ARTHUR LANE

To whom it may concern.

On the 29th April 1935 age sixteen years, Arthur Lane, enlisted and served as a drummer with the 1st battalion of Manchester regiment in Egypt, where he obtained the British army 3rd, second and 1st class education certificates. Serving in Cyprus, Palestine, Singapore and Malaya. He was commended by the commanding officer for his work in organizing sporting events with the natives of whichever country the battalion was serving. In 1941 he also won the commanding officers silver bugle and drummer award

In Singapore in June 1941 he volunteered for training with the British Independent company in support of 121STs. At the capitulation of Singapore he became a prisoner of war.

He carried his army bugle with him since enlistment and during his time as a prisoner of war sounded the last post over more than 3000 British, Australian, Dutch and even Japanese burials. Although the carrying of writing material carried the penalty of death, he maintained a list of all those who had died. After the war he handed the list over to the Commonwealth War Graves commission.

Leaving the army in 1949 he found work with a petroleum engineering company as a cargo superintendent and calibrating engineer for twelve years, after which he set up his own private investigation company. Between 1973 and 2004 Arthur returned to Singapore, Malaya and Thailand several times on behalf of families in search of those men listed as having no known grave. He was responsible for researching the Malaysian massacre which took four years to establish the names of all those murdered by the Japanese and to establish the fate of 36 men of the HMS Thanet who had given themselves up to the Japanese navy after their ship had been sunk. Researching other smaller groups of missing men.

Between 1989 and 2002 he researched wrote and published fifteen books concerning the war and published 32 books on behalf of other former service men and women.

In 1944 he formed the National Ex Service Association which accumulated from 300 to 1638 members by 1999. He also published 2000 copies monthly of the NESA newspaper posting copies to all members with bulk copies being sent to other associations and groups.

The association provided hospital and prison visitors around the country on at least three occasions when informed that a former veteran had died and was about to be confined to a paupers grave, Arthur would contact the media in the area who would organize fund raising, also the veterans former regiment and then either the British Legion or SSAFA.

From the receipts Arthur received from the sale of his books, the cash would be used

to assist those unfortunates who had been taken to court and could not pay their fines These were just small amounts but very helpful. He also gave several thousand copies of his books to certain service charities to be sold with the receipts going to the charity.

He assisted in the making of three documentary video’s and films, Last Post on the Kwai. The Crossing and Changi Syonara. Between the years 1999 and 2004 he required hospital treatment which resulted in the removal of his gall bladder, and a quad heart by-pass operation. Today in his 91st year and although suffering prostate problems he still continues his battle for support for former service veterans. By managing the NESA web site www.nesa.org.uk In the past he has given support to the Far East POW compensation claim and the ABCIFER compensation claim

plus the Ghurka’s claim, The Portandown enquiry, The Korean veterans, The Nuclear veterans, The Gulf veterans, The Deepcut families Enquiry. And various others including soldiers serving in Ireland suffering the ignominy of being charged with murder.

Rob Eyre Web master www. Nesa.org.uk