The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Ridgwell
First Name:
Richard William
Nick Name:
Dick
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX14197
Company:
‘B’ Company Headquarters
Enlisted:
11.06.1941
Discharged:
13.02.1946
DOB:
25.01.1918
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Alfred George Ridgwell
Mothers's Name:
Myrtle Ivy Ridgwell
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Mechanical Fitter
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Sime Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Kanu II , Hintok Road Camp, Kinsaiyok, Konkoita, Tarsau, Tamarkan, Chungkai, Nakon Nayok, Bangkok
POW#:
4 /6544 and 8834
Return Details 1945:
Thailand-Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Morotai-Wewak-Townsville by aircraft; Townsville-Sydney-Melbourne-Perth by train

General Description

Ridgewell Bangkok

BANGKOK, THAILAND. 1945-09-16. 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION EX-PRISONERS OF WAR (POWS) OF THE JAPANESE AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN THE EUROPEAN SECTION OF THE TOWN DURING A CITY SIGHTSEEING TOUR. SHOWN: CORPORAL H. R. HENDERSON, 2/3RD AUSTRALIAN MOTOR TRANSPORT COMPANY (1); PRIVATE W. RIDGEWELL, 2/4TH AUSTRALIAN MACHINE GUN BATTALION (2); DRIVER S. R. HOLLAND, 3RD AUSTRALIAN RESERVE MOTOR TRANSPORT COMPANY (3).

Dick Ridgwell and Bob Dunnell, Anzac House
Dick Ridgwell and Bob Dunnell, Anzac House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RSLWA Presentation Ceremony - Premier's Anzac Student Tour 2017. John Gilmour and Dick Ridgwell front row.
RSLWA Presentation Ceremony – Premier’s Anzac Student Tour 2017.
John Gilmour and Dick Ridgwell front row.

 

Dick Ridgwell
Dick Ridgwell
Ridgwell Dog Tags
Ridgwell Dog Tags
L-R Dick Ridgwell, Ernie Zappa's brother, Unknown
L-R Dick Ridgwell, Lou Zappa and Reg Alsop. These were the guys Dick signed up with.

 

Jack Kyros contemplating at Changi Chapel
Jack Kyros and Dick contemplating at Changi Chapel opening 15.02.2002

 

 

Prior to joining the 2/4th Battalion Dick was linked to the Regimental Training Depot holding the position of Corporal, on signing on to the 2/4th he reverted to Private.

At 98 years of age, Dick Ridgwell is our oldest attending Committee member.  He is most highly regarded.  We admire his forthrightness!

The three Musketeers, Ridgwell, Badock & John Gilmour
The Three Musketeers – Ridgwell, Badock & Gilmour 2015
Dorizzi Bernie, Ridgwell Dick
Bernie Dorizzi & Dick Ridgwell c. 2015
Service commemorating 65 years since VJ Day - 2010
Service commemorating 65 years since VJ Day – 2010
Dick, Jim, Bernie Dorizzi at the 75th Anniversary of the Fall of Singapore 12th February 2017
Dick, Jim, Bernie Dorizzi at the 75th Anniversary of the Fall of Singapore 12th February 2017

Watch the video interview of Dick Ridgewell, WX14197, with Peter Winstanley.

Read the stories,  Dick’s encounter with a Sikh in Singapore

and Never assume Japanese do not speak English

Listen to an oral interview with Dick in February 2001. recorded in Singapore

Please read about Dick at Tarsau Camp Hospital.   A sick man himself, he helped mates in a worse state than himself.

From Tarsau Dick was sent to Tamarkan, Chungaki and Nakom Nayok.    When the war ended he was transported by truck to Bangkok where the POWs were flown to Singapore.

Read of Dick’s return to Perth.

 

Camp Locations:

  • Adam Park Camp - Singapore
  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Sime Road Camp - Singapore
  • Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
  • Hintok, 154k - Thailand
  • Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
  • Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
  • Nakom Nayok, Nakhon Nayok - Thailand
  • Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
  • Tarsau, Tha Sao 125k - Thailand
  • Konkoita (Brigade or Cholera Camp) - Thailand
  • Bangkok - Thailand
Back