The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Mann
- First Name:
- Eric Horsley
- Nick Name:
- Blue
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX5175
- Classification:
- Rangetaker
- Company:
- 'D' Company, 14 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 26.07.1940
- Discharged:
- 8.02.1946
- DOB:
- 25.12.1915
- Place of Birth:
- Pinjarra, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Heneage William Mann
- Mothers's Name:
- Elsie May Mann
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Salesman
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Serangoon Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi
- Force:
- D' Force Thailand, S Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kanu II, Tamuang, Non Pladuk
- POW#:
- 4/6388, 8810
- Japan:
- Rashin Maru Party (Remained on Singapore)
- Return Details 1945:
- Saigon-Bangkok-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Brisbane by aircraft, Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne-Perth by troop train,
General Description
Mann enlisted AIF 26 Jul 1940 at Claremont and later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company as a Rangetaker with 14 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. Tompkins.
Please read about D Company Platoons
Mann left Singapore to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion.
When the rail was completed Mann was selected to work in Japan with ‘Rashin’ Maru Party. But somehow at Singapore Mann finished up with Both Party, and sailed to French Indo China which was most fortunate as ‘Rakuyo’ Maru was sunk by US submarines with great loss of life Sept. 1944.
Read further about Both Party.
Eric Mann was recovered from Saigon at the end of the war.
Eric Mann was born in Pinjarra 1915 to parents Heneage William and Elsie May White who married in 1910. Eric was one of seven siblings.
Below: Eric’s Paternal Grandmother Sarah Mann died 1913 and his paternal Grandfather Heneage Horley Mann died in 1914.
Eric’s mother Elsie Mann died in 1921 at Collie when Eric was about 6 years. His father died in 1932.
Brother Reuben died in Collie about 1929.
Above: Eric’s Uncle (his father’s brother) and cousins.
After the war Eric married in Perth 1949 to Margaret (Peggy) Evelyn King.
Eric Mann died 5 Nov 1972 at Applecross and was cremated Karrakatta Cemetery.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Serangoon Road Camp - Singapore
- Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
- Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
- Tamuang, Tha Muang 39k - Thailand
- Saigon - French Indo China
