Hi Roger

My name is Zena Moran, daughter of Zena Reich, Phyllis Reich's sister. My cousin David Barlow, son of another sister, Gwen, have been trying to find out what happened to Phyllis's husband, Albert Tingley for some time, being unable to find any trace of him after the war - including scouring cemetery records available from Myanmar.

You may have read Colin McPhedran's "White Butterflies" and realise the route his family took to escape from the then Burma to India in 1942 was the same as Phyllis and two of their daughters took. They didn't survive the arduous trek, and Colin was the only one in his family party of four to survive. He eventually settled in Australia.

The rest of the Reich family, apart from a brother who was in the Royal Navy and settled in Scotland after the war, came to New Zealand (Wellington and Nelson). I live in Havelock North, Hawke's Bay. Gwen, the last survivor of the five sisters and one brother, died in Nelson in February.

I'm sure David would like to contact you too. I will email this link to him. We have both been to Myanmar, me only a few months ago with my husband, Graeme, just as the reforms were getting going. David and I are the only cousins out of six who feel we have a "Burmese soul". The others aren't interested.

Click on the Reich surname above to read a post by Peter Sim, a Reich cousin, to which I also responded.

And, please, what did happen to Albert?

Hello Zena and thank you for responding. I have copies of 'White Butterflies' and Felicity Goodall's book 'Exodus Burma' on my shelve, together with many books on the Burma Thai Railway, as I was on the 'Quiet Lion' Committee here in Perth recently and know/knew quite a few ex Railway POWs. It all help's bring to life the dozens of stories I have, in draft, as told to me by Dad, Uncles and their friends, over the years. Albert Tingley was the 'Best Skill at Arms' soldier in India/Burma at one stage in the 1930s and lived for/doted on, Phyllis, Ursula and Iris. Apparently Phyllis was a lovely person. Dad said that when 'Bertie' heard that they died on the trek,he practically went to pieces (drink etc) and did not want to live. Dad was a little emotional talking about it and did not want to end that particular story, however he did say that the Japanese bulldozed/built a road, right across the part of "the cemetery" (? Rangoon) where (amongst others) the Tingley side of the family was buried.....

When I was on the Quiet Lion Committee, my wife & I (Pauline is Kiwi, her Mum is in Tauranga)) and I 'did' the Thai side of the Burma Railway and seeing Myanmar is still on my list. I too feel a little 'Burmese Soul', a tiny part of that may be as Mum, pregnant, was carrying me on that last plane out of Myitkina and I heard the stories as a 4-8 year old. Look forward to hearing from David when convenient.

Good to chat with you....take care,
Roger T

Hello relatives. I am related to James Innes and Maboo or Mah Boo. My GG Grandmother was Catherine Innes who was the sister of Alfred, Charles and William Peter. I actually have some letters from the family etc. Can we connect and share some information please.

Nick Clark

Hello relatives. I am related to James Innes and Maboo or Mah Boo. My GG Grandmother was Catherine Innes who was the sister of Alfred, Charles and William Peter. I actually have some letters from the family etc. Can we connect and share some information please.

Nick Clark