The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Smith
- First Name:
- George
- Rank:
- Acting Corporal (Promoted on 24.1.1942)
- Regimental #:
- WX4891
- Classification:
- Cook
- Company:
- ‘B’ Company Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 16.07.1940
- DOB:
- 19.09.1902
- Place of Birth:
- Brechin, Angus, Scotland
- Father's Name:
- David Smith
- Mothers's Name:
- Margaret Smith
- Religion:
- Presbyterian
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Bread Carter
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Labuan Memorial, Panel 18, Age 42.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘E’ Force Borneo
- POW#:
- 4/4580 & 1550
- Cause of Death:
- Not Stated
- Place of Death:
- Sandakan‐Ranau track 2nd Ranau march.
- Date of Death:
- 7.06.1945
General Description
George Smith was included in the 2nd March Sandakan-Ranau – 536 POWs left Sandakan from 29n May 1945 in groups of about 50 and at intervals with their Japanese and Formosan guards. The sick POWs were loaded up to carry rice, munitions and sometimes the guards belongings. Barefooted they struggled through muddy, slippery swampy land, up and down mountainous slopes all the while prodded by their guards.
George enlisted 16 July 1940, he joined 2/4th MGB ‘B’ Company Headquarters as a Cook. He sailed to Borneo from Singapore with ‘B’ Force.
George was one of several hundred POWs (536 men) from Sandakan Camp selected to take part on the Sandakan to Ranau Second March on 29 May 1945.
During the next eight days 113 Australians died.
7 June 1945 – The Blackest Day on Second Sandakan March – we apologise if the following information is found to be distressing to relatives. (C. Mellor Sept 2024)
At least 113 Australians had died in the first eight days of the Second March. The following four 2/4th boys were included in a group of about 35 POWs who were first tied together by their genitals and massacred by their Japanese and Formosan guards at the 55 mile peg, about 8 km from Tangkul Crossing.
George’s body was recovered in 1946 near the track with 3 other men from the 2/4th – Charles Holme WX16416, Joseph Sevier WX8544 and George Lane Taylor WX14775 who according to Japanese records (and compiled by Japanese) all died on 7 June 1945 of ‘various illnesses’.
George was 42 years old.
Above: part of complete Sandakan map and photographs of all West Australians who lost their lives at Sandakan. Please take a look.
He arrived Fremantle from London on board ‘Moreton Bay’ 8 March 1929, aged 27 years. He was from Scotland.
George’s father died in 1923 in Scotland. His mother and some of his siblings immigrated to Fremantle in 1929 with George, along his wife Aileen and their three children.
Unfortunately we cannot be certain about George’s movements prior to enlisting, or that of his wife Aileen. He was residing in Como when he enlisted and had been employed as a bread carter.
I wish to acknowledge and thank extended family member ‘Rebecca’ from Perth, WA from whom I was able to confirm essential details. George Smith is her great uncle and many of her generation in the family knew little of what happened to George.
Should any family members read this, we would appreciate you contacting us.
SMITH, Corporal, GEORGE, WX4891, A.I.F. 2/4 M.G. Bn., Australian Infantry. 7 June 1945. Age 42. Son of David and Margaret Smith; husband of Eileen Smith, of Como, Western Australia. Panel 18.
Labuan Memorial, Malaysia.
Above: Corporal George Smith.
According to George’s records he attended Cooking School Northam.
“WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX4891 Corporal George Smith, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW’s who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW’s were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Corporal Smith, aged 42, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 7 June 1945. He was the son of David and Margaret Smith, and the husband of Eileen Smith, of Como, WA. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 18.”
Camp Locations:
- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Sandakan - Borneo ***
- Lintang Officers Camp, Kuching - Sarawak
