Regarding the loss of the Empire March and the casualty BIRTLEY, Norman Naisby. The Deaths at Sea Register (DASR) initially recorded the loss of the Empire March on the 27/12/1942, but the records were cancelled and amended in February 1946 when it was found a number of the crew had actually survived the loss and had been held captive by the Japanese. After surviving their captivity her loss was confirmed as the 2/1/1943. It would seem Mr. Birtley's records held by the CWGC have not been updated along with the rest of the casualties to show his true date of death and is an error.

I can forward copies of the original records from the DASR to the CWGC Commemoration Team and request they correct this error for Mr. Birtley.