No. 5828520, Private, Thomas MAYES
Aged 39
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Thomas Mayes was born in Kedington on 28th January 1904 (Risbridge Q1-1904 4A:921), son of Henry and Alice MAYES (née HURRELL).
1911 census...Aged 7, he was at Great Wratting with his father Henry MAYES [41] farm labourer born Barnardiston; his mother Alice [41] born Barnardiston; brothers William [21] cow man, born Barnardiston, Frederick [19] farm labourer born Kedington, George [16] farm labourer born Little Wratting, Arthur [13], Albert [11] and Bertie [18 months] all 3 born in Little Wratting; sister Hilda [9] born Little Wratting. Neither Thomas or his parents have been found in the 1939 register. His elder brother Frederick died at home from his wounds in 1916 in France. Frederick's nephew, Michael Brown of Hundon, was kind enough to point out this about the brothers. Frederick is commemorated on the Little Wratting memorial. see here The Japanese Prisoner of War card gives the address as Coronation Cottages, Gt Wratting, mother Alice. He was held at Hakodate Camp. |
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Thomas was captured at the surrender of Singapore on 15th February 1942 and transported to the Japanese mainland for labour. The 5th Suffolks left Liverpool on 29th October 1941 and on various ships, via Canada, Trinidad, Cape Town and Bombay eventually disembarked in Singapore on 29th January 1942. 2 week later, still defending their position at Farrer Road, to the south of the area being contested by other local lads from the Suffolks, Norfolks and Cambridgeshires, they were ordered to lay down their arms.. The surrender to the Japanese did not go down too well So far it has not been established when he was shipped to Japan, that will probably be among the Japanese writing on the reverse of the card.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
