The Soldier's Details

Michael enlisted AIF 10 Nov 1941 and soon joined the reinforcements for 2/4th, departing on the ‘Aquitania’ on 16 Jan 1941 for Singapore.

Wilkins recorded his NOK as his sister Mrs N.H. Bushby Kukerin (Margarita known as Rita – married Tom Bushby at Narrogin.)

L-R M.Wilkins, H.Wilkes & T.Gough – all three young men enlisted AIF and were drafted into 2/4th reinforcements, ‘E’ Company SRB.  Incredibly, the three survived to return home.  They worked on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force V Battalion, sailed with ‘Aramis’ Party to Japan.

He was one of the  barely trained soldiers to fortunately survive the Japanese ambush at South West Bukit Timah 12 Feb 1942 with E Force.  Please read further about their battle in Singapore. 

Wiklkins was initially reported missing 5 April 2 according to his records then found to be POW 26 May 1942

According to his military records Wilkins was hospitalised twice at Singapore – Sept 42 with Otitis exterior (ear infection) and again early Nov 1942 with Dengue Fever.

As a POW at Singapore Wilkins left with ‘D’ Force V Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.  Mates tended to stock together.  The others in V Battalion included mates Wilkes, Gough and Flarty.   V Battalion endured terrible work and camp conditions and too many deaths.

Again the three mates remained together and sailed with ‘Aramis’ Party to Japan .  He was recovered fromJapan at the end of the war.  He firstly went to Omuta Camp and was then moved to Fukuoka No. 12 Miyata from where he was recovered at the end of the war.  Please read further

Read further about Miyata

“Our new camp at Miyata was termed a work camp – and was very aptly named – for the other ranks were required to work down coalmines, while the officers were forced to work on agricultural projects ranging from clearing land and constructing padi fields to planting rice and vegetables.”

 

The three boys Wilkins, Gough and Wilkes remained together throughout their ordeals with V Battalion and Omuta. – they were very tough assignments. Only Wilkins was sent to Miyata.

He was discharged from AIF 4 April 1946.  He had spent considerable time in and out of hospital – Wilkins had worked with several challenging work parties – V Battalion on Burma-Thai Railway and then going to Japan to Omuta and Miyata.

After the war Michael married in about 1947 we believe to Ada Lockyer.  They resided at 3 Bourke Street, Kensington with Michael working as a plasterer in 1953.  In 1948 they had a daughter Valma.  We believe Valma Joyce Wilkins married about 1963 to Ian Foster.

Michael and Ada divorced.

It is believed Michael died 20 June 1971 aged 51 years and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Ada Wilkins died in 2006 aged 82 years.

Because we have been unable to find information about Michael and his family we have attempted to search via his sister Rita.