The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Radburn
- First Name:
- Harold
- Nick Name:
- Snow
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX15829
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 15.08.1941
- DOB:
- 30.10.1919
- Place of Birth:
- Worcestershire, England
- Father's Name:
- Charles Radburn
- Mothers's Name:
- Mary Josephine Radburn
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Tobacco Burner
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Singapore Memorial, Column 136, Age 22.
- Cause of Death:
- Killed in Action
- Place of Death:
- Hill 200, Ulu Pandan
- Date of Death:
- 12.02.1942
General Description
Snow Radburn enlisted AIF 15 Aug 1941 and later joined ‘A’ Company HQ firstly under command of Maj Saggers, and then in Singapore under Capt Thomas. He was Taken on Strength to Woodside Camp, SA on 5 October 1941.
Snow was KIA 12 Feb 1942 at Ulu Pandan. He was 22 years old. Please read about this battle.
Tragically the 2/4th were prevented by the Japanese in recovering the bodies of their dead until Dec 1942. Radburn’s body was one of many never recovered. The men of 2/4th were devastated by this Japanese order.
Snow’s name is inscribed at Kranji War Memorial Singapore, on Column 136. Other 2/4th are Ralph, Purchon, Pratt, Mussman.
Harold was one of six children born to parents Charles Radburn and Mary Josephine (nee Bird) who married Lancashire, England 1915.
In 1923 the Radburn family sailed from London 12 Sep 1923 to Albany on ‘Sophocles’. The family then consisted of the four eldest children Winnifred May (Molly), Ernest, Harold and Frank.
The family took up Group Settlement land at Manjimup and Dorothy Kathleen was born in 1925 and Raymond Alan born in 1931.
Below: The Radburn family arrive 1923.
The Radburn family settled into life and farming at Manjimup 79 Group under the Government Group Settlement Scheme.
Below: Charles wins First Prize for his bull. He competes every year in the Manjimup Agricultural Show. We note he also won first prize for his horse another year.
Below: Kathleen Radburn aged 4 suffers burn after a spark set her clothes on fire.
Below: Eldest daughter Molly marries in 1934.
The Radburn family endure a fire which destroyed not only their home, but all their belongings.
From above publication, we assume Radburn’s family were not able to be notified of his confirmed death.
Just two months after learning in April 1946 of Harold’s death in 1942 Singapore – Ernie Radburn is killed in a motor cycle accident.
Below: Inquest of Ernie’s accident which we include as it records family history.
Charles Radburn and Mary Radburn died in 1977, several months apart.
- Dedicated by
- Nephew on 13 August 2016
- More information
- Biography presented during plaque dedication:
‘Private Harold Radburn of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion was born in October 1919 at Worcestershire, England. He was one of three sons and two daughters of Mary and Charles Radburn.
It is not known when the family moved to Western Australia, however, he was educated at Lindfarn School, Manjimup. His employment prior to enlistment was as a tobacco curer.
He enlisted in the army in August 1941 at Manjimup. It is also of note that his father, two brothers and one sister also enlisted in World War 2.
Following initial training, Harold was allocated to 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion and joined the unit at Northam Army Camp.
The unit then moved to South Australia and later to Darwin and on to Singapore in January 1942.
He was in ‘A’ Company of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion and was involved in fighting on Hill 200 at Ulu Pandan, Singapore.
Private Harold Radburn, service number WX15829 of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion, was killed in action on the 12 February 1942 at Singapore.
He was 22 years of age and his name is recorded on the Singapore memorial.’
