The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Wainwright
- First Name:
- John William
- Nick Name:
- Jack
- Rank:
- Staff Sergeant
- Regimental #:
- WX9560
- Classification:
- Fitter
- Company:
- 88 Light Aid Detachment
- Enlisted:
- 4.12.1940
- Discharged:
- 1.05.1946
- DOB:
- 20.12.1902
- Place of Birth:
- Newcastle, England
- Father's Name:
- William Wainwright
- Mothers's Name:
- Hannah Isabel Wainwright
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Motor Mechanic
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi, Selarang Barracks Changi, Changi Gaol Camp.
- Force:
- ‘F’ Force Thailand
- Camps Thailand:
- Shimo Nikhe, Shimo Sonkurai, Kanchanaburi (24.11.1943)
- Camps Burma:
- Tanbaya (4.9.1943)
- POW#:
- 3/6215
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Sydney, HMT Duntroon, Sydney-Melbourne by troop train, Melboume-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore.
General Description
This NCO operated the oil fueled burners which were used for cooking rice at Selarang Barracks. These were later converted to run on wood fuel.
Height 5′ 7″
Motor mechanic Jack enlisted AIF Dec 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB, where he trained as a fitter with 88 Light Aid Detachment.
From Singapore Jack worked on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force. He was evacuated sick to Tanbaya Hospital Camp in Burma Sept 1943, later evacuated to Kanchanaburi 24 Nov 1943 before returning to Singapore.
Please read more about ‘F’ Force who lost so many lives to starvation and tropical illness in Thailand.
Below: There were 48 men from 2/4th in F Force. List compiled by Harold Cowie.
At the end of the war Jack was recovered from Changi, Singapore.
Jack was eldest son born to William and Hannah Wainwright Dec 1902 Newcastle, England.
In 1926 Jack, his wife Norah their young son Albert aged 4 years sailed with Jack’s mother Hannah and one of his sisters on ‘Orford’ from London arriving Fremantle 28 Oct 1929. William Wainwright had earlier sailed to Australia. Norman sailed separately as did one of the girls.
In the Electoral Rolls of 1936, 1943, 1963 to 1980 Jack Wainwright and his wife Norah are residing at Arthur Street, Subiaco. By 1980 the suburb has been updated and is now Shenton Park. Norah is not listed in 1980, we assume she has died.
Jack’s mother Hannah died at Subiaco 1966 aged 80 years/
Jack passed away in 14 March 1985 and was cremated at Karrakatta.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
- Shimo Sonkurai, 288k - Thailand
- Tanbaya, 362k - Burma
