Alex Glendinning's
Asian Pages
Awarded selection by edhelper.com (Educational Assistance for Teachers) in November 2000.
visitors since June 8 1997
Singapore and MalayaCivilian Internees of the Japanese
in Singapore during WWII and Civilian Internees Messages 2001
| 2000 | 1999
| 1997-8 Johor, Malaysia
1916-1929 Links
Carol Cooper's The
Children (& Families) of the Far East Prisoners of War - the
story of how she came to found this organisation is quite moving | British & Commonwealth
POWs in Java 1942-1945, an index of over 4,000 names by Anthea
Beckett | The Story of Hugh Valentine
Shelton-Palmer by his son Simon Shelton-Palmer | Far East
POWs WebRing
There are no central lists of British Civilian Internees or Prisoners of War in WWII that are accessible "on-line".
The International Committee of the Red Cross, who were charged with monitoring the welfare of prisoners (with great difficulty) held by the Japanese, keep lists of all known POWs and Internees of all nationalities for the Second World War. Enquiries within the UK should be sent to: The Director, International Welfare Department, British Red Cross Society, 9 Grosvenor Crescent, London SW1X 7EJ. However the IRC has a substantial backlog and does not favour genealogical enquiries. Enquiries from outside the UK should be addressed to the appropriate national headquarters of the Red Cross.
The International Red Cross advise regarding their wartime records: "The general archives up to 1950 are open to the public and can be consulted in the Reading Room. The archives of the Central Tracing Agency can be consulted via special procedures." Costs of IRC research are quoted at approximately SwFr80 per hour. The IRC department can be emailed at archives.gva@gwn.icrc.org
Singapore SitesThe Library of the National University of Singapore | PICAS: Picture Archives of Singapore | University of Leiden Photographic Archives (just enter Singapore in the search engine and see what you get!) | Newspapers: The Straits Times (Singapore) | Gunnery Able Seaman Victor Neville Bruce's Diary of the Fall of Singapore by Lou LeBoydre | Dr Thomas Oxley (1805-1886) Biography of a Prominent British Gentlemen in Singapore by Rob Alexander | Singapore WWW Virtual Library at Vienna University | Lonely Planet: Destination Singapore | Straits Times Interactive Home Page | Here is the HomePage of the Singapore Government | National Library of Singapore | National Archives of Singapore, 1 Canning Rise, Singapore 179868 at Singapore National Heritage Board Home Page which also hosts the Online Museum of Singapore Art and History | Singapore Information Services Online (local HomePages listed here) | Travel Info on Singapore
MalaysiaResearch Sites
The University of Idaho: Asia
and the Pacific Links | The School
of Oriental and African Studies Library (London) | South East Asian Studies
WWW Virtual Library at Leiden University | Royal
Commonwealth Society Collection at Cambridge University Library
Other Asian SitesBritish Ancestors
in India | A Brief History of the East
India Company | More About The
East India Company | The History of A Plantation Agency: JAWattie and Co
in China and South East Asia (1898-1979) by Anthea Beckett
Asian Researchers and Look Ups
Graeme T. Steel lives in Surabaya, Java, Indonesia and has a keen interest in the colonial history of Java. He writes: I am in a position to explore sites pertaining to the colonial period of the Dutch East Indies, especially in Surabaya and East Java. This might be of particular interest to those whose relatives lived here and perhaps were interned or died during the Japanese occupation of Java. The Christian cemeteries in Surabaya of Makam Peneleh and Kembang Kuning contain many British graves from the 1840s onwards. Makam Peneleh, the oldest existing Christian cemetery here is earmarked for demolition and so time is running out for those whose relatives were buried here. There is also a Jewish cemetery which contains several British graves. In addition there is the a cemetery maintained by the Dutch government which contains amongst others, British graves of those who died assisting the Dutch in their attempt to regain control of the East Indies after the Japanese surrender.
I would be willing to help anyone searching for the grave of a relative, likely to be found in these areas, or to locate and photograph any buildings or sites relevant to their family's history.
There would be no charge for any investigation on my part, although I would like to point out that I can only do it in my spare time and can make no promises about finding anything. I would not like to disappoint anyone, but I could only say that I would do my best.
Museum