The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Manthorpe
- First Name:
- Ronald Frederick
- Nick Name:
- Ron
- Rank:
- Corporal (Promoted on 5.2.1942)
- Regimental #:
- WX11472
- Company:
- Attached 2/4th, Australian Army Ordnance Corps
- Enlisted:
- 9.04.1941
- Discharged:
- 25.04.1946
- DOB:
- 17.08.1901
- Place of Birth:
- Inglewood, Victoria
- Father's Name:
- Herbert James Manthorpe
- Mothers's Name:
- Maggie Manthorpe
- Religion:
- Presbyterian
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Motor Mechanic
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Baracks Changi
- Force:
- 'D' Force Thailand, V Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Chungkai (hospital), Bangkok (go-downs), Japanese Transport Camp repairing trucks with Jack Swift and Wally Bow.
- POW#:
- 4/4543
- Return Details 1945:
- Thailand-Rangoon by C47 aircraft, Rangoon-Singapore, HMT Highland Brigade, Singapore-Darwin-Perth by PBY Catalina aircraft.
General Description
Manthorpe, Dix, Beilby and London were with A.A.O.C.
Ron Manthorpe was sent to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion – a work Force which endured a terrible death rate. Please read further.
When the rail link was virtually completed by end 1943, all the POWs were brought south to one of several large camps or hospitals. From here Ron went to Bangkok to work at Japanese Motor Depot with Bow and Swift – a more preferable location than to a work camp in Thailand!
Ron was born Inglewood Victoria to parents Herbert (Herb) James Manthorpe and Margaret (Maggie) Currie who had married in Victoria 1884. The Manthorpe family resided at Inglewood where Ron spent his life prior to moving to WA.
In 1928 Ron was residing with his parents in Inglewood, he was employed as a motor mechanic. His father was a carrier.
He must have moved to Western Australia soon after (his brother Roy had also moved to live in WA) because in 1930 he married Joyce Graham Hulme. They divorced in Aug 1940. In 1941 Ron married Irene Elizabeth Hutchens, they were residing East Perth.
Irene’s parents had both died, her mother in 1927 and her father in 1929.
After the war, Ron resumed his employment as a mechanic. In 1949 Electoral Roll they were recorded residing at Barnfield Rd, Claremont. In 1958 they were residing at Congdon St, Claremont.
Ron’s father died in 1946 Victoria and his mother had passed away in 1945.
Ron died in 1962 at Swanbourne he was 59 years. His wife Irene died several years later in 1974 at Swanbourne.
Camp Locations:
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- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Chungkai, 60k - Thailand