RWF WW2 POW Grandfather research

Hello there!
I'm new here & getting used to this so here goes:

I am wanting to learn more about my grandfathers past and history although as he is no longer with us, I cannot personally ask;
and I am having to ask around family members and use key words and names across the internet to find some clues to his past.
He never kept anything from the war nor did he ever speak of it much to his children. Nor do we have any photographs of him when he was in war or young.
He said he had his items stolen twice when he was being treated for various diseases out there.

If you do know how I can go about this information or know something yourself or any photographs he may be in I would be very greatful as I have never seen him at a younger age;

Although we do not know his army service number these are all the information we have going by what he has told my mother when he was alive:

Name: Joseph William Reynold Keirl
Born: 6th Dec 1915 in South Wales (Treherbert/Glamorgan South Wales)
Royal Welch Fusilier
Stationed in India (gathering possibly 1st or 2nd bat as he only mentioned being in India?)
Was a RCM or CRM?? & Cook at some points
Was in hospital twice due to disease one time was Yellow Fever where
-his belongings were stolen from him both times.
He was captured by the Japanese and held as prisoner of war; he was torched (he had scars across body)

I have searched across many websites to try find information including national archives but nothing shows up his name. I will be going through the veterans page to pay for his service details, but I would also like to see if anyone would have any photographs he may be in or anything that he could of been a part of during his time in India ww2.

Kind Regards,

Chantelle Rowley

A good start would be to apply for your grandfather's service record. Full instructions here: http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/sho...-WW2-PERSONNEL

John

This is a useful link and website: http://www.fepow-community.org.uk/html/research.htm

Good luck!
Lars

Hi Chantelle,

A warm welcome to the Forum.

I've checked the RWF Enlistment database 1920-1941, he doesnt appear in that.

Also to our (current) knowledge none of the men from the 1st or 2nd Bn, who went "missing in action", whilst fighting the Japanese, ever made it to a POW Camp, a stark reality of their situation. I'm wondering if he was perhaps another Welsh regiment. I think Baconwallahs suggestion of applying for his service record is worth a try.

A search at TNA for his japanese index card or his liberation questionnaire will give his service number and possibly his regiment/battalion. Quite a few RWF's from enlistment were sent to other regiments but retained their original RWF numbers.

I think finding his service number would be of help in getting his service record.

Lars

Thank you all for your help!
I have the papers from MOD ready to send off just awaiting my mother to find his death cert to gain his service record/medal info.
I have tried to gain more information from my mother she recalls 'Queens Royal Regiment' being a familiar term but obviously not too sure as it was so long ago.
I'm wondering if he was taken to unit 731 as he was 'Torched'
Should probably definitely have another look into National Archives again. Could it be possible some files have been destroyed in the war?(someone mentioned this to me)

Thanks again
Kind Regards,
C Rowley

hi..
Forces War Records list only 1 Keirl. but that is a J F. But he was The Queens Royal Regiment. His Service No was 1678585.


ivor

Hi again.

Looking on Family Search there is an entry for Joseph R Keirl. Birth Registered Mar Quarter of 1916. this is a normal occurrence as parents had 6 Weeks to register a birth and as he was born early Dec 15. the Birth was Registered in the Pontypridd district.

there is always the possibility of Transcription errors when dealing with hand written documents so it may be worth having a look at this WF Keirl.


ivor

Yes I came across this Keirl and thought maybe the R handwritten looked like an F. Thank you.
I spoke to my mother today and the letters RSM or QSM she remembers him talking about I don't know if these have any significance to his search. She also stated he had two tattoos on his shoulders of women one Lydia other Gertie. The marriage to a Lydia L Turtell is one of 3 wives(one died of a tropical disease in hospital while they where together I'm gathering they both caught in India) this also on the family search website.
What other Welsh Regiments could I look at if he wasn't a RWF or could he of moved to?
Thanks again

Kind Regards,
C Rowley

Hi.

these are Army Ranks...
RSM Regimental Sargent Major.
QSM Quartermaster Sargent Major.


ivor