World War Two - Tickhill War Memorial

Names S to Z

John Christopher Spencer

John Christopher Spencer Original Grave at Agedabia

Sapper – 1877281 – 3 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers. John was the son of Joseph and Sarah Kate Spencer of Tickhill. Major J A Powell, commanding 3 Field Squadron wrote on 25 May 1942 that “John was killed by an explosion on 07 January 1942, just north of Agedabia, he was engaged in picking up mines in front of our forward troops which had been left by the Germans when they withdrew from Agedabia the day before. It was a most dangerous and unpleasant job, but your son and the

other men in his section tackled it without turning a hair. He was killed instantly and certainly never knew anything about it. He is buried just north of Agedabia aerodrome where his comrades put a cross on his grave”. John’s final resting place in Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya, Plot 2, Row D, Grave 2. Philip Stocks

Leading Aircraftman – 1112375 – RAF Volunteer Reserve. - Philip Stocks was born on 14 March 1912, the son of Mary Anne and Edmund Stocks of 36 Dadesley Road, Tickhill. He married Norah Moore of Hatfield, who was in service at the Old Vicarage in Tickhill. They lived at 27 Worksop Road and had two children, Michael Anthony (Tony) who was born on 10 December 1936 and currently lives on the Isle of Man and Elaine Margaret who was born on 27 March 1940.

Prior to joining up Philip was employed as a transport driver for Middleton’s in Tickhill. Philip was reported to have been captured in February 1942 in the Far East. Confirmation that he died of bacterial dysentery was not received until much later. His wife received the above telegram on 25 November 1943, prior to Philip being re-buried in Galala War cemetery on Ambon Island Military Cemetery in the Netherlands East Indies.

Ambon Island Cemetery – date not known.

The War Cemetery is situated on the island of Ambon which is now part of the Molucca Group of islands. During the time of the Japanese invasion the islands were known as the Dutch East Indies and more commonly known as the “Spice Islands”. The cemetery itself was sited on a former POW camp which help prisoners of mixed nationalities including, British, Dutch and Australians. The prisoners were taken to Ambon, many from Java, to construct an airstrip. POW’s who died were buried in various camps throughout the island but were later re-buried in the War Cemetery, The remains of POW’s from the neighbouring island of Haruku were also transferred to Ambon. There are 2,137 graves within the cemetery of which 811 are British. The cemetery was only completed in 1968 and took 23 years, which shows the magnitude of the task. The area is set with tropical flowering trees and shrubs with the graves laid out between open stretches of lawn and are marked the usual small square concrete headstones, inlaid with a bronze plaque.

The Spice Islands

The term, Spice Islands most commonly refers to the Maluku Islands (formerly the Moluccas), which lie on the equator, between Sulawesi (Celebes) and New Guinea in what is now Indonesia. The above map shows the location of Harku (Haroekoe) Island, also known as Nutmeg Island, where Philip Stocks was originally buried, in the village of Kariu (Karioe) – grave reference 180 – before being re-buried on Ambon Island.

Alfred James Storey

Gunner – 1531345 – 16 Battery, 2 HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery - Alfred was the eldest son of George and Annie Elizabeth Storey of Tickhill. As reported in the Doncaster Chronicle on 24 September 1942 – “Mr and Mrs G Storey of Westgate, Tickhill, have received information that their eldest son, Gunner A.J. Storey (23) is presumed to have been killed in action at sea between April 26 – 27 1941. During the evacuation from Greece, he was posted as missing from that date. He is commemorated on the Athens Memorial, Face 3. Before joining the army he was employed at Harworth Colliery.

It is highly likely that Alfred lost his life in the following action, when HMS Wryneck, a British destroyer (900 tons) was attacked by German Stuka aircraft and sunk off Nauplia, South-East of Greece. She was helping in the evacuation of troops from Greece, and in the process had picked up, with the help of another destroyer, HMS Diamond, around 700 troops

and crew from the 11,600 ton Dutch liner 'Slamat' (pictured) which had been converted as a troopship and under British control, which had been attacked and damaged earlier. HMS Wryneck and HMS Diamond were both sunk in the attack with the loss of nearly both their crews and nearly all the survivors of the Slamat. The Wryneck lost seven officers and 98 ratings, the Diamond lost seven officers and 141 ratings. Of approximately 950 troops and crews of both ships only one officer, fourteen naval ratings and eight soldiers were rescued.

Thomas Storey Corporal – T/124871 – Royal Army Service Corps - Thomas was the son of George and Annie Elizabeth Storey of Westgate, Tickhill. He was killed on 11 July 1944, aged 25 – it is believed that he volunteered as a despatch rider, when the motorcycle he was riding ran over a landmine - he is buried in Rome War Cemetery, Plot I, Row E, Grave 19. The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was responsible for transport; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery (but not ammunition, military or technical equipment, which were the responsibilities of the Royal Army

Ordnance Corps); administration of barracks; and provision of staff clerks to headquarters units. The grave of George and Annie Elizabeth Storey in St Mary’s churchyard with a memorial to their two boys.

Leslie Swinburn Gunner – 842437 – 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery - Leslie Swinburn is commemorated on Column 31 of the Singapore Memorial in Malaya. He was the son of Blanche Maxfield of Wadworth. He is believed to have died on 05 March 1943, aged 26.

The 9th Coast Regiment – was based on top of Changi Hill in Singapore and controlled the gun batteries at Johore, Tekong Beting Kusah, Changi, Sphynx and Pengarang, on the east side of the island. After the fall of Singapore - On 18th October 1942, 600 men of the Royal Artillery left Singapore for an unknown destination. They arrived in Rabaul New Britain on 5th November 1942, one man, (BSM T Lamborne of 11 Coast Regiment), having died during the voyage.

At the end of November 1942, 517 of the men left Rabaul for Ballalae, one of the Solomon Islands, leaving behind 82 of their colleagues, most of whom were considered too sick to make the journey. Only 18 of those 82 survived to the end of the war.

Those taken to Ballalae were forced to assist in the construction of an air strip. None of these 517 men survived. The official date given for the Ballalae Massacre is 5th March 1943 but interviews with locals, Japanese, Koreans and Chinese suggest June 1943 would be nearer the truth.

THE BALLALE ISLAND GUNNERS

REPORT ON ALLEGED WAR CRIMES BY JAPANESE OF OSAKI UNIT ON BALLALE ISLAND November 1942 to September 1943by NX.70429 Maj. E C Millikin B Sqn 2/4 Aust. Armd. Regt.From information obtained in the RABAUL Area

Acting on instructions from HQ 11 Div I carried out in the RABAUL area an investigation into the alleged war Crimes on BALLALE Is. During the period Nov '42 to Sep '43. BALLALE IS. is pear shaped with an area of approx. one square mile and approx 2000 yds East & West and 1900 yds North & South. An area approx 600yds square, where the white POWs and Chinese were quartered, was "Out of Bounds" to the majority of the Japanese and to all Koreans unless they were there on duty.

OSAKI Unit (18 Naval Construction Unit) during the period under review was approx. 800 strong and while on this island suffered fairly heavily from Allied bombing. In Sep '43 the Unit was moved to KAVIESO ( New Ireland) and built up to 1200 strong. At this period the commander LT. COMD. OSAKI returned to Japan. His further movements are unknown. In all 324 Japanese Naval personnel and 2 Koreans of OSAKI Unit who had been on BALLALE IS. during the period under review were located in the RABAUL area. Of these 108 Japs, including all the Officers and Petty Officers also the 2 Koreans were interrogated

The Japanese all claimed to know very little about the white POWs and in my opinion must know a lot more than they are prepared to admit. Not one man interrogated would admit having come into actual contact with the POWs. In view of the wall of silence raised by these Japanese it would appear they have either been ordered not to say or admit to knowing anything or else they have decided upon this course by themselves. On the other hand the 2 Koreans were prepared to tell all that they knew. Their evidence was mostly hearsay, being mainly overheard from groups of Japanese discussing these matters. I consider that the story told by these two men is, as far as it is possible to obtain, the true story of what happened. A Japanese interpreter HIGAKI of No. 5 Compound RABAUL gave evidence about a party of 600 British Artillerymen from Singapore who left there by ship during Oct '42 arriving RABAUL 6 Nov '42. One man died on the voyage. The party staged at KOKOPO (RABAUL) for about one week. 82 men were left here as too weak to continue their journey. This party was later put under the care of HIGAKI as he could speak English. These men, apart from 3 reasonably fit men left as cook and medical orderlies, were suffering from beriberi, malaria and other sicknesses. On 18 March '43 the numbers were down to 48 - HIGAKI took over at this stage. On Japanese surrender 18 men survived. HIGAKI states that the men told him that after a stay of one week at KOKOPO the 517 fit men were put on a ship and departed for an unknown destination. He was unable, despite repeated inquiries, to find out anything about their fate. This party of 517 appears to be the same one referred to in HQ First Aust. Army letter A27974 of 25 Jan '46 addressed to 23Bde, the differences being that the letter refers to a party of 512 leaving New Britain in Mar '43 by boat. HIGAKI is quite definite about the number 517 and the date approx. one week after 6 Nov '42. There is no doubt that a large number of the POWs were killed by Allied bombing, mainly as a result of the Japanese refusing to let them take shelter in slit trenches or air raid shelters. From evidence given by the Koreans, also that taken in other areas, it seems certain that the remaining POWs round about June '43 were killed and buried. The reason for this is not clear, the evidence pointing to :- (a) The POWs were of no further use due to being too weak for further work or else their task was finished. (b) The Japanese feared an invasion by the Allies and did not wish the POWs to be discovered. The method of killing is not clear, although evidence gathered in other areas is all to the point that at a certain time the POWs remaining were killed. In the absence of an eyewitness the best evidence will be a complete report on the exhumation of the bodies. In view of the evidence gathered by me I am of the opinion that the only person who can be held responsible is the commander of the unit Lt Comd OZAKI. The above is a report on an investigation carried out for the Australian Army – by Major E C Milliken NX.7042910 March 1946

Following liberation of Ballale, 436 bodies were exhumed together with artefacts proving these men were the missing artillerymen who had sailed from Rabaul to an unknown destination. None of these could be personally identified and these bodies

were eventually re-interred in individual graves at the Bomama War Cemetery in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.