238402 Sig John Brereton British Army 28 Wing Sect. Royal Corps of Signals from:Stafford (d.20th June 1944) John Brereton, my grandfather, was born in Clun, Shropshire on 15th March 1913. Little is known about John at this time other than he descends from a long line of Brereton from around the Shropshire and Cheshire regions. In the 1930-40 he lived around Stafford, towards the late thirties, Church Eaton where he met and married Mary Barbara Elizabeth Spencer in 1938. We know from the 1939 census that John resided at Park Hall Farm, Church Eaton. He has one child, my mother, who was born on 21st March 1939. He enlisted in the armed forces at the beginning of World War II.
He was a signalman. His service number is 2367472, and he served with 28 Wing Section Royal Corps of Signals. He was posted to Malaya, Singapore and was present during the Fall of Singapore where the allies suffered a humiliating defeat against the Japanese, 7-15 February 1942. With many thousands of prisoners of war he was set to work on the Japanese labour camps and held in the prisoner of war camp, Camp Java around the Java area.
We know from records that he left Camp Java for Singapore on 19th May 1944 on one of the renowned Hell Ships. The manifest from the “Kiska Maru” details him in party No 20. He arrived in Singapore on the 21st. He then left Singapore for Japan on 25th June on either the “Hozan/Kokusei” or the “Hiyoki Maru”.
The ship he was in was sunk by the Allies a few day later. Records from the War Office listed him missing on the 20th of June. Later on the 20th of June another report lists him as being killed in action whilst he was prisoner of war. His name is listed amongst the many at a memorial located in Kranji, North West, Singapore.
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