FEPOW memorial books

[norfolk regt man]

I have stolen this from an email sent to me, think some of you may be interested,



FEPOW MEMORIAL SERVICE – WYMONDHAM, NORFOLK – SUNDAY 12 MAY 2019



During WW2, Captain (4th Cl) Fr Malcolm Leon Cowin was commissioned into 196 Field Ambulance as an RC Chaplain. He was posted, with his unit, as part of 18th Division which was diverted from its original destination in the Middle East, to the Far East . Parts of the Division arrived in Singapore on 29th January 1941 but much of their support weapons and transport had been sent to Java and Sumatra by mistake. On 8th February the Japanese had started their attack on Singapore. After much hard fighting, in which about 7,000 troops were killed and 2,000 wounded or missing, over 80,000 troops surrendered to the Japanese on 15th February 1941. Captain Cowen somehow survived the horrors of internment by the Japanese and was released from captivity in December 1945. He returned to his former Diocese of Northampton and was sent to be the resident priest in Wymondham, Norfolk on 31st December 1945. He decided to build a “Living Memorial” to all those who died in prison and internment, both soldiers and civilians which included local people. With the Bishop of Northampton’s support, Fr Cowen launched a national, and later international, appeal for support. Through this appeal a church was built and opened in 1952. There are several Memorial Books in which over 24,000 victims are recorded, with more being added annually as they become known. It is hoped that eventually all 56,000 + names will be recorded.



Fr Cowin’s practise was to say Mass for the War Dead every day during his incumbency, supporting his solemn vow to remember all those lost. There is an annual service on the Sunday closest to the 14th May – the anniversary of the Relief of Rangoon in 1945. Members of the Regimental Family are strongly encouraged to attend this years; Service which will take place on Sunday 12th May 2019.



Should Regimental Family members wish to check if their relatives are amongst those remembered in the Memorial Books, then please contact Peter Wiseman, the honorary archivist at Our Lady & St Thomas of Canterbury FEPOW Memorial Church, Wymondham. He can be contacted at: phandtmwiseman@gmail.com Additionally, if you believe your family members name should be in the Memorial Book please contact Peter.

[Martin J Wright]

Thank you.

Martin.