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4973527
Bombardier
Edwin Musgrove
1916/07/13 - Born Whitemoor, Nottingham
Son of Frank and Florence (nee Cropley) Musgrove
Brother to Lizzie, Frank, Reggie, Florence, and Lilly.
Step-Sister to Annie Burkin
Royal Artillery
9th Coast Regiment
Singapore Fortress
Service
1937/02/27 - Enlisted
9th Coast Regiment
by Michael Nellis
Between the two World Wars there was a major reorganisation of the Royal Artillery, where it had been decided in 1926 that all Home Coastal defence Regiments would become Territorial Army and all overseas units would be Regulars. It is almost impossible to separate the 7th Coast and the 9th Coast Regiments as they worked so closely together.
By 1933 the Coast Defence Unit in Singapore was designated 7th Heavy Brigade RA with 11th and 22nd Heavy Batteries RA and 3rd Heavy Battery HKSRA. In addition the Hong Kong Coast Defences had a Hong Kong Singapore Brigade with its HQ in Hong Kong and 3 Batteries stationed in Singapore - 2nd, 4th and 5th Heavy Batteries RA.
Due to the expansion of Coast Defences in Singapore a new Heavy Brigade, the 9th was raised in 1934 consisting of 7th and 22nd Heavy Batteries. In 1938 the term Brigade was replaced as Regiment.
On the outbreak of War in September 1939 the Singapore defences consisted of:
- 7th Heavy Regiment RA - 11th and 31st Batteries RA and 5th and 7th Batteries HKSRA
- 9th Heavy Regiment RA - 7th, 22nd and 32nd Batteries RA
In the summer of 1940 Coast Units had their title changed from Heavy Regiments to Coast Regiments. [Re Designated 9th Coast Regiment 14th December 1940.]
Both the 7th and 9th Coast Regiments were formed in situ. The 7th lost one of its Batteries to form the 9th Heavy and additional personnel were sent out from the UK to form the extra Batteries.
Edwin was with the 22nd Coast Battery of the 9th Coast Regiment, and stationed, Calder Harbour on Tekong Island.
In February 1942 the Singapore Fixed Defences consisted of the following Units:
- Commander Fixed Defences Singapore - Brigadier AD Curtis
- 7th Coast Regiment RA - 11th and 31st Batteries RA 5th and 7th Batteries HKSRA
- 9th Coast Regiment RA - 7th, 22nd and 32nd Batteries RA
- 11th Coast Regiment RA - 8th Coast and 20th Heavy AA Batteries HKSRA
- 16th Defence Regiment RA 966 Battery RA and 967 and 968 Batteries HKSRA.
On the 12th February 1942 the Coastal Batteries were destroyed and at 01.30 hours on the 13th February 1942 the garrison was marched to the Indian Recreation Ground in Singapore where the Unit is formed into an Infantry Battalion and used as support troops.
At 16.30 hours o the 15th February 1942 the Regiment ceased to exist as a fighting unit and was Disbanded - Lost at Singapore.
1942/05/13 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 770. Reported ‘Missing’.
1944/12/14 - WO417/86.1, Casualty List No. 1631. Previously reported missing on Casualty List No.770. Now reported ‘Prisoner of War in Japanese hands’ (Thailand).
1945/11/24 - WO417/99, Casualty List No. 1919. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1631 as Prisoner of War now ‘Not Prisoner of War’. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
Camp Leader Col. Holmes
PoW No. M-1667
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/24 - Transported overland to Thailand with Letter Party ‘Y’, train 1
Commander Major P.S.F. Jackson, 7th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery
Work Group 1
New PoW No. 27649
Edwin was at Nong Pladuk.
1943/10/25 - Rail tracks from Thailand and Burma joined near Konkoita, Thailand
1944, September - Transported back to Singapore
River Valley Road Camp
He was unable to travel oversea with the others in his party as he was in Changi Hospital with Malaria, so he remained in Singapore and was transferred back to Malay Administration.
New PoW No. I-43514
1945, January - Changi
Camp Leader Col. Holmes
Edwin worked X/5 Funk Holes of Singapore
Funk Holes Of Singapore by Charles Thrale
Thrales charcoal image vividly portrays the cramped and humid conditions the men faced underground. Even the Japanese overseer in the image is stripped to the waist and the POWs labour in the half light of candles, intense heat and foul air. Thrale notes the dangers of working underground in his accompanying text stating that the Japanese in charge of his excavation were very superstitious and would always sprinkle salt to ward off bad spirits disturbed by the digging. One unfortunate overseer forgot to carry out the ceremony one morning and was later caught under a cave in.
Edwin worked in X5 Funk Holes, these were the Japanese defences of Singapore. These funk holes had a more sinister role, the extermination of all the PoWs, if Allied forces landed in Singapore.
1945/09/05 - On Changi Roll
1945/11/02 - Liberated Changi, Singapore
Liberation Questionnaire filled in by Edwin after being liberated
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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
Post War
1948 - Occupation Electrical Cable Joiner
1948 - Married Mary Ann Day in Nottingham
1952 - Coal Miner (Material Handler)
Died 1975 in Mansfield
Information
Neil Musgrove
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Glenda Godrey
Keith Andrews
9th Coast Regiment by Michael Nellis
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Thailand Burma Railway
Funk Holes of Singapore by Jon Cooper
KEW Files:- WO 345/37, WO 392/25, WO 361/2186, WO 361/2068, WO 361/2229, WO 361/2166, WO 361/2165, WO 361/2005, WO 361/2062, WO 361/2165,
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