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
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