Hunter Herbert Fusilier 4273651
Personnel Entry
Name Hunter Herbert Goward
Army number 4273651
Rank Fusilier
Decorations None known.
Date of birth 20/8/1920. Birth registered 1920, mother's maiden surname Tasker.
Age 24 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Posted to the 7th Battalion. Posted to the 9th Battalion. Served B.E.F.? Served Malaya. DIED 12/9/1944, at sea en route to Japan from Singapore, whilst a prisoner of the Japanese, when the transport Rakuyo Maru was sunk by an Allied submarine.
Company/Battery Y Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Not yet known.
Joined Brigade
Promotions None known.
Wounded Not so far as is known.
Prisoner of War Yes - captured 15/2/1942 at Singapore when the force was surrendered.
Died/Killed in action DIED 12/9/1944 - cause of death - drowning. Commemorated on Column 47 of the Singapore Memorial as presumably Herbert's remains were unable to be recovered. Probate granted 7/5/1946 at Newcastle upon Tyne to John William Arthur Curry, lorry driver.
Home address Son of William Brown Hunter and Emma Jane Hunter of Morpeth, Northumberland. At the time of the 1939 General Register Herbert was a single man living with his mother and brother at 36, Chevington Crescent, Morpeth and was a member of 7th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
Source table
To read a detailed article by the IWM on the sinking of these Japanese transports, please click here.
