Above: list includes Ronald Hill, Samuel Ninyette, James Graham Wilson from 2/4th.
WX12663 FLOYED, ARTHUR ERNEST died malaria Sandakan, Borneo 12 March 1945 aged 26 years. Born Narrogin 1918 to John Bertram and Ada Clare Floyed, ‘Artie’ enlisted 9 May 1941. He was one of a large contingent of reinforcements, many with little or no training, to join the 2/4th Battalion which had been training in SA and NT to sail 16th January 1942 on ‘Aquitania’ from Fremantle to Singapore. Artie was fortunate to survive the battle for Singapore, particularly as a very large number of reinforcements in ‘E’ Company lost their lives.
From Singapore he was selected to sail to Borneo with ‘E’ Force. There were only 6 POWs who survived Sandakan (they escaped) and tragically Artie never returned home – he was one of 73 men from 2/4th to die at Sandakan. Their names are inscribed on the Sandakan Memorial at Boyup Brook.
Please read further about Sandakan.
Also you may like to look over the map of Sandakan-Ranau.
WX8174 O’LEARY, DANIEL MARTIN Lance Sergeant, was born 1910 Kalgoorlie to Jeremiah and Hannah Ethel O’Leary, He enlisted August 1940 and joined ‘A’ Company. He remained in Singapore as a POW until sent to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force. ‘F’ Force encountered appalling conditions and little food. He died of malaria and dysentery at Kami Sonkurai Camp, Thailand. He was 33 years old.
Please read further ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion
Daniel had commenced his working life as a railway cleaner and advanced to a railway fireman. His father Jeremiah was a loco engine driver with the WAGR.
WX9406 Charles Percival ODGERS b. 1919 Narrogin to Percival William Clunes and Florence Mary Odgers. Odgers enlisted AIF 21 Nov 1940. He was taken on strength at Darwin having completed his officer training. At Singapore he was transferred to ‘E’ Company Special Reserve Battalion as Adjutant to Commanding Officer Major Saggers.
When the SRB walked into the Japanese ambush at South West Bukit Timah on 11 Feb 1942, he was one of those KIA.
Please read about the Ambush at Bukit Timah
Charlie Odgers was 22 years old when he died.