The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Robinson
- First Name:
- William Joseph
- Nick Name:
- Bulla
- Rank:
- Acting Sergeant (Promoted on 14.2.1942)
- Regimental #:
- WX5200
- Company:
- ‘B’ Company, Headquarters Company
- Enlisted:
- 26.07.1940
- DOB:
- 2.04.1918
- Place of Birth:
- Victoria Park, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Charles Stewart Robinson
- Mothers's Name:
- Henrietta Robinson
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Memorial:
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Collective Grave, Plot 1, Row Q, Grave 2-78, Age 25.
- Java:
- ‘Blackforce’, attached to 2/3rd M.G. Bn
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, Java Party No. 6, O Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kinsaiyok, Hintock Road Camp
- Camps Java:
- Bicycle Camp
- POW#:
- 6910
- Cause of Death:
- Dysentery
- Place of Death:
- Hintok Road Camp
- Date of Death:
- 17.07.1943
- Buried:
- Grave No. 30, Hintok Road Camp
General Description
Robinson enlisted AIF 26 Jul 1940 at Claremont, later joining 2/4th MGB’s ‘B’ Company Headquarters as a Corporal under Commanding Officer Capt. Bunning.
‘Buller’ Robinson died of dysentery 17 July 1943 aged 25 years at Hintock Mountain Camp (otherwise known as Hintock Road Camp) – his death was recorded in Weary Dunlop’s ‘War Diaries’ P 261. Buller was one of three deaths on this day – two with dysentery and one of cholera.
Buller was one of 100s of men from 2/4th who absconded from ‘Aquitania’ whilst anchored one night, 15th January 1942 at Fremantle’s Gauge Roads. Unable to re board in time before the ship sailed the next day for Singapore – the men were later shipped out intending to land them at Singapore. However before this could happen, it was realised Singapore would fall and they were taken to Java. Here they joined other Allied Forces in conjunction with Dutch East Indies.
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With ‘Blackforce’ Buller became POW of Japan about 9 March 1942. It is believed he was probably imprisoned at Bicycle Camp, however we cannot be certain as there are no records. He was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand Java Party No. 6, O Battalion to be known as Dunlop Force. Dunlop Force first sailed to Singapore arriving 7 Jan 43 and remained until 19 Jan 43 before heading by train to Thailand.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.
Buller’s parents Charles Stewart Robinson and Henrietta Bradley married 1914 Perth. They had a family of four sons and one daughter. William Joseph ‘Buller’ was their 3rd son.
Henrietta Bradley born Marylebone, Middlesex, England arrived at Fremantle on ‘Orontes’ in 1913 aged 24 years. She was a one of large number of young women on this ship who migrated to fulfil WA’s need for domestic help. She married Charles Robinson the following year.
Henrietta Robinson died 1946 following a long illness. Buller’s father Charles Robinson died 1971 at Mandurah and was buried at Karrakatta.
Camp Locations:
- Hintok, 154k - Thailand
- Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
- Bicycle Camp, Batavia, Jakarta - Java ***
