The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Saunders
First Name:
Clarence Samuel
Nick Name:
Clarrie or Cal
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Regimental #:
WX7211
Classification:
Technical Storemen
Company:
‘D’ Company Headquarters
Enlisted:
1.08.1940
DOB:
18.07.1900
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Joseph Charles Saunders
Mothers's Name:
Louisa Saunders
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Miner
Memorial:
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row M, Grave 32, Age 43.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Tarsau, Konyu II, Huntok, Kinsaiyok
POW#:
4/6579 & 8743
Cause of Death:
Post Leg Amputation, Haemorrhage
Place of Death:
Chungkai
Date of Death:
31.08.1943
Buried:
Grave No. 334, Chungkai.

General Description

Saunders enlisted AIF 1 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company 13 Platoon as Lance Corporal and Technical Storeman. In Singapore when another Platoon was formed to assist in manning the coastline, Saunders was moved to ‘D’ Company Headquarters.

Please read about ‘D’ Companies

Selected in Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force S Battalion, Saunders left by rail to travel in overcrowded train trucks to Bampong, Thailand.
Whilst we are not able to determine absolutely which camps Clarence Saunders was working in, we do know the overall movements of S Battalion and the Camps they worked.  There was a large evacuation of sick to Chungkai which Saunders would have been included in.  Chungkai was considered one of the main 4 Hospital camps at that time.

 

Kanchanaburi January 2018, C. Mellor

 

Kings Park Avenue of Honour

Cal Saunders is second son to parents Joseph Charles and Louisa Saunders.  His older brother is Claude and he has a sister Linda.
In 1928 Clarrie/Cal Saunders is residing 132 Royal Street, East Perth with his mother Louisa, father Joseph Saunders and brother Claude James Saunders. Cal is working as a warehouseman.
In 1931 (he had married about 1928 Perth to Helen Adelaide Carter) he was residing  Cnr Victoria & Monumental Streets, North Fremantle working as a grocer with Helen.
Below:  Helen Saunders aged 40 years, and mother to daughter Betty, died 30 November 1932.

Below:  Cal places notices in the West Australian in memory of Helen every year.

 

In 1937 Cal is working as a miner at Lawlers, Mt Leonora.
In 1943 he is working as a miner for Agnew, Mt. Leonora.

 

Above:  the notice directly above is from 2/4th mate Pat O’Meara. Both men were members of ‘D’ Company.

Camp Locations:

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