Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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248617
Pte. Thomas Ellis
British Army 5th Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment
from:Maulden, Beds
Tom Ellis was one of the oldest members of the Regiment in his 30s and many of the younger lads who were around 18 years old looked on Tom as a Father figure. During captivity he showed immense bravery when he refused to give up his wedding ring. The Japanese soldiers threatened to chop his finger off to get it and finally let him keep it as they saw him as a brave man standing up to them. They threatened to chop his ears off and also tortured him with maggots being put into his wounds and kicked and beat him. He tried to escape a few times and was beaten because of it. His wife Daisy had been sent a telegram saying he was missing in action presumed dead but thankfully he returned home after being liberated by the Americans.