The Soldier's Details

Dorizzi received a shrapnel wound to his head on 9.2.1942 but remained on duty.

 

 

 

Bert was selected from Singapore to work in Borneo with ‘B’ Force as was Gordon.  Tom went to Borneo with ‘E’ Force.

Bert and Tom left Sandakan on 28 January 1945 with first group on the First March.

After Segindai the track which had been rising and falling since leaving Paginatan now climbed very steeply for next 7 km.  2/4th mate Bob Chipperfield died 8 km from Segindai on 11 February 1945.   Herb died on the same day 11 February 1945 1.5km further and about 20 miles away from Ranau.  Tom Dorizzi was on same march.  He could do nothing for his brother. He took Herb’s tags, intending to take them home to Australia.  Of course he did not know Gordon Dorizzi who remained behind at Sandakan with malaria, also died on 11 February 1945.

Please read about ‘B’ and ‘E’ Forces, Borneo.

Read the list of relics found at Sandakan.

Also the map of Sandakan-Ranau

Bert was the  youngest of 3 Dorizzi brothers from Toodyay who enlisted into 2/4th MG Battalion.  Bert died same day as Gordon Dorrizi – however Gordon died at Sandakan No. 1 Camp and Bert died on First Sandakan to Ranau Death March without reaching Ranau.  He died 4 miles from Segindai on 11/2/1945. Another 2/4th mate died on same day 5 miles out of Segindai – Bob Chipperfield.     There is every likelihood both men were executed by their Japanese guards being unable to physically continue with the march.

During the Track Recoveries Sandakan-Ranau, a relic of Herbert’s was found at Ranau, 4 M and his disc found at No. 1 Camp, Sandakan.

When Tom later marched through on the Sandakan to Ranau death march he came upon evidence of his brother’s death, and picked up Bert’s Dog Tags and took them with him to Ranau, where Tom died on 11 March 1945 a month later than his brothers Bert and Gordon.

Read the story The Tragic Story of the 3 Dorrizi Brothers.

DORIZZI, Private, HERBERT, WX7997, A.I.F. 2/4 M.G. Bn., Australian Infantry. 11 February 1945. Age 26. Son of Thomas John and Mary Ann Dorizzi, of Mungarin, Western Australia. Panel 18.

Labuan Memorial, Malaysia.

After the war Bert’s body was identified and recovered from a grave near where he died, and reburied at Labuan War Cemetery.

 

 

Below is notice from Mrs Ellis Shackleton – sadly she obviously has not received notification her husband died at Singapore 11 Feb 1945.

 

 

Below is dedication read at service.

 

You can read further about Dorizzi boys