The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Wells
- First Name:
- Hugo Clarence
- Nick Name:
- Clarry or Hughie
- Rank:
- Corporal (Promoted 11.2.1942)
- Regimental #:
- WX7757
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 10.08.1940
- Discharged:
- 6.02.1946
- DOB:
- 11.12.1919
- Place of Birth:
- Guildford, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Clarence Wells
- Mothers's Name:
- Margo Wells
- Religion:
- Salvation Army
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, River Valley Road Transit Camp
- Force:
- ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Tamarkan 1/6-10/6/43
- Camps Burma:
- Victoria Point 23/5/-15/8/42, Tavoy 17/8-22/10/42, 4.8K 28/10-15/12/42, 14k 15/12-17/2/43, 75k 17/2-15/5/43,
- Camps Japan:
- Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17, Omuta
- POW#:
- 2720 & 11034
- Japan:
- Awa Maru Party, Kumi No. 41
- Return Details 1945:
- Nagasaki-Manila, USS Lunga Point, Manila-Sydney, HMS Speaker, Sydney-Fremantle, HMT Dominion Monarch
General Description
Wells enlisted AIF 10 Aug 1940, later joining ‘D’ Coy 14 Platoon, was promoted to Corporal 11 Feb 1942 (when 16 Platoon was created) at Singapore to Commanding Officer Lt Tompkins.
As a POW in Singapore, Wells was selected with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on Burma-Thai Railway.
Please read about this Force, the first to depart Singapore.
When the Rail was completed at end of 1943 the Japanese began to bring all POWs in Burma, south to one of several large camps in Thailand, for ‘A’ Force this was often Tamarkan which is what Wells did however he was sent there June 1943 – he may well have been evacuated as sick.
He was selected with ‘Awa’ Maru Party to go to work in Japan.
This group travelled to Saigon where they worked for up to four months, before returning to Singapore and staying at River Valley Road Camp while waiting for their transport ship.
Please read about ‘Omuta’ the Camp from Hell
It is believed that Wells served in the RAAF 18/11/1948 – 30/11/1951.
‘In Jan 1973 ‘Borehole Bulletin’ it was reported Hughie was back working at Hollywood again. He had left a few years ago to into the chicken and egg game. But had to give it away.’
Hughie passed away aged 84yrs, May 12 2004, at Glendalough, WA
