8
*53 Infantry Brigade, 18th Div.*	1	58	59
*6th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment*	5	*114*	*119*
*Total*	31	*618*	*649*

Work Group 2

New PoW No. 14548

Group 2 then 4 ended up at Khao Din Railway Workshops

Work Group 4

New PoW No. 16151

1945/08/01 - On Roll

1945/09/05 - Liberated Thailand

Liberation Questionnaire

Thailand PoWs were taken to Bangkok and the transported to Rangoon.

Then those fit enough were shipped home.

1945/09/29 - WO417/97_1, Casualty List No. 1871. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1219 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.