Smeaton John Corporal 4275766
Personnel Entry
Name Smeaton John
Army number 4275766
Rank Corporal
Decorations None known.
Date of birth Birth registered 1919 in Berwick upon Tweed; mother's mainden surname Crisp.
Age 24 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Posted to the 9th Battalion. Served B.E.F.? Served Malaya. DIED 12/9/1944 whilst a prisoner of the Japanese – at sea en route from Singapore to Japan, when the transport Rakuyo Maru was torpedoed by an Allied submarine.
Company/Battery W Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Not yet known.
Joined Brigade
Promotions Corporal.
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 45 of the Singapore Memorial as presumably John's remains were unable to be recovered. Probate granted 4/6/1946 at Newcastle upon Tyne to Frances Isabel Smeaton - widow (John's mother).
Home address Son of Robert Wilkinson Smeaton and Frances Isabel Smeaton.
Source table
To read a detailed article by the IWM on the sinking of these Japanese transports, please click here.
