Suez Maru Families and Research Association
Kenneth Smith
29 January 1906 - 29 November 1943
Kenneth Smith
Royal Artillery
21 LAA, 79 Bty
Rank: Gunner
Service No: 1826738
Home Town: Rutherglen, Scotland
Nationality: Scottish
Family:
Father: William Smith
Mother: Lilly Smith
Kenneth Smith – by Marcus Alexander
Kenneth was my Grandpa’s brother and the son of William Smith and Lily (Nee Nicoll), born 29 June 1906 iat Langlands Cottage, Kintore Aberdeenshire.
3rd son of 11 siblings, he was married to Elizabeth (Beth) and had a child.
He was posted to the Far East and captured by the Japanese in March of 1942. As a POW he was held in various camps before being transported on the Suez Maru.
He was 37 years old when he was killed.
His name is on the Kranji memorial in Singapore and my mother visited it during her time in the Royal Navy in the 1960s.
I’m actively researching and will add more details as I find them.
Ratch Hill farm 1918 Smith Family. Kenneth is standing to the right of his mother.
© Commonwealth Graves Commision
Far East PoW Japanese Index Card
The front of the card (except English sections)
Camp – the three vertical lined characters – JAVA (1942 (17th year of the the emperors reign) August 15th)
Nationality given as British/English
Place of capture – JAVA, and another character,
PoW number: The box marked No. is the PoW number a man had. I think the crossing out denotes when the PoW was transferred (for the SM men) to the Moluccas.
So I think originally at Java Base, then [moved to] Java Camp III (3). Camp (3) beling Ambon.
The two red vertical stamps on either side of the main box have been translated as ‘Supplement’ and ‘Telegraphed’ – relates to the ‘processing’ of the deaths, sending (via telegram)
The red diagonal line across the whole front of the page is a rather callous way to indicate the person was deceased.
Image (c) TNA WO345
Reverse of the index card
Top line: Other Informations noted that a stamp was made for the first section of red text, and a smaller (4-character) stamp for the end of the same line; the Japanese text translated-
2nd line: The ship was on its way to deliver the prisoners when it was hit by a thunderstorm. [4 characters after small gap] Suez Maru
3rd line: When the attack happened. [date – 18th year of emperor’s reign, 11th month, 29th of the month: 1943, November 29th] 18.11.29 [time of sinking] 09:20 [KA text here – unclear what this refers to]
4th line: [first text, then coordinates] Where the attack happened S 6 20′ E 116 30’ [description of location of sinking] North of Bali Island near Kangayan [Kangean] Island.
Some reverses have additional information, but for the vast majority (of Suez Maru men), their card reverses are identical
Image (c) TNA WO345
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