The Soldier's Details

Eric Fraser enlisted AIF 6 Jul 1940 later joining 2/4th MGB’s ‘D’ Company No 15 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. Meiklejohn.  Please read further about this Platoon.

Fraser was wounded 8 February 1942 and admitted to 13th AGH suffering exhaustion and bayonet wound to left hand.  He was discharged to unit on 8 March 1942.

 

From Singapore Eric was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion which departed Singapore on 14 May 1942 sailing to Burma.

Green Force comprised about 1,000 of the 3,000 men in ‘A’ Force. They disembarked at Victoria Point.  Some remained working and living near the docks and the bulk of the POWs moved out of Victoria point firstly to construct roads, then repair and enlarge the airfield. Eric was one of a number of men who pushed 44 gallon fuel drums for three months. The group departed Victoria Point about 5th August to Tavoy.   remained to work at the Tavoy airfield and then moved to Ye to complete the airfield there.

The three airfields were completed by mid September 1942.  Green Force arrived at Kendau 4.8km Camp via Thanbyuzat to begin work on the rail link.

Please read further ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Btn

Once the Railway was completed the Japanese moved POWs working in Burma southwards to one of the larger camps.  Eric spent one month at Tamarkan.  It was here he was selected to work in Japan.  He contracted Dengue Fever and was not included in the Kumis for  ‘Rakuyo Maru’ which sank with most lives lost in the South China Seas in Sep 1944.

At Bangkok he was appointed Medical Officer at the hospital on 1 January 1944.

Read about Nacompaton Hospital Camp.

It is believed Eric Fraser was selected to work in Saigon whilst he was at Non Pladuk, Thailand.  He was was one of many boys from 2/4th who left Singapore for Saigon on 2 February, 1945.

Read about Both Party, Saigon.

Eric arrived with Both Party at Saigon Docks Camp from Singapore on 7 September 1945.  They had sailed on 4 March 1945 to Cape Jacques and from near the big river tributary of the Mekong the POWs walked into Saigon.

Eric worked at the aerodrome at Da-Lat in the mountains as well as the Railway at Huy.  At Huy the POWs could see the US Forces flying over.

Eric was recovered from Saigon at war’s end on 20 September 1945 and flown to Singapore.  From here he few to Lubuan on 24 September 1945 and arrived Morotai 25 September 1945. He arrived Perth from Darwin on 6 October 1945.

 

 

Eric’s daughter Patricia Bell informs us she clearly recalls her father telling the family about the end of war and being in French Indo China.  Thank you for sharing Patricia!

‘Dad and his mate from N.S.W. had heard the War had ended.  They were not sure but saw the gates open and a party going on down the street.  Typical of larrikins they thought they would go, but also that they maybe shot,

Well they did and met a lovely French family of 3 sisters and a Mother.  I think the Father had been killed as he was helping feed the prisoners through the fence.

That friendship with one of the girls lasted until her death as a Teacher in France.  Her and her husband came out to Perth and stayed with Mum and Dad.’

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Castles and Eric at a 2/4th reunion.

Below:  1985 Anzac Day reunion – Eric Fraser, Trevor James, Dick Ridgwell

Above from Beattie Collection was dated 1 October 1987

 

 

 

 

Eric passed away aged 88yrs, December 11 2003, at Osborne Park, WA.

 

 

Below:  Fraser and Eric Wankey were at Carnamah before their enlistment.

 

Anzac Day 2023: Eric’s son-in-law Noel Bell, with grandson Aiden and daughter Shayna. Aiden and Shayna marched on Anzac Day.