Gunner Charles Thomas Ives. Regt.No.838570

[p.risboy]

Just received my Uncles death cert.

Didn't have much on it, that I didn't already know.

Place of death. Thailand. Prisoner of war. Jap.
Cause of death. Avitaminosis.

Avitaminosis = Vitamin deficiency, because of poor diet.

Not sure what to think really......died a slower death. Didn't lose his life in combat....... just hope he passed as peacefully as possible, but seeing what it was like out in those camps, it's hard to know really.

Anyway, my Aunty Hilda always talked about him, and I suppose I've carried on her narrative.
Well, he did his duty when called to, and that's his legacy, and part of my family history.

Salutations Uncle Charlie.O0

Steve.

 

[DaveHam9]

Have we been here before?

Did I send you a photo of his grave?

Rank:GunnerService No:838570Date of Death:20/06/1943Age:28Regiment/Service:Royal Artillery 16 Defence Regt. Grave Reference: 8. C. 65. Cemetery:KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY

Dave

 

[DaveHam9]

Sorry Steve.

I did visit that cemetery and did take a photo of a grave but it was not your uncles.

I do have some general photos of the cemetery and the town and the bridge over the river Kwai.

Dave

 

[p.risboy]

I have a photo from the CWGC web site.

In return, I sent the TWGPP a photo of my Uncle Charlie, which I believe is on their web site.

https://www.twgpp.org/photograph/view/2171688

I've also got one of the plain white cross, that initially marked his grave, which was sent to his parents.

I would recommend that anyone with a photo of a loved one who died in the Wars, send a copy to the TWGPP, to add to their database.


Steve.

 

[DaveHam9]

Ok Steve.

A general view of the cemetery.

 

[DaveHam9]

Some info at the entrance.

 

[DaveHam9]

The bridge over the river Kwai. The odd centre spans were put in place in 1948.

 

[p.risboy]

And another view.

View attachment 3541

 

[p.risboy]

Original Cross.

View attachment 3542

 

[p.risboy]

As a child, I would always see his name on the memorial in his, and my home town of Princes Risborough. I was told as a child that he had died in Burma, whilst in the hands of the Japanese. I never really took in what that statement really meant, until second level education where we covered WW2 in our history lesson. And it still never really hit home until my father would watch the TV programme, "World at War". I would catch some of the scenes of the horrors that soldiers were subjected to, whilst held by the Japanese Army, as 'slave labour'. I felt proud of my Uncle, even though I never met him, because he had died 10yrs before I was born. I often asked my father "what did you do in the war dad", but all that he would tell me was that he was in North Africa and Italy, and would only tell me the few funny situations that he was involved in, and never the horrors that he must have seen and been involved in. I can understand now, why he tried to put it all to the back of his mind. But I was sure that it would never go away. So while my father was fighting in Europe, his brother Charlie was fighting in the Far East. Two brothers, half a world apart, joined by blood and separated by war. Charlie never came back home like my father, but he is always with me, and will never be forgotten. I hope one day that I might get to see his grave, and thank him for being my Uncle and my hero. God bless you Uncle Charlie.

 

[rupert]

Bucks news - Prison of war

Rupert

 

[p.risboy]

Many, many thanks Rupert.O0

 

[p.risboy]

I've just re-read the newspaper cutting, and I noticed that 3 Ives brothers were serving in the WW2.
That leaves William Ives, .b.18 Dec 1912, P. Risborough, and Jack Ronald Ives, b.22 April 1917.

Now I wonder, which other brother was serving King and Country, from those two.

I'm diving back into my box of photo's and scraps of info.

There just maybe a wedding photo I've over looked.

Steve.

 

[rupert]

Death of his father Frederick Eli Ives of Station Road,

Rupert

 

[p.risboy]

Rupert, this is wonderful. Thank you very much.

It does raise a couple of questions.......I need to find out who the daughters in law are, F & J Ives.

Could F Ives be a type error, my mother E.Ives. As for J Ives, I can't explain her........yet.!!

Steve.

 

[p.risboy]

Jack Ronald Ives, married in 1942 to Sybil E Wells. It's not P.Risborough Church.
Maybe Halton or Aston Clinton.
My sister is reasonably sure, he was not in the Army.


View attachment 3550

Found the photo in my box of stuff. My sister confirmed it's him.:2fun:
My Mum, Aunt and Granny in the picture.

Steve.

 

[p.risboy]

Rupert, this is wonderful. Thank you very much.

It does raise a couple of questions.......I need to find out who the daughters in law are, F & J Ives.

Could F Ives be a type error, my mother E.Ives. As for J Ives, I can't explain her........yet.!!

Steve.

I am as thick as a brick.:2fun:

'Mesdames' - (Mrs)F.Ives and (Mrs)J.Ives, would be my mother and Uncle Jack's wife.

It's been a while since I've been in the Wally corner, so I hope it's clean.:2fun:


Steve.redf)

 

[p.risboy]

Bucks news - Prison of war

Rupert

Been a while Rupert, so sorry for asking. What date was the newspaper clipping, for C.T. Ives, prisoner of war.

Steve.