The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Pearson
First Name:
Donald David
Nick Name:
Don
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX13816
Company:
‘B’ Company, 7 Platoon
Enlisted:
3.06.1941
Discharged:
11.12.1945
DOB:
5.06.1905
Place of Birth:
Claremont, Western Australia
Father's Name:
John Pearson
Mothers's Name:
Mary Pearson (nee Eyres)
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Inspector with Western Australian Trustees Company
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi; Johore Bahru; Adam Park; AGH Roberts Barracks Changi (beri-beri); Selarang Barracks Changi. Following return from Thailand - Sime Road Camp (15.2.1942-4.5.1942) Changi Gaol Camp
Force:
'H' Force Thailand, Group No. 3
Camps Thailand:
Kanu II Malayan Hamlet, Kanchanaburi
POW#:
1/8951
Return Details 1945:
Singapore-Darwin‐Sydney, HMT Arawa; Sydney-Melbourne by troop train; Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore

General Description

Don’s older brother Sgt John Eyres (known as Ian) Pearson WX8118 enlisted 16/8/1940, same company as his brother  ‘B’ Coy, 7 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt Dean.
(From Singapore Ian was selected with ‘D’ Force, S battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.   He would have arrived at the Hellfire Pass Cutting region on 25 April 1943 to commence work at Kanyu II.  As he died of beri-beri and enteritis at Chungkai Camp on 13/2/1944 aged 43 years – Ian was possibly evacuated sick from the Railway to Chungkai.)
Don Pearson was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘H’ Force.  He was fortunate to return to Australia after the end of the war.    Please read further.

 

Both boys were former Scotch College Students.

 

Don Pearson’s parents John David Pearson and Mary Isabelle Eyres married 1899.  Don was second son after Ian and had a sister.

 

Below:  Don attends Old Scotch Collegians Ball 1936.

Camp Locations:

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  • Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Roberts Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Sime Road Camp - Singapore
  • Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
  • Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
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