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.

 

James & George Willimott
James & George Willimott

 

Willimott Family, Jim and George in the foreground
Willimott Family, Jim and George in the foreground

 

 

 

Photo taken Jan 2018 (C. Mellor)

 

Jim and George enlisted with AIF same day 21 April 1941 as reinforcements with AIF.  Both joined 88th Light Aid Detachment.  George training 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.
Most of those who were selected to work on Burma-Thai Rail with ‘F’ Force – 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.

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 Austraiians 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 railed 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:

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  • 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
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