The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Oswald
- First Name:
- Henry Christopher
- Nick Name:
- Also known as Hugh Christopher Oswald
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX16931
- Company:
- ‘E’ Company, Special Reserve Battalion
- Enlisted:
- 22.07.1941
- DOB:
- 5.02.1921
- Place of Birth:
- Perth, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Andrew Oswald
- Mothers's Name:
- Not Known
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Timber Worker
- Memorial:
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row F, Grave 29, Age 21.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘ D ’ Force Thailand, V Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kinsaiyok, Brankassi, Hindaine, Kuii, Kanchanaburi
- POW#:
- 1/8897 & 2281
- Cause of Death:
- Dysentery
- Place of Death:
- No. 3 Base Hospital, Kanchanaburi
- Date of Death:
- 7.11.1943
- Buried:
- Kanchanaburi Cemetery
General Description
Soldier was a stowaway on the HMT ‘Aquitania’ at Fremantle on 16.1.1942. Oswald was transferred to 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion on 16.1.1942, (Routine Order 5/1791 of 28.1.1942) from 2/16th Battalion reinforcements. Soldier was shell shocked and was admitted to the 2/9th Field Ambulance on 15.2.1942. Admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital on 16.2.1942. Discharged to unit on 21.2.1942.
Hugh Oswald was selected with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion . As luck would have it ‘V’ Battalion had the highest death rate of ‘D’ Force, 50% of the men did not return from working on the Burma Thai Railway, Thailand.
Their work and camp conditions were appalling. The men endured extremely long working days with minimal food, spiteful and brutal guards who terrorised the POWs.
V Battalion departed Singapore on 17th March 1943 for the 4-5 day hellish train journey to Bampong, Thailand. He was to first work on the Burma Thai Railway at Kinsaiyok Camp, before going to Brankassi, Hindaine and it is probable he was evacuated with a number of sick on 11th August from Kuii Camp and died of dysentery at Kanchanaburi Base Hospital on 7 November 1943 aged 21 years. He had enlisted 22 July 1941.
Oswald recorded his NOK as his married sister Elizabeth Luff, 94 Onslow Road, Shenton Park. In 1953 his medals were posted to Elizabeth Luff at 244 Gill Street, Mosman Park. We believe Elizabeth may have died 1 October 1964 aged 47 years at North Innaloo. We have been unable to identify Elizabeth’s husbands name.
Oswald recorded his pre-enlistment occupation as timber worker.
Below: Oswald’s Military Records including brief details of his stowing away on ‘Aquitania’.
Photograph taken January 2018
Other than his married sister Elizabeth Luff, our searches for family of Henry or Hugh Christopher Oswald have found nothing. Should any person reading this who knows any information, we ask that you please contact us! Thank you.
2nd4thmgb@gmail.com
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Brankassi, Prang Kasi, 208k - Thailand
- Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
- Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
- Kuii, Kui Yae, 185.6k - Thailand
