The Soldier's Details

Alf departed London 2 January 1923 on board ‘Moreton Bay’ for Fremantle, he was recorded being aged about 23 years.

In 1931 Electoral Roll he  was recorded being at Lake Grace and employed as a labourer.

Naturally Alf Foch quickly earned  the nickname from his mates in the 2/4th  – ‘Marshall’ Foch!

In 1954 he was living at Yilgarn and working as a  linesman.

In 1957 Alf married widow Catherine Ellen Brown (nee Short).  They met when he was in hospital upon his return from the war. They remained together until his death in 1976.    Catherine died in March 1999 at Midland.

Catherine’s husband died unexpectedly in 1953 at Coorow aged 45 years. Previously from Gingin, Steve Brown was buried at Gingin.  The couple had several children.

The February 1974 edition of ‘Barb Wire & Bamboo’ POW magazine reported Alf was in Hollywood Hospital.

Alf was selected in Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion.  Green Force was part of a 3,000 men contingent to sail from Singapore to Burma in May 1942.

Green Force disembarked at Victoria Point with some men working in the town and wharf area and the remaining began working on constructing roads and working on the airfield.

Green Force left Victoria Point about 6-9 August 1942 with some of the Group remaining at Tavoy to work and the others heading on for the Railway north of the Thai border.

By 1st October 1942, Green Force No. 3 Battalion was working at Kendau 4.8 km Camp.  They moved to Thetkaw 14k Camp 1 Dec 1942 to 28 March 1943.

It was on 6 March 1943 Alf Foch was evacuated sick to Thanbyazat Hospital Camp.  He was evacuated from Reptu 30 km Camp 28 October 1943 to Aungganaung 105 km Camp. From here he would have moved south to one of the larger camps in Thailand, most likely Tamarkan.

He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war, and returned to WA on 7 November 1945.

Please read about the enlistments from Norseman

Alf Foch died on 30 July 1976 at Midland aged 78 years.