The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Wood
- First Name:
- Thomas Ashton
- Nick Name:
- Tom
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX5073
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company, No. 15 Platoon (moved to No. 16 Platoon)
- Enlisted:
- 23.07.1940
- Discharged:
- 4.12.1945
- DOB:
- 22.05.1920
- Place of Birth:
- St Pancras, England
- Father's Name:
- Thomas Ashton Wood
- Mothers's Name:
- Ellen Elizabeth Wood (Beard)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Singapore:
- Listed as missing from 9.2.1942, soldier had escaped to Java.
- Return Details 1945:
- Recovered at Batavia, Java‐Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Tamaroa.
General Description
In Singapore another Platoon was created, No. 16 which Tom was transferred to for the fighting. Please read further.
This Platoon and other D Company Platoons were subjected to very heavy fire followed by invasion by Japanese Forces. A number of men were caught behind the front line.
Listed as missing from 9.2.1942, soldier had escaped to Java.
There are no records to locate where Tom Wood was imprisoned. By early 1944 most Australians had left Java with work parties for Burma-Thai Railway or Japan. It is believed about 400 Australian POWs were concentrated in the Batavia area in early 1944. They were at Makasura, Tanjong Priok, the Bicycle Camp and Glodok Gaol—which they shared with POWs of other nationalities. However some were employed at Adjick and 70 were sent to Serang.
Please read about other 2/4th who remained and were recovered from Java.
In January 1945 many Australians were transferred to Singapore and those remaining were held in the overcrowded local gaol at Bandeong.
Above: POWs at Bandeong awaiting evacuation from Java to Singapore and then home.
It is believed this was probably where Tom was recovered from at the end of the war. He was one of five 2/4th men recovered from Java.
During 1942, five 2/4th men died mostly of dysentery.
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The 2/4th Committee of April 2000 was advised by Mrs A. Moir ** that Tom Wood had passed away 1997-1998. (published Borehole Bulletin April 2000)
** We believe Mrs A Moir is Alma Moir, wife of Lloyd. Tom Wood had resided in the Plantagenet/Albany region as did the Moirs.
Tom Wood died 6 January 1995 aged 74 years and buried Karrakatta.
Two year old Tom Wood sailed from London to Fremantle ‘Bendigo’ on 24 January 1924 with his mother Ellen Elizabeth.
Tom’s father had sailed a year earlier from London to Albany on ‘Diogenes’ 3 January 1923. His occupation was recorded as barman.
Thomas (Snr) and Ellen were residing Wokalbin where he was working as a farm labourer. Wokalbin is about 260km east-northeast of Perth and 22 km to Mukinbudin. There was a school at Wokalbin. It is not known if the Wood family increased.
The Wood family with son Tom were residing at Mt. Helena in 1943 and 1946.
Tom’s father Tom (Snr) died at Mt Helena in 1946. (His mother Ellen died in 1964).