The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
-
Sheedy
- First Name:
-
Nigel John
- Nick Name:
-
Mad Mick or Jack
- Rank:
-
Private
- Regimental #:
-
WX8430
- Classification:
-
Driver
- Company:
-
Headquarters Company
- Enlisted:
-
18.10.1940
- Discharged:
-
15.02.1946
- DOB:
-
12.04.1910
- Place of Birth:
-
Woodville, South Australia
- Father's Name:
-
Michael Joseph Sheedy
- Mothers's Name:
-
Letesia Mary Sheedy
- Religion:
-
Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
-
Barman and Mechanic
- Singapore:
-
Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
-
‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion.
- Camps Thailand:
-
Tamakan and/or Kanchanaburi
- Camps Burma:
-
Khonkan 55km Camp (2.7.1943) Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw 14km, Meiloe 75km, Aungganaung 105km
- Camps Japan:
-
Fukuoka sub‐Camp No. 24, Sendyu
- POW#:
-
3087 & 13097
- Japan:
-
Awa Maru Party, Kumi, No. 42
- Return Details 1945:
-
Nagasaki‐Manila, Manila-Morotai-Darwin-Perth PBY Catalina aircraft A24-377.
General Description
Jack enlisted AIF 18 Oct 1940, He later joined HQ Coy as a Driver.
As a POW captured Singapore 15th Feb 1942 he was sent to Selarang Camp.
He was initially selected with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on Burma end of Thai-Burma Railway. 3,000 POWs of ‘A’ Force sailed from Singapore for southwest coast of Burma on 14 May 1942.
Murtagh then worked at Victoria Point with Green Force No. 3 Btn to repair and enlarge the Aerodrome. By 1 October 1942, Green Force had started work on the rail link at Kandau 4.8km Camp. In July 1943 Sheedy was evacuated sick from Aungganaung 105km Camp to Khonkan Hospital Camp.
A Force would work on the rail link until about December 1943.
When the rail link was completed, the Japanese began moving all POWs in Burma back to Thailand. This process took several months. Some were moved whilst sick to hospitals camps such as Tamarkan and Kanchanaburi. Those POWs in Burma who were too ill to be moved, were left behind and cared for by Australian medical staff. These were patients for whom there was little hope of surviving.
Sheedy was sent by rail to French Indo-China from Thailand to sail from Saigon to work in Japan. This plan never eventuated as the American Submarine blockade had become so effective it was impossible for Japanese shipping to continue using this port.
The party which would become known as ‘Awa Maru’ were sent back by train to Singapore where the POWs were accommodated at River Valley Road Transit Camp to await transport to sail from Singapore to Japan.
Sheedy was POW working in Japan at Sendyu Mine, 25 kms from Nagasaki when the Atomic Bomb was dropped on 9th August 1945.
He was recovered from here with two other 2/4th men, Jack Maude and Ed Murtagh.
Jack announces his engagement to Mavis Allen Casey. They married 1947.
Jack and Mavis have at least three daughters.
He died 4 Aug 1971 at Wembley aged 61 years.Mavis died 2017 aged 99 years at Wembley.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
- Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
- Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
- Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
- Saigon - French Indo China
- Sendyu, Emukae, Fukuoka #24-B - Japan
- Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
- Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
