Goodwin enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Coy 9 Platoon under CO Lt. Don Lee. He remained POW in Singapore until being sent with ‘F’ Force Thailand to work on the Burma-Thail Railway in north Thailand. Please read further about ‘F’ Force
This work Force suffered terrible loss of life. Rueben died of illness at Tanbaya Hospital Camp, Burma 6 Nov 1943, He was 27 years of age.
Goodwin recorded his NOK as Miss B. Goodwin, Mosman, NSW -believed to be his sister Beatrice.
Reuben Goodwin’s funeral service was conducted by Chaplain Duckworth (British Army) on 15.11.1943.
Rueben was a Kingsley Fairbridge Farm Schoolboy from Barnardos homes, England and arrived in Australia on ‘Ballarat’ 1928 aged 11 years. He was housed in Forrest.
Rueben is recorded (the ‘Old Fairbridgian’ magazine) as staying at the OFA accommodation at Pinjarra in February and March 1936. Other visitors in 1936 include 2/4th’s Ted Leadbitter and Harry Lucas. Social notes refer to Rueben’s tennis skills!
During 1935 and 1936 Reuben Goodwin was working and living at Konnongorring. He remained here until enlistment.
Reuben recorded his sister Beatrice as his NOK. It is believed the photograph below is of Reuben and his sister Beatrice. In the death notice for Reuben, Beatrice and Arthur refer to him as their brother.
We have been not been able to confirm but it may be that Reuben was separated from his siblings (which often occurred). He was sent to Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, WA and perhaps Beatrice and Arthur were sent to a home in NSW.
We believe the following to be Reuben’s Baptism Record. (Hence his parents Arthur & Sarah Goodwin)
Goomalling Weekly Gazette, March 1941
Screenshot
Below: After the end of war, Goodwin’s body was interred and moved to Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Goodwin Reuben
REUBEN GOODWIN
Below: Reuben’s Will leaving everything he owns to his siser Beatrice, Mosman, Sydney, NSW.
Below: NX31851 Arthur Thomas Reuben b. 5 Nov 1912 Essex, England. Worked as a farm labourer prior to enlisting at Mount Rivers, Paterson, NSW. Enl. 27 May 1940 aged 28 years at West Maitland. Initially 2/3 Australian Pioneer Btn, 9 Division, AIF. Sent initially to Middle East. Then to New Guinea, Tarakin etc. Discharged 30 April 1945. Believed to be brother to Beatrice Goodwin and Reuben Goodwin.
Screenshot
From Toodyay Herald 12 October 1945
Above: From Goomalling Weekly Gazette, Friday 19th October 1945
Reuben was selected in Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force Thailand. They were to be located south of the border from Three Pagoda Pass. The Force was made up of 3,600 British and 3,400 Australians. The assured them they were going to better camps with only light work. The Japanese encouraged them to take loads of possessions. Right from the beginning it was a disaster as the men had not been inoculated against cholera. Later many of them were to die from this terrible disease as well other tropical illnesses.
Once they had arrived in Bampong Thailand they found they had to march about 300 km to their camps. This horrific trek took between 17 to 20 days or more. The healthier men having to carry those who were will on stretchers. The had no food provisions and sadly there were times when men drank water which had not been boiled.
This period was the beginning of ‘Speedo’ when the Japanese and Korean guards up and down the line were pushing the men to work longer hours, the sick to work also and with less and less food.
One of their first camps was (Lower) Shimo Sonkurai.
It was in August when the first of the very sick at Neikhe began moving to Tanbaya hospital Camp. They left behind 50 men who were far too ill to be moved.
Reuben was one of a large number of sick evacuated to Tanbaya Hospital where he succumbed to his illnesses. Tanbaya like every hospital camp during this time, did not have medicines or medical equipment.
The following is information researched about Lewonard King Thistlethwaite WX113785
He enlisted 5 April 1941 from Konnogorring. Born 1907 he is son of Leonard Atkinson Thistlewaite and Lusitania Maud Hawkestone. His father died in 1946 and his mother in 1970.
Thistlethwaite became engaged then married in 1941 to Lenna Copeland just after he enlisted.
He trained with the AASC and left for Singapore with the 4th Motor Transport, taken POW of the Japanese 15 Feb 1942.
He departed Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand.
‘D’ Force left before ‘F’ Force.
When the rail link was completed at the end of 1943, the Japanese brought all the POWs south into one several large camps or if ill, into large hospitals. When King was at Nakom Paton he was accidently killed and died 17 Feb 1945 aged 38 years.
Thistlethwaite’s body was moved to Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.
