Medals, badges and photo album to RAF leading aircraftsman Leslie James Houghton 649542 from 153 maintenance unit, the album depicts his time on board the troop ship Atholone castle, sailing from Liverpool in 1941 to Kuala Lumpur, via West Africa, South Africa, Bombay, Singapore and eventually Kuala Lumpur where he was based at RAF Kuala Lumpur, I am sure he was not captured at Kuala Lumpur as some men from the unit where, but likely evacuated to Java and captured there, he was a prisoner in several camps in Java including the infamous Bicycle camp, before going to Changi in Singapore and ended up being kept at two camps in mainland Japan, so was very likely transported on the infamous death ships.
There is lots of digital research including lots of documents relating to being a pow. Plus a piece from Liverpool echo mentioning his release from occupation. Leslie lived in 18 Aberdeen St, Birkenhead very near Birkenhead park and even references the park in one of his photo descriptions.
The album shows an identity card to a Javan issued by Dutch East Indies, which is given as a token of friendship to Leslie Houghton.
There is also a mention of his distant cousin and photo who was looking after him with perks in his position of a steward aboard the Athlone castle, plus photos of his pals in his unit.
There is also his medals including the Pacific star, plus some RAF badges
An excellent and interesting grouping.