We thank Mrs Deb Young of South Australia who sent the above copy which was in her late mother’s Autograph Book. She was about 15 years old when she met Kuhl and Harris in Adelaide, probably mates who had taken leave from Woodside.
Also in the book on the following page, believed to have been written by Kuhl, which reads
Here’s wishing you health
Here’s wishing you wealth
Here’s wishing you god in store
Here’s wishing you heaven when you die
What could I wish you more.
Fred Harris was father to several young children when he enlisted 26 Aug 1940, later joining 2/4th’s Battalion HQ as a driver. William Dennis (Bill) Harris born Birmingham, England 1903 enlisted Oct 1940 joining 2/4th’s Battalion Headquarters. Fred and Bill were with about 90 2/4 machine Gunners who missed re-boarding ‘Aquitania’ when she sailed for Singapore 16 Jan 1941.
Instead these men sailed to Java where they were taken POWs early March. Fred was wounded in action by a high explosive bomb receiving a shrapnel wound to his left knee.
Fred and Bill later departed Java with work on the Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma Java Party No. 4 Williams Force. Please read further.
Fred Kuhl was recovered from Thailand at the end of war. He died 1973 at Gosnells. Please read further about Fred Kuhl
Bill Harris was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war. It appears he never married, lived around the Fremantle area and died in 1977 aged 73 years. Please read further