A rare Second World War P.O.W’s B.E.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 W. H. Peterson, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, late Royal Army Medical Corps, who was captured at Singapore and decorated for his gallant services on the “Railway of Death”

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (7532727 Pte. William H. Peterson, R.A.M.C.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (22274997 W.O. Cl. 2 W. H. Peterson, R.A.O.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army (22274997 W.O. Cl. 2 W. H. Peterson, B.E.M., R.A.O.C.), mounted as worn, minor official correction to surname on the G.S.M., contact marks and a little polished, otherwise generally very fine (7) £1200-1500

B.E.M. London Gazette 11 February 1949:

‘For gallant and distinguished services whilst a prisoner of war in Japanese hands (prior to September 1945).’

The original recommendation states:

‘In April 1943, a large force of British and Australian prisoners of war was sent deep into the jungles of Thailand to work on the Burma-Thailand Railway.

At one of the Australian camps cholera broke out in a virulent form and this soldier together with seven others courageously volunteered to go and help in the difficult and dangerous work of nursing the sick.

He did gallant service amongst the cholera patients, working in mud and filth under incessant rain and without adequate covering, and was constantly exposed to infection from this dreaded disease which took so high a toll of the force.

During the period of the epidemic he performed excellent service and for his personal bravery, steadfastness and self-sacrifice he was a credit to himself, his regiment and his country.’

The late nature of the announcement of this and related awards is explained in a related statement:

‘The services being rewarded occurred some years ago, but the recommending authority has only recently been able to obtain the full particulars of the candidates and the necessary support for the recommendations. In spite of the lapse of time, Members of the Committee will probably agree that the services described deserve recognition.’

William Howard Peterson, who was born in May 1922, was serving in No. 1 Malaya Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C. at the time of his capture on 15 February 1942. As verified by accompanying research, his brother Alfred was serving in the same unit and suffered a similar fate, the pair of them being embarked for work on the Burma-Thailand Railway in April 1943 - Alfred, who was also awarded the B.E.M., was captured at the famous Raffles Library and Museum, so probably the same location as William since the building was converted into a Regimental Aid Post. Their mother, Lucy Yvonne Kummer, appears to have been of Singaporean descent and was resident at 22-C Hill Street at the time of the Japanese invasion.