The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Ferrie
First Name:
Charles Gill
Nick Name:
Scotty - Jock
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX5217
Company:
‘C’ Company, 11 Platoon
Enlisted:
23.07.1940
Discharged:
19.12.1945
DOB:
15.11.1901
Place of Birth:
Ayreshire, Scotland
Father's Name:
Andrew Ferrie
Mothers's Name:
Sarah Ferrie
Religion:
Presbyterian
Pre-war Occupation:
Stationhand
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi; Johore Baru; Adam Park; Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘ D ’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Kanu II, Chungkai
POW#:
1/7669, 3/7743 and 8778
Return Details 1945:
Thailand-Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Fremantle HMT Moreton Bay

General Description

Jock was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with D’ Force Thailand S Battalion which departed by train for Bampong, Thailand on 14th March 1943.
Following the 5 day horror train journey S Battalion was accommodated at Konma Transit Camp near Bampong before being trucked to Kanchanaburi where after a brief stopover, the men marched to Tarsau Camp, HQ for S Battalion.  The POWs worked here clearing the way for construction of the railway before moving to Kanyu II Camp, in the midst of Hellfire Pass cutting.
It was here the men confronted and lived with the worst of ‘speedo’ and monsoonal rains – little food, no medicines for injuries and tropical injuries including ulcers which would eat away at flesh, long working hours without shoes and clothes, cholera and beatings.
We cannot be sure where Jock was working, there are no records except we know basically where S Battalion worked.
It seems Jock became ill and was sent to Chungkai, which was a large medical camp and would have been recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

 

 

 

Jock aged 27 years arrived Fremantle 2 Jan 1929 on board ‘Orsova’ from London.  He recorded his occupation as ploughman.

 

After the war Jock married Evelyn Maud May.
In 1949 Electoral Roll Jock was recorded residing Stirling Street, Perth and was a caretaker.
In 1954 through to 1972 Jock and Evelyn were residing 16  Thompson Street, Belmont and his occupation was recorded as cleaner.
Evelyn died 6 Aug 1974 at Belmont aged 70 years.
Jock Ferrie WX5217 wrote ‘Borehole Bulletin’ April 1972 from 16 Thompson Street, Belmont.
to Secretary, Percy Tompkins –
I enjoy reading the Borehole and often have to shake the memory box on various names, places, etc.
You will remember the time I hit the Jap guard with a shovel at the golf course, Singapore. We were a good crowd and comrades at the Burma Railway camps and early days at Changi.
One thing I will never forget was a few days after we entered Changi, two fellows, I don’t know if they were 2/4th or othersiders. Two Jap guards came along, ordered the chaps over to them, they did not want me, they wanted the other two because one had beautiful red hair, the other was blonde.
The Japs made them drop their pants and walk around them, looking at their hair. Our boys must have felt awful, hands up in the air and two of our Lee-Enfields pointing at them!
I have been retired for some time and take things quietly, fill in a bit of time playing an organ, a great way of passing time.
As time goest by, many of our mates pass on.
Yours,
Jock Ferrie”

 

Jock Ferrie died 30 Nov 1980 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.
Jock Ferrie about 1981-2

 

J Ferrie about 1981-2 – From Beattie Collection

 

Regretfully we are not able to learn any further information about Jock’s life before or after the war.

Camp Locations:

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  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
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