The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Hambley
First Name:
Ernest Edgar
Nick Name:
Blue
Rank:
Lance/Sergeant (Promoted on 11.2.1942 on death of Sandilands)
Regimental #:
WX4991
Company:
'B' Company, No. 8 Platoon. (Platoon Sgt)
Enlisted:
23.07.1940
Discharged:
9.01.1946
DOB:
28.04.1917
Place of Birth:
Mount Barker, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Sidney Ernest Hambley
Mothers's Name:
Anne Hambley (nee Clothier)
Religion:
Methodist
Pre-war Occupation:
Miner
Singapore:
Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi; Following return from Thailand - Selarang Barracks Changi; X3 Party; Changi Gaol Camp
Force:
‘F’ Force Thailand
POW#:
1/7916 and 14757
Return Details 1945:
Singapore-Darwin‐Melboume, 1st Netherlands Military Hospital Ship Oranje; Melbourne-Perth by troop train

General Description

 

Hambley’s vision was effected by mortar bomb 10th February 1942 at Mandai Hill.  He was admitted to 13th Australian General Hospital 3 March 1942 with choroido retinitis.  He was discharged to unit 8 March 1942.
He continued to have impaired vision in his left eye.
Blue worked on Burma-Thai Railway with F Force Thailand.
Please read further.
He returned with F Force from Thailand to Changi 17.12.1943 and was recovered from Changi Gaol Camp when the war ended.
Below:  48 men from 2/4th MGB  of ‘F’ Force Thailand.  Compiled by Harold Cowie.

Admitted to AGH Changi 7.1.1944.
X3 Work Party 1.4.1945.
Blue Hambley was recovered from Changi 4th September 1945, Sailed ‘Oranje’ via Darwin to Brisbane to Melbourne.  Admitted 115 (H) MH (Heidleberg Hospital, Victoria) 2-3 weeks before travelling by  Trooptrain  Melbourne to Perth.  He was admitted 110 (P) MH 10th October 1945 (Hollywood Hospital, Perth).
Blue Hambley wedding
Blue Hambley’s wedding.

 

‘Blue’ Ernest Edgar Hambley enlisted at Claremont with his mate Jack Taylor who was issued with number WX4986. Their friendship continued throughout the war and later the two men became business partners – Hambley & Taylor, Grocers.  They later developed a co-op with other independent grocers and the Foodland chain was developed.  They had 3 shops, the first, largest and most successful continued to exist in 2015, owned by Blue’s son Alwyn.
Jack Taylor and Blue at ‘Hambley & Taylor Liquor Store 1952’
Blue was the older brother to Albert James Hambley WX10745.

 

Blue was written up in ‘The Way 79 Who is Who’ Synoptic Biographies of Western Australia (Western Australia 150 Years).

“HAMBLEY, ERBEST EDGAR OAM CD

Storekeeper.  Chairman Foodland Assoc., Patron Hensman Park Tennis Club, Vice Patron Kenwick Football & Cricket Clubs, b. Mt Barker 18 Apr 1917 of Sydney Ernest and Anne Hambley.  Educ: Mt Barker State School.  m. 32 years to Muriel 2 sons Graeme Ernest and Alwyn Ronald.  An outstanding moment in life was receiving OAM 26 Jan 1979 at investiture by Prince Charles, at which his mother was able to attend. Other outstanding moments:  election to chairmanship Foodland Assoc. Ltd.  8 Aug 1965, and further back, promotion to rank of Platoon Sergeant during action in Singapore, where now Hon G.C. MacKinnon MLC was immediate superior officer.  Also proud occasions were elections to presidency of local RSL, and of Football, Tennis, Cricket and other clubs.  Rec:  sport, Clubs: Hensman Park Tennis Club, Kenwick Football an Cricket Clubs.  Addr:  92 Railway Pde, Queens Park 6107.”

 

Blue Hambley died 9th April 1987.

Camp Locations:

  • Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
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