The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Beard
- First Name:
- Thomas James
- Nick Name:
- Big Tom
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX9277
- Company:
- 'D' Company, No. 13 Platoon.
- Enlisted:
- 30.10.1940
- Discharged:
- 30.01.1946
- DOB:
- 13.01.1917
- Place of Birth:
- Northam, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Stephen James Beard
- Mothers's Name:
- Johanna Beard (nee Martin)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Truck Driver
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- 'A' Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Tamarkan, Bangkok, Nikhe area
- Camps Burma:
- Victoria Point, Tavoy, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw 14 km, Meiloe 75km, Aungganaung 105m, Khonkan 55km (tropical ulcer)
- POW#:
- 2758
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Melboume by aircraft, Melbourne-Perth by troop train 17.10.1945.
General Description
Tom was also a member of 2/4th Cricket Team.
Tom Beard was wounded in action at Lim Chu Kang Road on 8 Feb 1942 during the pull out from No. 13 Platoon’s position on the west coast of Singapore. He was admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital on 10 February with shrapnel wounds to his left knee and left wrist. Tom was discharged to his unit on 21 February 1942.
Read about D Company
Tom was included in 3,000 Australian POWs to leave Singapore by ships to southwest Burma – ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion was the first work force to depart Singapore. Please read further about ‘A’ Force.
Split into 3 groups the POWs would first repair and enlarge three former British airfields before heading towards the northern end of the Burma-Thai Railway.
Tom was evacuated to Khonkan 55km Hospital Camp with a tropical ulcer. When the rail link was completed towards the end of 1943, the Japanese began to transport all POWs who had worked in Burma – south to one of several large camps in Thailand. We believe Tom may have still been unwell as he was sent to Tamarkan Hospital Camp, Thailand.
He was recovered from the end of the war in the Nikhe area.
Thomas Beard
Brothers Thomas Beard & Robert Beard (not 2/4th)
In ‘Borehole Bulletin’ April 1972, mention was made of Tom leaving work at the Brewery and was working as a Security Officer at Mount Tom Price.
Tom passed away at Manning 16 September 1987 aged 70 years.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Nikhe Wood Camp, Ni Thea, 131 Kilo, 284k - Thailand
- Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
- Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
- Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
- Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
- Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
- Tavoy (Dawei) - river port - Burma
- Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
