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2979814
Private
James Watt Easton
1918/11/17- Born Plean, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Next of Kin - Mother: Mrs Easton, South Plean Cottage, Plean, Stirling
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
2nd Battalion
‘D’ Company
Service
James Coronation Souvenir
Basic Training at Stirling in Scotland.
In March 1937 they were posted to India.
The Battalion were then transported to the Far East where Lt-Col Ian Stewart prepared them for jungle warfare in Malaya, preparing them in the harshest terrain in tactics which gave them the nickname of ‘The Jungle Beasts’. They became part of the 12th Infantry Brigade.
On the 8th December 1941 the Japanese invaded the North of Malaya after landing troops on the South East coast of Thailand, they soon gained a foothold after ‘Operation Matador’ was not put into action.
The Japanese landed at Singora and Patini in Thailand and Kota Bharu in Malaya. The Japanese took control of the Kota Bharu airfield, this gave the Japanese control of the air.
The already battle primed Japanese Troops infiltrated behind the defending troops forcing them to fall back.
The 12th Infantry Brigade gave rearguard action to the retreating 11th Indian Division, until eventually a stand was made at the Slim River on January 7th.
The troops held until Japanese tanks arrived and turned the battle of the Slim River to their advantage. The Argylls were hit badly and it was left to every man to find his own way back to the safety of Singapore, later named the ‘Long Retreat’. Many Argylls found themselves trying to evade the Japanese and survive in the jungle of Malaya.
Although James was posted ‘Missing’, he was taken prisoner in Malaya.
1942/03/13 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 770. Reported ‘Missing’.
Japanese PoW
1942/01/12 - Captured Malaya
1942/05/20 - Transported to Pudu Camp, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya
Commanding Officer Col. Hartingan
Capt. Boyle, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1942/10/15 - Transported to Changi, Singapore
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/05/15 - Transported oversea with ‘J’ Force in Wales Maru to Moji, Japan
Transport consisted of 600 British and 300 Americans
Via:- Takao, Taiwan. Attacked by Submarine but not hit.
1943/06/10 - Hakodate Detention Centre
1943/06/16 - Tanigawa Camp
1943/11/17 Arrived at Fukuoka 3B - Yakata/Tobata/Kokura
New PoW Card III 3650
Worked at the Yahata Steel Mills
1945/08/15 - On Fukuoka Roll
1945/09/17 - Liberated, to Nagasaki Port
Under supervision of Colonel Guk Huin
1945/10/26, WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1894. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1059 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
Repatriation
Repatriated to San Francisco in America where he had an operation when arriving. To where his son believes he had half of his intestines and or stomach removed because of malnutrition etc.
He returned to the UK from America in the Queen Elizabeth.
Post War
When fit enough to work James got a job in Stanley Tools in Sheffield where he met Lenorah Womack.
On the 16th September 1950 James married Lenorah Womack in St. George's Church
They were blessed with son James, born in January 1952.
James mother died in the summer of 1952 in Plean, Scotland so the family moved to Plean, Stirlingshire.
They were blessed with daughter Helen in 1954.
Lenorah’s mother was offered a small terraced house in Sheffield that belonged to her Aunt so the family moved back to Sheffield.
They were blessed with son Brian.
James swallowed part of a tangerine without chewing it as he had no teeth, and it lodged in his cardiac Sphincter. He was taken to Sheffield Royal Infirmary hospital where he had a simple operation, but unfortunately got pneumonia and passed away. Leaving the family distraught, having survived three years ten months as a FEPOW and then passing away in a NHS hospital, it seemed unbelievable.
James died only 51 years old, on the 20th July 1970.
His son James was studying at grammar school when his father died. He misses him dearly, never knowing what he put up with in the Far East and never knew he was a POW in Fukuoka B3, Japan.
Son James Message:- ‘Keeping His Candle Burning’ has filled in lots of gaps, as well as correspondence with Jonathan Moffatt. Thank you both.
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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James Far East Medals
Information
James Easton - Son
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Japanese Homeland Camps
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Btn.
KEW Files:- WO 345/16, WO 361/1678, WO 361/1254, WO 392/24, WO 361/2199, WO 367/2,
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