Egdell Thomas Fusilier 4278397
Personnel Entry
Name Egdell Thomas
Army number 4278397
Rank Fusilier
Decorations None known.
Date of birth Date not yet able to be traced.
Age 31 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 sunk by an Allied submarine.
Company/Battery W 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 Thomas' remains were unable to be recovered. Probate granted 21/3/1946 at Newcastle upon Tyne to Jean Egdell, Thomas' widow.
Home address Son of John and Susan Egdell. Married Jean Kirkup, Q4, 1935, Alnwick, Northumberland. Husband of Jean Egdell of Alnwick, Northumberland.
Source table
To read a detailed article by the IWM on the sinking of these Japanese transports, please click here.
