The Soldier's Details

Riebe enlisted AIF Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘D’ Coy 13 Platoon as a Despatch Rider to CO Lt Wankey.

 

Please read about ‘D’ Coy 13 Platoon.

Undermanned along the north-west coast of ‘D’ Coy was quickly overrun by the invading Japanese following their invasion on 8 Feb 1942.

As a POW Singapore Reibe was sent to Johore Bahru and Adam Park before returning to Selarang.  He was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion.

Riebe was sent to Tarsau, Kanu II  then evacuated to Chungkai Hospital Camp and Non Pladuk before leaving on a work party to Sonkurai-Neikhe Defence Line from June-August 1945 from where he was recovered at the end of the war. 2/4th’s Jack Vidler also worked on the Defence Line.

RIEBE served with the BCOF in Japan.  His Regt. No. was WX501060.  He was discharged on 9th March, 1949.

 

Reibe played in 2/4th’s Football team at Northam.

Reibe was chosen in a State Schoolboy football team in 1935.

Below:  1947 – In memory of mate Ted Rowell.

 

Riebe’s parents Charles Joseph Riebe and Wilhemena Reynolds married 1915, Perth.  We believe they had a family of five children.  Robert Riebe was their fifth child.

RIEBE-REYNOLDS On March 15, by the Rev. S. H. Cox, Charles Joseph, youngest Son of Mr and Mrs Riebe, of Queen St, Adelaide, to Whellmina, youngest daughter of the late William Alfred Reynolds, of Highett, Vic, and Mrs. Reynolds, The Strand, Bayswater, WA

Robert’s older brother Charles Frederick b. 1916 also enlisted Geraldton WX25195.

In 1949 Electoral Roll, the two brothers Robert and Charles are residing with their parents at Wisbech Street, Bayswater, Charles working as a caretaker and Robert as a clerk.

Riebe married 1953 Geraldton to Phyllis E Jupp.  Phyllis died 2007.

 

 

1963 Electoral Roll Phyllis and Robert Riebe were residing 20 George Street, Belmont, he was Labourer.

In 1969 Robert and Phyllis are at Narrogin, Robert is Proprietor York Hotel, Narrogin.

In 1977 Phyllis is working as a barmaid and Robert, a Bar Manager and living Belmont with two of their sons.

His father died 1969 at Kojonup and his mother died Bayswater1966.

 

Below:  Riebe provided this affidavit to War Crimes re the brutalities he witnessed at Nieke Camp where conditions were appalling. It was during the final months of war both POWS (and probably Japanese guards) are at their lowest.

 

Bob Riebe passed away in 1991 aged 70 years.

Below:  Bob’s father worked as a building surveyor.