The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Maude
First Name:
Jack
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX13285
Company:
'A' Company
Enlisted:
21.05.1941
Discharged:
20.03.1946
DOB:
4.04.1911
Place of Birth:
Cambridge, England
Father's Name:
Dr Jacques Maude
Mothers's Name:
Not Known (professional ballet dancer)
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Banana Plantation Worker
Java:
'Blackforce'
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Java Party No 4, Williams Force
Camps Thailand:
Kanchanaburi
Camps Burma:
Moulmein, Thabuzyat, Reptu, Tanyin 35 km, Anakwin 435km, Taungzun 57km, Mezali 72km, Apalon 77km, Aungganaung No. 2 100km Camp
Camps Java:
Bicycle Camp Batavia
Camps Japan:
Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 24 Sendyu
POW#:
4752, 13064
Japan:
Awa Maru Party Kumi No. 42
Return Details 1945:
Nagasaki-Okinawa U.S Navy ship, Okinawa-Manila, PBY Catalina aircraft, Manila-Morotai-Darwin, PBY Catalina aircraft A24-377, Darwin-Perth, PBY Catalina.

General Description

Jack’s father was a doctor who was killed serving with the French Army during WW1. Jack had been sent out to Australia from Swanley Boys Orphanage in Kent to Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School.
He arrived Australia 9/3/1921 on “Omar” having just turned 10 years old.  His group was the first to be sent from England after WWI and consisted of just 15 boys and girls. Later groups were much larger.
Jack maintained a life friendship with several other Fairbridge Kids including twins Dorothy and Florence Webb who also sailed with the “Omar” group.
His working contract from Fairbridge took him to Carnarvon 1921-1926, then 1929-30 he was located at Boyanup, Dardanup and Mt Barker.  Between the years 1931-1935 Jack was back working in the Carnarvon area and in 1941-42 was recorded in the City Directory as residing in Palmyra.
With  Fairbridge mates Ken Waters and Steve Brown, Jack regularly visited and maintained the friendship of Dorothy Webb and Henry Hawkesford, the first couple to marry at the new Fairbridge Church. The Hawkesford’s farmed at Cowamwerup.   Phoebe Pinker (nee Hawkesford) daughter of Dorothy & Henry remembers ‘Uncle Jack’ being quietly spoken and a caring man.
Jack was competing in cycling out of Carnarvon throughout 1936, 1937.

Jack Maude, Fairbridge Remembrance Wall
Jack Maude, Fairbridge Remembrance Wall
Jack was sent to work on Burma-Thai railway from Java, where he landed rather than Singapore because he was one 90 odd 2/4th men who went AWOL from Aquitania when it anchored for one night at Gauge Roads off Fremantle on its journey to Singapore 15 January 1942.  Please read further

Also read about Java Party No. 4 Williams ForceThey were shipped to Burma.

Following the completion of Burma-Thai Railway, Jack was selected as fit to work in Japan with ‘Awa Maru’ Party which was initially sent mostly by rail to French Indo-China to Saigon where Japanese planned to send men to Japan on a ship.  Because the American Submarines had so effectively blockaded the port and area, the Japanese were forced to send POWs by rail back to Singapore to ship from there.  Please read about ‘Awa Maru’ Party.
Please read about Sendyu Camp, Japan
He suffered from the Nagasaki bomb radiation at Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 24 Sendyu.  Jack relayed his story of returning to the surface from working in the mine the day of the Atomic bomb – how surprised they were to see the sky lit up.  He spent time at Hollywood hospital throughout his life for the lingering after affects which plagued him throughout his life.
In his later years he would sit with others whilst they dined  but he preferred not to eat with company.  His diet was limited, his eating very slow and awkward.
Read further about Jack’s memories of 9 August 1945 at Sendyu
Jack returned to Australia and took up several jobs gardening and worked at Perth College, Mt Lawley for many years; in 1952 he took a trip to England.
Jack took great care to remain healthy and fit.  He was a keen and talented tennis player; a member at East Fremantle Tennis Club.
When he retired he boarded at ‘Auntie Flo’s’ house in Fremantle. Florence being the twin sister to Dororthy Webb. When Flo died unexpectedly and her house sold, Jack found new accommodation close by where he had a carer look after him until his death in 2001.
Jack played tennis throughout his life however  he was a competitive cyclist in his early years.
Maude Cycling racing P1

 

In the above race, contestants included Ron Wheelock, younger brother to Jack Wheelock.

 

Above:  list includes Jack Wheelock WX8753 who also enlisted and joined 2/4th.
Maude, Jack letter

 

 

 

Digger lived to tell of A-blast that flattened Nagasaki

Sunday Times-14th August 1994

 

 

 

Jack died on 18 March 2001.

Camp Locations:

  • River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
  • Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Apalon, Apalaine, 80 Kilo, 337k - Burma
  • Reptu, Retphaw, 30Kilo 385k - Burma
  • Taungzun, 60 Kilo, 358k - Burma
  • Bicycle Camp, Batavia, Jakarta - Java ***
  • Sendyu, Emukae, Fukuoka #24-B - Japan
  • Tanyin 35 Kilo Camp - Burma
  • Anakwin 45 Kilo Camp - Burma
  • Mezali 70km Camp - Burma
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