The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Smith
- First Name:
- Alexander Julian
- Nick Name:
- Whispering Smith/John
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX6441
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company 14 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 16.07.1940
- Discharged:
- 9.01.1946
- DOB:
- 6.04.1916
- Place of Birth:
- Fremantle, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Julian Alfred Smith
- Mothers's Name:
- Ellen Smith (nee Helen McKenna)
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Butcher
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi.
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion, Selected 'Both' Party
- Camps Thailand:
- Kinsaiyok , Brankassi , Haindaine, Kui, Non Pladuk (evacuated to hospital on 23.9.1943)
- POW#:
- 4/6634
- Return Details 1945:
- Saigon‐Bangkok-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore‐Townsville‐Brisbane by aircraft, Brisbane-Sydney‐Melboume-Perthby troop train.
General Description
John Smith enlisted AIF 16 Jul 1940, later joining 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company 14 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. Tompkins. Alf Winter was also in 14 Platoon. Alf married Justine, Smith’s sister.
Below: 2/4th Football Team
Seated Front L -R is Ovens, John Smith.
Please read about ‘D’ Company
As a POW in Singapore Smith worked on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion – a group of men who suffered high death rates and endless illnesses.
Please read further about V Battalion
Several 2/4th men from V Battalion were selected to work in Japan, including Smith. This work party only travelled as far as French Indo-China unable to sail any further. The POWs were offloaded and worked in various areas of French Indo-China. Towards to end of the war, conditions at some work camps were ‘tough’ . The men were all recovered from French Indo-China just as the Japanese were leaving, a civil war was about to beak out between the Vietamese and the French Colonists and their army.
Others in this Party were Ron Badock and Sue Currie. Ron and John Smith remained very close mates, however he died an early death in 1958.
Read further about Both Party
October 1945 journey home to Australian on deck of ‘MV Highland Brigade’ Left sitting: Alexander Smith and Wally Lynn last right standing with British Nursing Sisters of The Queen Alexandra Nursing Service and other 8th Division survivors.
Smith’s parent Julian Alfred Smith and Helen ‘Ellen’ McKenna married Fremantle in 1904.
Smith’s father Julian died July 1946 and his mother Ellen died in 1956.
In 1939 and 1943 Electoral rolls, Smith was working as a butcher residing Canning Highway, East Fremantle.
Smith married 1949 to Constance (Connie) Mary Keenan who was the youngest of four daughters born in Katanning to parents William Lawrence Keenan and Gertrude Seymour who married there in 1909.
Connie had enlisted WW2 into Australian Army Medical Womens Service WX17068 from 13 November 41 to 10 March 1947. During that time she served in New Guinea from 12 September 1943 to 27 June 1944 reaching the rank of L/Cpl.
Above: Bride Kathleen Keenan with bridesmaids Mollie and Connie Keenan, 1938.
Connie’s father died in 1963 and her mother Gertrude died 1973.
1954 Electoral Roll Smith and Connie were residing Robinson Rd, East Fremantle. He was a linesman.
In 1958 Electoral Roll Smith and Connie are residing 8 Galloway Street, Attadale. He is a Linesman.
He died 25 November 1958 and was buried at Fremantle Cemetery. He and Connie had only been married 9 years. He was 42 years old.
Above: Connie Smith on Rt, with Ron Badock & Dot Taylor on Ron’s Rt. 2/4th’s 40th Anniversary 15 August 1985 at Heritage on Charles.
Connie died March 1993 Attadale.
Camp Locations:
- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Brankassi, Prang Kasi, 208k - Thailand
- Hindaine, Kui Mang 200k - Thailand
- Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
- Kuii, Kui Yae, 185.6k - Thailand
- Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
- Saigon - French Indo China
