South Yorkshire Times, July 24, 1943
Birthday Surprise.
Returning home from a holiday at Blackpool on Saturday, which was her birthday, Mrs. T.A. Bates, 12, Ellershaw Lane, Conisbrough, received a postcard from her husband, Gunner Thomas Alfred Bates (35), saying he is a prisoner of war in Japanese hands, it was the first news of him since the fall of Singapore , and he was reported missing a year last February.
Gnr. Bates writes that he is well, and wishes to be remembered to his friends, he has been in the Army for three years and abroad over 18 months.
He was an air raid warden before he joined up, and prior to that a miner at Cadeby colliery.