Arthur Lane
Telephone 0161-477-2681 & 0161-480-0114
Author Writer Researcher
61 Charles Street
Stockport
SK1 3JR
Dear Sir,
Since the end of the war, I have been asked by the relatives of many of those men and women who are listed as having no known grave, if I could help in finding out what happened and if possible try to locate the last resting place of a loved one. I have in the past gone out to Malaya and Singapore to try and retrace the steps of several of those missing, including men who I personally assisted in burying. In each instance I have been searching for a mound of earth in the place where I knew they had been buried.
It is only recently that I have come to the conclusion that the words "NO KNOWN GRAVE" is a rather misleading metaphor. Many of these men actually have a grave but are listed as unidentified. The very words NO KNOWN GRAVE seems to indicate to those relatives seeking an answer, that nothing remains of their loved one, when in fact fifty per cent or more of those so listed are actually buried in a military cemetery or other consecrated ground. The Singapore government who are currently removing all of the graves from the cemeteries in the city have located several unidentified graves.
With assistance from the government and the Commonwealth War Graves commission, most if not all of these unmarked graves have now been identified. Quite recently many young people have sent letters asking for information about uncles and grandfathers who are in this category, and I think we owe it to the families to do our best to locate and identify them now, while there are still some former Far East service men alive, who can give valid information in this quest. All through my period as a prisoner of war, I maintained a register of those men I had buried or whose funerals I had attended. approximately 3000.
The War Graves Commission recovery group recorded every detail concerning each removal .this gave the place where remains were found, if there was any personal items. the date of recovery and the place where the remains were later interred, giving a serial number.
If the War Graves Commission will release to a group of responsible people, all these details I am positive that fifty percent of those marked as having no known grave can be identified, especially in view of the use of DNA testing.
The War in Malaya and Singapore lasted for seventy days from the 8th December 1941 to the 15th February 1942, The Japanese casualties for this period were not officially issued, but are believed to be in excess of 65,000.( By casualties I refer to the injured and not able to defend themselves, plus those killed). The British known casualties were 7000 known, plus 13,500 missing believed killed in action. This does not take into account men from the Navy who are listed in their home ports and the RAF crews who did not return from their mission.
The main number of missing believed killed occurred at Slim river, Muar river and Singapore. The three main commonwealth war graves at Kranji. Taiping, and Kuala Lumpur are the main military cemeteries which between them contain those men who were killed in action and their bodies recovered and identified a total of 3962 The total number killed in action and having no known grave is 1369, which does not include those who died as prisoners of war.
Add to this those who died in the prisoner of war camps or who died at sea and the total comes to 25,000
The total Allied casualties between 8th December 1941 and 15th February 1942 was 17,631 (Casualties meaning those killed and injured and incapable of continuing the fight) As specified, this figure refers to land based forces only.
This is the list of where they fell
Kroh 180,
Singora 320,
Patani 300, ,
Padang Besar/ Perlis, 335 ,.
Alor Star 280 ,
Kedah to Penang 460 ,
Kuala Kangsar 120 ,
Sungei Patani 100 ,
Jitra 1311 ,
penang/Georgetown 530 ,
Kota Bahru 528 ,
Kuala Tregganu 380 ,
Gurun 130 ,
Grik 235 ,
Taiping 185 ,
Ipoh 180 ,
Trong 35 ,
Tapa 56 ,
Bidor 89 ,
Kuaka Lipis 112 ,
Blanja 48 ,
Tanjong Malim 58 ,
Bentong 38 ,
Slim River 2498 ,
Raub 430 ,
Kuala Kubu 130 ,
Selangor 238 ,
Kuantan 138 ,
Kuala Lumpur 98 ,
Seramban 103 ,
Bahu 138 ,
Port Dickson 320 ,
Tampin 148 ,
Gemas 98 ,
Malacca 987 ,
Segamat 130 ,
Muar 1032 ,
Batu Pahat 123 ,
Kluang 98 ,
Kahang 78 ,
Endau 113 ,
Mersing 65 ,
Johore Bahru 431 ,
Singapore 4515 ,
Many of these men were buried discreetly wherever there was a local cemetery and their names added to the list of No Known Graves. In Tamping cemetery there are in excess of 500 graves. Of these however 350 are listed as “Known only unto God” they were buried in a hurry because the Emergency war in Malaya which had began to ferment. So all the dignity of military funerals and similar were abandonded.
Add to this those men who were killed or died during the emergencies roughly 11,00. Many buried in local cemeteries. Our government nevr had the time or the inclination to do the right thing by these men.
When I returned home to Stockport after the war, I noticed that in my local cemetery there was a small plot of around 20 German service men and aircrew graves . I contacted the German embassy in London suggesting that if the remains of these service men were to be repatriated to Germany, their families would be able to at least be able to visit them and show their respect. It took a little while for things to develop, but it did happen. Now the small plot has become a car park.
No fuss, just a job well done.
The same should be happening in Malaya and Thailand where many of us know, and the Commonwealth war graves staff should know there are a number of small local cemeteries where British service men were buried, not out of compassion, but out of convenience.
The National Ex Service Association have created a task force who are prepared to undertake this task. We require the support of our government to be able to fulfil the promise we made at the time. “We will come back for you”. Help us to keep this promise in whatever way you can.
Yours sincerely
Arthur lane
NESA Task Force