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2323216
Sergeant
Douglas Andrew Lindsay Murray
1918/11/14 - Born Mhow, India
1918/12/05 - Baptised Christ Church, Mhow, India
Son of Charles Christie and Florence Louise (Nee Howell) Murray
Occupation Regular Soldier
Next of Kin, Mrs C J Smith, Hong Kong St. Calcutta
Royal Corps of Signals
9/11 Indian Division Signals
Service
Family Photo - Left to right - Edna, Alan, Douglas, Joanne and Alex
Douglas was station in Singapore with younger brother Alex. both in the 9/11 Indian Division Signals..
1941/12/08 - Japan entered the war by Bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Hong Kong and Malaya.
Japanese troops land on the Malayan border with Thailand at Kota Bharu (Malaya), Singora and Patani (Thailand).
1942/01/24 - Alex arrived in Singapore.
As the Japanese had taken the airfield at Kota Bharu, the Allied troops had very little air cover and by the 31st of January 1942, Allied Troops were pushed back to Singapore.
The causeway joining Singapore to Malaya was blown to stop the Japanese advance.
On the 9th February the Japanese attacked the North West coast of Singapore. General Percival had set his main defence on the North East coast line, and the Japanese quickly gained the advantage.
By the 15th February the Japanese were in danger of taking control of the water supply at the reservoirs, which would endanger the Singapore City water supply. General Percival had no alternative but to surrender.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese
1942/06/25 - WO417/45, Casualty List No. 859. Reported ‘Missing’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. M-7484
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/25 - Transported oversea in England Maru with ‘Z’ Force to Taiwan,
with 1100 British PoWs
Commander Lt-Col. W.W.F/ Jephson, 5th Field HQ, RA
1942/11/06 - Arrived Keeling, Taiwan
New PoW No. VI 1048
1942/11/14 - Taihoku Camp 6, Taiwan
Together with his brother Alex, things changed for the worse as the conditions in the camp were very bad. Rice, a small amount of vegetables and very rarely a small amount of meat were distributed twice a day.
Douglas developed Oedema and suffered foul swellings which were not considered dangerous by the Japanese and so Douglas continued to work outside.
1945/09/06 - Liberated Taihoku Camp 6, Taiwan
Liberation Questionnaire filled in by Douglas after being liberated
1946/01/19 - WO417/101, Casualty List No.1199. Previously shown on Casualty List No.1150 as Prisoner of War, Malaya. Now Not Prisoner of War.
Repatriation
USS General W.C. Langfitt
1945/09/18 - Departed Leyte, Philippines.
1945/10/03 - Arrived San Francisco, California.
British then entrained to the East Coast and transported to Southampton.
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Far East Medals
Information
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Japanese Transports
Royal Corps of Signals
British Repatriation Rolls
KEW Files:- WO 361/2068, WO 361/2190, WO 392/25, WO 361/1968, WO 345/37, WO 361/1546, WO 361/1536,
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