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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 15:47:24 GMT 12
I just acquired this Japanese occupation bank note signed by several men. Preliminary research suggests they were members of the RNZAF who were held as prisoners by the Japanese.  |
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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 15:56:33 GMT 12
At the top of the note it reads: "Singapore to N.Z."..."22/9/45-N.Z."..."R.A.F." The first names appears to be a "K." Baylis. The next signature is that of Basil Churchill Winstone. Then there is M.T. Lawler followed by J.A. Halloran. Other than Winstone, there is still some question as to names and correct spellings.   |
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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 16:01:28 GMT 12
Signing here was William Noel Stanley Brookman, a man whose name I cannot read, and a man named Clegg. I have determined he was John Leonard Clegg who, with Brookman, had been reappointed from the R.A.F. to the R.N.Z.A.F. Below Clegg is a man named Barr. I am having difficulty reading the first name.  |
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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 16:02:56 GMT 12
Here is a document completed by Brookman upon repatration...  |
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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 16:14:11 GMT 12
The next man appears to be named Keller, a flight leader (F/L). Again, cannot read first name or middle initial(?). More handwriting of a man I cannot read, a (P/?). Then, R.L. Branch or Bromch, a flight lt. (F/L). The last man looks to be named ?.R. Eaddler.  |
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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 16:30:15 GMT 12
Additional info on the posts above...
Brookman (108892) was a flying officer and captured 13/3/42. Another source says 8/3/42. This could have been when he was last seen. His statement indicates he spent many days evading the Japanese and surrendered himself on the 13th. Clegg (108888), a flying officer, was also listed as captured on 8/3/42. Winstone (41142) a squadron leader, was taken 20/3/42.
Interestingly, signing on the back of this note was E.J. Smallfield, his wife Norma, and a child (?). They noted the date "28/9/45." Eric Jackson Smallfield was held at the Buta Lintang camp and is remembered for his 1947 account: "Internment Under the Japanese" (New Zealand Surveyor 19, no 4, April 1947, 301-310.) He was a government surveyor in Borneo and he and his family were captured by the Japanese and held in the civilian part of the camp. I would love to get a copy of his account! Anyone have access to a copy or is a frequest visitor to the Imperial War Museum?
I would very much like to fully identify the signers on the note. What unit(s) were they in? When were they captured? Where were they held? Somewhere they must be an account of the transport of these former POWs from Singapore to New Zealand. Can anyone identify the ship?
Thanks to all who can help with this quest. I have, as best as I can tell, exhausted the on-line resources. Living in the USA, I have no access to material that might be available in New Zealand.
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Post by errolmartyn on May 13, 2012 16:30:19 GMT 12
From the Evening Post of 29 Sep 45:
ARRIVALS AT AUCKLAND
P.A. AUCKLAND, September 28. Eight airmen, several of whom were prisoners of war in Java, and four civilians from Borneo arrived from Singapore today. They are Squadron Leader B. C. Winstone (Christchurch), Flight Lieutenant M. F, Lamb (Auckland), Flying Officers W. H. S. Brookman (Wellington), J. .L. Clegg (Christchurch), J. M. Louisson (Palmerston North), and W. J. H. Walker (Christchurch, Flight Sergeant A. D. Barr (Marton), and L.A.C. L. F. O'Halloran (Auckland), all R.N.Z.A.F.; Mr. J. L. Noakes (Thames) and Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Smallfield (Auckland) and Master Smallfield.
Errol
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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 16:34:17 GMT 12
OUTSTANDING! So much from a single source! Considerable thanks!
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Post by chinapilot on May 13, 2012 17:41:54 GMT 12
Interesting to see such a crisp note...
Servicemen in Java and Sumatra, once all hope of rescue was gone, had no option but to turn themselves in as they were obviously so different in appearance to the locals who had no particular love for Europeans anyway.
There are many accounts of life in the Indonesian camps but for many the real danger was the period of chaos after the Jap surrender when many civilian internees and POWs were killed by locals.Glad these Kiwis made it home.
Sad to see that this note has left NZ.
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Post by dustyshelf on May 13, 2012 18:19:02 GMT 12
The signatures of the Smallfield family...  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 13, 2012 21:01:23 GMT 12
A fascinating topic, thanks for posting it.
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Post by errolmartyn on May 13, 2012 22:54:58 GMT 12
From the Evening Post of 29 Sep 45: ARRIVALS AT AUCKLAND P.A. AUCKLAND, September 28. Eight airmen, several of whom were prisoners of war in Java, and four civilians from Borneo arrived from Singapore today. They are Squadron Leader B. C. Winstone (Christchurch), Flight Lieutenant M. F, Lamb (Auckland), Flying Officers W. H. S. Brookman (Wellington), J. .L. Clegg (Christchurch), J. M. Louisson (Palmerston North), and W. J. H. Walker (Christchurch, Flight Sergeant A. D. Barr (Marton), and L.A.C. L. F. O'Halloran (Auckland), all R.N.Z.A.F.; Mr. J. L. Noakes (Thames) and Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Smallfield (Auckland) and Master Smallfield. Errol Some elaboration on the air force names: Basil Churchill Winstone (Christchurch) – was RAF, not RNZAF, resident NZ by 1935 but apparently not born here, died UK 1953 Maurice Fredric, Lamb (Auckland) – RAFVR then RNZAF William Noel Stanley Brookman (Wellington) – RAFVR then RNZAF John Leonard Clegg (Christchurch) – RAFVR then RNZAF George Melville Louisson (Palmerston North) – RAFVR then RNZAF William James Henry Walker (Christchurch – RAFVR then RNZAF Allan Dallas Barr (Marton) - RNZAF Leton Fergus O'Halloran (Auckland) - RNZAF Errol |
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Post by dustyshelf on May 14, 2012 3:24:04 GMT 12
Thanks to all who have responded. I have noticed that the news article has incorrect initials for Brookman and Louisson.
Are there any on-line sources I can search for the remaining names? The first and last four who signed are not mentioned in the news article. Likewise, I do not see where Walker signed. Is there a database for New Zealand POWs?
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Post by chinapilot on May 14, 2012 21:52:00 GMT 12
Hi dustyshelf
Sounds like you are a collector which is great as the note has ended up in good hands...
Just a pity that it appears some one's family saw fit to sell this heirloom and for it to leave NZ.
[Just supposition on my part of course]
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Post by dustyshelf on May 15, 2012 16:50:31 GMT 12
I have determined that this note likely belonged to a RNZAF crewmember on one of the aircraft that flew repatriated servicemen and civilians out of Singapore. There were twelve missions and 158 were returned to New Zealand.
I have complied a mostly complete list of evacuees but I cannot match the remaining signatures on the note to anyone on the list. I wonder if the other signatures are those of the aircraft crew or of members of other crews.
My greatest difficulty is in reading the signatures. The handwriting is stylistically different from what I am used to seeing here in the USA. Can the forum members offer suggestions as to the names? It is impossible to make searches without something to work with.
Thanks.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 15, 2012 19:56:31 GMT 12
I believe that the squadron that flew the New Zealanders home was No. 41 Squadron RNZAF. If someone has access to the Operations Record Book for that squadron for the time of the repatriation, the crews should be in there and also passenger lists. The ORB is probably in the National Archive in Wellington I expect.
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Post by dustyshelf on May 16, 2012 5:42:55 GMT 12
Just found some on-line discussion and an obituary for Richard Lawrence Branch, the man who signed as "R. L. Branch." The discussion mentions entries from his log book. Branch ended the war serving as a navigator in No. 41 Squadron! He died in 1946 of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Now, if we can determine who the other crew members were, I suspect some or all signed the note. Anyone have access to this information!
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Post by errolmartyn on May 16, 2012 9:25:17 GMT 12
Just found some on-line discussion and an obituary for Richard Lawrence Branch, the man who signed as "R. L. Branch." The discussion mentions entries from his log book. Branch ended the war serving as a navigator in No. 41 Squadron! He died in 1946 of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Now, if we can determine who the other crew members were, I suspect some or all signed the note. Anyone have access to this information! Flt Lt Branch was posted to the Reserve on 17 August 1946, having enlisted in the RNZAF as NZ411362 for pilot training on 2 March 1941. In Canada he graduated as an air observer, returning to New Zealand in 1942. He died just a month after leaving the air force, on 19 September 1946, and is buried at O'neill's Point Cemetery, North Shore. Errol |
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Post by errolmartyn on May 16, 2012 9:31:21 GMT 12
Just found some on-line discussion and an obituary for Richard Lawrence Branch, the man who signed as "R. L. Branch." Could you please supply the link for the online discussion and obituary that you refer to? Errol |
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Post by dustyshelf on May 16, 2012 9:43:31 GMT 12
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