The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Thompson
- First Name:
- Norman Harding Edward
- Nick Name:
- Norm
- Rank:
- Lance Corporal
- Regimental #:
- WX10927
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company, 5 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 8.02.1941
- Discharged:
- 11.12.1945
- DOB:
- 28.05.1909
- Place of Birth:
- Subiaco, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Edward Arthur Thompson
- Mothers's Name:
- Winifred Thompson
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Hairdresser
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi, River Valley Transit Camp
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
- Camps Japan:
- Yamane, Niihama
- POW#:
- 8745 & 1557
- Japan:
- Rashin Maru Party
- Return Details 1945:
- Wakayama-Okinawa, USS Gloucester; Okinawa-Manila, USS Bingham; Manila-Morotai-Darwin,PBY Catalina aircraft A24-355; Darwin-Perth, B24 Liberator aircraft A72-379.
General Description
Thompson enlisted AIF 18 Feb 1941 and joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘A’ Coy 5 Platoon under CO’s Lt Walton and Lt. Learmonth as a L/Corporal.
As a POW in Singapore he was selected with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway. Please read further.
When the rail link was completed the Japanese brought all the POWs working in Burma and Thailand southwards to one of several large camps – Norm would have been selected fit by the Japanese to work in Japan when he was at Tamuang Camp.
The men were sent by train back to Singapore and housed at River Valley Camp to await a ship. The ship was the infamous Rashin Maru. Please read further.
Once in Japan Norm worked at Yamane and Niihama mines.
William Short, C. McDonald,
– Thompson (front), Unknown,
– Davey. E ‘Snow’ Watt.
Standing: Left-right C. Vidler, B.Fitzgerald, H.E. Saw, N.H.E Thompson, L.M.C. Murray, L. Armstrong.
Front Row: Left-right D.F. Sterrett, John Gilmour.
At Window: C.J. McDonald. 1941 Woodside SA.
Photograph taken by John Lane, donated AWM.
Front: George Chatfield, Norm Thompson, Claude Dow, Andrew “Mick” Lambie
Taken in Japan 1945.
Below: It is not until 1943 that Norm’s family learn news.
Below: Sep 45 news of Wagin boys: Ron Piesse, George Quinn, Stan Holland, Geroge Neville and Sam Ninyette
Norm Thompson was from Wagin and a mate of Joe Pearce.
Norm married in 1931 to Elsie Mary Taylor. When he enlisted the couple had two sons, Graham and Rodney. Following the end of the war, Norm and Elsie had another son Trevor born in 1954. Sadly Trevor died in 1960.
Norm died 29 November 1972 aged 63 years. Elsie died 1992 at Wagin.
A number of 2/4th travelled to Wagin for the funeral of Norm Thompson. They included: Les & Alice Lee, Joe & Gwyne Pearce (Moulyining) Jimmy Duncan, Johnny Morrison, Wal & Win Holding, Eric Fraser, Ron Badock, Jim Gilmour, Basil Fitzgerald and his son, Johnny Mellor, Dickie Hill (Kellerberrin), Jim Dore, Johnny Waddell (Newdegate) Georgie Quinn (Gardiner River), Ron Piesse and Ken Meares 2/3rd MGB.
Height 5′ 6 1/2″
Below: Thompson’s shop endures a theft 1936.
Below: Pre war Norm played football.
Below: RSL Wagin 1946 28 March 1946
Below: Norm resumed his love of sport soon after returning home from war.
Below: Feb 1950 Norm is injured during Country Week Cricket.
Below: Thompson family celebrations
Camp Locations:
- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Nihama, Hiroshima #2-B- Japan
- Yamane, Hiroshima #3-D - Japan
