The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Willimott
- First Name:
- James Frederick
- Nick Name:
- Jim
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX11745
- Classification:
- Fitter
- Company:
- Attached 2/4th, 88 Light Aid Detachment
- Enlisted:
- 21.04.1941
- DOB:
- 2.05.1904
- Place of Birth:
- Worksop, England
- Father's Name:
- Walter James Willimott
- Mothers's Name:
- Annie Willimott (nee Leith)
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Not Known
- Memorial:
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row B, Grave 26, Age 39.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi.
- Force:
- 'F' Force Thailand
- Camps Thailand:
- Lower Sonkurai, possibly Kami Sonkurai, Konkoita
- Cause of Death:
- Dysentery
- Place of Death:
- Kanchanaburi
- Date of Death:
- 15.12.1943
- Buried:
- Grave No. 368, No.2 Cemetery, Kanchanaburi.
General Description
James (Jim) Frederick Willimott was older brother to George Edwin Willimott WX1174 who died about 6 months earlier at Thanbyuzayat, Burma.
Photo taken Jan 2018 (C. Mellor) Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
Jim and George enlisted with AIF same day 21 April 1941 as reinforcements with AIF. Both joined 88th Light Aid Detachment. George trained to become Driver’s Mechanic and Jim a Fitter.
The brothers were sent to SA and NT with 2/4th MGB.
George left Singapore with ‘A’ Force for Burma – the first work force to leave Singapore.
Jim left Singapore with ‘F’ Force to work on Burma-Thai Railway. ‘F’ Force was one of the last work forces to depart Singapore – had been overlooked for previous work parties because they were at the time sick/injured, hospitalised or recovering.
‘F’ Force was to endure dreadful working and living conditions and large numbers of deaths.
Please read history of ‘F’ Force Thailand.
‘F’ Force left Singapore by train 16 April 1943 for Thailand . They arrived at their first work camp 16 May 1943 at Lower Sonkurai.
Between this time and when what was left of ‘F’ Force was returned to Kanchanaburi December 1943 when the rail link was completed the Australians were sent to work at any one the following camps, unfortunately there are no records and we are unable to be sure where Jim was.
No. 1 (Lower or Shimo Sonkurai)
No. 3 (Upper or Kami Sonkurai)
No. 4 (Konkoita).
It was at Kanchaburi Hospital Jim died of dysentery 15 Dec 1943 aged 39 years.
From Kanchanaburi ‘F’ Force was entrained back to Singapore.
Jim and George were two of four sons born to parents Walter James Willimott b. England and Annie Willimott b. Scotland.
We do not have knowledge of when the Willimott family arrived in WA.
Mr Willimott wrote to the Newspaper editors from time to time.
Walter Willimott died in 1933.
And Jim’s mother Annie died in 1952
Tragically Annie was alone without her husband, endured learning the news George and Jim had died and would not return home.
Camp Locations:
- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
- Kami Songkurai, 299k - Thailand
- Shimo Sonkurai, 288k - Thailand
- Konkoita (Brigade or Cholera Camp) - Thailand
