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.

Read about 88th L.A.D.

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″

 

 

Version 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 ***
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