The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Wilson
First Name:
James Graham
Nick Name:
Graham to his family, Bluey
Rank:
Lieutenant
Regimental #:
WX9394
Company:
‘C’ Company, 11 Platoon
Enlisted:
11.08.1940
DOB:
4.04.1920
Place of Birth:
Wickepin, Western Australia
Father's Name:
George Edward Wilson
Mothers's Name:
Cora Wilson (nee McBeath)
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Law Student
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force, No 3 Battalion.
Camps Thailand:
131km, 133km, Kanchanaburi, Tamarkan, Bangkok
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw 14km, Meiloe 75 km, Aungganaung 105 km
POW#:
1292
Return Details 1945:
Bangkok-Rangoon by aircraft, Rangoon-United Kingdom, HMT Orbita (disembarked 9/11/1945), United Kingdom‐Fremantle, HMT Stirling Castle (disembarked 16.2.1946).

General Description

We believe Wilson was with the Militia before enlisting.  He was also a law student.  He enlisted AIF Aug 1940 later joining 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Coy, 11th Platoon.

 

Lt. Wilson was  wounded in action at Reformatory Road, Ulu Pandan on 12/2/1942. Officer received shrapnel wound to (mastoid area) neck. He was admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital on 12/2/1942 and discharged to unit on 21/2/1942.

Wilson is mentioned at Jahore Bahru playing the piano

Appointment terminated 15/3/1946.

Please read about 2/4th lawyers on Burma-Thai Railway

Wilson left Singapore 1942 with the first work force to work on Burma-Thai Railway, to the Burma end with ‘A’ Force Burma, No. 3 Battalion.  Please read further.
When the railway was completed towards 1943, the Japanese began bringing all POWs in Burma (and Thailand) south to one of several large Camps or hospitals.  Wilson was already in Thailand at 131km, 133km camps was sent to Kanchanaburi and Tamarkan.

He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

 

 

 

 

Above:  Archie Thomas mentions Blue Wilson in his letter home.  The POWs never knew whose letters would arrive in Australia – they always mentioned names of others so that his family would notify them.

 

 

George Wilson married Cora McBeath in 1915 at Williams They a family of fours sons and one daughter who died young.   ‘Blue’ was  known to his family as Graham was the youngest, his recorded his NOK on his enlistment details as William Wilson his eldest brother also known as Bill, followed by Les and Len.  During the war Les with with RAAF and Len with AIF.

Below:  Cora’s father died in 1926.

 

Below:  George Wilson died in 1938 and his wife Cora soon after.

 

 

 

Below:  Followed closely by the death of Cora Wilson.

After the way Blue returned to his law degree studies. The 1949 Electoral Roll has Graham residing Nedlands, student.   He married in 1957 to Laura Wall.
From the news below, we learn ‘Blue ‘Wilson was living in Hong Kong.
According to social notes recorded in ‘Borehole Bulletin’ January 1972 – Ruth and Gus Magor toured the south visiting Narrogin to stay with the Holdings, where they met Blue’s brother who informed them Blue had recently flown in from Hong Kong to visit family.  They then drove to Gnowangerup and to 20 miles out of Jerramungup to visit George Quinn.   George’s property had been hit by a bad storm two months earlier.  They had lost a lot of sheep.  George, his wife and daughter were bright and cheerful!  The Magors then travelled on to Albany, Manjimup to Collie where they stayed with Doug and Stella Tanner for a night.  Doug celebrating his 50th birthday.

 

 

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
  • Nikhe Wood Camp, Ni Thea, 131 Kilo, 284k - Thailand
  • Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
  • Tonchan South, 131k - Thailand
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
  • Tavoy (Dawei) - river port - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
  • Nikhe, Ni Thea, 133Kilo Camp, 281.80km - Thailand
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