John Robertson S/244642 Understand a Gorbals boy

[Scott_M]

Born Glasgow
Royal Army Service Corps
Japanese POW
Died Age: 24
Date of Death: 12th Sept 1944

Place of Death: Kachidoki Maru - Sunk North East of Hainan Island off China

A letter that my Grandfather kept till he died and passed on to my father.. meant a lot to him.. Pvte John Robertson.. Transcribed - In memory of a dear friend of David Ross Morland.. John Robertson last letter to his pal, my father. Pte J Robertson, 8/244642 55th Infantry Brigade Group Coy. RASC D Platoon c/o APO 1635.
Dear David, Well old pal this is one New Year we won't be able to have our usual fun at the corner but I don't suppose I will be the only one missing. I will be a long time before we have more drunken rabbles at Tonies on a Saturday night. For I expect to be gone for a couple of years.. "The letter damaged goes on to say" . Tell Johnny in the shop I will try to stay sober ..................... Hoping you are all well at home, tell your mother, father, and sister I was asking for them and Tom and his new wife I wish them the best of luck. Well David I wish you and your people and the lad a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year and hope to be back with you all soon I will write again soon and hoping to hear from you soon. tell them the best of luck to you all. Your Old Pal John... RIP John to you and all your comrades who perished.. 
Additional Text, John was drowned whilst captive on the Kibitsu Maru, Sunk by the American Submarine The Pampanito. 900 all British prisoners. Over 500 were drowned. Convoy HI72 to the best of my knowledge sailed from Singapore on the 4th Sept 1944 and the Kibitsu was sunk on the 12th in the North China Sea. John Robertson's name lives on at the Kranji War and Military Cemetery Singapore.     

My father looked after the letter that the transcription above supports.. I now have that letter ..
I suspect that John Robertson was the son of James Robertson & Georgina nee Burns (Married Oct 31st 1919) - May be wrong 

If there is a family descendant would love to share a little piece of John with them.. My grandfather David Ross Morland carried this letter till his end and never forgot his good friend John Robertson ...

Any help welcome.. I actually have posted this in the military topic page.. I share in this topic page given John was a Glasgow boy and frequented in the Gorbals area / Florence street .. a fair clue

[ShaunJ]

Linking to the other thread https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=867522

[Scott_M]

Thanks Shaun.. I have added a bit more detail of John Death registration and possible birth record.. Trying to see if there are better archives of his military career and the death registration for service men .. Scotland's people record I am disappointed in as it is basic and no alignment to his roots or an address .... Interested in any historian on Gorbals area, Florence street ... ?? Tonies??

[mhomac]

Have you tried Ancestry and Find my Past? They have excellent information especially as you have his service number and regiment details. Worth a try.
Morag.

[Forfarian]

Scotland's people record I am disappointed in as it is basic and no alignment to his roots or an address

Scotland's People is a part of the National Records of Scotland (NRS). Its specific remit is the maintenance of birth, marriage and death records of people who were born, married or died in Scotland, or who were living in Scotland on the date of a census.

Military archives are not part of the holdings of the NRS. They are generally held either by the UK National Archives or by individual military units. This is why Scotland's People doesn't have detailed records of soldiers' careers.

It does have records of the deaths of many military personnel with Scottish connections who died outwith Scotland, but it only has the information supplied by the military authorities and forwarded to the NRS by them as it has no other means of formally collecting information about events that did not occur in Scotland. The military authorities, like the General Register Office in England and Wales, do not include in death records the names of the parents of military personnel who died furth of Scotland.

[MonicaL]

You could consider sending off for his service papers from the MOD. See www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records

I have been trying to see if there is access to this documentary on places such as youtube etc. It was done by Timewatch (BBC) and called 'The Crossing' - aired 1999. It is based on this tragedy and the memories from two survivors. Failing to find any possible film for it that could be viewed online.

Monica

[MonicaL]

There are a number of family trees for this family on Ancestry. Someone has John b. 1920 on their tree www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/59580082/person/222434594334/facts You need a subs to view. Not sure if you have this 

I wonder how connected they are to the family and how they have confirmed his details.
Added: I think tree owner connects to daughter of James and Georgina, also called Georgina, who headed off to Australia.

Monica

[Scott_M]

Thanks Monical, Yes I was meaning to update this thread.. I am recently connected to the family based in Oz ..Adelaide ..
John looks to have been the oldest sibling with 3 sisters and 2 brothers ..
The family in Oz dont seem to have much detail .. but we have teamed up.. It was really nice to share the story with them of my Grandfather and his connection to John .. The letter shared was appreciated..
Great idea on reaching out for any service records .. Hoping to find other family members via the siblings .. would be lovely to find a picture ..

[Scott_M]

Scotland's people record I am disappointed in as it is basic and no alignment to his roots or an address

Scotland's People is a part of the National Records of Scotland (NRS). Its specific remit is the maintenance of birth, marriage and death records of people who were born, married or died in Scotland, or who were living in Scotland on the date of a census.

Military archives are not part of the holdings of the NRS. They are generally held either by the UK National Archives or by individual military units. This is why Scotland's People doesn't have detailed records of soldiers' careers.

It does have records of the deaths of many military personnel with Scottish connections who died outwith Scotland, but it only has the information supplied by the military authorities and forwarded to the NRS by them as it has no other means of formally collecting information about events that did not occur in Scotland. The military authorities, like the General Register Office in England and Wales, do not include in death records the names of the parents of military personnel who died furth of Scotland.

Great supporting piece to clarify for others - Thanks