The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Oswald
- First Name:
- Henry Christopher
- Nick Name:
- Also known as Hugh Christopher Oswald
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX16931
- Company:
- ‘E’ Company, Special Reserve Battalion
- Enlisted:
- 22.07.1941
- DOB:
- 5.02.1921
- Place of Birth:
- Perth, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Andrew Oswald
- Mothers's Name:
- Not Known
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Timber Worker
- Memorial:
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row F, Grave 29, Age 21.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘ D ’ Force Thailand, V Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kinsaiyok, Brankassi, Hindaine, Kuii, Kanchanaburi
- POW#:
- 1/8897 & 2281
- Cause of Death:
- Dysentery
- Place of Death:
- No. 3 Base Hospital, Kanchanaburi
- Date of Death:
- 7.11.1943
- Buried:
- Kanchanaburi Cemetery
General Description
Soldier was a stowaway on the HMT ‘Aquitania’ at Fremantle on 16.1.1942. Oswald was transferred to 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion on 16.1.1942, (Routine Order 5/1791 of 28.1.1942) from 2/16th Battalion reinforcements. Soldier was shell shocked and was admitted to the 2/9th Field Ambulance on 15.2.1942. Admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital on 16.2.1942. Discharged to unit on 21.2.1942.
Hugh Oswald was selected with ‘D’ Force V Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway. V Battalion departed Singapore on 17th March 1943 for the 4-5 day hellish train journey to Bampong, Thailand. He was to first work at Kinsaiyok Camp, before going to Brankassi, Hindaine and it is probable he was evacuated with a number of sick on 11th August from Kuii Camp.
Photograph taken January 2018
Our searches for family of Henry or Hugh Christopher Oswald have found very little. Should any person reading this who knows any information, we ask that you please contact us! Thank you.
2nd4thmgb@gmail.com
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Brankassi, Prang Kasi, 208k - Thailand
- Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
- Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
- Kuii, Kui Yae, 185.6k - Thailand
