The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Burdon
First Name:
Gregory Lachlan
Nick Name:
Greg
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX7542
Company:
C' Company
Enlisted:
6.08.1940
Discharged:
6.02.1946
DOB:
17.03.1920
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
John Jervis Burdon
Mothers's Name:
Alice Burdon
Religion:
Methodist
Pre-war Occupation:
Carpenter
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Sime Road Camp, Selerang Barracks Changi
Force:
D' Force Thailand, V Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Hintok River Camp (3 weeks at Pack of Cards Bridge), Kinsaiyok, Rin Tin, Kuii, Chungkai (evacuated sick by barge), Non Pladuk No. 2 Hospital Camp, Tamajao Wood Camp, Nacompaton, Prachuab Kirikhan-Mergui Escape Road
POW#:
4/5958, 2225
Return Details 1945:
Flown out to Kachu Mountain Camp by aircraft, Kachu Mountain Camp-Singapore by aircraft, Kachu Mountain Camp-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Highland Brigade.

General Description

Burdon enlisted AIF Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Coy’s 10 Platoon under command of Lt Wilson.

 

Back L-R: Jim Gilmour, Colin Rainbow. Front L-R: Frank Thaxter, Greg Burdon, Owen Doust After Release1945

Front L-R: Frank Thaxter, Greg Burdon, Owen Doust
After Release1945

Fairbridge 2001
Fairbridge 2001

 

Back Row L-R: Jim Burns, John Lane, Jim Elliott, Cowboy Matthews, Frank Evans, Alf Worth, Trevor James, Wally Lynn, Les Cody, Owen Morris
Front Row L-R: Greg Burdon, Ron Badock, Des Coleves, Jim Gilmour, Joe Pearce.

 

Greg worked on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion.  This Force suffered a very high number of illnesses and deaths.  Please read about V Battalion.
Whilst at No. 2  Nacompaton Camp Greg was eager to leave what the POWs called a death camp.  The Japanese went to Nacompton for about 500 (half of required workforce) men for a work force going to Malaya for light duties!  He was one of 7 men from 2/4th POWs to leave Nacompaton hospital camp in April 1945.  With a large Asian workforce the 1000 POWs were assigned to construct Mergui Escape Road, southern Burma.

Read further about Mergui Escape Road.

By 1945 there was even less food and medicine supplied by the Japanese.  Conditions were appalling.  One in four POWs died and the Asian fatalities were colossal.
When the war ended Greg Burdon was airlifted from Kachu Mountain Camp to Singapore.
Above:  L-R Burdon, Claude Dow, Len Armstrong, Ron Badock 1985 Anzac Day reunion.

 

 

Greg passed away aged 86yrs, April 22, 2006, at East Victoria Park, WA.

Camp Locations:

  • Mergui (Myiek) Escape Road - Thailand
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