The Soldier's Details

Lander enlisted AIF 1 April 1941 and joined Headquarters Coy No 3 Platoon as Technical Storeman.  On 29 Jan 1942, Ray was promoted, becoming Technical Stores Sergeant

Ray Lander was selected as a POW Singapore to work on the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion which sailed from Singapore for Victoria Point, south western coast of Burma where the POWs spent several months repairing and enlarging the airfield before moving onto the northern most point, i.e. Burma end of the Railway to start work 1 Oct 1942.  They would remain until the end of 1943.

Please read further about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn.

From the general movements of Green Force we can only estimate which camps Ray spent time and believe he would have been hospitalised at Reptu 39 km.  Whilst many of Green Force were selected to work in Japan and only a handful survived the sinking of their transport ship ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Sept 1944, Ray was not selected due to either being on another work party or hospitalised at that time.  He worked at Banderra, at Chao Puraya River.  He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

In 1950 and 1952 Ray Lander was elected President of 2/4th MGB ex-Members Assoc.  In 1952 the Committee had come to an agreement with Perth Dinghy Club to present an annual Cup in memory of Lt. Col Anketell who had died 9 years earlier.  Please read further. 

Mrs Anketell presented the cup to the winner.

‘Ray Lander’s father was a West Australian politician and animal welfare advocate. He was the first salaried RSPCA inspector in Western Australia, and later served a single term in the state’s Legislative Assembly (from 1911 to 1914), where he secured the passage of an animal welfare bill.’

‘After leaving politics Titus Lander bought a farm in Bruce Rock, as well as providing veterinary services for the surrounding area. He retired to Merredin in 1936, and died in Perth in 1948, aged 86. He had married Lucinda Jane Beattie in 1887, with whom he had four children.’

Raymond was youngest of four children born to Lucinda Jane Beattie and Titus Peter Lander who married Newcastle, NSW 1877.  Herbert Beattie Lander was eldest followed by sisters Isabella and Eleanor.

Raymond’s mother Lucinda Jane (nee Beattie) died in 14 May 1937 and his father died 1948.

In the 1931 Electoral Roll Raymond was residing with his mother Mint Street, Victoria Park working as clerk.  He was at Mint Street in 1939 when his mother died.  In 1943, 1958, 1968, 1972 Ray and Doris were residing at Louise St, Nedlands his occupation was trust officer.

Ray had married in 1938 to Doris Hyde.

He died in 25 May 1975 at Jolimont aged 77 years.  Doris died 2006 at Nedlands aged 98 years.