26 Facts About Philip Toosey

Philip Toosey was born in Upton Road, Oxton, Birkenhead, one of seven children of Charles Denton Philip Toosey, proprietor of a successful shipping agency, and Caroline, whose father had been governor of Dublin Gaol.

Philip Toosey was educated at home until the age of nine, then at Birkenhead School to the age of thirteen and then at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk.

Philip Toosey's father forbade him to accept a scholarship to Cambridge and so he was apprenticed to his uncle Philip Brewster Toosey's firm of Liverpool cotton merchants.

Philip Toosey continued to develop as an officer within the TA; he was promoted to Lieutenant in November 1931, Captain in April 1932 and Major in April 1934.

Philip Toosey married Muriel Alexandra Eccles on 27 July 1932 and they had two sons and a daughter.

Philip Toosey was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for heroism during the defence of Singapore.

Philip Toosey endured regular beatings when he complained of ill-treatment of prisoners, but as a skilled negotiator he was able to win many concessions from the Japanese by convincing them that this would speed the completion of the work.

Philip Toosey organised the smuggling in of food and medicine, working with Boonpong Sirivejjabhandu.

Philip Toosey maintained discipline in the camp and, where possible, cleanliness and hygiene.

Philip Toosey's policy was of unity and equality and so refused to allow a separate officers' mess or officers' accommodation.

Philip Toosey ordered his officers to intervene if necessary to protect the men.

Philip Toosey was considered by many to be the outstanding British officer on the railway.

Behind the backs of the Japanese, Philip Toosey did everything possible to delay and sabotage the construction without endangering his men.

Philip Toosey helped organise a daring escape, at considerable cost to himself.

Philip Toosey was ordered to organize Tamarkan as a hospital, which he did despite difficulties including minimal food and medical supplies.

In December 1943 Philip Toosey was transferred to help run Camp Nong Pladuk, and in December 1944 he was moved to the allied officers' camp at Kanchanaburi where he was the liaison officer with the Japanese.

At that time, Philip Toosey weighed 105 pounds ; before the war he weighed 175 pounds.

Philip Toosey spoke up for him and as a result Saito did not stand trial.

Philip Toosey retired from the TA in 1954, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1955.

Philip Toosey later became Honorary Colonel of the West Lancashire Regiment, RA, successor unit to his former commands.

Philip Toosey returned to banking with Barings in Liverpool and expanded their services greatly.

Philip Toosey worked for the veterans all his life, and in 1966 became president of the National Federation of Far East Prisoners of War.

Philip Toosey initially refused repeated requests by the veterans to speak out against the film, being much too modest to seek any glory or recognition for himself.

Philip Toosey was a Justice of the Peace, and High Sheriff of Lancashire for 1964.

Philip Toosey raised funds for the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Philip Toosey's ashes were buried in Landican Cemetery outside Birkenhead.