A Most Tragic 'Oriental Odyssey': Troopship Sunk; Captured at Singapore; Transported & Died in Taiwan & buried at Sai Wan, Stanley, Hong Kong, group of 4 to Sunderland Gunner: Sergeant Charles Fairbridge Allan, 125th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

- The 1939-1945 Star. No clasp
- The Pacific Star. No clasp
- War Medal
- Efficiency Medal. GVI 1st issue with 'Territorial' bar (916815. Sjt. C. F. Allan, R.A.)

Taiwan F.E.P.O.W. Casualty: Sergeant Charles F. Allan, 125th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, tragically died at the Taihoku Military Hospital, Taiwan, on, 8 September 1945. The recorded cause of death by Japanese Medical Officer Dr. (Captain) O. Yoshimi, is recorded as 'Beri Beri / Enteritis', a long lingering illness, that had first started on, 11 July 1945. A most tragic death, succumbing due to lack of medical supplies, care and ultimately malnutrition, in the very week that the Taiwan F.E.P.O.W.'s were being physically 'liberated', after years of miserable incarceration, and in Sergeant Allan's case, 'starvation'

Reference the newsletter(s), of the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society, the following information was mostly extrapolated. After the surrender of Japan, 15 August 1945, it was not until 25 October 1945, that the Japanese occupation force 'formally' surrendered to Nationalist Chinese Forces. Prior to that date, the 'Western Allies' had been busy arranging the rescue and liberation of the Allied POW's in Taiwan. After the Japanese surrender, all of the allied POWs from the various camps in Taiwan were congregated in Taihoku to await evacuation. American B-29s from Saipan dropped food and supplies on the camps in Taihoku on the 28th and 30th of August. From this the men started to get their strength back. On September 5th and 6th, ships from the US and British navies came into the nearby port of Keelung to rescue the men. Most were then evacuated in the days and weeks after 6 September, most being evacuated by the Americans on two aircraft carriers and four destroyer escorts, a few were flown out, and the rest taken by hospital ship – all to Manila in the Philippines for medical treatment and care before starting out on their homeward journeys

At the time of his death, Sergeant Allan - a married man - was 39 years of age

Sergeant Allan was initially buried at Daichoku Cemetery, in the Taipei region of Taiwan (formerly called Formosa). In 1947, the bodily remains of Sergeant Allan, were exhumed, for transfer to Hong Kong Colony, where his body was on, 24 July 1947. re-interred with full military honours at the Commonwealth War Graves Military Cemetery, located at, Sai-Wan, Hong Kong

The service and supreme sacrifice of Sergeant Allan is commemorated in perpetuity on a memorial headstone located at Sai Wan, Hong Kong, where his loved ones had the following epitaph engraved on his headstone:

Quote,

Never forgotten by his loving wife Mary, and sons Terence and Jack

Unquote

Charles Fairbridge Allan, son of Harrison Allan & Alice Allan (nee Gillespie) was a native of Sunderland, C. Durham, England, where he was born on, 26 August 1905. At the time of the compilation of the 1911 National Census for England and Wales, Charles shown recorded as Charles 'Anthony' Allan- was living with his widowed mother, his 4 x siblings ( 2 x brothers & 2 x sisters) and 2 x female cousins, at the family residence located at, 14 South Durham Street, Sunderland. By trade a 'Painter Decorator', Charles married Mary E. Partland, at Sunderland, sometime during the thrird quarter of 1933. The couple were subsequently blessed with 2 x sons, vis Terence and Jack. Charles had volunteered for service in the Territorial Army, prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, and was allocated the unique army number '916815', and later posted to the 125th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. Prior to landing in Singapore Colony in February 1942, Sergeant Allan survived the sinking of the troopship 'Empress of India', that was sunk by Japanese enemy action on 5 February 1942. Initially Interred as a Prisoner of War in Singapore from 15 February 1942, Charles was later transported on a Japanese 'Hell-Ship' to Taiwan (Formosa), where after years of incarceration, he became one of seven British F.E.P.O.W.s, to die in Taiwan in the week leading to the liberation of the Prisoner of War camps on the island. Mary Allan the widow of Sergeant Allan, was the notified next of kin, who in 1942, had bene recorded to be living with her two sons at, 30 St. Leoanrd Street, Sunderland, Co. Durham, England

125th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery: 125 (Northumbrian) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) was converted from 125 Field Regiment in July 1940, with four batteries. On, 28 October 1941, the 125th embarked aboard S.S. Oronsay at Avonmouth. Arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia, 8 November 1942 and transferred to US troopship Dickman. Arrived Bombay on, 27 December 1942, via Trinidad and Capetown. The regiment was on the 'Empress of Asia' when, on 5 February 1942, it was attacked, bombed and abandoned on a sandbank barely 6 miles from a 'Burning' Singapore Colony. The regiment lost most of its equipment on the abandoned ship. The survivors then fought as infantry together with one troop of 2 pounder guns in the defence of Singapore Colony - the regiment served less than 10 days in the 'Defence of Singapore Colony', before surrendering on, 15 February 1942. In the months following the surrender, the survivors of the 125th Anti-Tank Regiment were split into various groups, some remained in Singapore, but most were scattered throughout South East Asia - mostly to Thailand to work on the infamous, 'Death Rail' - with a single party, including Sergeant Allan - destined for 'Taiwan' - and others being transported to Japan. For their services during the Second World War, 12 x 'All-Ranks' of the 125th were decorated for their distinguished services as under:

- D.S.O.: x 1
- M.B.E.: x 2
- B.E.M.: x 1
- M.I.D.: x 8

The published regimental history of the 125th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, records that the unit suffered losses of 197 x 'All-Ranks' Killed-in-Action, Died-of-Wounds, or subsequently died as Prisoners-of-War during the Pacific War

Readers should refer to the website 'Children of Far East Prisoners of War' for an on-line transcription of the regimental history of the 125th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

For specific - and extensive - detail on the hitherto, little known history of Allied POW's in Taiwan, readers should refer to the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society, via their excellent society website, and from where a reference book on the subject, can be sourced, and or donations made to what is a most worthy cause

- www.powtaiwan.org

A most poignant Far East Prisoner of War group to a Sunderland 'Gunner' who died in Taiwan, and who now lies buried in Hong Kong

An extremely scarce 'Taiwan' casualty

Condition: Mostly about EF

Code: 23228