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859380
Gunner
Edward Terence McCann
Born
1919/12/08 - Port Talbot
Son to David and Ellen McCann
Husband of Anna Joyce McCann
Adult Occupation - Radio Mechanic
Royal Artillery
5 Searchlight Regiment
13 Battery
Captured Singapore 1942/02/15
Japanese PoW
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
Camps:-
Singapore
PoW No. 13457
Saigon, French Indo China - 1942/04/04
New PoW No. IV 11029
Kinsaiyok, Thailand
Tha Sao, Thailand
Nakhan Pathon, Thailand
Survived the camps, liberated 1942/08/15
Letter by Edward T McCann
Additional Information Relative to Enclosed Documents
When working on the Siam-Burma Railway as a POW sometime in August 1943 I first contracted Amoebic Dysentery, and as a result was admitted into sickbay – a term so used in lieu of hospital by order of the Imperial Japanese Army – and so became a patient of a Dutch Army doctor at Kinsaiyok Camp.
The name of this doctor I cannot at the moment recall.
Soon after, however, within a matter of days I became a patient of Captain John Street, R.A.M.C. It was with that extremely expert doctor, who was forced to work under such impossible conditions, I was within a few weeks or so evacuated with a party of chronic sick from Kaisayo to Tarsoa, a camp some miles down country from the Kaisayo work area. Captain John Street RAMC there took over the responsibilities of Ward 1, a bamboo and attap hut used for the shelter of Dysentery patients at Tarsoa sickbay, or hospital centre.
Sometime in 1944, approximately about March or April I think, a large part of Amoebic Dysentery patients, of which I was a member were moved from the Thailand jungle country to a base camp hospital at Nakhom Pathon, some thirty miles from Bangkok. Still under the care of Captain Street, who was evacuated at the same time from Tarsoa, I was admitted to Ward 4 at that Base Hospital.
After a few months at that hospital, approximately September, 1944, I first contracted BT Malaria.
Latterly, in April or May 1945 and whilst working as a “Sick Half Day Worker”, a designation so brought out by order of the Japanese Camp Commandant of Nakhom Pathon, against the wishes of Lt. Col. Dunlop A.I.F the British Administrator, I was employed with a party of about a dozen other “Sick Half Bay Workers”, on the job of spreading camp excreta and urine over the vegetables being cultivated in the Japanese garden.
Not being in possession of boots or any form of stout footwear of any kind, every member of that working party by the following day was diagnosed as having contracted Ankylostomiasis or “American Hookwork” as Captain Street informed us, and caused by working barefoot on “Night Soil Poisoned Ground” as the Japanese Commandant told us.
Temporary medical records were kept, and should be available to confirm this information, certainly Captain Street compiled them, as so did the British doctors at Bangkok Hospital where I was admitted immediately upon liberation at Nakhom Pathon fourteen days after cessation of Japanese hostilities.
I have seen these reports, and have committed some of their contents to memory whilst being written, as I did when I saw my report after discharge from Chepstow EMS Hospital in 1946, in which is stated that my medical category is B2.
Later I was given possession of a Green Disablement Card.
Edward T. McCann
Ex 859380, Gnr. 5/SL Regt. RA
83 Heol Degwn
North Cornelly
Near Bridgend
Mid Glamorgan
South Wales
Edward Died
April 3rd. 1976
Letter by Anna Joyce McCann
(Widows War Pension)
SUPPLEMENTARY STATEMENT
In the case of Anna Joyce McCann
Widow of Edwards McCann
ANSWER BY APPELLANT
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7.10.94
WF44
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I think that the decision of the Secretary of State is wrong because:
No medical records are shown from the period 16.02.42 tO 1.10.45 although my husband clearly states in his letter to you that records were in fact kept.
Also I think in view of the horrendous conditions endured by him, it’s a bit simplistic to blame his condition which he died from on smoking.
I disagree with some facts in the Statement of Case. These are the things I do not agree with and why I do not agree:
Page 2 – No records shown from time kept in Japanese hands.
These are the extra facts I think you should include in the Statement:
Page 5 27.2.46, Clearly states enlarged heart after repatriation (after his imprisonment) then see page 10 bottom line, again Cardiac enlargement !
11.10.74.
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Signed: A. J. McCANN
FURTHER EVIDENCE
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28.10.94
WF45
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WAR PENSIONS ENQUIRY TO MEDICAL RECORDS SECTION, ARCHIVES REGISTRY, NELSON
Please supply all available medical records of McCann Edward Terence
Regiment RA 859,380.
POW details 16.2.42 – 1.10.45 – Japanese.
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3.11.94
WF45
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REPLY TO ABOVE ENQUIRY
Hospital cards: NT. MPC 47: NT.
POW records verified Jap index for A & D books. See below for details.
Admission and discharge entries:
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Hospital
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Admission
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Discharge
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Disablement
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Remarks
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Tasco Base
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21.8.43
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16.4.44
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Amoebic Dysentery
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Book 44 P 2
SN 2354
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Nankom Paton
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17.4.44
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Amoebic Dysentery
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Book 27 P 154
SN 1225
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Nankom Paton
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19.4.44
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Amoebic Dysentery
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Book 29 P54
SN 1812
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Herewith all available medical info.
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Daughter Cynthia’s fight for Edward’s war pension
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