George Deveraux Templer

George Deveraux Templer was the son of George and Beatrice Templer. He was captured in Singapore and sent to the work on the infamous Burma railway. He died of dysentery Thailand and his remains were buried in Burma.

CWGC = GEORGE DEVEREAUX TEMPLER

Sapper - 920

Johore Volunteer Engineers

who died on Saturday, 21st August 1943. Age 25.

Additional Information: Son of George Walter and Beatrice Elizabeth Templer, of Bournemouth, Hampshire.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery: THANBYUZAYAT WAR CEMETERY, Myanmar

Grave Reference/

Panel Number: 66. C. 19.

Camp Kami Sonkrai, Thailand

http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Cemeteries/Thanbyuzayat_War_Cemetery/html/thailand_-_burma_railway.htm

The notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war, was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died in the course of the project, chiefly forced labour brought from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, or conscripted in Siam (Thailand) and Burma (Myanmar).

Two labour forces, one based in Siam and the other in Burma worked from opposite ends of the line towards the centre.

The Japanese aimed at completing the railway in 14 months and work began in October 1942. The line, 424 kilometres long, was completed by December 1943.

The graves of those who died during the construction and maintenance of the Burma-Siam railway (except for the Americans, whose remains were repatriated) were transferred from camp burial grounds and isolated sites along the railway into three cemeteries at Chungkai and Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar.

Thanbyuzayat became a prisoner of war administration headquarters and base camp in September 1942 and in January 1943 a base hospital was organised for the sick. The camp was close to a railway marshalling yard and workshops, and heavy casualties were sustained among the prisoners during Allied bombing raids in March and June 1943. The camp was then evacuated and the prisoners, including the sick, were marched to camps further along the line where camp hospitals were set up. For some time, however, Thanbyuzayat continued to be used as a reception centre for the groups of prisoners arriving at frequent intervals to reinforce the parties working on the line up to the Burma-Siam border. Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery was created by the Army Graves Service who transferred to it all graves along the northern section of the railway, between Moulmein and Nieke.

There are now 3,149 Commonwealth and 621 Dutch burials of the Second World war in the cemetery.

The village of Thanbyuzayat is 65 kilometres from Moulmein, and the war cemetery lies at the foot of the hills which separate the Union of Myanmar from Thailand. At present the only way in which the cemetery may be visited is by train. This is a long and uncomfortable journey and three days should be allocated. Only those in good health should attempt the journey. Prior permission is needed to travel to the cemetery, which is close to areas of unrest. Enquiries about the possibility of obtaining permission to visit the cemetery should be made to the nearest Union of Myanmar (Burmese) Embassy, or a Commonwealth Embassy in Yangon (Rangoon).

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
BRADPOLE
DORSET
ENGLAND

THE JOHORE VOLUNTEER ENGINEERS (JVE) 258 (Vol. Force Record Office postwar CO820/67)

Principally European planters. The only one of Johore forces to fight in both Johore and Singapore. So named to avoid confusion with the existing "JVF" raised by the Sultan of Johore. JVE was organised from SSVF Volunteer HQ with training etc. But fell under Australian command. Re-allocated itself to the Argylls in Singapore briefly.

TEMPLER G.D. [George Devereaux] born 12.10.1918. To Malaya 1938. Assistant Planter, Rubber Estates of Malaya, Kota Tinggi, Johore. Sapper 920 JVE POW Singapore to Thailand with F Force 29.4.43. Died in captivity 21.8.43 Songkurai. Grave at Thanbyuzayat.

'F' Force suffered more than any other work force that left Singapore for Thailand/Burma in 1942/1943 and Songkurai various spellings] was just a total nightmare. You can read about this in Brian MacArthur's widely available book 'Surviving the Sword.'

G.D.Templer would have been in the Kota Tinggi section of the JVE. A planter called Alex Archer was in the section and wrote about his experiences in a little book called 'The Way it Was.'

Conditions Force F POWs

To close any picture press Alt + Left Arrow

Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer Col James Lethbridge Brooke Templer Cecil Robert Templer James Lethbridge Templer Henry Templer - Mariner Edward Merson Templer John Arthur Templer Harold Edward Templer James Templer I of Stover James Templer II of Stover John Templer of Lindridge George Templer of Jungpore Anne de la Pole nee Templer George Templer of Stover Henry Line Templer & the Honeychurches Clause Frank Lethbridge Templer

Balloon Accident War Ballooning Military Aviation The Aldershot Aeronauts Royal Air Force Steam Transport it can

And who is Cousin Hebe? The Battle for Hong Kong

Members of the Templer Families Somerset and Devon Templer Families Salmon Pool & Stover Salmon Pool Templer Family Stover Templer Family Templer DNA

Early Templer Tree

Salmon Pool Tree

Stover Tree

Home Remembrance WWI Remembrance WWII

Leslie Montagu Buller Arthur Francis Henderson Philip Templer Furneaux John Stanley Richardson Arthur Douglas Richardson Templer Henry Scott Henry Bertram Brittan Edward Guise Brittan Francis Darvall Templer Earnest Benbow Richardson Herbert Cecil Buller Alan Melville Edward Foss Prior Merson Templer Gore-Brett William Thomas Templer Eva Graham Prior Harold Rolleston Brittan Claude Frank Lethbridge Templer James Hamilton Spence Richard Francis Montague Buller Arthur Edward Adderley Buller* Walter Evelyn Cramer-Roberts Raymond De Dibon Richardson

Miles Christian Templer Sargent Anthony Gordon Peiniger Graham Templer Swann John Michael Hewlett Sargent Denis Henry Dammers John Edward Templer Hugh Ranulph Vincent George Deveraux Templer Leonard Hugh Acland Harper Philip Walter Templer Denzil Templer Branch Guy Merson Templer Neville Glyn Williams Eric William Harington Clarke

Photos James Templer of Stover and Family Descendants of Henry Skinner Templer Descendants of John Arthur 'Darvall' Templer family Descendants of Edward 'Merson' Templer James Templer of Bridport and Family

Descendents of James Templer

Exeter Salmon Pool Mountfield Bridport Volunteers Stover House Teingrace Church Halswell Lindridge House Shapwick House Sandford Orleigh Shute Church Stover Canal and Granite Railway Coade Stone