The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Bunning
- First Name:
- Gavin McRae
- Nick Name:
- Skipper
- Rank:
- Captain
- Regimental #:
- WX3452
- Company:
- B' Company Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 21.11.1940
- Discharged:
- 20.12.1945
- DOB:
- 20.07.1910
- Place of Birth:
- Cottesloe, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Robert Bunning
- Mothers's Name:
- Helen Marion Bunning
- Religion:
- Presbyterian
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Company Director
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp & Barracks Changi, Changi Gaol Camp
- POW#:
- 1/690
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydne-Melbourne by troop train, Melbourne-Perth, HMT Strathmore.
General Description
Morning tea courtesy of CWA at Tennant Creek Oct 41 – Cpl Bunning in the foreground as per Saggers photos
G. Bunning was a Scotch College student
As a youth Tom was a student at Scotch College in Swanbourne and on leaving school in 1928 he joined the family firm as a yard boy and then as an apprentice carpenter.
Sometime later he became the accountant of the Bunning Brothers and progressed through management of the firm until 1979 when he became Chairman of Directors until he retired in 1984. In 1980 Tom was awarded the Order of Australia in recognition of his contribution to industry.
He was one of the original party which moved into Northam Camp and was Colonel on 25th November 1940, forming the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion. He was commissioned as captain in the AIF and appointed to command ‘B’ Company upon the foundation of the unit, having held a Commission in the Militia pre war.
Please read Tom’s diary description of the last weeks at Changi prior to Japan’s surrender 1945
Tom passed away at home 10th March 1991.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore