William Curry was from Kent, I believe. He met and married my grandmother, Teresa O'Sullivan, from Bere Island, County Cork. My father, Gerald Anthony Curry, was born there and soon joined by Patricia and John. They were posted as a family to Hong Kong.

William was captured in Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941, by which time my father and the rest of the family were in Coogee, Sydney where they remained for the duration of the war.

My grandfather survived the sinking, but ended up as forced labour on the docks at Osaka, I think. He died on 19th February 1943 aged 42. I was told as a boy that he had died of beriberi, but I guess he was severely maltreated.

I don’t think my family knew he was dead for sure till after the war, because they were shipped from Australia to UK to await his arrival.

One of his personal possessions passed on after the war was a water damaged prayer book.

I only learned he was on the Lisbon Maru when I wrote to an Australian website asking if they had any further details about him.