The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Malthouse
First Name:
John William
Nick Name:
Jack
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX7239
Classification:
Batman/Runner
Company:
'D' Company
Enlisted:
1.08.1940
Discharged:
23.01.1946
DOB:
2.02.1915
Place of Birth:
Alberton, South Australia
Father's Name:
John William Malthouse
Mothers's Name:
Florence May Malthouse (Polgreen)
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Miner
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion
Camps Thailand:
13lkm, 133krn (Williams Force), Tamarkan, Kanchanaburi, Bangkok
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw.
POW#:
1507
Return Details 1945:
Thailand-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Moreton Bay.

General Description

Malthouse had shell shock Ulu Pandan on 12/2/1942. Evacuated to 2/10th Australian General Hospital. Discharged to unit on 20/2/1942.
Selected with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion John Malthouse sailed out of Singapore to south-west coast of Burma where he worked several months before travelling to northern point of the Thai-Burma Railway to commence work.  We assume he arrived and began working at Kendaw with Green Force.  Probably moved to Thetkaw, and Meiloe 75km and Aungganaung 105km Camps.  There are no records to confirm when John moved to work with Williams Force.
Please read further about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.
Also, Williams Force.    
John, however did not sail from Java with Williams Force and joined them at a location where Green and Williams Forces crossed paths.
At the end of the war he was recovered from Bangkok, flown to Singapore then sailed to Fremantle on HMT ‘Moreton Bay’.

 

 

 

John’s mother died in 1919, he was about 4 years old.

 

His father died in 1950.

John was the middle child of five children.

 

On enlistment, John was a miner at Gwalia.  Originally from South Australia, he returned there after the war.
In Borehole Bulletin January 1990 – Jack Malthouse’s daughter Sandra wrote from 9 Inkstir Avenue, Taperoo SA on behalf of her father, sending his best wishes to the ‘boys’ and in particular 14th Platoon, Don Coy.  Jack keeps in contact with ‘Hughie’ Wells, telephoning each other regularly.
Now a T.P.I. and ‘not in the best of health’ Jack sends his apologies, he is unable to attend any reunions.  He asks to become a Life Member (I notice Life Mermbership is $15.00 and subscriptions $2.00 per annum).
Jack gives his home phone number and asks if any of the ‘boys’ are in Adelaide, please contact him.
John (Jack) Malthouse died in South Australia 25 December 1995 at Cheltenham, South Australia and was buried at Enfield Park, South Australia.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
  • Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
  • Tonchan South, 131k - Thailand
Back