The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Borrow
- First Name:
- Joseph
- Nick Name:
- Joe
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX8712
- Company:
- ‘A‘ Company, No. 5 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 23.10.1940
- DOB:
- 4.12.1916
- Place of Birth:
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
- Father's Name:
- John Joseph Borrow
- Mothers's Name:
- Sarah Borrow
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Yardman
- Memorial:
- Kranji War Cemetery, Plot 22, Row 5, Grave 20, Age 25.
- Cause of Death:
- Died of Wounds
- Place of Death:
- St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, Singapore
- Date of Death:
- 15.02.1942
- Buried:
- St Andrews Anglican Cathedral grounds
General Description
Joe Borrow enlisted AIF 23 Oct 1940 later joining 2/4th MGB’s ‘A’ Company 5 Platoon under Commanding Officers Lt. Walton and Lt. Learmonth.
Wounded in action at Buona Vista on the afternoon of 15.2.1942 Borrrow was admitted to 2/9th Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound fracture to the lower right leg. He was transferred to hospital but died as a result of his wounds.
Soldier was buried on 16.2.1942 in the south-east comer of St Andrew‘s Cathedral grounds. He was 25 years old.
‘Joe Borrow shared the fate of so many of his generation. Born during a war, grew up in a depression and killed in another war. He did not know what it was like to have a secure job, home and family of his own. And like so many other victims of war, his remains lie in foreign soil far from his homeland.’
Doreen Borrow
Joe Borrow and Reginald Tuffin WX8491 were mates – working as nurserymen prior to enlisting. As Tuffin enlisted in October 1941, he may have requested to join ‘A’ Company with Borrow. Tuffin died 9 February 1942 and Joe 6 days later on 15 February 1942.
Please go to Gosnells War Memorial.
The Borrow family arrived from London 15 October 1929 on ‘Otranto’ with his parents, his father John Borrow had been a miner. Joseph junior was about 12 years of age. We do not know where the family settled, but were residing in Gosnells in 1940 – Joe was living with them.
