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1469607
Gunner
Frederick William George Billing
1918/05/02 - Born Dudley
Son of Henry and Florence Billing
Occupation Cobbler
1939/06/02 - Enlisted
Attestation Record above
Royal Artillery
5th Field Regiment
11th Indian Division
Service
1941/11/06 - 5 Field Regiment (Lt-Col Jephson) arrived at Singapore. They had been at Shinkiani, beyond Manserah, India in July. They were armed with 4.5" howitzers as was 155 Fed Regt. They had two batteries of 8 guns each: 73 (Maj Don) and 63/81 (Maj Bland). They went up to Ipoh into Canning Camp which by then 155 Fd had left.
A scheme had been worked out in peace to make an advance into Thailand in case the latter was hostile or invaded by an enemy. The scheme – known as Matador – involved the use of portions of the 11th Indian Division. If this advance was not ordered, then the 11th Indian Division occupied a main position about Jitra known as the Jitra position.
1941/12/08 - When war started the 5th Field Regiment were under Brigadier E.W. Goodman ‘command’ and consisted of 5 Field Regiment split between Kuantan and Kelantan and the Mountain Battery with HQ and two sections in Kelantan and one in Kuantan and 88 Field Regiment at Mantin not yet complete with guns or vehicles. Operation Matador had not been ordered.
1941/12/12 - The 11th Division was ordered to the Jitra position and then under constant Japanese pressure, a steady withdrawal down Malaya took place, towards Singapore.
1942/01/31 - The causeway between Malaya and Singapore was blown.
1942/02/15 - Singapore Surrendered to the Japanese
1942/03/21 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 777. Reported ‘Missing’.
1943/05/13 - WO 417/60, Casualty List No. 1133. Previously posted Missing, 15/02/1942, Casualty List No. 777. Reported a Prisoner of War.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
Changi Camp
PoW No. 1413
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/05/15 - Transported oversea in Wales Maru with ‘J’ Party
Commander Lt-Col. L. J. A. Byrne, HQ A.A.S.C., A.I.F.
Commander Lt. Humber
Party consisted of:-
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Southern Area
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248
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HQ Area
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21
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Garden and Wood Area
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310
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Hospital Area (British)
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21
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Hospital Area (Aistralian)
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1
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AIF
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299
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Americans
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50
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Total
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950
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1943/05/20 - Transported Via Takao, Taiwan
Attacked by submarine but not hit
1943/06/07 - Arrived Moji, Japan
Sick to Moji Hospital
Once they arrived the British and Australians were separated, the British going to Fukuoka 15B,
Transported to Fukuoka 15B - Mizumaki, (Orio)
Camp held:-
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British
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117
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Americans
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138
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Dutch
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764
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Australians
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41
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Canadians
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1
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South Africans
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1
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Total
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1062
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Work at Camp was Coal Mining
Takamatsu Coal Mining Company
Photo taken 1945/09/15 - Shows Coal Mine Cars to take PoWs to coal face
1943/04/22 - Camp Established as Fukuoka 15B
1943/12/01 - Camp renamed Fukuoka 9D
1945/08/ - Camp Renamed Fukuoka 6B
1943/08/21 - Australian George A. Irwin was murdered after attempted escape by Sgt-Maj. Tsuguo Iwanuma
1945/09/15 - Liberated at Fukuoka 6B
Liberated PoWs at Orio
Liberation Questionnaire
1945/11/19 - WO417/99, Casualty List No. 1914. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1133 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Post War
1951/10/23 - Married Margaret L. Hemming in Birmingham
Malcolm and Frederick
(Malcolm was 7 years old in the photo)
Died
Age 40
1958
Birmingham, Warwickshire
Information
Malcolm Billing - Son
Glenda Godfrey
Mark Wilkie
Tim Lloyds
Keith Andrews
Brigadier E.W. Goodman
Japanese Transports
Hell Ships
Roger Mansell’s Web Site
Liberation Qustionnaire - COFEPOW
KEW Files:- WO 367/2, WO 361/1254, WO 392/23, WO 345/5, WO 361/2070, WO 361/2058, WO 361/2184,
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