The Soldier's Details

 

 

 

Jamieson went AWOL from Aquitania, however managed to re-board prior to ship sailing 15th January 1942 (the ship was in Gauge Roads overnight) from Fremantle to Singapore.  His penalty was to lose his stripes and he was reverted to Private – this was bad luck because 100s of machine gunners went AWOL.

On 9 Feb 1942, during Battle for Singapore he was promoted to Corporal in ‘A’ Compay No. 6 Platoon under CO Lt Johnny Morrison.

His high spirits again got young Jamieson into trouble!  He was admitted to Alexander Hospital, Singapore on 27 January 1942 with a fractured skull and lacerated wounds as the result of an accident whilst AWOL.  He discharged himself and returned to his unit.

Gwynne stated Jamieson did an excellent job during battle.

He was to be hospitalised twice whilst in Singapore.  He was at AGH with diarrhoea from 20 March to 27 March 1942 and secondly, at AGM with appendicitis 20 August to 9 September 1942.

In March 1943 Jamieson was selected with ‘D’ Force T Battalion to work on Burma-Thai Railway and travelled by train from Singapore to Bampong before travelling further north.

Please read about ‘D’ Force Thailand T Battalion

At some time he became sick, was evacuated or stayed at Tarsau which was the ‘D’ Force HQ.  We cannot be precise of his or most POW movements unless the men were able to confirm details themselves. It is known he was at Chungkai (probably hospital) and then evacuated to Non Pladuk from where a group was selected and sent to Saigon on 2 February 1945.  He was sent to the Saigon docks camp to work.  At war’s end he was recovered from Saigon on 20 September 1945.

Read about Both Party and Saigon

The exact details of Jamieson’s movements in Thailand are unknown.  There is a possibility he may have been involved with T Battalion and/or Capt. Fred Harris, Sergeant Eddie Derkenne or W.O. II John Dooley parties.

 

Don Jamieson passed away 29 May 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

His parents William Charles Jamieson and Florence May Brown married in Katanning 1909.    He lived his formative years at Katanning where his father worked for Dalgetys.

 

 

In 1928 Don’s father died aged 44 years, following a short willness. Don was only 8 years old.  With his mother they continued residing in Katanning for several years.

 

 

 

 

 

Returning from war Don married in 1946 to Betty Harper.