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3526875
Corporal
Arthur Henry Cope
1916/09/06 - Born Richmond, Surrey
Son of Charles William and Sybil Beatrice Cope
(Father’s occupation Postman)
Brother to Sybil Florence (b.1912) and Ethel Nellie (b.1921),
Arthur’s occupation Regular Soldier
Next of kin - Parents Charles and Sybil Cope of Richmond, Surrey
Manchester Regiment
1st Battalion
Service
At the outbreak of the Second World War the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment were assigned to a beach defence role, which entailed setting up of Machine gun posts, searchlights and ant-ship, and landing craft obstacles.
In November 1937 the battalion had become a machine gun unit and in January 1938 with a strength of 980 officers and men the 1st Battalion were transported to Palestine as Jewish Community protectorates. They were housed in Tiberius at ‘The Central’ and ‘Elizabethan’ Hotels. A B C and D companies occupied trouble spots at Mielia, Safad, Sarafand Jerusalem and along the Jordan border
Under orders on 4th October 1938, the 1st Battalion sailed in the ‘Dilwara’ for the Far East and Singapore. At Port Suez they had a few days in the Western Desert while peace talks took place between Chamberlain and Adolph Hitler. Then back on the ship, arriving in Singapore on the 20th October 1938. As part of the 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigade, they saw action during the Japanese invasion of Singapore island in February 1942.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.
1942/03/23 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 778. Reported ‘Missing’.
1943/08/05 - Casualty List No 1204. Previously posted on Casualty List No 778 as Missing. Now reported Prisoner of War.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. 4202
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/04/26 - Transported overland with ‘F’ Force, train 9
The 72nd train to Thailand
The route in cattle trucks to Thailand:-
1943/04/27 - Kuala Lumpur (0300 hrs), had rice and dried fish at Ipoh (1600 hrs)
1943/04/28 - Reached Pai (0200 hrs), arrived Haadyi (1700 hrs)
1943/04/29 - Water in cattle trucks very short, heat stifling in trucks all day..
1943/05/01 - reached Ban Pong
The PoWs were ordered off the Cattle trucks on arrival and after a walk of nearly a mile to a transit camp where they were then informed they would be marching North West along the railway route in 14 mile stages. Many of the PoWs tried to sell their possessions to the Thais but not at a good price as the Thais knew the the PoWs from ‘F’ Force were already in bad shape and could not carry their baggage for long.
1943/05/03 - After two days of walking through the night, as it was too hot in the daylight sun, they reached the small town of Kanchanaburi. Many who tried to carry their possessions left them at this staging camp.
Walking at night caused many problems as the track was uneven with bamboo shots cutting into their feet, in time tropical ulcers would form.
1943/05/14 - PoWs from train 9 party moved out at 1930 hrs.
1943/06/03 - Reached Songkurai, many of the PoWs had dropped out along the route.
New PoW No. 3252
‘F’ Force had the most deaths on the Thailand Burma Railway
‘F’ Force Summery
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British
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Australian
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Total
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Departed April 1943
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3336
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3664
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7000
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Returned Dec. 1943 - Sime Road
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175
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165
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340
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Returned Dec. 1943 - Changi
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835
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2060
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2895
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Returned Apr. 1944 - Changi
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295
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411
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706
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1305
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2636
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3941
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Less Died at Changi
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17
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32
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49
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1288
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2604
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3892
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I.J.A. Custody (Including Changi Hosp.)
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11
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11
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Alive as at 30th Apr. 1944
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1299
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2604
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3903
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Died Thailand Burma Railway
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2013
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1014
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3027
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Died Changi
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17
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32
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49
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Missing
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7
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14
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21
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Total Casualties
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2037
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1060
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3097
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Casualty Percentage
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61.03%
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28.95%
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44.21%
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Died
Age 27
1943/08/09
Cause of Death Beri Beri
Songkurai, Cemetery 2, Row 4, Grave 5
After the war Arthur was buried in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery
1945/12/08 - WO417/100, Casualty List No. 1931. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1204 as reported Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. Reported ‘Died’.
Loved Ones
Parents Charles and Sybil Cope
Memorial
B3. G. 10.
THANBYUZAYAT WAR CEMETERY
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Information
Paul Pope
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Manchester Regiment - Roll of Honour
Japanese Transports
Thailand Burma Railway
Songkurai, Thailand
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
KEW Files:- WO 392/23, WO 345/12, WO 361/1946, WO 361/2058, WO 361/1344, WO 361/2234, WO 361/2201, WO 304/15,
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