The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Rees
- First Name:
- Arthur John
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX6129
- Company:
- ‘C’ Company, 11 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 13.07.1940
- Discharged:
- 19.02.1946
- DOB:
- 6.04.1917
- Place of Birth:
- Midland Junction, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Joseph Rees
- Mothers's Name:
- Margaret Rees
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Barman and Yardman
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kanu II, Chungkai
- POW#:
- 4 /6537 and 8840
- Return Details 1945:
- Thailand-Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Moreton Bay
General Description
Prior to enlisting13 July 1940 he had been working in Kalgoorlie as a yardman at the Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie. He enlisted from Kalgoorlie. Arthur was 5′ 3 1/2″ tall.
He later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Company 11 Platoon.
As a POW in Singapore Rees was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway at thee Hellfire Pass Cutting with ‘D’ Force, S Battalion.
He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.
In 1943 Arthur sends news to his sister he is well and safe working as a POW.
The above was from news the Dutch Hospital Ship Oranje arriving Darwin Sep 1945 with 800 POWs.
Arthur would learn his father had died in 1942.
Arthur was born 1917 to parents Joseph & Margaret Rees at Midland Junction where the family was residing at the time.
He was one of five children – Selina, Annie, Raymond, Arthur & Joseph (Jnr). Selina married in 1918 to Ernie Bassett.
Arthur’s mother Margaret Elizabeth Rees died Aug 1929. She was buried at Karrakatta. Arthur’s father was recorded as being an Insurance Agent for AMP.
In May 1942, Arthur’s father died in Kalgoorlie.
Arthur Rees died 15 July 1976 at Leederville. He was 59 years old.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
- Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
