The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Robertson
- First Name:
- Claude Wilfred
- Nick Name:
- Spider
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7331
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- ‘B’ Company Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 6.08.1940
- Discharged:
- 29.04.1946
- DOB:
- 28.08.1903
- Place of Birth:
- Perth, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Andrew Robertson
- Mothers's Name:
- Agnes Berlette Robertson
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Miner
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kanu II , Chungkai, Tamuang, Tardan
- POW#:
- 8835
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Highland Brigade
General Description
Claude enlisted AIF 6 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Company Headquarters as a Driver under CO Capt Bunning.
As a POW in Singapore Claude was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion.
Please read further about this work party and where they worked.
It is believed Claude was at Kanu II, Chungkai, Tamuang and Tardun Bridge Party. He was recovered from here at the end of the war – flying from Thailand to Rangoon, Burma then to Singapore.
Claude was born Perth 1903 to parents Scottish born Andrew Robertson and Norwegian born Agnes Amelia Christie who married Melbourne 1893. They had a family of four children and obviously moved to WA prior to Claude’s birth.
Andrew Robertson arrived Australia on SS Yeoman in 1885. He was first working as a shoemaker then as a fireman before moving to Perth.
Claude had one brother Ernst Andre Robertson, who enlisted in AIF in Queensland. There were two girls Mabel and Esther.
His mother died 29 Oct 1953 and his father on 16 May 1928.
In 1933 Claude married Muriel Blanche Duncan. Claude and Muriel had a son and daughter Peter and Phyllis.
Below: Muriel Blanche Duncan completes her Business College training 1918.
Below: Muriel’s father Hugh George Duncan died in 7 Dec 1935 aged 65 years, her mother Blanche (nee Houghton) died 3 Dec 1930 at Claremont aged 52 years.
Muriel died in Feb 1989 aged 87 years North Perth and Claude died 20 Feb 1968 in North Perth aged 64 years.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
- Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
- Tamuang, Tha Muang 39k - Thailand
- Tardan - Thailand