Caisley Charles Smailes Fusilier 4273542
Personnel Entry
Name Caisley Charles Smailes
Army number 4273542
Rank Fusilier
Decorations None known.
Date of birth Birth registered at Alnwick in 1921. Mother's maiden surname Smailes.
Age 23 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 at sea 12/9/1944 whilst a prisoner in Japanese hands and being transported from Singapore to Japan, when the Rakuyo Maru was torpedoed by an Allied submarine. Reported MISSING by the Japanese.
Company/Battery HQ Company.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Not yet known.
Joined Brigade
Promotions None known.
Wounded Not as 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 46 of the Singapore Memorial as presumably Charles' remains were unable to be recovered. Probate granted 7/5/1946 at Newcastle upon Tyne to Charles Caisley, pipeworks labourer.
Home address Son of Charles C and Mary Margaret Caisley of Craster, Northumberland (married Q1 1911).
Source table
Fusilier Caisley's death did not appear in the Battalion Part II Orders of September 1945, listing the casualties in custody, but information on his death became available later.
To read a detailed IWM article on these convoy sinkings please click here.
