RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: snikkles on Sunday 07 November 10 20:26 GMT (UK)
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Hello everyone,
As a complete novice I am trying to find more information on behalf of my mother regarding her brother, Private William 'Billy' Jephcote of the 1st/5th Sherwood Foresters.
We know that he died as a POW working on the Burma-Siam railway on the 9/11/1943 (aged 24) but she would obviously love to find out more, such as accounts from anyone who knew of him personally, or even more general information such as his army number, etc?
Any help or advice would be gratefully received, so thank you in advance!
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hi,,welcome to rootschat. you will find his service number here.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2353092
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Thanks SO much for the help, I really appreciate it and know it will mean a lot to my mother too!
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if you ever require his death certificate,,the detail needed to order it are recorded here
GRO WAR DEATHS ARMY OTHER RANKS (1939 to 1948)1939 - 1948
william jephcote..rank=private,,,number-4976299,,unit-sherwood for. ,,year-1943 volume 4,,page 32
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Thanks again, and I will definitely look for that too!
I know it's a million to one shot after all this time, but I'm also hoping to find out of there are still any personal accounts of Billy, photographs of the regiment featuring him, or anything of that nature out there?
The information you've given me is really helpful though, as I'm hoping after the Remembrance Sunday service to be able to present her with all of the information I've found so far!
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You might be interested in this registered charity organisation - Children (and Families) of Far East Prisoners of War - and their comprehensive website
http://www.cofepow.org.uk/
Cheers
Sue
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Thanks Sue - from that I've discovered something else new (his date of capture) so toaclueless amateur like me this definitelyb seems like progress! :-D
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you can order a photo of the grave here,,,they will e-mail you one for £3
http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=1745112
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That's exactly the kind of thing Iwas looking for whilst keeping my fingers crossed!! :-D
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Do take the time to really explore the website - as well as the database there is a huge amount of background information there too - you'll soon advance from 'clueless amateur' status :)
Cheers
Sue
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And this one - on the battalion specifically......................you may be gone for a while! :)
http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/ww2/Foresters_on_Singapore/
Cheers
Sue
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Thanks both SO much for the help - I'm about to log off now, but have copied those accounts to read through for more information and general background knowledge! :-D
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Hi
My grandfather was a Japanses POW at the same time as yours.
I am still searching for relatives of prisoners who might have known my grandfather.
His name was Henry Emanuel Lee and he was in Heito and Taichu from 1942-1945. He was killed when the camp was bombed in 1945. Very sad as he kept alive all those years and the war ended soon after the bombing.
http://www.powtaiwan.org/heito/index.html
My mother and her sister both visited the sites of the camps last year and have pictures.
This site is very good and if you did manage to find out any further information, I would be so grateful if you would share.
Best regards
Jen
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Apologies, I misread this. I didnt see singapore.
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Have you applied to the MOD for his records? It costs £30, but as he died in service you do not have to supply a copy of the death certificate.
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html
Ken
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Not sure if you have this?
"Jephcote, John William Pte 4976299 served with B company in France 1939/40. Died Chungkai 9.11.43 of Beri Beri, buried Main Cemetery grave no 871, was a native of Ilkeston."
courtesy of the book "First in Last Out, history 1/5th Sherwood Foresters1939-1946" by Cliff Housley.
Stuart
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