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The Burma Railway

Shortie

Shortie

master brummie
Is there any information written about Burma Railways fatalities. I don't mean books about what happened, but personal details about POWs. I have just found out one of my fairly distant relatives died, aged 38 in Burma. I would like to know if what is on the CWGC site is all I can find out about him, or is there more?

Shortie
 
I nursed an elderly man .whenever i gave him rice pudding as a sweet dessert he always said ..."thats burma road "..he was a prisoner of war and helped build the railway .he said they were fed on rice .bless him.
 
Put an advert in the "Cambridge evening news", this town is full of FEPOW, the Cambridge Regt, and the Suffolks, Bedfords, all went straight into captivity in Singapor.
 
Oh Dave, thank you. I had not thought of that, yet it's only a few minutes drive from here. I have always meant to go, so now I must!

Shortie
 
Thanks Dave for that extra bit of info, especially as my husband has just told me there is nothing there but a monument (shows what he knows then!!).

Shortie
 
Thanks again Dave. It's all a bit harrowing though, I find. My sister's father in law returned home from working on the railway, but would never speak about it. He was on television when they laid the sleepers at Alrewas - he died two years ago, his name was (Arthur)Alex Bourne. I had never thought for one moment I would have a blood relative (my gran's cousin) die out there, and it has been quite touching, to say the least. I hope to go over to Alrewas within the next week or so.

shortie
 

Above the Fepow building there is a office, would suggest you try and make contact with them Dave,

was there today for a service in the Chaple connected with HMS Belfast (old Ships)
 
Shortie said:
Oh Dave, thank you. I had not thought of that, yet it's only a few minutes drive from here. I have always meant to go, so now I must!

Shortie
Click to expand...

It's a good recommendation. I have been there and felt pretty humble after looking around, but never more so than when looking at the FEPOW exhibition which is in a little building of its own.
I've been interested in WW2 most of my adult life and I've read and looked at some pretty harrowing things, but I can't even think about this without thinking of the phrase "Man's inhumanity to man", and feeling desperately sad.
The only thing I can offer as anecdotal evidence comes from a gentleman whom I once knew who was there, he told me that something they had to learn very quickly was to understand what their captors were saying to them. To say they demanded blind, unquestioning obedience would be an understatement. He was still able to count to ten in Japanese.
 
Oh Mohawk - I have shed a tear for this young man who shares a bloodline with me, but when I go I think I shall be shedding a few more. His name was Ralph Lindley, and he was only 38. I hope to go within the next couple of weeks, but not easy to say when, as it is school holidays and our daughter needs our assistance.

Shortie
 
I will do, Dave, I have his service number or whatever it is called, and hopefully they will be able to give me some information.

It's a pity he never lived to see the finish of the railway, which I believe was in October of the same year. That might sound odd, but then it's difficult to explain what I mean. Buried all those miles from home, too, unutterably sad.

Shortie
 

Regarding the railway items, track/sleepers, at the NMA, Thanks to the Royal Navy, HMS Northumberland delivered them to the UK fromThailand Dave
 
hi all
ive had a chat with my mom concerning her dad and being a pow in burmer
his name was harrold victor cummings in june 1932
all she knowis he went to war and died in burmer as a POW

celia
 
I
Shortie said:
Oh Mohawk - I have shed a tear for this young man who shares a bloodline with me, but when I go I think I shall be shedding a few more. His name was Ralph Lindley, and he was only 38. I hope to go within the next couple of weeks, but not easy to say when, as it is school holidays and our daughter needs our assistance.

Shortie
Click to expand...

Allow plenty of time, it amazed me how big it is. Before I came back to tell you that, I Googled 'FEPOW', out of interest. There's loads on there, such as: FEPOW NAMES/DATABASE/CHILDREN OF FEPOW/FEPOW ASSOCIATION. I also found a roll of honour and you'll be pleased to know I found Ralph on there. Driver, RASC, Died aged 38 in 1943. It's on: www.roll-of-honour.org.uk Scroll down to the link to THAILAND-BURMA RAILWAY and then to surname letter and you'll find him. There's also info on his parents. It's nicely done, in the form of a book with a cross. Good luck.
 
celia said:
hi all
ive had a chat with my mom concerning her dad and being a pow in burmer
his name was harrold victor cummings in june 1932
all she knowis he went to war and died in burmer as a POW

celia
Click to expand...
Celia, as well as Colin's suggestion, if you hadn't noticed it already, you may like to try the link I put on for Shortie at #18.
 
Hi Mohawk, I have had a look at that site, I like the way it is organised, very neat. Unfortunately, they have Ralph's mother's details incorrectly, as do the CWGC. I have emailed CWGC to put it right, but how long it will take, I have no idea. His father was a gardener, and I am given to understand that he designed gardens in Picadilly, Manchester, but that may be an urban myth. He was head gardener at a large Hall prior to working for the council. His mother was Ann Susan Lindley nee Dunford, and her sister was Mary Ann Dunford, my gt grandmother. I am shortly meeting Ann Susan's granddaughter who lives in Coventry, she has more information, but did stress that Ralph died on the Burma Road and he was not involved with the Railway, which we know is not correct. Perhaps it was said in order to avoid distress.

I am hopefully off to Alrewas this week, weather permitting, will let you know what I find.

Shortie
 
I'm sure the bodies you mention will be only too happy to amend the details, Shortie. I'm glad I was able to help, and glad to have discovered the Roll of Honour.

When I was very young, my mom told me that her father's name was in book which had been published after WW 1, it eventually came into my possession. It's called 'The National Roll Of Honour Of The Great War, Section 1, Birmingham'. It gives a brief resume of those who served, whether or not they survived. Happily, my grandfather did survive. I also have his medals; from the condition of the ribbons, it is obvious to see he never wore them.

When I was about 7, mom took me to the Hall of Memory. It had a profound effect on me; for a young boy who had not known such times, it was hard to take in. I was barely tall enough to see the books. I went there about 3 years ago, of course it was just the same as it was on my previous visits; a solemn testament to those who died to preserve our freedom and to the sorrow of those who remained behind.

The final episode of the tv series 'The World At War' focussed on the human cost of war; its title was simple, and stark - REMEMBER.
 
Hi Mohawk, I have spoken to the CWGC web people today, and apparently, the problem was with the scanner, not human error, but they are putting it right. At the same time, they are sending me a link to enable me to get his army records, which is over and above what I expected. We were having rain today, so I made other arrangements, but if it is sunny and dry like this tomorrow, I shall be going to Alrewas after lunch. I shall post my findings on the forum. I still, however, do not know how a scanner can get a name like Ann wrong, and put Arm instead. Perhaps it was a foreign scanner (LOL). All this makes me really glad that I have always made a point of purchasing a poppy in November. Will report back later.

Shortie
 
Good result. Perhaps an ant was trotting over the scanner and got in the way; computer technology amazes and frustrates in almost equal measure at times.
I'm not sure what time they close at Alrewas, but as I said, I think you'll be surprised how much there is to see. I imagined it would largely be the main memorial wall (as frequently seen on tv) and a few others. I was greatly mistaken, I could easily have made a day of it; war memorials are a magnet to me. The difference in style of the memorials is amazing, too.

Anyway, good luck. Mohawk. (P.S. Ditto on the poppy)
 
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