Dvr William Hancock, KIA 1940, Singapore Memorial

[kivo]

Hi all, my great grandfather was killed in action during WWII, and I need a little help concerning his commemoration at Singapore Memorial.

Driver William Hancock was killed aged 40 aboard the Hofuku Maru POW ship off the Philippines in 1940.

He is commemroated at Singapore Memorial, but I am unsure how - on the CWGC website you can download a certificate, for William it says -

In Memory Of
Driver
WILLIAM HANCOCK
Service Number: 2317493
'M' Corps Sigs., Royal Corps of Signals who died on 21 September 1944 Age 40
Husband of V. E. Hancock, of Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
Remembered with Honour
SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Column 46.

Is this what it says on the memorial itself, or is it just his name? Is the above information to be found anywhere at the site?

[ShaunJ]

1944 not 1940

[nestagj]

The Singapore Memorial bears the names of people who died who have no known grave.  It only bears the name of the person. Its a beautiful peace area - fitting a fitting memorial to those who lie or are remembered there.  We were there in March; when I get home I'll post a couple of photos.
Nesta   

[ShaunJ]

Here's an example of the layout of the memorial (some 24,000 names are listed): https://rdougwicker.com/2024/01/31/singapore-in-pictures-8-kranji-war-memorial-cemetery-2/#jp-carousel-37461

[ShaunJ]

William Hancock's army records are now at the National Archives and have been catalogued: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C18203164

[Albufera32]

I am not sure if you have information about the Hofuku Maru, but in case you don't, she was sunk by American carrier aircraft when the convoy she was with was attacked and all eleven ships in the convoy sunk. Of the 1,289 British and Dutch prisoners on board 1,047 died.

The National Archives include a document described as "Far East: deaths of prisoners of war; sinking of SS Hofuku Maru, 21 September 1944, off Manila; sinking of SS Lisbon Maru, 1 October 1944" which can either be viewed at the National Archives or downloaded from Findmypast. I assume it is essentially a list of the names of those lost, but there may be more information there.