The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Docking
- First Name:
- Melville Roy
- Nick Name:
- Mel
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX14856
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 7.07.1941
- Discharged:
- 11.02.1946
- DOB:
- 16.09.1921
- Place of Birth:
- Subiaco, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Victor Roy Docking
- Mothers's Name:
- Mary Elizabeth Docking
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Bread Carter
- Singapore:
- A. G. H. Roberts Barracks Changi, Selarang Barracks Changi. Following return from Thailand - Selarang Barracks Changi, X3 Party, Changi Gaol Camp.
- Force:
- ‘F’ Force Thailand
- Camps Thailand:
- Shimo Sonkurai, Tanbaya (Burma), Kanchanaburi
- POW#:
- 13927, 1/7519
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMTArawa, Sydney-Melbourne by troop ship, Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore
General Description
Soldier wounded in action at Buona Vista on 15/2/1942. Admitted to 2/19th Field Ambulance with a shrapnel wound to right buttock. Transferred to 2/13th Australian General Hospital. Soldier was a patient at Australian General Hospital Roberts Barracks until July 1942. Due to partial paralysis caused by damage to the sciatic nerve and loss of use of his right foot, this soldier was given an ‘E’ Medical Classification. He worked in the cook house for a time on light duties to promote his recovery.
On 20 April 1943 he as selected and left with ‘F’ Force to work on the Burma-Thai Railway. He reported he was at Shimo Sonkurai, Tanbaya (Hospital Camp) and Kanchanaburi.
Docking provided a description of several camps.
Mel Docking ‘s parents Victor Roy Docking who was born in Prahan, Victoria and Mary Elizabeth Schumann born Albany were married 1921 in Perth. It is not known if there were other children.
Victor died in 1937 in Geraldton at the age of 41 years.
He married 1947 to Mary Jane Dawson and they resided in Albany where he was employed with carpentry.
Mel Docking died 25 October 1993 aged 72 years.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Roberts Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
- Shimo Sonkurai, 288k - Thailand
- Tanbaya, 362k - Burma
