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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 465

Three: Lieutenant S. E. Scott, 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, who died as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese on 21 July 1943, having gone 'in the bag' at the Fall of Singapore

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45, in their card box of issue named to 'Mr E. Scott,..., Ely, Cambs.', with the Army Council condolence slip in the name of 'Lieutenant S. E. Scott' and confirming '3' Medals, nearly extremely fine (3)

Sydney Etherington Scott was born on 23 October 1918 and served with the 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment during the Second World War. The Battalion embarked from Bombay and landed at Singapore on 29 January, with the full force of Japanese forces about to bear down upon them. Taking up positions to defend the beaches they first took their posts on 31 January and came under fire from 5 February. From 11 February they were involved in the frenzied actions attempted to hold back the enemy, but it was to no avail. Upon the surrender the Battalion, Scott included, numbered just 450 men.

1943 saw the survivors faced with the Death Railways, marching nearly 100km in just 7 days to Camp 203 KILO, Martona on 5 May. By 16 May, they numbered just 255. Sickness and disease due to the conditions was rife amongst the men and Scott succumbed to cholera whilst on an Officers' Working Party at Hintock. Whilst his official date of death was recorded as 21 July 1943, a Regimental diary states his comrades were aware of his death in June 1943. Scott is buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. His Medals were sent to his father, Etherington, who was living at home with his mother May.

Scott was one of 3 Officers and 283 Other Ranks who died whilst Prisoners of War. The Hintock Camp remains today and can be visited:

https://www.hintokrivercamp.com/about-hintok-river-camp-at-hellfire-pass/

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Sold for
£150

Starting price
£110