5th Bn. Beds & Herts - Burma Railway

I recently found out my wife's uncle was in this Regiment & perished as a Japanese POW. He is buried at Thanbyuzayat having died aged 23, twelve years before my wife (his niece) was born. I would be grateful of any information regarding this Regiments movements from leaving the U.K. to the surrender of Singapore and the building of the railway.
Thanks in advance
MED

 

Hope this helps, click this link.

COFEPOW - The Armed Forces - The 5th Battalion - Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment

 

Many thanks. I have already enrolled with COFEPOW & read this but it was kind of you to supply the link. I am trying to fine out what happened to the 5th Bn. after they left the U.K.
Kindest regards
MED

 

It was part of the 55th Infantry Brigade, which in turn was part of 18th Infantry Division. The 55th was mainly held in reserve for most of the Malayan campaign, getting thrown into battle only when the Japanese had started the fight for Singapore city.

 

You are so kind, replying so quickly & so late at night. My Mother-in-Law was only 11 when my wife's uncle went off to war and very little is known of what happened to him. Thank you for the information, but again, I have managed to get as far as that. I am trying to be fairly specific, I expect I need to find an ex-POW who was in the 5th Bn. or relative there-of. I want to try to write a diary for Ma-in-Law detailling her brother's movements (his Regiment, to be realistic) so she can replace the abstract thoughts she has with fairly firm facts. She is in very poor health and it would be comforting for her to know a little bit of her late brother's fate before she goes to join him! Any information will be gratefully received, even if it duplicates that, that I have already managed to find out.
Many thanks
MED

 

Your best best is to get in touch with the Wardown Park Museum who house the Regiment's gallery. They may hold the Regimental diaries, and/or have details of the local association or veterans.

Wardown Park Museum - 24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage

 

Thanks again. I have visited this site twice but find navigating a bit challenging. I'm 50 next week and missed the boat as far as computers are concerned! I get lost & out of my depth very quickly - I will write to the address in the link - pen & paper always worked better!
Turning in now, take care
MED

 

If you use email this is their address:

museum.gallery@luton.gov.uk

 

The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
Description
Come and meet former serving members of the regiment who would be delighted to answer questions about the regimental history and help with family history enquiries

Wardown Park Museum
Old Bedford Road
Luton
LU2 7HA
Bedfordshire

Contact details
Reception/Front of House (Tel) : 01582 546722
Admin Office (Tel) : 01582 546723
Marketing Department (Tel) : 01582 546739
Schools/Education Department (Tel) : 01582 546745
Curatorial Department (Tel) : 01582 546726
Admin Office (Fax) : 01582 546763
E-mail : museum.gallery@luton.gov.uk
Website : Luton BC - Museums and galleries

 

My late father served in this regiment and through my research I can give you the following info on the regiments journey to Singapore;
29 Oct 1941 left Liverpool
9 Oct : Halifax
Port of Spain, Trinidad no date given
10-13 Dec: Capetown
28 Dec: Bombay
30 Dec: disembarked
31 Dec:Ahmednagar
17 Jan 1942: left above
19 Dec : re-embarked
29 Dec: Keppel Harbour, Singapore, via Sunda Straits

Hope this helps.

James
ps I think the ship was the SS Reina del Pacifico

 

Cheers James, this is quite a nice post for a first one, if you wish you may go to our new member section and introduce yourself there

 

I have been researching relatives who were with the 5th Btn in Singapore.
I have collected quite a lot of information on the various convoys that took them there and some information on what happened to the men after capture.
In April this year a vast amount of new material was added to the archive at Kew.
It is by no means a complete record of all the men but it does mean that is is now possible to at least find some information relating to individuals.
I would be willing to help any body with a specific request in looking for the details of a relative.
I do have one question.
I can find nothing at all about the SS Bonnikom. This was the ship that according to the regimental records carried the transport for the Btn.
Is this the correct name?
What became of it?
Muntjack

 

I have to say we have certainly had an influx of good intentioned knowledgeable NEW members recently...Long may it continue.