The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Fraser
First Name:
Norman Wilson
Nick Name:
Norm
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX10366
Classification:
Driver
Company:
‘C’ Company, 11 Platoon
Enlisted:
18.12.1940
DOB:
10.06.1913
Place of Birth:
Claremont, Western Australia
Father's Name:
George Duncan Fraser
Mothers's Name:
Frances Marion Fraser
Religion:
Methodist
Pre-war Occupation:
Insurance Agent
Memorial:
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A7, Row D, Grave 3, Age 29.
Singapore:
Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Tavoy, Ye, Thanbyuzat, Kendaw, Thetkaw, Meiloe, Aungganaung
Cause of Death:
Cholera
Place of Death:
Aungganaung 105km Camp Cemetery
Date of Death:
4.06.1943
Buried:
Funeral service conducted by Chaplain H. Cunningham on 5.6.1943 Grave No. 11 Aungganaung 105km Camp Cemetery

General Description

Wounded in action at Ulu Pandan on 11.2.1942. Admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital with a shrapnel wound to abdominal wall. Discharged to unit on 21.2.1942.
Norman Fraser was selected at Singapore to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.
Please read further about Green Force and their movements.
Soldier’s illness at Aungganaung 105km Camp began at 0830 hours on 4.6.1943 after drinking contaminated water. Soldier had a smuggled camera which he used during his captivity. The undeveloped films were buried at the head of his grave, but when they were recovered by the War Graves Party at the end of the war they had deteriorated beyond use.

 

Burma-Thailand Railway. c. September 1945. Ex-prisoner of war (POW) members of the War Graves Commission survey party displaying the camera, film and documents recovered on 27 September 1945 at the 105 kilometre camp, from the grave of WX10366 Private N. W. Fraser, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion to whom the camera and lm belonged. The negatives covered the period from Changi (February 1942) to 105 kilometres (May 1943), including shots on the Toyohashi Maru, Victoria Point, Tavoy, Thanbyuzayat and intervening camps up to Private Fraser’s place of death. Known as Ankanan (Anganan) (Aungganuang) it was 105 kilometres south of Thanbyuzayat, or 310 kilometres north of Nong Pladuk (also known as Non Pladuk). From left to right: Leading Aircraftman E. S. Wheeler, RAAF; Sergeant T. Lee, 8th Division Provost Corps; Warrant Officer Class 2 L. Cody, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion. (Donor A. Mackinnon)

 

Norm was a former Scotch College Student

Norman Fraser tried out for Subiaco in WAFL in 1933, from Scotch College. He also did well for West Subiaco FC in Metro Juniors in 1932.
He was part of 2/4th Cricket team which played a successful season in 1941.  Please read further.

 

EPSON MFP image

Norm married Edna Jessie Brooke about 1939. Edna passed away aged 99 1/2.
It is known that Norm and Edna had at least 2 children, Peter was born at St John of God West Perth 14/01/1942.

 

EPSON MFP image
Norm Fraser

 

Norm’s name is mentioned in mail received in WA sent from Les Nolan, Moulmein, Burma.  Les perished when ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sank 12 Sep 1944.

 

 

 

 

Kings Park Avenue of Honour

Please read further about 105km Camp, Burma

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
  • Tavoy (Dawei) - river port - Burma
  • Thanbyuzayat, 415k - Burma
  • Ye - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
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