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106551
Lieutenant Colonel
Thomas Carr Whimster
1901/06/23 - Born Edmonton, London
Son of John and Elizabeth Whimster
WW1 Service
Thomas joined the Merchant Marine service towards the end of WW1 and as he was only 16, he gave his date of berth as a year earlier, 1900 and that date is shown on his Japanese Index card and his army record.
At one time Thomas was on a ship called the “Chen Chow”. He took radio operator exams (and was a radio ham through to the 1960s) and was at the relief of the White Russians at Archangel in 1919.
WW2 Service
Occupation Gas Salesman
1939/09/14 - Enlisted
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
14 Section
1942/03/24 - WO417/2, Casualty List No.779. Missing
1942/12/14 - WO417/004, Casualty List No. 1006. Previously shown on Casualty List No. 779 as reported Missing, 15/02/1942 with rank as Temporary Major. Now Prisoner of War
Japanese PoW
1942/02/15 - Captured, Singapore
1942/02/17 - Changi Camp (Commander Lt-Gen. Percival)
1942/10/19 - Red Valley Road, Singapore (Commander Lt-Col. Heath)
1943/01/03 - Changi Camp (Commander Col. Holmes)
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/03/28 - Transported with ‘E’ Force to Kuching, Borneo in the ‘Deklerk’
(The Deklerk was renamed Imaji Maru/Imbari Maru by the Japanese)
500 British under Command of Lt-Col. T.C. Whimster
Total PoWs 1,000 (included 500 Australians)
1943/04/01 - Kuching Camp
1945/08/17 - Kuching Hospital
1945/08/22 - Kuching Camp
Liberated Borneo
1945/11/03 - WO417/9, Casualty List No. 1901. Previously reported on Casualty List No. 1006 as Prisoner of War now Not Prisoner of War. Previous Theatre of War, Malaya.
The War Offices
1946/09/12
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while Prisoners of War:-
Lt-Col. T.C. Whimster
Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services
Whilst a Prisoner of War
Reference
The London Gazette - 37720
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37720/supplement/4576
Information
Sylvia Herbert - Daughter
Japanese Transports
Atrocities - Roll of honour
Liberation Questionnaire - COFEPOW
Gallant and Distinguished Services
KEW Files:- WO 361/2065, WO 361/2025, WO 361/2181, WO 367/1, WO 361/2070, WO 392/26, WO 367/1, WO 345/55,
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