Rice Richard Fusilier 4274031
Personnel Entry
Name Rice Richard
Army number 4274031
Rank Fusilier
Decorations None known.
Date of birth Birth registered in Morpeth in 1920; mother's maiden surname Ghent.
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 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 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 48 of the Singapore Memorial as presumably Richard's remains were unable to be recovered. Probate granted 18/3/1946 at Newcastle upon Tyne to Richard Rice, fish and chip merchant (Riachard's father).
Home address Son of Richard and Christina Rice (nee Ghent) of 10, Front Street, Scotland Gate, Choppington, Northumberland.
Source table
To read a detailed article by the IWM on the sinking of these Japanese transports, please click here.
