Johns-Leslie-Edward

honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

2315049

Sergeant

Leslie Edward Johns

Known as Dick

Born 1903/03/11, London

Son of Leonard and Mary Johns

Married May

Enlisted 1922

Royal Engineers

40th Fortress Company

Service

Leslie’s wife May, was evacuated by ship to Manila, then on to Sydney, Australia. She remained in Sydney, where she worked in a department store, not knowing if she was a widow.

1941/12/08 - The Japanese enter the war by attacking Pearl Harnour, Malaya and Hong Kong.

1942/02/03 - WO 417/37, Casualty List No.737. Reported ‘Missing’.

1943/04/22, WO 417/59, Casualty List No.1116. Previously shown on Casualty List No.737 as Missing, 25/12/1941. Now reported a ‘Prisoner of War’.

Japanese PoW

1941/12/25 - Captured Hong Kong

Shamshuipo Camp

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1942/09/04 - Leslie was in the first draft from Hong Kong to Tokyo, Japan. Leaving in the Shi Maru within the XD1 convoy, with 620 PoWs. The draft consisted of men who refused to sign the ‘No Escape’ document.

1942/09/15 - Arrived Yokohama, Japan

Taken to Tokyo 7B

Worked in copper mine for Fujita Gumi Mining

1945/05/14 - Transferred to Sendai 5b - Kamaishi

PoW No. 1771

Worked in Iron mill work for Nippon Steel

Liberated 1945/09/15

Liberation Questionnaire

(Name on Liberation Questionnaire given as Lewis Johns)

Repatriation

1945/10/09 - Departed Manila in the 'HMS Glory'.

Destination Esquimalt Naval Base, Canada.

British then entrained to the East Coast and transported to UK.

1945/10/22 - WO417/98, Casualty List No. 1890. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 915 (Corrected by No. 1116) as reported Prisoner of War now ‘Not Prisoner of War’. Previous Theatre of War, Hong Kong.