The Soldier's Details

George enlisted AIF 6 Aug 1940 later joining 2/4th MGB.  He became Driver with Battalion HQ – with Commanding Officer Lt-Col Mick Anketell.

 

 

Glass was one a several men from Btn HQ who went AWOL at Fremantle when ‘Aquitania’ anchored overnight 15 Jan 1942 on her way from Sydney to Singapore, and were unsuccessful in reboarding prior to her departure on 16 Jan 1942.   Please read about those AWOL at Fremantle. 

Others from HQ included WX8356 Wally Watkins WX7939, Clarrie Sawyer (died illness Bandeong Hospital, Java 1 April 1942), Allpike, Wally Harris and Fred Kuhl.

(CO Lt.Col Anketell and senior officers of HQ Major Green, Capt J Hill Lt Raphael and Warrant Officer Airey would have been very unhappy about missing six of their of well-trained men from their company).

George Glass was a regular visitor from Northam Army Camp at the family home of Tom Lewis.  Please read about Tom’s life.

In Java, Glass became part of ‘Blackforce’ and following surrender to the Japanese, was interned at Bicycle Camp Batavia.

He was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Java Party No. 4 Williams Force arriving Singapore 12 Oct 1942.

Please read further about Java Party No. 4 Williams Force.

Williams Force work camps in Burma were many and they moved frequently, sometimes straight after working for the day and marching throughout the night to their next location beginning work immediately. The Japanese made the most of their engineering skills and drove them hard.

Towards the end of 1943 the Japanese began to evacuating POWs in Burma south to one of the larger Camps.  Paddy was evacuated from 105km Camp Burma  to Kanchanaburi Thailand.  At the end of war he was recovered from British Army Hospital Chulalongkorn, Bangkok where he was being treated for chest/cough problems.  At the end of the war Glass was flown to Singapore and placed at 2/14 Australian General Hospital 7 Oct 1945 until he departed on hospital ship ‘Karoa’ to Fremantle.

 

He was at 40k Camp  Hospital 2 July 1943

105km Camp 21 Sep 1943

Evacuated to No 3 Kanchanaburi Hospital Camp No. 3 on 25 Mar 1944 and recovered from Hospital in Bangkok at the end of the war.

 

Below:  George has recorded his NOK his sister Mrs. Sarah Thompson of Belfast, Ireland.

 

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George sailed from London  29 Oct 1927 aged 22 years on ‘Osterley’ to Fremantle.  His last address was Government Institution Centre, Co. Antrim, Ireland.

Prior to enlisting, George was living 50 Francis Street, Perth and working as a yardman.

Unfortunately we know little of George’s movements after returning to WA.  Sadly he would not have had any family to welcome him home and be there for him.  A problem facing many former POWs who came to WA as young men without families, particularly from UK.

In 1949 Electoral Roll he was recorded living 5 Attfield Street, working as a labourer.

 

Working for the state government timber mill Deanmill (known as Mill No. 1) 5 km Manjimup his death was quite tragic and must have shocked his workmates.  How tragic to survive 3 1/2 years as a POW working and surviving in shocking conditions and die in an accident such as this is quite staggering.

 

 

He died at the Manjimup Hospital 5 Jan 1950 aged 44 years.  He was buried at Manjimup Cemetery.

You can read further details about George’s death recorded under

Forest Deaths in Western Australia