Browse this website Close this menu
This data is related to World War 2
Private

Wilfred Clarke

Service number 5048067
Military unit 1st Bn North Staffordshire Regiment
Address Unknown
Date of birth
Date of death 21 Sep 1944 (29 years old)
Place of birth Unknown
Employment, education or hobbies Unknown
Family history

Son of James and Lucy Clarke, of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

Military history

Singapore Memorial Column 77

He was killed aboard the Hofuko Maru.

The Hofuko Maru set sail from Singapore as part of a 10 ship convoy to Miri, Borneo. Of the 10 ships, 5 were carrying 5,000 POW's. The Hofuko Maru had to leave the convoy due to engine problems and docked at Manila in the Philipines on 19th July 1944. The POW's were kept on baord in appalling conditions. The POW's were suffering from disease, malnutrition and thirst. On the 29th September she set sail again in a convoy of 11 ships. On the 21st September the convoy was attacked and all 11 ships were sunk by the USA aircraft carrier, Corregidor. Of the 1289 POW's abroad, mainly British but including some Dutch nationals 1047 died, 242 swam ashore and 42 were picked up by the Japanese.

Extra information

Unknown

Photographs

No photos