The Soldier's Details

Reg was AWOL at Fremantle when ‘Aquitania’ sailed for Singapore on 16 Jan 1942.  He was one of about 90 men from 2/4th, mostly locked up by MP’s who would not release the in time.  Please read the story

Reg’s wife Loral gave birth to their first child, a son in 1941 – of course a young father would want to see his wife and baby son!

Having sailed to Java and not Singapore, these men were taken POWs of Japan about 8 March 1942 and imprisoned in various location in Java.

Ham was with Java Party No. 4 Party to work on the Burma-Thai Railway (the Burma end) which arrived Singapore 12/10/1942 and departed Changi 14/10/1942 for Rangoon.

He worked in various camps in Burma and at end of 1943, the Japanese began returning all the men to Thailand to one of several large camps, or hospitals.  The camps recorded for Reg were the general camps his work  Black Force worked.  He may not have been at all of them and may have been at others.  Unfortunately we have no records.

At war’s end Reginald Ham was recovered from Chumphon, Thailand.

Reg’s parents married 1898 Parramatta, NSW. Reg was one of four children.  His mother Emily Mary Ham (nee Smith) died 9 April 1931.  His father John Walter Ham died 18 Sep 1949.  

Reg Ham married 1940 to Loral Eileen Obst. We know little about Loral except she was recorded playing hockey for Wagin in 1930-32.

The couple in 1954 were residing in Mosman Park, Reg’s occupation was soldier.

They had three children.

In 1977, Loral was residing 10 Bryant Avenue, Mosman Park.

He died 11/10/1976 Mosman Park aged 62 years.  Laurel died Claremont 1992.

Loral playing hockey for Wagin.  We discovered her name over several years.