Banbury War Memorial - Memorial List

Upton, Phillip George

Name on Memorial: Upton, P G
Memorial Panel: Centre
Full Name: Upton, Phillip George
Rank: Gunner
Service Details: 1458646, 85 Anti-Tank Regt., Royal Artillery
Age at Death: 27
Date of Death: 21/09/1944
Place of Birth: Banbury
Son Of: Sidney and Georgina Upton
Mother's Maiden Name: Frost
Parents' Marriage Details: unknown
Husband Of: Daisy Evelyn Mary Upton, of Grimsbury
Wife's Maiden Name: Jarvis
Marriage Details: Banbury Jun-40
Cemetery: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
On 21st September 1944 the Hofuku Maru, one of Japan's infamous Hell Ships, sailed with Convoy MATA-27 for Takao in Formosa. The ship was attacked by an American aircraft carrier about 80 miles north of Corregidor; the Americans sank the whole convoy including the Hofuku Maru, not knowing she carried prisoners. Of the 1289 prisoners being transported by the Hofuku Maru from Manila to Japan, 1047 were lost.
Phillip Upton had survived working on the Burma-Siam railway and was being taken to work in the salt mines. He was aboard the Hofuku Maru when it was torpedoed and was killed instantly. His wife, Mary, was just 22 at the time and was left to bring up their two-year-old twins, Anthony and Richard, alone.