The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Cooper
First Name:
Henry James
Nick Name:
Bluey
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX8822
Classification:
Equipment Repairer, A.A.O.C.
Company:
Headquarters Company, No. 3 Platoon.
Enlisted:
23.10.1940
Discharged:
11.01.1946
DOB:
10.08.1911
Place of Birth:
Mandurah, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Clarence Cleland Cooper
Mothers's Name:
Gertrude Cooper
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Miner and Timber Worker
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Changi Hospital, River Valley Road Transit Camp.
Force:
‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Tavoy, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw 14km, Meliloe 75km, Aungganaung 105km, Khonkan 55km, 114km Camp & 126km Camp/ Evacuated to Khonkan 55km with a tropical ulcer to his heel 4.7.1943. Information written on back of a photograph indicates this soldier was a member of Williams No. 1 Mobile Force and worked in the area of 114 km and 126 km points on the rail link in Thailand.
Camps Japan:
Fukuoka sub‐Camp No. 17, Omuta; Fukuoka sub-Camp No.22
POW#:
2938 and 11033
Japan:
AWA Maru Party-Kumi No.41 (joined party at River Valley Road Camp ex-Changi Gaol Camp Hospital)
Return Details 1945:
Nagasaki-Manila, USS Lunga Point, Manila-Sydney, HMS Speaker, Sydney-Melbourne-Adelaide-Perth by troop train.

General Description

EPSON MFP image
Cooper sitting 3rd from Right, with arms folded and curly hair.

 

Cooper Henry James
Cooper Henry James

 

 

 

From Singapore Cooper was selected to work on Burma end of the Railway, with ‘A’ Force Green Force No. 3 Battalion.
Please read further
He was at the following Camps:  Victoria Poit, Tavoy, Moulmein, Thanbyuzat, 4.8km, 14km, 50 km, 55km Hospital Camp (4 July 1943 ulcer on his heel and malaria), 75km, 105km, 114km & 126 km.
We believe Cooper then joined Williams No. 1 Mobile Force, working between 50km to 114km and 126km on the railway.
When the railway was completed Cooper was evacuated to Kanachanburi.  He was selected on 6 April 1944 with Kumi 41 to sail to Japan on ‘Awa Maru’ to work.  The Japanese  selected those ‘fit.’  They were all sick and unwell.
Please read further about ‘Awa Maru’
Cooper was sent with ‘Awa Maru’ Party by train via Bangkok to Phom Pehn, Saigon (15 April 1944 to 15 August 1944) then returning to Bangkok and onto Singapore.
Cooper had at some point in time been evacuated to Changi Hospital because he then joined ‘Awa Maru’ Party at River Valley Road Camp (Transit camp for Japan) arriving on 14 December 1944.  He arrived in Singapore 22 August 1944.
‘Awa Maru’ sailed for Japan on 15 January 1945, arriving safely sailing thru the South China Sea where the American submarines were attacking Japanese shipping.
He was sent with several men from 2/4th to Omuta POW Camp in Japan.  Please read further
Cooper was sent from Omuta to Fukuoka Sub Camp No. 22
Cooper was recovered 19/9/1945 from Fukuoka Coal Mine.   He had been sent there 15/1/1945.

 

Bluey was son of Clarence Cleland Cooper and Gertrude Morris who married Perth 1909.

 

Blue Cooper passed away 1990.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
  • Kun Knit Kway, Kunhnitkway, 26Kilo - Burma
  • Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
  • Tavoy (Dawei) - river port - Burma
  • Thanbyuzayat, 415k - Burma
  • Changaraya No. 5 - Thailand
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
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