The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Wyllie
First Name:
Ronald William
Nick Name:
Bomber
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX12593
Company:
‘C’ Company, 12 Platoon
Enlisted:
9.05.1941
Discharged:
11.02.1946
DOB:
6.06.1916
Place of Birth:
Claremont, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Thomas Wyllie
Mothers's Name:
Mary Wyllie
Religion:
Presbyterian
Pre-war Occupation:
Miner and Trucker
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi.
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Brankassi, Non Pladuk, Ubon
POW#:
01/04/6853
Return Details 1945:
Thailand‐Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Moreton Bay

General Description

Above:  Bomber & Joyce Wyllie

 

Ron grew up at Burracoppin – the youngest of five children born to farmers Thomas and Mary Wylie. For reasons unknown, Ron was given the nickname ‘Bomber’ which remained with him throughout his life.
As a young man ‘Bomber’ ventured to Kalgoorlie taking up his first short-lived job clearing land.  His accommodation was an open bower shed – dingoes howling at night terrified the young man living alone.  His supplies included a lb butter, loaf bread and tea.
He moved into Kalgoorlie to find work and met his future wife Joyce Campbell.
‘Bomber’ moved to Subiaco and joined his two best mates.  He stole a chook from a backyard, dressed it and a ran a chook raffle in a pub.  Discreetly accompanied by his two mates, Bomber ran the raffle which one of his mates always won.  They repeated the same ruse at the next pub with the same chook.
He enlisted into AIF on 9th May 1941 with his two mates and  joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company 12 Platoon as a reinforcement.
As a POW in Singapore, Bomber sought to use his chicken thieving skills, often risking his life.  He soon became known as a larrikin.
He was selected with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.  V Battalion endured terrible loss of lives.
Please read further.
At the end of war, he was recovered from Ubon,Thailand.
Please read about Ubon.
As a POW Wyllie suffered 29 malaria attacks, had dengue fever and shingles.
Bomber died 14/08/1980 at Royal Perth Hospital aged 94 years.

 

 

 

Camp Locations:

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  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Brankassi, Prang Kasi, 208k - Thailand
  • Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
  • Ubon - Thailand ***
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