Name
Marshall Raban Hart
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/08/1943
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Bombardier
892172
Royal Artillery
135 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regt.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Column 35.
Singapore
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St. Mark’s Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School Memorial (WW2)
Biography
He was born in Hertfordshire and before corning to the Hitchin Grammar School, he attended St. Mary's School in Hitchin. He stayed at the Grammar School from 1927- 1932 and, on leaving, was employed by Messrs Sainsbury in London.
He was residing in Hertfordshire when he enlisted as a Territorial in the 344 Battery in the 135th (Herts Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery equipped with 8 x 4.5 howitzers. His Service Number was 892172.
The Regiment sailed from Gourloch at the end of October 1941 for Halifax, Nova Scotia. They were transferred to the S.S. ‘Mount Vernon’ and went to Cape Town heading for the Middle East. On the way they were diverted to Singapore and arrived during an air attack on the 13th January 1942. After disembarking they were despatched to the west coast of Johore and were in action before withdrawing to Singapore Island by the 31st January 1942. They fought vigorously on the island until ordered to destroy their equipment and surrender on the 15th February 1942.
Following the surrender they were moved to Changi and in May 1942 moved to Bukit Timah, both on the Island of Singapore. Late in 1942 about 500 of the Regiment were at Tamarkan building the bridge on the River Kwai which was completed in April 1943. They then continued in various work camps in Thailand and Malaya where they were starved and ill-treated.
He was reported missing by March 1942 after the fall of Singapore. By the summer of 194 3 a card had been received at his home to say that he was safe but a prisoner of the Japanese. He was almost certainly forced to work on the Siam to Burma Railway construction and probably died of disease, overwork and ill-treatment.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Column 35 of the Singapore Memorial to the Missing.
He was the son of Leonard and Harriet Hart of 26, Bedford Rd, Hitchin. A photograph of him appeared in the Pictorial newspaper.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Hitchin Grammar School Chronicle, Hitchin Grammar School Registers, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - Far East Theatre - 1941-1946’ by M Farndale, Herts Pictorial dated 2nd January 1940, Herts & Beds Express dated 28th Mar 1942
