The Soldier's Details

Ward enlisted AIF Aug 1940 and joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘B’ Coy 9 Platoon as a driver.  9 Platoon’s CO was Lt Don Lee.

He left Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion.  He worked at Kanu II, Kanu I, Hintok Road Campo, Kinsaiyok and then sent to Tamarkan.  He was selected by the Japanese as being fit to work in Japan.

He sailed to Japan with the ‘Rashin’ Maru taking 70 days.  Ward was initially sent to work at Fukjuoka sub-Camp No. 13, Saganoeski

Read about Omuta sub-Camp 17

Height 5′ 5″

The men at Omuta camp was not rescued until 15 September 1945, four weeks after Japan’s surrender.  (This was the case for many POW Camps.) . POWs were ordered not to leave Camps – mostly for their own safety.  Some POWs thought they would never be rescued – Fred Ward decided he had had enough of being a POW of Japan and made his way to a USA A.A.C. base near Nagasaki and hitched a ride directly to Manila.

We know Fred Ward and Joe Beattie were transferred to Omuta No. 17 Camp. 

Please read the Omuta Camp list in association with Aramis Party. 

Fred’s father Frederick (Snr) who was born NSW 1873  married 1915 at Northam to Kathleen Eileen Jones (Kate or Katie) who was born 1890 Victoria.  Fred and Katie had three sons and two daughters and continued to live at Northam for some time.

Above:  The tragic announcement of the Ward’s son Sydney Raymond who died aged 5 1/2 years.

Fred’s father Frederick ‘Fred’ Charles Ward died 1946 at Norseman.  His mother Kate ‘Katie’ Ellen (nee Jones)  died in 1968.

Following his return from war Fred (Jnr) married in 1952 to Edna Lila Mary Margaret Martin who was previously married to Richard Martin in 1932 and divorced Nov 1928.

Fred died 28 August 1985 at Hilton Park and buried Fremantle Cemetery.   Edna Ward died in 2003.