The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Lance
- First Name:
- Kenneth Stanley
- Nick Name:
- Stan
- Rank:
- Corporal (Promoted 11.2.1942)
- Regimental #:
- WX15951
- Company:
- 'E' Company, Special Reserve Battalion
- Enlisted:
- 21.08.1941
- Discharged:
- 22.01.1946
- DOB:
- 3.05.1916
- Place of Birth:
- Fremantle, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Rev. Alfred Josiah Lance
- Mothers's Name:
- Ella May Lance (nee Mathieson)
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Clerk
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- 'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Tamarkan, Bangkok, Nacompaton
- Camps Burma:
- Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw 14km, Meiloe 75 km, Aungganaung 105 km
- POW#:
- 3055
- Return Details 1945:
- Thailand-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Moreton Bay.
General Description
Stan was the fourth of five sons born to parents Rev. Alfred Josiah Lance and Ella May Matheson who married Perth 1909. Stan’s father died young in 1919 at the Beverley Manse when Stan was just three years old.
Below: Ella’s brother Robert was killed in France 1918.
Stan Lance enlisted AIF 21 Aug 1941 and soon after was drafted to 2/4th ‘E’ Company SRB. He was promoted to Corporal on 11 Feb 1942.
He was one of the fortunate to survive the South West Bukit Timah Japanese ambush on 11 Feb when nearly half the Company were KIA or badly injured.
As a POW in Singapore he departed by ship for the south west Coast of Burma with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.
The POWs would work on the airfields at Victoria Point, Ye and Tavoy to repair and enlarge them before moving onto to the northern end, i.e. Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway starting work at Kendau Camp 1 Oct 1942.
They would remain working on rail link until the end of 1943 when the project was completed. The Japanese then began moving all the POWs in Burma south to one of about 5 large camps in Thailand. Many went to hospital camps. Those who appeared fit were selected to work in Japan. Stan missed out on the Japan draft. He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 – 1973), Thursday 10 September 1953 (No.55), page 2525
It was recorded in the above WX15951 Kenneth Stanley Lance was awarded the Australian Efficiency Medal.
In 1947 Stan married Iris Amy (Pat) Ashbolt in Perth. We believe Iris is first cousin to WX17251 Lloyd George Ashbolt who was born in York 1916 to George Henry Ashbolt, older brother to Amy’s father Edward William Ashbolt who married 1910 to Hilda Dunham.
Below: From York Chronicle
Below: Stan’s mother died 1964.
In July 1992 Vern Roach of NSW wrote to Borehole congratulate Les Cody on his organisation of the trip to Singapore. He was with ‘A’ Force Burma, and knew many of the 2/4th men. He in particular mentioned:
Stan ‘On the Road to Mandalay’ Lance
Billy ‘The Tinsmith’ Carlyon
Tom ‘The Pom’ Pilmoor
Stan Lance died 6 Dec 1996 Como aged 80 years. Iris (Pat) Lance died 1998 aged 83 years.
They had one son Kenneth Alfred Ashbolt born 1947. He died Perth 2012 aged 64 years.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - Thailand
- Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
- Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
- Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
- Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
- Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
- Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
