tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1557088496472109589.post2608746334533863862..comments2023-12-09T17:46:54.363+00:00Comments on Tanya Bocking's Big Red Blog: Ancestors: Harry MorrisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1557088496472109589.post-19227899984247146302018-01-17T08:51:27.364+00:002018-01-17T08:51:27.364+00:00I have received the following correspondence about...I have received the following correspondence about Harry Morris and a fellow prisoner R.T. Smith:<br /><br />"My father and his twin brother were both Gunners in 278 battery, 122nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery. This regiment was part of the 12th Indian Brigade along with the 2nd Battalion Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders, two Indian regiments and a Sappers & Miners company.<br /><br />When the Japanese invaded Malaya, the Brigade was sent to support those resisting the Japanese advance in the North and fought rear guard actions all the way down Malaya. All of this is well documented. By the time the action had reached Trolak and Slim River bridge 5 - 7th Jan 1942, the brigade had taken very, very heavy losses. The continuing retreat ended on Singapore Island and both the regiments batteries 278 and 280 were the last in action around the town of Singapore. As you will be aware the surrender of Singapore took place on the 15th Feb 1942.<br /><br />My father's twin brother died in 2006 and before he passed he wrote details of his own captivity, and I managed to get some detail out of him about my father's captivity.<br /><br />After the surrender (of Singapore) on the 15th February most of the 122nd's Gunners where marched to Changi POW Camp.<br /><br />From here my father was sent to the River Valley POW camp for a short period, (this according to my uncle), and then back to Changi. The brothers were then separated, with my uncle ending up at various camps on the Thailand railroad and afterwards a Japanese POW camp near UBE, Japan.<br /><br />My father went from Changi to River Valley, back to Changi, and then was shipped to Korea on the Fukkai Maru, where he was listed at Jinsen POW camp, and finally the Konan POW camp in the north.<br /><br />There is absolutely no doubt that my father knew your grandfather, as they were in the same working squad at the KONAN FURNACES. Additionally, and more importantly, I have a small piece of paper, signed by your grandfather, confirming that he carried out an operation on my father in the Konan Civilian Hospital, detailing what he did and what he used. My father let very little go about his experiences, but one of the things he did say was that he remembered being carried back to the camp by a number of POWs in a blanket, in the snow, after the operation. <br /><br />I can confirm is that my father is in thw photo of the 3rd squad at KONAN just prior to release in Sept 1945, what The blond short guy in the middle row, standing behind the POW in the front row looking to his right, is my father. Gunner R.T. Smith, C Troop, 278 Battery, 122nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, 12th Indian Brigade."<br /><br />Nat Bockinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02301045593707008132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1557088496472109589.post-44199885011962870162013-01-11T23:42:22.854+00:002013-01-11T23:42:22.854+00:00We are distant cousins. James Morris, my 2ng great...We are distant cousins. James Morris, my 2ng great grandfather, is our common ancestor. I am a descendent of Jacob S Morris. Thank you for documenting your history and celbrating Tanya. Gayle Morris PerlmutterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1557088496472109589.post-70985332639211815472012-12-24T17:48:44.644+00:002012-12-24T17:48:44.644+00:00Nat, your family is many times more interesting th...Nat, your family is many times more interesting than mine. I'm considering changing our last name from Brown to Boring. Even that change would be more interesting than most events in our history.Scott Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14495741647250462007noreply@blogger.com