The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Dorrington
- First Name:
- Frederick John
- Nick Name:
- Lofty
- Rank:
- Corporal
- Regimental #:
- WX9557
- Company:
- ‘B’ Company, 9 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 4.12.1940
- Discharged:
- 15.07.1946
- DOB:
- 17.12.1905
- Place of Birth:
- Islington, London, England
- Father's Name:
- John William Dorrington
- Mothers's Name:
- Louise Elizabeth Dorrington (nee Harold)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Wool Classer
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Tamarkan, Bangkok, Nacompaton
- Camps Burma:
- Victoria Point, Reptu 30km, Medical orderly (8.4.1943-28.10.1943)
- POW#:
- 2719
- Return Details 1945:
- Thailand-Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Fremantle HMT Moreton Bay
General Description
Fred Dorrington enlisted AIF 4 Dec 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Company 9 Platoon. He was Corporal to Commanding Officer Lt D. Lee.
Fred was listed in 1931 Electoral Roll as living Koolanooka, as a station hand. Koolanooka and Bowgada are believed to be the same location, 23km to Morawa. Fred competed in Rifle shooting for several years around the district.
back row: J Gregory, L O’neil, E Teasdale, A Newel, R Hindle
front: R Haldane, M Hunter, T James, F Hinds, D Parker
Fred – Adelaide
Fred sailed from London 23 Nov 1923 on ‘Benalla’ for Fremantle, he was 17 years old. He was one of three sons and the youngest born to his parents John William Dorrington and Louise Elizabeth Harold who married 1898 Islington, London.
His father Joseph William died in 1918 at Islington where the Dorrington family resided.
We do not know when Fred’s mother and married brother Joseph William Dorrington arrived in WA. Louise died in Victoria Park 1968 aged 89 years. She was cremated and her ashes scattered at Karrakatta gardens as were his brother Joseph William’s ashes who died Shenton Park 1978.
Fred Dorrington married about 1951 to Doris Chilvers, widow of Herbert Alfred Thomas Chilvers WX8123 who tragically died of Malaria, Sandakan on 31 March 1945. Bert was sent to Borneo with ‘E’ Force.
Doris and Fred resided in Claremont until 1970s (he was working as civil Servant) and Fred moved to Floreat. Fred and Doris divorced about late 1960s.
Certificate of Discharge
Fred Dorrington was selected with A Force Burma to work on the Railway. His first stop would have been the aerodrome at Victoria Point, Burma.
From Meiloe 75 K Camp he was sent to Reptu 30 K as M/Orderly, from 8/4/1943 to 28/10/43
He was evacuated from Burma to Tamarkan Hospital Camp arriving 10 January 1944.
He was recovered from Nacompaton Camp, Thailand 30 August 1945.
Fred died 7 Jan 1980 at Daglish aged 74 years.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - Thailand
- Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
- Reptu, Retphaw, 30Kilo 385k - Burma
- Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
