A FARNWORTH man is to travel to Hong Kong in a bid to uncover the truth about the death of an old friend.

Ex-Navy man Fred Morgan, aged 72, believes Stanley Sedgwick was killed by the Japanese during the war - simply because he was too tall.

Stanley was over six feet tall and Fred says slightly-built Japanese soldiers were known to be envious of taller enemies.

Fred worked with Stanley at Drinkwater and Whittle, a building firm on Norris Street, Farnworth.

Stanley, from Moses Gate, was called up to the Army and Fred learned about his death shortly before being called up himself.

Fred said: "He was with the Manchester Regiment which landed at Singapore an hour after Japan surrendered the island."

Four years ago Fred visited Changi Cemetery in Singapore to find his friend's grave. He said: "Stanley's death is a mystery. I couldn't find his name or an entry of his death in two large record books at the cemetery.

"An official produced a small book with about 60 names in it.

"I found out that Stanley had been taken to Hong Kong and shot as an example. Stanley was over six feet tall and I am sure that is why he was killed."

Fred returned to Singapore this year but says the official now claims to have forgotten about the small record book.

But Fred is determined to find out the grave. He said: "Most of the lads who landed at Singapore with Stanley were from Manchester.

"Many of them were tall and it is possible that all their graves will be alongside Stanley's in Hong Kong." Fred Morgan is a seasoned international traveller.

He and wife Eileen split their time between Australia and England.

Eileen, nee Cordin, is also from Farnworth and used to work in a hairdresser's shop on Bolton Road, Kearsley.

Fred has made 16 trips to Australia and regularly travels to Tokyo, Bangkok and Singapore.

His jet-set lifestyle is financed his successful caravan park business in Scotland and revenue from flats in Farnworth and Bolton.

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