The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Conway
First Name:
Thomas James
Nick Name:
Tom
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX4912
Classification:
Rangetaker
Company:
‘C’ Company, No. 11 Platoon
Enlisted:
23.07.1940
Discharged:
20.02.1946
DOB:
15.06.1920
Place of Birth:
Wales, United Kingdom
Father's Name:
Alfred James Conway
Mothers's Name:
Amelia 'Isabel' Conway (nee Shepherd)
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Barman
Singapore:
Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Tarsau, Kanu II, Hintok River Camp, Kinsaiyok, Tamarkan, Tamuang
Camps Japan:
Yamani Newton Force Japan, Niihama (No. 4 wharf Party)
POW#:
8764, 1590
Japan:
Rashin Maru Party
Return Details 1945:
Wakayama‐Okinawa, USS Sanctuary, Okinawa-Manila, USS Bingham, Manila-Sydney, HMS Speaker, Sydney to Fremantle, HMT Dominion Monarch

General Description

Conway enlisted AIF 23 July 1940, later joining 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Company 11 Platoon as a Rangetaker under Commanding Officer Lt. Boyle.
Tom was selected in Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion.  This work force included a large number of men from 2/4th, a good thing being with lots of mates and men you know!
(Please note the POW camps listed for Thailand are an estimation, we have no records.  These are the Camps S Battalion worked at)
Changi, Selarang – labouring April 1942 to August 1942 and October 1942 to December 1942.
‘D’ Force S Btn selected March 1943, travelled by train May 1943 to Thailand.
On completion of railway the POWs were gathered at the larger Thai POW Camps in Thailand and hospital Camps recovering, Tom was selected as being fit to work in Japan with Newton Force to travel with Rashin Maru Party.  Once again there were a large number of 2/4th men on this Party to Japan.
He worked at the mine, Yamanii September 1944 to May 1945,
Niihama was with the Wharf Party until war’s end from June 1945 to August 1945.
We believe Thomas James Conway was residing at Kalgoorlie, working as a miner in 1949 (Electoral Roll).  He enlisted with mate Arthur Rees WX6129.
In 1954 he was recorded residing at 17 Tennyson St, Bellevue.  His occupation recorded as steward.  Also living at the same address are his parents Alfred James (Labourer) and Amelia Isobel Shepherd.  Amelia Isobel of Victoria Park died in 1963 aged 72 years and Alfred James Conway also of Victoria Park died in 1966  aged 75 years.  Both are buried at Karrakatta Cemetery in the Catholic Section.
Below:  Tom spent his formative years living at Greemount/Bellevue.
Screenshot
Unfortunately we are not able to locate the whereabouts with any certainty, of Thomas James after 1954. There is no record of him marrying.
Below:  30 September 1948.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Hintok, 154k - Thailand
  • Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
  • Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
  • Tamuang, Tha Muang 39k - Thailand
  • Tarsau, Tha Sao 125k - Thailand
  • Nihama, Hiroshima #2-B- Japan
  • Yamane, Hiroshima #3-D - Japan
  • Kanu 111, Kannyu, 152.50km - Thailand
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