Howard-Eric-Bertram

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

160119

Lieutenant

Eric Bertram Howard

1917/02/16 - Born London

Next of Kin Mother, The Hon Mrs Michael Howard, Clive Crescent, London, W9

Royal Artillery

80 Anti Tank Regiment

11th Division

Service

1941/08/28 - Mobilisation Centre to join 80 Anti-Tank Regiment. Departed Nottingham for Gourock, Scotland.

1941/08/29 14:00 - Boarded HMT Scythia (Ex. RMS Scythia, Cunard Line)

1941/08/30 23:00 - Convoy sailed for Singapore. (although no one onboard knew the destination at this time) This was named Convoy WS 11.

1941/09/13 - Arrived Freetown, Sierra Leone.

1941/09/18 - Sailed from Freetown.

1941/10/03 - Arrived Durban, South Africa.

1941/10/07 - Changed ships to SS Johan de Witt and sailed from Durban.

1941/10/22 - Arrived Bombay, India

1941/10/27 - Sailed from Bombay.

1941/10/31 - Called into Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1941/11/06 - Arrived Singapore. Upon disembarking the men were marched to the railway station where they entrained. 32 men were left at the docks to deal with weapons, stores and other equipment, for delivery over the next few days.

Instead of remaining together as a 4 battery regiment, the 80th Anti-Tank Regiment were informed that each gun crew would be operating independently under different commands.

Battery 2 and 215 were to come under the command of 11th Indian Division.

Battery 272 was to come under the command of 9th Indian Division.

Battery 273 was to come under the command of Malaya Command.

All battery’s were in action in Malaya.

There are no records to confirm which battery Richard operated with, but he was 11th Indian Division.

Battery 272 were in action at Taiping, Kuala Krai, Gong Kedah Aerodrome, and Port Swettersham and reported mainly to the 5th Baluch Regiment.

Battery 2 and 215 were further north around Alor Star Aerodrome and Sungai Patarni.

1941/12/08 - The Japanese attacked Malay, landing troops at Sungai and Patarni in Thailand and Khota Baru, Malaya.

For the next 3 months the allied forces fought a retreating action throughout Malaya, with particular strong battles at places they thought would become a holding line such as the Slim River. However, this was not just a battle of troops as the Japanese were jungle trained, had plenty of tanks, but most important had a massive airforce. The British and Australian airforce consisted of very old and slow aircraft such as Brewster Buffalo which were no match for the bombers and Zero fighters. Even the arrival of 50 Hurricanes that arrived in January only lasted a week.

1942/01/29 - All allied troops have retreated to Singapore.

The Japanese quickly advanced putting the water supply in the Reservoirs in danger which supplied Singapore City.

Singapore Surrender by Leo Rawlings

1942/02/15 - Singapore surrenders to the Japanese

1942/03/24 - WO417/2, Casualty List No.779. Reported ‘Missing’.

Japanese PoW

1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore

PoW No. M-1205

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/06/20 - Transported overland to Thailand with June Mainland Party, train 2.

New PoW No. 11583

On January 28th 1943 Eric escaped from Tha Makham camp, Thailand with Captain Eugene Pomeroy and four Privates from the East Surrey Regiment, Ernest Cleaver 6140958, Norman Dorval 6142762, Charles Richardson 6140498 and John Croker 6141853.

After escaping, Howard and Pomeroy split from the main group.

The four East Surrey Privates were captured and taken back to Tha Makham. After being tortured, they were taken out of the camp towards Chungkai, made to dig their own graves and executed.

Pomeroy and Howard were captured two weeks later by Thai Police and handed over to the Japanese who took them back to Tha Makham.

After torture they were put into a lorry and taken out of the camp. They were executed by the Japanese.

Died

1943/02/22 - Bayoneted to death

Memorial

2.K.31

Kanchanaburt War Cemetery

1945/11/20 - WO417/9, Casualty List No. 1915. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 936 as Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya. Previously shown with rank as 2nd Lieutenant. Reported as ‘Died’.