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3857572
Trooper
William Holt
1904/04/25 - Born Doubhill, Bolton
Son of George and Janet Holt
Reconnaissance Corps
18th (5th Bn. The Loyal Regt.) Regiment
18th Division
Service
Card believed to be Christmas 1940
The Reconnaissance Regiment was formed from 5th Loyals at Madeley Heath, Staffordshire on 30th April 1941, officially being transferred from The Loyal Regiment to The Reconnaissance Corps on 9 May 1941. They were trained during the summer of 1941 and issued with tropical kit as it was believed they would go to North Africa. With no Reconnaissance Corps cap badges the battalion made do with Corps flashes, issued in early June, and with painting Reconnaissance Corps markings in a diamond shape on their helmets.
The Reconnaissance Corps sailed with the 18th Division, which was believed to be destined for the Middle East.
1941/10/30 - Left Liverpool for Halifax in Convoy CT.5.
1941/11/08 - At Halifax transferred to American liners
1941/11/10 - Left Halifax with Convoy William Sail 12X, destination unknown, believed to be Middle East.
Above Photo of Convoy William Sail 12X supplied by the late Maurice Rooney
Vought SB 2U Vindicator Scout Bomber - USS Ranger which was flying an Anti Submarine patrol over the convoy.
Front Line Top to Bottom:-
USS West Point - USS Mount Vernon - USS Wakefield - USS Quincy (Heavy Cruiser)
Back Row Top To Bottom:-
USAT Leonard Wood - USS Vincennes (Heavy Cruiser) - USS Joseph T Dickman
(USS Orizaba Ap-24 also sailed with Convoy though not pictured in photo)
1941/12/08 - Japan entered war by bombing Pearl Harbour and invading Malaya.
The 18th Division was then diverted from Middle East and sent to Singapore.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to Japanese
1943/06/05 - WO 417/62, Casualty List No. 1153. Previously posted Missing, 15/02/1942. Casualty List No. 796. (Previously shown with Rank as Private). Reported a Prisoner of War
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. IV 3835
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index card - Side Two
1942/10/09 - Transported overland to Thailand in work party 4
6th Train from Singapore to Thailand
New PoW No. IV 8761
Reported ill at Tonchan South, Thailand
1945/07/05 - WO417/94_1, Casualty List No. 1800. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1153 as reported Prisoner of War in Japanese Hands. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. Previously shown with unit as Reconnaissance Corps. Died
Died
Aged 39
25th June 1943
Cause of death Cholera also reported as having Beri-beri and Malaria
Place of death Tonchan South, Thailand (Cholera Area). Grave 14.
After the war William was tranferred to Kanchanaburi
Loved Ones
Son of George and Janet Holt, of Bolton, Lancashire
Husband of Margaret Holt, of Daubhill, Bolton
Father to Dennis
Memorial
6. A. 50.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Documents Family Received
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Information
Pauline Kay - Granddaughter
Convoy William Sail 12X
Japanese Transport
Thailand Burma Railway
Commonwealth War Graves
KEW:- WO 392/24, WO 361/2172, WO 361/2053, WO 345/26, WO 361/1955, WO 361/1987, WO 361/2169, WO 361/1623, WO 361/2060, WO 361/2177, WO 361/2235,
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