'Death Railway' POW Who Played Ukulele To Boost Morale Dies

Pictures: SWNS

A WWII veteran who lifted the morale of fellow POWs by playing a ukulele made from old Red Cross boxes has died.

Tom Boardman passed away aged 99 in hospital from heart failure on Friday.

He had taken to string instruments as a teen, joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1940 and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Tom was sent to Singapore before Japan entered the war but became a prisoner of war during the occupation following Pearl Harbour.

The great-grandfather-of-two spent the next three years behind bars in a Thai prison where family says he lived in appalling conditions.

With only three helpings of rice a day, he was forced to work on the 'death railway' - a 415km track between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat - for 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

During the ordeal, Tom, contracted malaria 35 times and his weight plummeted to 6st.

Despite suffering himself, he boosted the morale of his fellow captured soldiers by entertaining them with a ukulele he made from 'old Red Cross boxes and used telegraph wires'.

The ukulele he played with is now housed at the Imperial War Museum North in Trafford.

Tom spoke about his experiences two years ago on Armed Forces Day and appeared on BBC Two's Britain at War: Imperial War Museums at 100 in 2017.

He said at the time: "You had to have the willpower to survive.

"If you could not overcome the desperate situation you would die.

"I had to do something and I wanted to give the lads something to lift their morale, if only fleetingly.

"We needed something to take our minds away from the reality of war.

"I had always loved music and played the ukulele, so I set about making one out of the old Red Cross boxes and used telegraph wires for string."

His son Ron Boardman, 68, has led tributes to his father who he says was made of 'stern stuff'.

He said: "He was made of stern stuff was dad and was a remarkable man.

"He joined the army in 1940 and was sent to Singapore.

"He was there for seven months during peacetime, then the Japanese took Singapore and he became a prisoner of war. He lived in horrendous conditions.

"He lost some of his best pals during that time and has been back twice to visit the graves of those not lucky enough to make it home.

"He picked up an interest in the ukulele as a young boy.

"He played when he was taken prisoner of war, it was his idea to play to keep up the spirits of other prisoners.

"Dad was given three helpings of rice a day and in his own words for lucky if they were given a bit of fish, this went on for three and a half years."

Tom was an avid fan of Leigh Centurions and its owner Derek Beaumont also paid tribute to the club's oldest regular attending supporter.

He said:

"It was amazing that he was so passionate about the club and that even at 99 he attended the games."

Tom married his wife Irene in 1940 and were together for a further 69 years until she died in 2009.

After returning from the Second World War he worked as a traffic manager at Lancashire United Transport at Howe Bridge.

His coal-miner dad, Ernie, played in Leigh's Challenge Cup-winning team of 1921.

Tom had also bought his 2018 season ticket and was looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday in May watching his beloved team with his son.