The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Joynes
- First Name:
- Colin
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX9297
- Company:
- 'C' Company
- Enlisted:
- 30.10.1940
- DOB:
- 15.01.1914
- Place of Birth:
- Wagin, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Arthur Thomas Joynes
- Mothers's Name:
- Annie Joynes
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmer
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Labuan Memorial, Panel 18, Age 31.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- ‘B’ Force Borneo
- POW#:
- 860
- Cause of Death:
- Not stated by Japanese
- Place of Death:
- Sandakan No. 2 Camp
- Date of Death:
- 7.06.1945
General Description
Joynes enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company, 12 Platoon.
Please read about 12 Platoon
Prior to his enlistment Colin Joynes was living at Jitarning 22 km south-west of Kulin and within Kulin Shire.
Although Colin’s cause of death was not recorded by his Japanese guards, it must be surmised he died of illness or at the hands of his captors.
We salute you Colin Joynes. It was through your bravery, sheer determination and strength of character you were able to survive years of starvation, mindless brutality and total terror at the hands of your Japanese captors; and witnessed the sadistic death of your mates until June 1945.
‘WX9297 Private Colin Joynes, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of B Force. The 1494 POW’s that made up B Force, were transported from Changi on 7 July 1942 on board the tramp ship Ubi Maru, arriving in Sandakan Harbour on 18 July 1942. Private Joynes, aged 31, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 7 June 1945. He was the son of Arthur Thomas Joynes and Annie Joynes, of Jitarning, WA. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 18. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)’
Colin Joynes – died 7 June 1945 at Sandakan No. 2 Camp aged 31 years. His remains were located at Sandakan No. 3 Camp. His identification disc was found at No. 2 Camp by War Graves Group. Colin was one of the 288 POWs too sick to leave on last March. His body was recovered by War Graves Party at No. 2 Compound – slit trenches – burial site for all POWs after 29 May.
The Japanese ordered all POWs out of their huts, then set fire to them and burned all the records. The POWs were to lay on open grounds in the compound -on groundsheets if they had them. Most managed to construct some shelter/humpy for protection from weather. POWs had not been suppled food since January and were existing on the rice they had stockpiled. They were forbidden to trade with the locals since January. They were being slowly starved to death.
Please read list of relics found Sandakan.
Please see map of Sandakan to Ranau and photos of all West Australians who perished.
And read about ‘B’ and ‘E’ Forces.
Kalgoorlie Miner.
Colin Joynes was baptised Collins Patrick, after his mother’s maiden name however was only ever known as Colin.
Colin was born January 1914 at Wagin the son of Arthur Thomas Joynes and Annie Collins who married 1900 at Kalgoorlie. He was one of 3 boys and 2 girls.
In 1914 the family moved from Wagin to a farming property at Jitarning east of Narrogin.
He did not attend school as he worked on the farm from an early age, as did all the children. It was hard work in hard times. Instead they were taught by correspondence.
In the mid-thirties he moved to Clackline to work on a farming property and stayed there till he enlisted at Claremont in October 1940.
Above: Colin’s father died in 1949.
Kings Park
Dedicated by Nephew on 16 August 2008
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
‘Private Colin Joynes of the 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion of 8 Division was baptised Collins Patrick, after his mother’s maiden name, but he was only known as Colin.
He was born in January 1914 at Wagin the son of Arthur and Annie Joynes. He was the youngest of three brothers and he had an older sister.
In 1914 the family moved from Wagin to a farming property at Jitarning east of Narrogin.
He did not attend school as he worked on the farm from an early age, as did all the children. It was hard work in hard times. Instead they were taught by correspondence.
In the mid-thirties he moved to Clackline to work on a farming property and stayed there till he enlisted at Claremont in October 1940.
He was posted the 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion and went to Singapore with 8 Division. After the fall of Singapore he became a prisoner of war and was later sent to Sandakan in Borneo as part of B Force.
Private Colin Joynes, service number WX9297 of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion, died as prisoner of war on 7 June 1945. He was 31 years of age.’
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Sandakan - Borneo ***
