a liverpool fireman

[Lou Barron]

this is a wee tale of a fireman off the gloucester castle i wont mention his name one of the pow camps we was in was a place called loyang on singapore island it had been taken over by the jap navy and they had us guys working for them the barrack we was in was not to bad but next to the camp was a mangrove swamp it was a breading place for mosquitosbut that another story on the other side of the swamp was a malay village they had chickens ducks and other animals it was getting near my birthday so this fireman said a good feed would do for my birhday to cut the story short one night this guy goes off through the swamp and comes back with a chuck how he got it we did not ask him and the japs was not aware of this otherwise it could have been big trouble what a feed we had this guy was a real hardcase

[Captain Kong]

Hi Lou,
Yesterday I found a letter in one of my files, off a man called Einion Rees, He now lives in Romford Essex, The date of the letter is May 2004.
He is one of four brothers who went to sea during WW2.
One was on the Gloucester Castle, when you were sunk by the Michel, he was taken ashore at Singapore with you. He has since died.
He wrote to me to thank me for arranging a Memorial Service over the site of the Gloucester Castle in 2001, just South of Ascencion Isiand. 8 degrees South Lat.
Did you know him?.
Cheers
Brian.

[Lou Barron]

hi brian the name does not ring a bell but my memory is not the best these days if he was with the guys who was put ashore in singapore it is possible that i would know him i have forgot a lot of names who was with us in singapore nice to have you back with us