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13020953
Private
Edward Varley
1917/05/15 - Born Ferryhill, County Durham
Son of Edward and Mary Jane Varley
(father was Onsetter underground (Bolckow Vaughan Coal Aunor)
Brother to Florence May (b.1913)
Married Patricia Patience Beddow
Edward’s occupation Brick Layer
1940/04/25 - Enlisted
Next of kin - Wife, 4 Parton Street, West Hartlepool, County Durham
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Work Shops
18th Division
Service
1941/10/30 - The main body of the 18th Division left Liverpool for Halifax in Convoy CT.5. After being transferred to American liners at Halifax, they departed 10th November 1941 in Convoy William Sail 12X, their destination was believed to be for the Middle East.
The 18th Division military equipment and supplies were just finished being loaded into the Empress of Asia in Liverpool.
1941/11/12 - The Empress of Asia sailed from Liverpool.
1941/11/13 - Convoy William Sail 12Z was formed off Oversay and included the ships with formation to sail to Freetown:-
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11L
ADRASTUS
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21L
MATAROA
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31C
NARKUNDA
(Commodore
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41L
ORDUNA
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51C
DEUCALION
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12L
EMPIRE STAR
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22L
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
(Vice Commodore)
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32C
AORANGI
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42L
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
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52C
ABBEKERK
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32C
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
(same position number)
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13L
SUSSEX
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23L
EMPRESS OF ASIA
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43L
CAPETOWN CASTLE
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53C
RIMUTAKA
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34C
ARUNDEL CASTLE
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13th-16th November 1941 - Escort was provided by the destroyers Badsworth, Exmoor, Vanquisher, Whitehall and Witch
13th-17th November 1941- Destroyer Maori joined convoy
16th-19th November 1941 - Destroyers Foresight, Forester and Fury joined the convoy
21st November 1941 - Approaching Freetown, the destroyers Velox and Vimy joined convoy
22nd November 1941 - the corvette Clover joined convoy
25th November 1941 - the convoy arrived Freetown
28th November 1941 - Convoy sailed from Freetown to Durban
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11
SUSSEX
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21
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD
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31
NARKUNDA
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41
MONARCH OF BERMUDA
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51
DEUCALION
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12
ADRASTUS
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22
EMPRESS OF ASIA
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32
EMPRESS OF JAPAN
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42
CAPETOWN CASTLE
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52
RIMUTAKA
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13
EMPIRE STAR
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23
MATAROA
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33
ARUNDEL CASTLE
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43
ORDUNA
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53
ABBEKERK
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34
AORANGI
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28th Nov.-14th Dec. 1941 - The escort consisted of the destroyers Dulverton and Southwold
28th Nov.-15th Dec. 1941 - sloop Milford and corvettes Hollyhock and Verbena joined convoy
15th-18th December 1941 - corvettes Aster and Marguerite joined convoy
28th Nov.-18th Dec. - the battleship Royal Sovereign for full voyage to Durban
18th December 1941 - Convoy arrived Durban
24th December departed Durban in Convoy William Sail 12ZB to Bombay
6th January 1942 Arrived Bombay
23rd January 1942 - Sailed from Bombay in BM12 (Bombay Malaya 12) destination Singapore
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Troop Carriers
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Empress of Asia
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2235 troops and stores (18th Div. ammunition & supplies)
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Felix Roussal
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157 troops and stores (Royal Northumberland Fusiliers)
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Plancius
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987 troops and stores
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Devonshire
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1673 troops and stores
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City of Canterbury
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1053 troops
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16th-27th January - HMS Falmouth ((Anti-Submarine) joined convoy
27th-31st January 1942 - Light Cruiser HMS Emerald (Light Cruiser) joined convoy.
31st January 1942 - HMS Danae (Light Cruiser) joined convoy detached Banka Straits
31st Jan.- 4th Feb. 1942 - RNN Java (Light Cruiser) joined convoy, detached as low on fuel.
1st February 1942 - HMAS Yarra and HMIS Sutlej (Anti-Submarine) joined convoy
2nd February - Heavy Cruiser HMS Exeter joined convoy, detached Banka Straits
2nd February 1942 - HMAS Vampire (Destroyer) joined convoy
HMAS Bendigo and HMAS Woolongong (Mine-Sweepers) joined convoy Banka Straits
1942/02/05 - As the convoy entered the approaches to Singapore, they were attacked south of Sultan Shoal Lighthouse by nine Japanese bombers who centred their attention on the Empress of Asia causing a serious fire on board. Anchoring the damaged ship within the Sulton Shoal, crew and troops made their way to the stern to avoid the fire.
The commander of the HMAS Yarra, Wifred Harrington, edged his ship to the stern of the damaged ship and managed to take off 1,804 survivors.
The HMAS Bendigo, which had been in the harbour, then rescued a further 78 and the escort vessel HMAS Woolongong took off the last two, the Master and the Chief Engineer.
There were sixteen deaths who went down with the ship, five miles south of Singapore Island. Salvage attempts failed to rescue any of the military equipment or supplies.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to Japanese
1942/03/27 - WO 417/40, Casualty List No. 782. Reported ‘Missing’.
1943/09/04 - WO 417/65, Casualty List No. 1230. Previously reported Missing on Casualty List No. 782, 15/02/1942. Now reported ‘Prisoner of War’.
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. M-4101
1942/02/15 - Changi Camp
1942/06/10 - Thompson Road
Commander Capt. Walker
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1942/10/31 - Transported overland with Letter Party ‘R’ to Thailand, train 7
Party consisted of:-
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Officers
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O/R
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Royal Army Ordnance Corps
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5
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169
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HQ 54th Infantry Brigade
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3
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15
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4th Royal Norfolks
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4
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160
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4th Suffolks
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10
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158
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Royal Army Medical Corps
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1
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5th Suffolks
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8
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117
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Total
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30
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620
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This was the 25th Train to Thailand
(Sketch by W. C. Wilder)
Commander Lt-Col. A.A. Johnson, 4th Suffolks
1941/11/04 - Arrived Ban Pong, Thailand
New PoW No. II 15846
Work Party 2
1942/11/10 - Wang Yai, 124.85km from Nong Pladuk
Commander Col. Fitt
1942/11 - Moved South for Hospitalisation
1942/11 - Wang Takhian
1943/02 - Ban Khao
Worked on the Wang Pho (Wampo) Viaduct - Arrow Hill Camp
(Sketch by W. C. Wilder)
1943/04 - Wang Yai
1943/05/27 - Admitted Kanchanaburi Base Hospital
1943/06/03 - Discharged Kanchanaburi Hospital
1943/12 - Work Party to Apalon, Burma
Commander Lieutenant Powell
New PoW No. II 16190
1945/05 - Evacuated to Chungkai Hospital
1945/06/07 - Discharged Chungkai Hospital
A detachment of 100 men sent to Uttaradit, central Thailand
Commander Sergeant Major Barlow
1945/08/30 - Liberated Uttaradit, Thailand
Liberation Questionnaire
1945/10/01 - WO417/97-2, Casualty List No. 1872. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1230 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
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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
Illness included Beri Beri, Blackwater Fever, Malaria and Hookworm were treated at Roehampton Hospital over a 2 year period
Edward on his 72nd birthday
Died
Age 76
26th February 1993
Information
Ted Varley
Terry Manttan - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Convoy William Sail 12X
Japanese Transports
Thailand-Burma Railway
Liberation Questionnaire - COFEPOW
KEW Files:- WO 361/2172, WO 392/26, WO 345/53, WO 361/1955, WO 361/2165, WO 361/2165, WO 361/2065, WO 361/2181, WO 361/2069,
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