The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Tanner
First Name:
George Douglas
Nick Name:
Doug
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX16324
Company:
Headquarters Company, No. 3 Platoon Administrative.
Enlisted:
3.09.1941
Discharged:
4.03.1946
DOB:
12.01.1922
Place of Birth:
London, England
Father's Name:
George Thomas Tanner
Mothers's Name:
Alice Beatrice Legg
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Farmhand
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi.
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion.
Camps Thailand:
Brankassi (only camp on V Battalion), Non Pladuk.
Camps Japan:
Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17, Omuta
POW#:
4/6700 & 653
Japan:
Aramis Party
Return Details 1945:
Nagasaki‐Manila, US Navy Ship, Manila-Morotai-Darwin, PBY Catalina aircraft A24-354 (admitted to hospital with lung problems). Darwin-Perth, B24 Liberator aircrafi, transferred to 110(P)MH.

General Description

Doug enlisted AIF 3 Sep 1941 and joined 2/4th MGB’s Headquarters Company, No 3 Platoon as a reinforcement.
Doug WX16324 and Fairbridge Kid Reg Tooze WX16323 were together when they enlisted.  Reg Tooze was KIA 11 February 1942 aged 21 years.
Doug was Taken in Strength to Woodside Camp, South Australia on 5th October 1941.  Tooze was Taken on Strength Fremantle 16th January 1941 with ‘Aquitania’.
Following the surrender of the Allies to Japan Doug became a POW at Selarang Camp Changi, later moving to Johore Bahru then Adam Park work parties.  He moved back to Selarang.  He was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion and departed Singapore on 17th March 1943 to travel for four days  in crowded conditions by  train to Thailand.
Please read about ‘D’ Force V Battalion Group 6
Doug was selected as ‘fit’ by the Japanese to work in Japan.  He sailed with ‘Aramis’ Maru Party.  Please read further.
Following his arrival Moji, Japan Doug with others from 2/4th had the misfortune to be sent to Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17 Omuta.
Please read about Omuta.
He was recovered from Omuta at the end of the war.  Taken to Manila from Nagasaki.  Manila to Darwin by Catalina where he was hospitalised with lung problems.  He was transferred to Hollywood Repatriation Hospital – 110 (P) Military Hospital by Liberator aircraft.
__________
Doug Tanner was a Fairbridge Farm Boy.
He was one of 22 boys and girls who arrived in Australia on ‘Ballarat’ 15/5/1934.  Doug was 12 years old.  He was accommodated at ‘Newton’ House. He has two older sisters and was 4 years old when his mother, Alice Beatrice Tanner (nee Legg) born 1879 died in 1926 at the age of 47 years. His father George Thomas Tanner was born 1880 and died in 1940.
In 1946 Doug married Stella Evelyn Hicks, born 5 August 1924. Doug and Stella made their home in Collie where he was employed in mining.
Doug and Stella had a family of several sons and one daughter Patricia Evelyn ‘Pattie’. Of their sons it is known Raymond George Tanner 16/12/1946 died 4/5/2011 Coorow, David John Tanner 30/3/1950 died 2007 Collie and William Charles ‘Billy’ 16/10/1953 died 11/3/1987.
It is not known if Doug maintained close contact with his Fairbridge and 2/4th mates, however visited and regularly communicated with ‘Cowboy’ and Marion Matthews at their farm at north Kojonup during the 1950s – 1970s.
Stella died 30 March 1995 and Doug Tanner died 13 October 2000.  Both their names are recorded at Collie Cemetery Niche Wall.
Height 5′ 81/2″
Doug was also a Collie boy – returning there to work after the war.
Please read further.
In the Borehole Bulletin January 1972 social notes mention Gus and Ruth Magor made a tour of the south, travelling through Narrogin where they stayed with the Holdings, then to Jerramongup when they visited George Quinn who lived 20 miles out of town.  Then travelled onto to Albany, Manjimup and finally to Collie to stay with Doug and Stella.  It was Doug’s 50th birthday!
Doug died 13 October 2000 and was buried at Collie Cemetery.

Camp Locations:

  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Brankassi, Prang Kasi, 208k - Thailand
  • Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
  • Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - Thailand
  • Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
  • Rin Tin, Lin Tin 180k - Thailand
  • Omuta Miike, Fukuoka #17-B - Japan
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