The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Thorley
- First Name:
- Ivor Edwin
- Rank:
- Sergeant
- Regimental #:
- WX9562
- Classification:
- Fitter
- Company:
- Attached 2/4th, 88 Light Aid Detachment
- Enlisted:
- 4.12.1940
- DOB:
- 7.07.1901
- Place of Birth:
- Ballarat, Victoria
- Father's Name:
- Edwin Donald Thorley
- Mothers's Name:
- Blodwyn Thorley (nee Price)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Fitter
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Labuan Memorial, Panel 28, Age 43.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- ‘B’ Force Borneo
- POW#:
- 351
- Cause of Death:
- Malaria
- Place of Death:
- Sandakan No1 Camp
- Date of Death:
- 4.03.1945
General Description
Embarked on HMT ‘Zealander’ at Fremantle on 30.5.1941 with 86 Light Aid Detachment attached to 2/6th Field Park Company. Taken on Strength with 88 Light Aid Detachment and attached to 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion on Singapore. The actual date this occurred is not known.
Following capitulation Ivor, now a POW, was interred at Selarang. A few months later he was selected in Singapore with ‘B’ Force to travel to Borneo sailing July 1942. There would be no survivors from 2/4th from Borneo.
Please read further about ‘B Force Borneo.
By early 1945 the POWs were facing the toughest months of their lives. It was a desperate fight to live. Ivor succumbed to malaria at Sandakan on 4 March 1945, aged 43 years.
Please read further about Sandakan-Ranau Marches.
________________ .
Ivor was residing Maylands when he enlisted December 1940. He married Leonie Mavis Huitson in Perth about 1924. The couple had five children
Below: Thorley wins this spectacular race, however also mentioned is another 2/4th boy – George Gossage WX9062 who was KIA 12 Feb 1942 Ulu Pandan, Singapore.
He successfully ran his garage for a few years and then sold.
Ivor trained as a motor mechanic as had his father and a brother. In 1931 Ivor was residing in Bridgetown as were his parents working as a motor mechanic.
Below: We are sure Ivor thought this was hilarious!
Height 5′ 6″
Below: Ivor’s younger brother ‘Tim’ Thorley died illness, Marble Bar in October 1944.
Ivor’s father Ted Thorley died July 1945, four months following the death of Ivor at Sandakan.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Sandakan - Borneo ***