The Soldier's Details

Height 5′ 9 1/2″

Thackrah known as ‘Barney’ was AWOL from Aquitania when anchored at Gauge Roads off Fremantle on 15th January 1942, however  managed to get back on-board next morning at 9.00am.  He was find 40/- (Shillings).

Barney was selected with ‘F’ Force Thailand to work on the Burma-Thai railway

Please read the story of ‘F’ Force Thailand.

F Force left Singapore by rail 16 April 1943 lower Thailand.  The POWs then marched from between 18-25 days until they reached their destination about 16 May, to their first destination Lower Sonkurai. A terrible trek with many succumbing to illness.

Barney died at Tanbaya Camp of dysentery and malaria on 19 September 1943 aged 40 years.

Funeral service by Chaplain Duckworth (British Army) on 15.11.1943.

Barney Thackrah was last recorded residing Norseman where he was working as a tool sharpener before enlisting AIF 23 Oct 1940. He later joined 2/4th MGB’s HQ Coy, No. 2 Platoon Anti-Aircraft  and promoted to Corporal on 14 Feb 1942.  He was one of four Corporals under Commanding Officer Lt. Royce.

Barney sailed from Southampton, England 3 July 1926 aged 23 years for WA on board the ‘Majestic’ .  He was recorded as being clerk.

In 1931 Electoral Roll Barney and Dudley are both recorded working as labourers at Woodanilling not far from Katanning.

In 1936 and 1937  Electoral Rolls Barney was recorded working as truck driver at Laverton.

 

 

 

 

Above:  After the end of the war, Barney Thackrah’s body was taken to Thanbyuzyat War Cemetery,  Myanmar

 

Cyril was one of a large family (13 children) born to Charles Thackrah and Maria Felicia Payne in Berkshire, England.

Cyril’s older brother Dudley migrated to WA in 1921 at the age of 19 years,  however he died in 1931 at Katanning (see below).  Another brother Charles Gilbert born in 1889 died in France serving with a British unit, WW1.

Cyril’s father brother died  in 1915 WW1.  His father died in 1915   and his mother in 1934 in England.

 

It seems James and Cyril (known as Barney) were the only members of Thackrah family to migrate to WA.  We are unable to confirm when Cyril arrived, however they were both residing in the Katanning region in 1931.  As newspaper reports show, the brothers had each made court appearances, and sadly James was to die at the age of 29 years.  We should remember these were tough and challenging times for many people – it was difficult to find permanent work and there was no social welfare.  If you didn’t have a job, then where could you live without an income to buy food and pay rent.  They did not have family to fall back to when the ‘going was tough’.

 

The above was in the newspaper 9 September 1931.

 

And Below: 28 September 1931, Southern Districts Advocate Newspaper.