The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Gleadall
- First Name:
- John Alfred
- Rank:
- Pte
- Regimental #:
- WX12070
- Company:
- D Coy 2/3rd MGB
- Place of Birth:
- Yorkshire England
- Father's Name:
- Gleadall John
- Religion:
- C of E
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Cause of Death:
- Drowned after being torpedoed in transit to Japan.
- Date of Death:
- 24.06.1944
General Description
Review WX12070 John Gleadall‘s military records held at NAA.
With 2/3rd MGB he was taken POW of the Japanese at Java 8 March 1942. He was initially reported ‘Missing in Java’ until July 1943, when the authorities were notified otherwise.
On 19 May 1944 800 POWs, including Gleadall departed Java on Kiska Maru to Singapore arriving 21 May 1944. POW group consisted of 194 British, 258 Australian, 42 American, 306 Dutch.
POWs were glass rod tested at Havelock Road Camp. One Australian and four Dutchmen were removed from Party. 795 POWs embarked on Miyu Maru.
Japan 1 formed a convoy of 12 ships and four escorts known as H0-02 as well as Bauxite Convoy. 4 cargo ships carried POWs:
Miyo Maru (795 POWs from Java Party 20)
Hozan Maru (451 POWs as well as carrying bauxite)
Hiyoki Maru (450 POWs and bauxite)
Kokusei Maru (456 POWs and Bauxite)
3 June 1944 H0-02 convoy sailed from Singapore to Japan via Philippines.
6 June 1944 160 miles E.S.E. Cape St Jacques, French Indo-China, USS Raton (SS 250) attacked the convoy. At 2225 hours an escort was sunk and USS Raton received damage.
11 June 1944 Arrived Manila where Tamahoko Maru loaded 7,500 tons copper ore into her holds and joined the convoy.
14 June 1944 sailed from Manila in a convoy of six ships.
15 June 1944 the convoy ran into a typhoon, causing damage to Miyo Maru.
18 June 1944 Convoy reaches Takao, Taiwan.
POWs on Miyo Maru were transferred into two holds on the Tamahoko Maru.
20 June 1944 Convoy H0-02 sailed out of Takao, Taiwan accompanied by escorts.
21 June 1944 Stopped over at Keeling, the convoy then headed for Japan.
24 June 1944 three US submarines Tang, Tinosa and Shark II attacked the convoy off the Japanese coast, 40 miles S.W. Nagasaki. The Tamahoko was hit and sank with the loss of 560 POWs out of 772 POWs on board.
25 June 1944 200 survivors of the sinking were taken to Fukuoka 14B Camp.
Tamahoko Maru Survivors from Western Australia included:
WX5300 JOHNSTON, Gervase Clifford
WX5300 LECKIE, John Henshaw
WX9911 McDONALD, Gordon Stanley John
WX18552 MONTEFIORO, Arthur Eric
WX2844 PARKIN, Charles Owen
WX11771 ROSS, Gordon
WX9943 TICKLE, Horace James (later died illness)
Western Australians who Perished:
WX10551 DORAN, Edward John
WX12070 GLEADALL, John Alfred
WX3336 HAMILTON, Richard
WX6228 NORMAN, William George
WX14456 McCURDY, David Vincent