The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Yensch
First Name:
Frederick Bernard
Nick Name:
Freddie
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX7429
Company:
Headquarters Company, No. 3 Platoon
Enlisted:
6.08.1940
DOB:
18.12.1914
Place of Birth:
Fremantle, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Frederick John Carter Yensch
Mothers's Name:
Mary Jane Yensch (nee O'Conor)
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Shop Assistant
Memorial:
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row D, Grave 72, Age 29.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw, Khonkan, Augganaung.
POW#:
3077
Cause of Death:
Cerebral Malaria
Place of Death:
Tamarkan
Date of Death:
19.03.1944
Buried:
Grave No. G2, Tamarkan

General Description

The Yensch family also spelt their name without a ‘c’ – Yench.
Freddie Yensch enlisted AIF 6 Aug 1940 later joining HQ Coy No. 3 Platoon. He recorded his mother as his NOK.
He left Singapore to work on the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.  Please read about this work force.
Yensch was travelling on a train between Nikhe and Tamarkan on 18.3.1944 when he drifted into a coma.  He was buried at Tamarkan Cemetery.
Today Freddie Yensch rests at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery with 91 other men from 2/4th.

 

Photo taken January 2018, C. Mellor.

 

Read further about ‘A’ Force Green Force No. 3 Battalion

Freddie would have worked with Green Force from  Victoria Point moving through to the Burma railway commencing at Kendau work Camp, before going onto Thetkaw, Meiloe and Aungganaung before being evacuaterd south to Tamarkan in Thailand.    Sadly Freddie died before he arrived at Tamarkan Hospital Camp.

 

Freddie was one of five sons – Jack, Frank, Brian Des and Freddie and two daughters Connie and Shirley from the Yensch family who resided Fremantle.
His parents Frederick Yensch (b. 1880 Bunderberg, Qld) married Mary Jane O’Connor 1910 in Fremantle.
Fred Yensch (Snr) was a clothier/ mercer/ haberdasher. He had a shop in High Street Fremantle where we believe some of his sons may have also worked.   Fred was a very active member of the Fremantle business community, participating in charities and fund-raising events and was very much supported by his wife.  He was also a talented sportsman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The family resided for many years at Osbourne Road, East Fremantle, later moving to Grey Street.

 

 

 

 

 

Freddie’s father died 8 May 1942 aged 62 years.  He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery.
Mary Jane Yensch known as Dolly (nee O’Connor) died in 1973 aged 78 years.  Dolly’s widowed mother Mary O’Connor died in 1944.

 

In 1947 older son John William Yench, known as Jack died.  He was father to several small children.  Jack had also been working in the family High Street store.

 

 

 

 

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
  • Tavoy (Dawei) - river port - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
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