5933310, Private, Kenneth James WALLIS
Aged 25
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Born in Newmarket [Newmarket Q4-1917 3b:591], the son of Raymond and Ethel Lily WALLIS (née MOCKFORD) of Exning Road, Newmarket His name is mis-spelt on the Memorial. His date of birth, at Regent Street, Newmarket, on his PoW card is given as 3rd September 1918, and his parents were at Newington Terrace, Newmarket (which is on Exning Road). His occupation was stud hand. The 1939 register has his parents at 12 Woodditton Road, Newmarket, father Raymond [12-2-1883] a stud hand (Air Raid Precautions warden), mother Ethel L [11-9-1882]. |
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He was captured in Singapore on 15th February 1942, the day Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese. Kenneth's name is on the roster of those who died on the "Arisan Maru" which was sunk by the US submarine "Shark" ( herself sunk in this action) or possibly USS Snook. on 24th October 1944 at about N 20° 14' - E 118° 27', in the Bashi Strait, between Luzon and Taiwan. She had left Manila with about 1,800 prisoners on board, mainly US servicemen. The 9 survivors recounted that nearly all the prisoners were able to get off the ship, but the Japanese would not rescue any of them. It in not known how Kenneth became to included with the US servicemen nor how many other British there may have been on board |
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