The Soldier's Details

McGinty enlisted AIF 6 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s Headquarters Company, becoming Corporal to Lt Royce of No. 2 Platoon Anti-Aircraft.

McGinty was working at the workshop section Singapore (furniture maker skills) when he was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force Thailand.

Below: 48 men from 2/4th were sent to Thailand with ‘F’ Force.  List compiled by Harold Cowie.

McGinty returned to Perth on Netherlands Military ship Orange.

Please read further about ‘F Force.

We cannot be certain where McGinty went with ‘F’ Force as there are no records – however the majority were at Neikhe, the Japanese HQ camp for F Force and Shimo Sonkurai.

We recommend you read the account of Wally Holding, who was with 2/4th and ‘F’ Force.

The depleted and ragged remains of ‘F’ Force were sent back to Changi when the rail link was completed.  McGinty was here when the war ended.

Joe was the second son, with two sisters born to parents Michael Patrick McGinty and Bessie Mary Balcombe who married in Melbourne in 1914.  Their children were all born in WA.  Bessie McGinty died in 1922 at Coolgardie.  Joe’s youngest sister was born Kalgoorlie December 1921.

Joe would have been about 5 years of age, his older brother probably 7 years, their sisters, of course much younger.  It is not known who looked after the children, whether their father was able to pay somebody, whether they went into care or to relatives.

Michael McGinty died in 1948 and was buried at Karrakatta.

Joe’s sister Rose died in 1940 at Meekathara.

A notice for his mate Dick Todd who was KIA Singapore.

We have not been successful in locating family or knowledge of Joe McGinty after the war.  There is of course much mention of his father who was capturing criminals in Kalgoorlie in the early days right through to Perth in later years!

Joe McGinty died 19 October 1985 aged 69 years.