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1093559
Gunner
James Knox
1910/11/14 - Born Paisley, Scotland
Son of Robert and Rosina Knox
Married to Lucy and were blessed with daughter Rosina
(Rosina is in the photo with father James)
1940/10/22 - Enlisted
Royal Artillery
137 Field Regiment
(The Blackpool Regiment)
11th Indian Division
Service
James enlisted in the 137 Field Regiment on the 22nd of October 1940. After basic training, in the summer of 1941 the Blackpool Regiment trained on the artillery range at Larkhill Camp near Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain. getting them ready for transport overseas.
Orders to sail came on 22nd September 1941. The regiment went to Liverpool and embarked in Dominion Monarch, a 27,000 ton Shaw Savil luxury cruise liner. She sailed on 30th September, destination unknown to the troops on board.
‘Dominion Monarch’
The Dominion Monarch was escorted across the North Atlantic, down the east coast of North America, and across the mid Atlantic to Freetown, Sierra Leone, where she joined other ships including the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Argus to Cape Town. The men were then given a five days shore leave, and enjoyed the warm welcoming hospitality of the South Africans. On returning to the ship their destination was to be the Far East.
The Dominion Monarch docked at Keppel Harbour, on the evening of 28th November 1941.
On 5th December, London had authorised the launching of "Matador", which was a defensive plan for Malaya, but the full Matador plan was delayed. On the 6th December small units of the 11th Indian Division, which were based in Jitra, were ordered to cross the border into Siam. They were too light and too late.
Japan entered the war on the 8th December by attacking Pearl Harbour, Malaya, and Hong Kong.
Japanese troops were landed at Singora and Patani in Thailand, having obtained the Thais permission. Japanese troops were also landed at Kota Bharu in Malaya.
The 137 Field Regiment, already in Malaya, were moved further North to help try stopping the Japanese advance. The Japanese having gained a foothold, soon gained ground, taking the now evacuated Kota Bharu airfield. Now with very little air support the defending troops were slowly pushed back towards Singapore.
Eventually crossing into Singapore, on the 31st of January 1942, the causeway connecting Malaya to Singapore was blown.
1942/02/09 - In the early hours, the Japanese made successful landings on the the North West coast of Singapore. Within six days the Allied troops had been pushed back to the outskirts of Singapore City. The Japanese were now in a position to turn off the water supply which supplied Singapore City.
‘The Surrender’ by Leo Rawlings
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.
Royal Artillery Tracer Card
1942/03/28 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 783. Reported ‘Missing’.
1942/10/12 - WO 417/52, Casualty List No.952. Previously shown on Casualty List No.783 as Missing, 15/02/1942. Now reported a ‘Prisoner of War’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. IV 15266
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/06/20 - Transported overland to Thailand in June Mainland Party, train 2
Commander Major W.E. Gill, 137 Field Regiment, RA
New PoW No. IV 9935
Thailand Camps:-
1942/06 - Nong Plakuk
Camp Leader Major W.E. Gill, Royal Artillery
Work involved establishing and preparing the Service Yard
1944/12 - Tha Makham
1945/04 - Tha Muang
Camp Leader RSM Christopher
1945, August - On Thailand Roll
1945/09/12 - Liberated Thailand into Allied Hands
The PoW were flown from Bangkok to Rangoon, then shipped home.
Liberation Questionnaire
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Post War
1946/04/23 - Discharged
Died
James died 4th January 1962
Information
Bob O’Brien - Grandson
Glenda Godfrey
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Thailand Burma Railway
Liberation Questionnaire
KEW Files:- WO 345/30, WO 392/25, WO 361/2172, WO 361/2196, WP 361/2171, WO 361/2068, WO 361/2166, WO 361/2186, WO 361/1955, WO 361/2196,
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