Reaserch highlights where 24, 9 Coast gunners were laid to rest.
From eye witness reports We are able to piece together where the 9 Coast gunners were last seen, the atrocities that happend, the location of graves found and subsiquently where they were laid to rest, It is highly likley that the 9 Coast gunners lie amongst the forty five graves of men identified as Empire Soldiers, buried at the Kranji war cemetery in singapore.
2nd Lieutenant Arnold Charles Bateman
# 3153556, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died on 20.2.42 aged 32 years, son of Mr and Mrs C. W. Bateman of Southend – on – Sea, Essex. Recorded also on Column 3, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery. The 1921 UK Census tells us that Arnold was born in Ilford, Essex - where he still lived when he was 11 years old in 1921 when the census was taken - and it is possible he had a twin brother Leonard. His parents were Charles William Bateman and Rose (Hockaday) Bateman, the latter was born in 1877.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
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Bdr. Edward Kenneth Blackstock
# 838358, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 21.2.42 aged 22 years, son of John Edward and Mary Ann Blackstock (nee Taylor) of Tonbridge, Kent. Recorded also on Column 7, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery. Edward was born in 1911 in West Derby. A Statement by W/Bdr J. Jewell, # 1086731, in the British Archives specifically states that Edward was at ‘Tand Joeng Pinang’. Another Archived record – a letter from one D. Richey states that Edward Blackstock and Frederick Harvey were “... rumoured to of been exicuted [sic] in Sumatra after escaping Palu Tekong...”
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
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Bsm. Francis George Bowden
# 1053936, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A.
died 21.2.42 aged 39 years (born in Plymouth), son of Henry Hettis Bowden and Annabel Evelyn Bowden; husband of Evelyn Dora Bowden (nee Steggall) of Stowmark [Sic – Stowmarket], Suffolk. Recorded also on Column 4, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery and the Memorial Gates in Stowmarket. Francis Bowden had been an Engine Driver prior to enlisting. Prior to the invasion of Malaya and Singapore the family of CSM Bowden had been living with him in Singapore at ‘Roberts Barracks’ ( later part of Changi POW Camp) - according to the 2021 obituary of his daughter Ruth in America, and there was noted in a 2010 newsletter of the ‘Malayan Volunteer Group’ (Edition 26) that Evelyn Dora Bowden and her daughter Ruth (aged 9 years) evacuated Singapore on the ‘Aorangi’ to Australia , then travelling on the ‘Narkunda’ to Adelaide, where they lived for three years ( source Ruth’s granddaughter Christine Clarke). [Australian shipping records show a ‘Euiline Bowden’ (presumably a misspelling by the shipping company) aged 36 and Miss Ruth Bowden aged 9 years arriving on ‘Narkunda’ at Fremantle, W.A. on 24 January 1942. The ‘Narkunda’ and the ‘Aorangi’ had both departed Singapore, independently, destined for Australia, on 16 January 1942.]
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner John Brewster
# 1787337, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A.
died 15.2.42 (presumably this is the CWGC applying their usual practice of using the last date a person was seen in the absence of anyone confirming where that person died) aged 37 years, husband of Helen Brewster of Prinlaws, Leslie, Fife [Prinlaws appears to have been a small hamlet of flax growers and weavers that has been absorbed by the growth of the small town of Leslie in Fife]. Recorded also on Column 14, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Thomas James Brown
#872327, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 16.2.42 (CWGC ??) aged 29 years, son of James and Florence C. Brown of Angle, Pembrokeshire (a village on the southern banks of Milford Haven Waterway). Thomas is remembered on the plaque in St. Mary’s Church, Angle as well as on Column 14, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Charles Royston Davies
# 837579, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 19.2.42 aged 29 years, born 1912, son of William Thomas Davies and Gertrude Hester Davies of Saunders Foot, Pembrokeshire, Wales. In the 1921 UK census the family including siblings Julia and Mary, were living at St. Issells, Pembrokeshire – which is a tiny settlement very close to the coastal beachside village of Saundersfoot (near Tenby) in Pembrokeshire. Charles is remembered on the Saundersfoot War memorial and on Column 16, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Ronald Gibbs
#1427565, 9 Coast Regiment. R.A
died 19.2.42 aged 22 years, born 1920, when the family lived at Walsall, Staffordshire, he was the son of Ronald Charles Gibbs and Alice E. Gibbs of Pelsall, Staffordshire. Pelsall was a small village on the outskirts of Walsall. He is remembered on Column 19, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Sgt. Ralph Hall
#1062169, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died on 21.2.42 aged 35 years, son of George and Beatrice Hall, husband of Hilda May Hall of Redfield, Bristol. Remembered also on Column 5, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Charles Hampton
#1786730, 9 Coast Regiment
died 1.3.42 (??) aged 34 years husband of Hilda Hampton of Shelton, Stoke- on – Trent. Remembered also on Column 19, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Sgt. Frederick Harvey
#808865, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 21.2.42 aged 25 years son of Albert Edward Harvey and Henrietta Louisa Harvey of Copnor, Hampshire [Copnor is an area of Portsmouth located on the east side of Portsea Island. It was damaged by bombs quite badly during 1940 and not repaired until the 1950s]. Remembered also on Column 5, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
​Sgt. Ralph Herbert Hudson
#812399, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A.
died 21.2.42 aged 25 years. There is a notation in a list in the British Archives in a Statement made by W/Bdr J. Jewell (# 1086731) that Ralph was seen in a “... Rowing boat leaving Tekong Island...” and “Heading for Sagarhat Island...” which was where the RA Battery was
located near Singapore. Despite the lack of family connections for Ralph being all the CWGC have publicly recorded on him, a look at the 1921 UK Census indicates that in that year he was living as a small boy with his family [Father Ralph Hudson born 1877, Mother Mary Hudson born 1878 and sister Jane Hudson born 1903, in Throston, Hartlepool, County Durham – plus a couple of other people]. Throston is an area of North Hartlepool. Ralph is also remembered on Column 5, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20) and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Charles William Hood
#844593, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 21.2.42 aged 25 years, son of Thomas and Mary E. Hood of Blackheath, Rowley Regis, Staffordshire (in the area west of Birmingham known as the ‘Black Country’). Remembered also on Column 21, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery. [This serviceman’s name was mentioned on ‘WW2Talk’ by a Hayley David, but to reply has been received to an email to that person].
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Sgt. George Forbes Lees
# 1419112, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 21.2.42 aged 42 years, son of Mr. & Mrs. James Forbes Lees, husband of H. (Helen) S. Lees, Aberdeen. It appears that George was born in Scotland in 1900 and married Helen Rose Marshall in 1933 they had one child. From enquiries on ‘WW2 Talk’ in 2015 their grandson Andy G.F. Lees has pursued the mystery of his grandfather’s death. George is also remembered on Column 5 of the Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Lance Sgt. Robert Henry James
#856663, 11 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 21.2.42 aged 24 years, son of Mr. & Mrs. H. T. James [ Henry Thomas James 1887-1950 and Jane Ellen Kimble James 1894 – 1967] of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. Robert had two siblings. Remembered also on Column 6, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Edward William McCormick
, # 847280, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 19.2.42 aged 24 years. According to one Sgt. T. Hughes, #1474006, Edward had been on Pulau Tekong as part of the Battery on 16th February and may well have been killed on Pulau Bintan. This is backed up by another statement in the Archives which includes a list of names and the name “... 847280, Mc(carmick)?) E...” together with the explanation “... They were seen at Tan Jong Pinang and they were in good health, they were retreating by boat to find if any more men stationed on the island of Bintang. The following men (left?) the island of Pulau Tekong by boat. I have not seen them since...”
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Thomas McDermot
#105495, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A.
died 15.2.42 aged 41 years, husband of B. McDermott of Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Also remembered on Column 24, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner James McIntyre
# 872539, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
, died 16.2.42 aged 23 years. A statement in the British Archives includes a list of names and the name “...872539, M (frgire? It was apparently hard to decipher) J...” together with the explanation “... They were seen at Tan Jong Pinang and they were in good health, they were retreating by boat to find if any more men stationed on the island of Bintang. The following men (left?) the island of Pulau Tekong by boat. I have not seen them since...”. Also remembered on Column 24, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Albert Edward Meakin
# 1786867, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 21.2.42 aged 33 years, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Meakin and husband of M.L. Meakin of Derby. Also remembered on Column 25, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner John Robert Redpath
# 872393, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 19.2.42 aged 23 years, son of Robert and Eleanor Redpath of Leicester. A statement in the British Archives includes a list of names and the name “...872393, Redpath J. R....” together with the explanation “... They were seen at Tan Jong Pinang and they were in good health, they were retreating by boat to find if any more men stationed on the island of Bintang. The following men (left?) the island of Pulau Tekong by boat. I have not seen them since...”. Also remembered on Column 28, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner George William Pritchard
# 843640, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 16.2.42 aged 23 years, son of George and Elizabeth Pritchard of Ludlow, Shropshire. Also remembered on the Ludlow War Memorial ( photo below) and on Column 28, Singapore memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Eric Scott Soden
# 832161, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 19.2.42 aged 25 years, son of Thomas and Ada Edith (nee Ebborn, b.1890) Soden. Eric was born in 1918 and lived in Wardington, Banbury, Oxfordshire and had a brother Cyril Thomas (b.1915).
Wardington is a small village 4 miles from Banbury. Eric’s father died in 1920, and his mother died during the war in 1943 – soon after he would have been posted ‘Missing’ with no further information – and both are buried in Wardington, as is his brother Cyril who served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and died in January 1944. This may explain the absence of family mentioned on the CWGC records. Eric is remembered on the Banbury War Memorial and on Column 30, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner Albert William Sprouting
# 5670320, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
died 16.2.42 aged 25 years, son of Annie Rose Sprouting and stepson of G.H. Moggridge of Wandsworth, London. A statement in the British Archives includes a list of names and the name “...5670320, GNR Sprouting, A.W....” ....” together with the explanation “... They were seen at Tan Jong Pinang and they were in good health, they were retreating by boat to find if any more men stationed on the island of Bintang. The following men (left?) the island of Pulau Tekong by boat. I have not seen them since...”.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Gunner George Thompson
# 5771941, 9 Coast regiment, R.A.
died 16.2.42 aged 25 years. Also remembered on Column 32, Singapore Memorial, Kranji War Cemetery.
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killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.
Bdr. F.E Spokes
# 842057, 9 Coast Regiment, R.A
killed on Pulau Bintan at Tandjong Pinang between 20th -25th February 1942, bueried at kranji war cemetery amongst graves of the forty-five ‘Empire Soldiers’ Plot 29, Row B (graves 4 – 20)
and C ( graves 1 – 20) and D ( 1 – 6) with anonymous headstones at Kranji War Cemetery Singapore.