Men of 2/4th from Wyalkatchem area who did not return home:
WX7998 GIESE, PHILIP ARTHUR Corporal (Promoted on 24 January 1942). Enlisted 13 August 1940. As a POW was selected in Singapore to work on Burma Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force V Battalion. He died at Brankassi Camp, Thailand on 28 September 1943 of Dysentery. Philip was 25 years old. The Giese family learnt of Phil’s death about May 1945. His father had died April 1945 and probably did not know of his son’s death.
WX7940 NICHOLSON, WALTER GEORGE as a POW was selected in Singapore as a POW to work on the Burma-Thai Railway and sailed to Burma with ‘A’ Force, Green Force No. 3 Battalion. He survived this challenge and was then selected to go to Japan to work.
His ship ‘Rakuyo Maru’ was sunk in September 1944 by American submarines and he lost his life in the South China Sea aged 36 years. George was born in Norwich, England and had been working as a farmhand at Yorkrakine, south-east of Wyalchatchem prior to enlisting in August 1940.
WX5932 VAUGHAN, FRANK as a POW was selected in Singapore to sail to Burma to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Green Force No. 3 Battalion. Frank died of illness 1 April 1944 at Tamarkan Hospital Camp aged 33 years. He had been evacuated sick from Burma to Thailand. Frank Vaughan had been working as a farmhand at Wyalkatchem prior to enlisting in June 1940. He was born in Surrey, England in 1910.
Above: Enlistments for Wyalkatchem area as at September 1941.
Above: A community list of all the pioneers of the region.