The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Wearn
First Name:
Thomas Clifford
Nick Name:
Tom
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Regimental #:
WX12008
Company:
'A' Company
Enlisted:
29.04.1941
DOB:
27.04.1909
Place of Birth:
Boulder, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Joseph Henry Wearn
Mothers's Name:
Margaret Ann Wearn (nee Rogers)
Religion:
Salvation Army
Pre-war Occupation:
Moulder’s Assistant
Memorial:
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A11, Row A, Grave 17, Age 33.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8 km,
POW#:
1510
Cause of Death:
Dysentery
Place of Death:
Thanbyuzayat
Date of Death:
20.11.1942
Buried:
Grave No. 4, Thanbyuzayat

General Description

Wearn enlisted AIF 29 Apr 1941 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘A’ Company No. 4 Platoon.  Please read further
He was selected with ‘A’ Force Burma to work at the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway departing Singapore harbour for south west Burma.  Please read further about this Force. 
Tom Wearn was evacuated from Kendau 4.8km Camp to Thanbyuzayat Hospital in Burma, on 8.11.1942 where he died in the Dutch isolation ward with dysentery.  He was 33 years old.  Tom was a religious man, a dedicated follower of the Salvation Army and in his diary, which made it home to his family, he wrote the following verse:
‘Not only by the things we do, not only by the deeds confessed,
But in the most unconscious way, is Christ expressed.
For from your eyes he beckons you, and from your heart his love is shed,
Till I lose sight of you, and see Christ instead.’
The below information about Tom Wearn was published 1944. News of his death in 1942 did not reach his family until March 1945.

 

 

 

Wearn WX12008 17 March 1945
Wearn WX12008 17 March 1945

 

 

 

 

Height 6′

 

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Tom’s parents Joseph Henry Wearn married 1895 near Broken Hill NSW to Margaret Ann Rogers who was born 1874 Wallaroo, South Australia.  Both were large families and employed in mining.
The Wearn family moved to reside in Boulder where Joseph was employed in mining.  The family worshipped with the Salvation Army

 

It is thought Joseph and Margaret had several children however  two young sons died at Boulder.  Tom and his sister May survived to adulthood.
Tom married Edith Edwards (born Boulder about 1902) about 1934 in Kalgoorlie/Boulder and they had two daughters. Tom’s daughter Lily May Wearn born in 1937, married had several children and died in 2005 aged 68 years.
Tom’s mother Margaret died September 1932 Boulder and his father died in 1938.

 

 

 

 

 

Tom’s father Joseph Henry Wearn died in 1938.

 

Below:  death of Edith Wearn’s mother, Emma Edwards in 1939.

 

 

In 1931 Tom was living with his parents at their family home 117 King Street, Boulder and employed as a wood carter.  Tom’s father operated a firewood supply and service during early years.
In the 1934 Electoral Roll Tom was residing in Boulder and working as a wood carter.  Following his marriage, Tom and Edith or ‘Edie’ were living at Forrest St, Boulder 1936.  Continuing his job as wood carter.
Tom and Edie Wearn moved from Boulder to Midland about 1937.  Tom’s family were informed of his death Mar 1945.  According to the following advertisement for probate, Tom had gained employment with WAGR at Midland (initially he was working as a labourer) and the family were residing Morrison Road, Midland.

Tom Wearn’s name is inscribed on the Midland Railway Workshop Memorial.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Thanbyuzayat, 415k - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
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