The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Chapman
First Name:
Desmond Bruce
Nick Name:
Bruce or Bluey
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Regimental #:
WX7504
Company:
'C' Company Headquarters
Enlisted:
6.08.1940
DOB:
18.03.1916
Place of Birth:
Queensland
Father's Name:
William George Chapman
Mothers's Name:
Hilda Harriett (nee Crowder) stepmother Ethel Lloyd Chapman
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Cashier
Memorial:
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A3, Row C, Grave 19, Age 27.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changl
Force:
‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Thetkaw, Kendau, Aungganaung, Khonkan
POW#:
2650
Cause of Death:
Tropical Ulcer, Malaria and Dysentery
Place of Death:
Khonkan 55km Hospital Camp
Date of Death:
11.09.1943
Buried:
Grave No. 130, Khonkan

General Description

Soldier evacuated to Khonkan 55km Camp from Aungganaung 105km Camp on 1.7.1943 due to an irregularly large 8 inch by 8 inch tropical ulcer that exposed  bones and tendons on his right foot. Soldier’s right leg was amputated below his knee. The surgical re-amputation of stump was conducted due to gangrene.
Already ill with tropical ulcers and dysentery, Des was unable to recover from his amputation and died on 11 September 1943.
Another ‘2/4th boy’ died same day at Khonkan following his amputation, WX5050 John Arthur Briggs.
Read about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.

Below:  Good news of Bruce in 1943.

Chapman D B Daily News 16 August 1944
Chapman D B Daily News 16 August 1944

 

 

CHAPMAN

 

 

Bruce’s parents William George Chapman and Hilda Harriett Crowder married 1914 in South Australia.  They were both born in Tasmania.  Hilda died in Tasmania in 1922.   Bruce would have been about 6 years old.  He had one sister.

Bruce was a student of Wesley College, South Perth. Please read of other 2/4th who were students at Wesley.

Bruce Chapman married Nellie Batt in 1940, a few months after enlisting.  Bruce and Nellie had a daughter Janis Anne Chapman.

Bruce’s father William George Chapman died in 1957, Perth.

Nellie Chapman remarried about 1948 to Alan Westerberg.

 

 

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
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