The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- MacLeod
- First Name:
- William
- Nick Name:
- Bill
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX17302
- Company:
- 'E' Company, Special Reserve Battalion
- Enlisted:
- 17.10.1941
- Discharged:
- 15.03.1946
- DOB:
- 28.10.1907
- Place of Birth:
- Greenock, Scotland
- Father's Name:
- Alexander MacLeod
- Mothers's Name:
- Effie MacLeod
- Religion:
- Presbyterian
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Powerhouse Attendant
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp & Barracks Changi, Changi Gaol; Camp, XI Party, P Party
- POW#:
- 3/8928
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydney-Melbourne by troop train, Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore.
General Description
MacLeod enlisted 17 Oct 1941. As a reinforcement he joined 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion having been sent by train to Fremantle, pontoon to Aquitania’ on 15th January 1942. He fought in Singapore with ‘E’ Company, with No. 3 Platoon under CO Lt Harry Mazza and was fortunate to survive the Japanese Ambush at Bukit Timah where so many men of this Company were KIA.
Read further about ‘E’ Company
Taken POW of Japan in Singapore, MacLeod remained in Singapore throughout the war. Possibly because he had previously been a ‘Greaser’ working at a Powerhouse.
He worked with X1 and P Parties.
Bill was born Scotland to parents Alexander MacLeod and Euphemia ‘Effie’ Matheson. The MacLeods had a large family.
Bill’s father Alexander died in 1935.
Below: Bill’s father Alexander MacLeod late 1-3th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders died in 1935 aged 70 years.
His mother Effie died in 1954.
Bill MacLeod married about 1946 at East Kalgoorlie to Doris Esme Emelda Retallick (nee Cruickshank) Doris was the widow of George Retallick who died 1945.
Doris died 1981 at Bunbury. Bill died Jan 1996 Bunbury aged 90. Both were cremated at Bunbury.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- P Party, Johore Bahru - Singapore
