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

EPSON MFP image
R. Manthorpe, E.A. Dix, Harold London, Front:  Phil Beilby

 

 

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
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