The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Jenkins
First Name:
James Morgan
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX5118
Company:
'C' Company, No. 12 Platoon
Enlisted:
23.07.1940
DOB:
15.05.1901
Place of Birth:
Cardiganshire, Wales
Father's Name:
Not Known - Stepfather Arthur Davies
Mothers's Name:
Ann Jane Morgan Jenkins
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Driver
Memorial:
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A11, Row C, Grave 2, Age 41.
Java:
‘Blackforce' Java
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Java Party No. 4, Williams Force
Camps Burma:
Thanbuzyat
Camps Java:
Bicycle Camp
POW#:
1904 & 4538
Cause of Death:
Dysentery and Heart Failure. Soldier apparenly collapsed on parade ground at Thambyuzyat on 10/11/1942 and died the following day. The funeral service was conducted by Padre F.H. Bashford from the 2/4th Casualty Clearing Station.
Place of Death:
Thanbyuzayat
Date of Death:
11.11.1942
Buried:
Grave No. 2 (A.l.F. Section) Thanbyuzayat

General Description

 

Jim Jenkins enlisted AIF JUL 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy.  At Fremantle 15 Feb 1942, he with at least 90 machine gunners who went AWOL from ‘Aquitania’ and were unable to reboard before she sailed the following day.
The men were sent a few weeks later to Singapore however were diverted to Java as Singapore was about to fall.  He joined ‘Blackforce’.  Java fell to Japanese 8 March 1942.
Please read about AWOL Fremantle
Jenkins as POW Java, was later selected to work Burma-Thai Railway in Burma with ‘A’ Force Burma Java Party No. 4 Williams Force.
Departed Tanjong Priok Port, Java 8 October 1942 on ‘Kimmon Maru’ for Singapore where they disembarked 12 October 1942.
At Changi Java Party No. 4 was reunited with Java Party No. 3 who had reached Singapore a few days earlier.
Two days later Java Parties 3 and 4 departed Singapore having boarded ‘Maebashi Maru ‘ to Rangoon, Burma arriving on 23 October 1942.  They were transhipped to a smaller vessel called ‘Yamagata Maru’ which took the men up the Salaween River in Burma to Moulmein.  They arrived late on 24 October and were accommodated overnight in the local gaol.
Please read about Java Party No. 4 Williams Force
Soldier apparently collapsed on parade ground at Thanbyuzayat.  Jenkins had obviously been unwell as he travelled up the Burma coast  on a crowded transport ship to Rangoon, Moulmein to Thanyuzayat.  He was standing at the Parade ground on 11.11.1942 and died the following day. The funeral service was conducted by Padre F. H. Bashford from  2/4th Casualty Clearing Station.
His death was caused by dysentery and heart failure.  He was 41 years old.

You can read about the men of 2/4th ‘C’ Coy No. 12 Platoon

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately we can find little information about Jim Jenkins.
He was born about 1901, perhaps earlier to Ann Jane Morgan Jenkins Cardiganshire Wales.
In the 1901 Census  Ann and James are residing in her brother’s home – Richard James Morgan, 31 years at Tir Y Mynach, Cardinganshire, Wales, occupation was gardener,  who employed others.  In the same home are James’ Grandparents i.e. Mother and father to Ann and her brother Richard,  a worker and a female servant.
We believe on 15 Jan 1921 Jenkins arrived Fremantle on ‘Gorgon’ aged 24 years, he recorded his nationality as Welsh and possibly occupation as miner (difficult to decipher).
In Electoral Roll for 1925, Jenkins is recorded at Beuafort Arms Hotel, North Perth working as a yardman.
In 1928 and 1931 we can locate Jenkins residing 51 Newcastle Street, working as a cellarman.
After this date it is difficult to be certain where Jenkins was living.  Possibly he moved to Victoria for several years.
Jemkins recorded his NOK as Samuel Bluck.
(The only Samuel Bluck we have been able to find lived at Waroona and was hairdresser.)
This Samuel Richard Bluck, younger son of Mr & Mrs Harry Bluck of Yunderdup, married 1950 to Jackie, youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs Lionel Clifton of Harvey .   Jackie and Sam Bluck were said to live in Waroona.
In 1953 Sam Bluck died July 1953 at Murray District Hospital, Pinjarra, near to his parents’ home.  He left a young wife and children.  Condolences show he was a member of Waroona Lodge and Cricket Team.)

 

 

Camp Locations:

  • Thanbyuzayat, 415k - Burma
  • Bicycle Camp, Batavia, Jakarta - Java ***
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