Did You Know These of The Ninth?

5777527 SGT JOHN PURLING - 1 R NORFOLK
Chloe Mortimer seeks information, and a photograph, of her great grandfather, Sgt John Edward Purling, 1 Royal Norfolk, kia on 11 Jun 1944, aged 27. The CWG site at www.cwgc.com states he is buried in Thurton (St Ethelbert) Churchyard in Norfolk.
[B&C 108]

5769489 J LAKE - 4 R NORFOLK
Margaret Lake wrote: ‘I am looking for the War Records of 5769489, J Lake. He was a PoW at Stalag v111b num 13640.’
She was advised to contact: Kate Thaxton - R Norfolk Regt Museum (Assistant Keeper Social History - Military) at The Shirehall, Norwich. 01603 223649. Sending a SAE with as much detail as possible would assist. It is also possible to arrange an appointment at the Museum to peruse their extensive archives. They are not open on Sun or Mon. However, in school holidays they are open Mon-Sat.
A follow-up e-mail in Feb 07 from Margaret said: ‘Kate Thaxton sent a photo of my father-in-law in 1930-1931 of his team winning football cups. We never knew anything about it, She also advised he came from Canning Town and we thought it was West Ham.’

D Coy, winners 4th Bn Inter-Coy Football Cup 1930 and 1931
and
League Champions Gt Yarmouth and District League (Div 2) 1930-31
Back row: F Brown, F Morse, W Gray, W Gates, T Spurgeon, Sgt Man
Front row: A Mills, 2Lt T Hall, Cpl Syder (Team Capt), 2Lt A Tunbridge, H Utting, J Lake
Kneeling: W Goreham, RG Crowe

Thanks Margaret and Kate. Ed.
[B&C 108]

5769664 AW GOOSE - 2 R NORFOLK
I wonder if you could shed some light on my late father's 1940 movements.
I tried the Regimental Museum and although they were helpful they were unable to trace the route dad took to get out of France.
I find his service book rather confusing with dates and names and if its not to much trouble hope you may be able to help.
Dad was a regular with 2 R Nfk and sailed to France on 2 Feb (I assume 1940). He returned to England 16 Jun 1940 but at what port the telegram that I have, that he sent to mum, does not say.
Now, this is the confusing bit. Dad said that he was sent back from the beaches with other chaps into France, to hold-off the enemy so the beaches could be cleared.
I remember him telling me he thought it was somewhere near Rouen where they were told to abandon most of the equipment and it was 'every man for himself'.
Dad and his little group decided to get back to the coast and covered 100 miles in 3 days.
His service book shows Rouen, Paris, Le-Mans, Beaumont and St Marlo (St Malo ? Ed.) and disembarked Southampton Jul so the disembarkation month does not tie in with the telegram.
When he applied for the Dunkirk Commemorative Medal he had to show the route he took and St Valery-en-Caux was very much to the fore in his memory so I wonder if this was the place from where he escaped.
What I am after is the route he would have taken from being sent back into France to his escape.
I hope you can be of assistance.
[B&C 108]

JAMES FERROW - 6 R NORFOLK
Jim McDermott wrote: ‘I seek information on my uncle James Ferrow from Great Yarmouth, who served with 6 R Norfolk, killed at the end of the war in 1945. The entry in his army record reads: “7 Sep 1945 Missing Believed Killed, overdue aircraft from Saigon”. An entry in his AB 108-2 reads “PRM now presumed died accidentally killed 8 Sep 1945.” The family story is that he had died on a plane taking POWs out of Burma but the fact that he was in Saigon is new information. Does anyone know of others who may have been on aircraft from Saigon? Was he in a Japanese POW holding camp in Saigon? Does anyone remember serving with him? I would be grateful for any information. I served in 2 R Norfolk ACF in Gt Yarmouth until 1958 when I joined the army and served for 25 years leaving as a WO1 Int Corps.’
[B&C 108
(Afternotes Jun 07 from the Webmaster. There is a page at www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/f/html/ferrow-james.htm dedicated to James Ferrow. His Leila Haddou, the great-niece of James also enquired, stating that the link at www.norfolkbc2.wanadoo.co.uk/bc_issues_2/bc_108_jun_07_2/know_these_108_jun_07.htm#james_ferrow did not work. Sorry about that Leila, it has now been corrected. Many thanks for the information.)

5771775 CHARLES WILLIAM CARPENTER - 2, 1and 5 R NORFOLK
Former LCpl Charles Carpenter was 90 on 4 Feb 2006 and asked his daughter, Anne, and her husband, to take him to the Regimental Museum. Anne reported: ‘Kate Thaxton made us very welcome and my Dad enjoyed telling her some of his stories. We all had a good laugh. We had a good look around and found it very well laid out and most interesting. It brought back some memories to Dad.’ Thanks for your and Kate’s help. Charles was asked by the Norfolk Editor to write down some of his reminiscences with the 2nd Bn in Aldershot, 1st Bn in India, 5th Bn in Norwich and as a Japanese POW.
“I joined the Army at Colchester on 30 Aug 1934. Work in civilian life, at that time, was non existent. I was in the Royal Norfolks, stationed at Britannia Barracks, Norwich. I was in 87 squad., known as ‘Havana Squad’ and did 6 months recruit training. After about a fortnight, the NCO in charge said: ‘I want you to go to the stores after lights out, get a brush and some white paint, and go and paint the last post.’ Was I green - there were hundreds of them! Suddenly, a plummy voice said: ‘What are you doing chappie?’ It was an Officer, and when I told him what I had been ordered to do, he laughed and told me to take the paint and brush back to the stores and go to bed. I feel I must mention what I think was a huge scam. It happened during my 6 months training. On joining the Army, we were paid 14 shillings a week. We were told we would get 5 shillings a week and the remaining 9 shillings would be saved. When your training ended you got 2 weeks leave prior to joining the 2nd Bn, stationed at Mandora Barracks, Aldershot, and you would be paid the 9 shillings a week that had been saved for you. ‘Ha, ha!’ I worked out that 9 shillings a week for 26 weeks amounted to Ł11.14s. I thought: ‘What a lovely 2 weeks leave I'll have.’ Wrong! When the time came to collect these wages, my name was called out, I marched smartly up to the Paying Officer and saluted. He checked his folder and told me how much I would get. I said: ‘Sir, I'm very sorry but I can't sign for that amount as it's well short of what I've worked out.’ He muttered something under his breath and said: ‘Join that queue over there.’ When I reached the end of this queue an Officer asked me about my problem. I told him and after consulting his folder he said: ‘Ah, but ..’ (These are words that I have viewed with suspicion ever since !) ‘Ah, but, you see two windows were broken in D Block.’ ‘I'm not in D block, sir,’ I said. ‘It makes no difference, you all have to pay, firstly for the two panes from the stores and for two more panes to replace them!’ I thought: ‘What a damn great scam !’ I eventually joined the 2nd Bn. Our barracks was opposite the Guards Brigade barracks. I was put in ‘B’ Coy, known as ‘The Foreign Legion’. Our Sgt Major was an ex-Guards drill instructor. We had drill, drill, drill, until we were the smartest Coy in the battalion. In fact I think we were as good as the Guards. At any function or civic ‘do’ - it was always B Coy. I thoroughly enjoyed my Army Life prior to the outbreak of the war. I was proud of my Regiment, had a good life and was always treated with respect. As for the war years, well, always being shifted from pillar to post, never really settled.
After the fall of Singapore on 15 Feb 1942, we were herded to Changi. There the Japs left us to our own devices whilst they went on to capture Sumatra. Food was practically non-existent. Parties were sent to the docks to help move stores from the ‘go-downs’ and loaded onto Jap transporters for Japan. We managed to pilfer a few items for ourselves and for those of us who were too ill to work. After that work was finished, parties of us were sent up country to Ban Pon, situated on the Malay-Thai border. On arrival we were told we would assist in building a railway from Ban Pon through Thailand virgin jungle to the Burma border.
I have written my story, which my eldest daughter Anne, and her husband Phil have put on their computer. This is an account of my exploits during my time as a POW with the Japanese. (A copy has been requested. Ed.) I thank God that he gave me the strength and belief that after three and a half years of hell, I was able to return home to my wife Jill and daughter Anne. Some memories still bring a lump to my throat. About 20 years ago I read a book ‘A Fearful Freedom’ written by the late Maj Bob Hamond, about Jim Wright, who came from Cawston. He described how he had seen 3 men in a boat pass by.
I realised that this was Hector Hart, Harry Randall and me! I managed to get in touch with Jim and we remained friends. Sadly, last year he passed away.”
[B&C 108]

CONTACT
Make contact with correspondents via the Norfolk Section Editor or RHQ, Britannia House, TA Centre, 325 Aylsham Rd, Norwich, NR3 2AB. Tel 01603 400290.