Ye, Tavoy, Thanbuzyat Hospital, Reptu 30km, Khonkan 55km, (medical orderly)
POW#:
3167
Return Details 1945:
Thailand-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Highland Brigade, Sydney-Melbourne-Perth by troop train.
General Description
From Selarang, Singapore Manton was selected with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of BuirmaThai railway. They sailed from Singapore to Burma.
Manton was next recorded at Thanbyuzat Hospital 3/12/42 to 6/1/1943 before moving to start working on the railway to Thetkaw Camp 14km. He was transferred sick to Reptu 30 km from Thetkaw 26/3/43 to 5/5/1943.
He was medical orderly at Khonkan 55km. When the railway was completed the Japanese brought all the burma-based POWs south to Thailand to one of four large camps or hospitals. James Manton was sick and moved to Tamarkan Hospital 7 January 1944. He was later moved to Nacompaton Hospital from where he was recovered at the end of the war.
Below: Bunker writes he is with friends Tom Minchi8n and Jim Manton in 1943.
James Charles Manton was employed by WAGR (Railways) from about 1920’s up until his enlistment when he was living at Spencers Brook (near York). He had married about 1927 to Joycelin Dorothy Seaman.
After the war the Manton’s moved back to NSW and were residing at Yarran Street, Leeton, Riverina from at least 1950. He died 2 June 1963 at Leeton. Joycelin died in 1996.
We know Joycelin and James had a family of at least two daughters as below.
The above is from Murrumbidgee Irrigator (Leeton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Friday 1 May 1953.
