The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Mentiplay
- First Name:
- David Victor
- Nick Name:
- Vic
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Regimental #:
- WX228
- Awards:
- Recommended for Citation.
- Company:
- Battalion Headquarters, Special Reserve Battalion
- Enlisted:
- 10.12.1940
- Discharged:
- 20.04.1949
- DOB:
- 21.10.1917
- Place of Birth:
- Geraldton, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- David Mentiplay
- Mothers's Name:
- Ethel Mentiplay (nee Jackson)
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Butcher
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi. Following return from Thailand - Sime Road Camp, Changi Gaol Camp.
- Force:
- 'H' Force, Group No. 6, Officer's Party
- POW#:
- 1/809
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Perth Duke of Gloucester’s aircrafi, ‘Endeavour‘
General Description
Mentiplay enlisted Dec 1940. Mid January 2941 he transferred to No. 3 Reinforcements, SRBN HQ, Intelligence Officer.
Read further about Special Reserve Battalion
This Officer was wounded in action at South-West Bukit Timah on 11/2/1942. He witnessed Japanese soldiers bayoneting wounded men, which infuriated him to such a degree that he rushed at the perpetrators, killing several of them. For his efforts he received a bayonet wound through his neck and leg. He was admitted to 2/13th Australian General Hospital and later discharged to his unit on 25/2/1942.
Please read report of Mentiplay’s bayonet incident.
As a POW Singapore, Mentiplay was selected to go to Burma-Thai Railway with ‘H’ Force, No. 6 Officers Party departing by train 27 May 1943 to the Hellfire Pass Region. They were fortunate in that they returned to Singapore by mid December 1943, seven months later.
He was recovered Changi. Returned to Guidford, Western Australia Duke of Gloucester’s Aircraft.
Please read further about ‘H’ Force No. 6 Officers Party
Mentiplay’s parents married 1911 in Fremantle.
Vic Mentiplay was born in Geraldton where his father worked for AMP.
Below: Vic’s grandmother Esther Jackson died 1936.
We see Vic is one of five children and eldest son born to David and Ethel Mentiplay.
Vic announces his engagement to Jean Williams in 1941. They marry in 1945.
Vic’s mother died Nov 1958 at Mt Lawley aged 73 years and his father died 1960 aged 81 years, Mt Lawley.
Vic Mentiplay passed away in 23 Mar 1993 at South Yunderup aged 75 years. His wife Violet ‘Jean’ died Nov 2011 at Nedlands aged 75 years.
———–
This Officer commanded the Western Australian Victory Parade contingent in London 8/6/1946. Promoted to the rank of captain on 25/7/1947.
This Officer served with the BCOF from 1947-1949 with the 67th Infantry Battalion and 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Below: Newspaper reports of the Victor Parade in London 1946 where Mentiplay led the Western Australian force.
Camp Locations:
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- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Sime Road Camp - Singapore