Weedon-Edwin-Charles

To honour those who served their country

“In this their finest hour”

1801544

Lance Bombardier

Edwin Charles Weedon

1916/08/13 - Born Leyton, London

Son of Charles and Mary Ann Louisa Weedon

(Father was a Lytho Artist for Messer Wiliam Potter & Sons, (Window Tide Printing)

Brother to Mary Lilian (b.1914)

1939 - Married Nellie F Baker-Smith, Epping, London

Next of kin - Wife, Nellie Weedon, 8 Brook Street, Epping, Essex

Royal Artillery

48 Light Light Anti Aircraft Regiment

242 Battery

Service

Edwin is sitting to the left of the sergeant

48th L.A.A. 242 Battery

Front row left seated cross legged is J.H.Radbourne, who was with Edwin throughout internment.

Duchess of Athol

The Territorial Chester area 21st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment together with the 48th L.A.A Regiment, 77 H.A.A. and 18 L.A.A. Regiments of the Royal Artillery left the Clyde for the Middle East in Convoy William Sail 14X, initially on the “Duchess of Athol” and then Dunera.

1941/12/08 - Japan attacked Malaya entering the war against Britain.

1942/01/13 - By the time WS 14X had reached Durban, South Africa their destination had changed to the Singapore and they sailed in Convoy DM-2 (Durban Malaya -2).

1942/01/19 - Off Mombassa at 01.05 N, 91.28 E they merged with Convoy Bm-12 (Bombay Malaya -12). Landing in Sumatra they were then re-routed to Batavia, Java with their supplies.

1942/02/03 - Arrived Batavia in Empress of Australia.

The 48 L.A.A Regiment was formed in 1940 and comprised of 49, 95 and 242 Batteries.

48 LAA Regiment, Royal Artillery, on arrival in Batavia, deployed the 49 Battery around Kalidjati airfield, North of Bandoeng. The 95 Battery were deployed at Andir airfield, Bandoeng and HQ together with 242 Battery were in Batavia.

The 77 H.A.A Regiment less 239 Battery, were transported by train to Surabaya setting up their guns to defend Eastern Java against enemy aircraft. The 239 battery stayed in defence of Batavia.

1942/02/06 - At 0300 hrs a troop train carrying part of 77 HAA Regiment crashed into an ammunition train on a single track bridge just outside Surabaya, 30 were killed and 100 were injured.

1942/02/28 - A strong Japanese force landed on the North Coast of Java at Eretenwetan. Using tanks they soon reached Kalidjati airfield, destroying the 49th Battery of the 48 L.A.A. Regiment, casualties were very high. Edwin managed to escape with his gun crew.

1942/03/04 - By this time the Dutch forces in Java were being severely hit by the Japanese advance. The 239 Battery, 77 H.A.A and the 242 Battery, 48 L.A.A were ordered to move and defend the Bandoeng area.

1942/03/08 - Java surrendered to the Japanese.

1943/04/03 - WO 417/59, Casualty List No 1100. Reported ‘Missing’.

Japanese PoW

1942/03/21 - Captured Java

PoW No. 231

Japanese Index Card - Side One

Japanese Index Card - Side Two

1943/09/11 - Transported to Singapore in Harugiku Maru with Java Party 16.

Java Party 16 consisted of.

	*Officers*	*O/R Ranks*
*RAF*	2	78
*Army*	5	*274*
*American*		1
*Dutch*	6	*153*
*Total*	13	*506*

1943/09/14 - Arrived Changi

1943/09/22 - Transported in Convoy with Seishin Maru (1500 PoWs) and Ussuri Maru (500 PoWs)

Edwin was with the Seishin Maru

1943/09/29 - Arrive Manila bay

1943/10/08 - Arrive Takao Formosa

1943/10/12 - Arrived Moji, Japan to Fukuoka Camps 6D Tanoura

Japanese Photo, taken at Tanoura

1944/07/30 - Camp closed, 100 men transferred to Fukuoka 25B includes 2 officers

New PoW No. 25052

Worked at a carbine manufacturing plant, Denki Kagaku Kogyo (now Denka Company Limited).

1945/03/03 - Four men badly burned in furnace "blowout" at factory: Johnson, A.; Laity, T; Lawrence, A.S.; Fenn, G.

1945/03/27 - Major fire bombing raid- camp saved by POWs

1945/08/17 - Informed war is over

1945/08/21 - Japanese announcement war has ended.

1945/08/28 - First food drops

1945/09/01 - British & American Flags raised

1945/09/16 - 393 rescued POWs depart by train for Omuta

1945/12/15 - WO417/100, Casualty List No. 1937. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 1191 as reported Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Netherlands East Indies.