5 days ago
Island man tells of bravery of parents both awarded MBE in Far East
A RETIRED engineer could well be the the only living Isle of Wight resident whose parents were both awarded the MBE for their bravery and work during and just after the Second World War.
Don Webber, of Bembridge, who spent most of his childhood in Malaya, is set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day this summer and has shared his parents' stories of bravery in the Far East during conflicts.
His parents, Donald and Patricia Webber, were rubber planters in colonial British Malaya, during a time when the Japanese began advancing into the peninsula before war broke out.
After hostilities in the Far East began against Japan, Don's father joined the Malay Regiment as a second lieutenant, but was captured at the fall of Singapore in 1942.
Patricia Webber was awarded the MBE in 1953, after being named on the newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II's first birthday honours list. (Image: Don Webber) He became a British prisoner of war (POW), on the infamous Burma-Thailand Railway, nicknamed the 'Death Railway', at Nakom Nayok Camp in Thailand, between November 1942 and August 1945.
His mother, an ex-nurse, managed to escape, with six-month-old sister Anna, on one of the last ships to leave Singapore before its fall, ironically named The Empress of Japan.
The ship, bound for Liverpool, was targeted by Japanese bombers, but somehow managed to evade being sunk.
Both Donald and Patricia received the MBE after the war.
Patricia Webber with baby Anna after arriving at Liverpool, having taken one of the last ships out of Singapore two weeks before the surrender to the Japanese army. (Image: Don Webber) Don said: "My father, emaciated during his time in a POW camp, was reunited with my mother when war ended.
"He weighed only five stone when he got back to England. It took him months to recover."
Despite the grim, harsh conditions, Don's father bravely managed to run a secret radio in the POW camp, which he used to keep fellow prisoners informed of the news.
Don added: "With my uncle Max, an intelligence officer, they ran a secret radio. It was a beheading offence if caught.
"But sharing news gave fellow prisoners a feeling of morale.
Bembridge man Don Webber as a child growing up in Malaya (Image: Don Webber) "Bits and pieces of radio were found, on their marches up to the POW camp, which were carefully secreted away in a water bottle."
In a recording held by the Imperial War Museum, Don's father spoke of his actions in the camp.
He said: "After two or three days, we got the radio going and, from then on, Max and I distributed the news throughout the camp and others along the railway.
"In all, we managed to produce 703 news bulletins — but security had to be better than better. The Japanese were very strict on searches."
His father was awarded the MBE in 1946 from King George IV, for his bravery during the war.
Bembridge man Don Webber could be the only Islander whose parents both received the MBE (Image: Don Webber) After the war ended, Don's parents returned to Malaya to continue their work on a rubber plantation, with his father managing the estate for British company, Guthrie's.
Don's mother also received the honour in 1953, in recognition of her public service in Malaya.
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Patricia was on Queen Elizabeth II's first birthday honours list after her coronation.
"She was known for her cheerfulness and in her helping the locals on the estate. Being an ex-nurse, she would dress wounds," said Don.
"She worked for the police while the 'Malaya Emergency' was going on."
The family lived near the jungle, close to where communist insurgents were active and murdering people, during the Malaya Emergency uprising in 1948.
Rubber plantations and police stations were targeted during that time, bringing Don's parents right into the firing line.
Donald said: "My mother was attacked twice.
"On both occasions, while being transported in a car, she was shot at, but survived both attempts, uninjured."
Don spent his childhood in Malaya until 1960, before moving to the Isle of Wight 25 years ago.
When he was aged 16, Don joined the army's Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as an apprentice in electronics.
Don went on to teach electronics and spent 14 years in the army, rising to the rank of staff sergeant.
He spent his career in the UK, Germany and also Libya, in the days before dictator, Col Gaddafi, came to power.
Don went on to run a recruitment agency for electronics and computer engineers, then retired to the Island.
"I brought my wife Gill to the Island to look at the place — and she fell in love with it," said Don.
"I decided to take early retirement and make the move to Bembridge, where I've lived ever since."
Gill died in 2016.
Don plans to mark this year's VJ Day in remembrance of his parents' bravery in the Far East.
VJ Day is celebrated nationally on Friday, August 15.
