The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Wayman
First Name:
Thomas Sylvester
Nick Name:
Tom
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX7502
Classification:
Driver
Company:
Headquarters Company (Q.M. Store)
Enlisted:
5.08.1940
Discharged:
7.12.1945
DOB:
24.06.1913
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Frederick Walter Wayman
Mothers's Name:
Hilda Wayman (nee Sylvester)
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
Bus Driver
Java:
‘Blackforce’
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, Java Party No. 6, P Battalion.
Camps Thailand:
Hintok Road Camp, Hintok River Camp, Kinsaiyok, Konkoita, Tamuang, Nacompaton
Camps Java:
Bicycle Camp Batavia (April l942‐January 1943)
Camps Japan:
Yamane, Niihama
POW#:
1760
Japan:
Rashin Maru Party
Return Details 1945:
Wakayama‐Okinawa, USS Sanctuary, Okinawa-Manila, USS Bingham, Manila-Morotai-Darwin,PBYCatalina aircraft A24-306, Darwin-Perth, B29 Superfortress ‘Waltzing Matilda'.

General Description

Read more of Tom’s story at Pte. Tom Wayman WX7502. including his early childhood.

 

Read about Java and POW Camps and a group of men who delayed their surrender on Java to the Japanese.
Tom passed away aged 89 yrs, August 9 2002, at Melville, WA.
Height 5′ 9

 

Tom enlisted AIF 8 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s Headquarters company No. 3 Platoon Administrative under commanding officer Capt Phelps in the Quartermasters Store.
Returning from Darwin via Sydney on ‘Aquitania’  their ship anchored at Gage Roads off Fremantle for one night of 15 Jan 1941.  The 2/4th were ordered not to leave the ship, but 100s climbed overboard, keen to see their families whom they had not seen for 6 months before they headed off for knows where (They did know Singapore was their destination).  Tom was one of 88 men from 2/4th who did not return to ‘Aquitania’ before she sailed midday on 16 January 1941.   Please read further
He was taken POW about 8 March 1941 on Java and imprisoned at Bicycle Camp. He was selected with ‘D’ Force Thailand Java Party No. 6  P Battalion  otherwise known as Dunlop Force to sail to Singapore and entrain to Thailand to work on the Burma-Thai railway.
Having survived working on the railway, the Japanese brought all the POWs south into Thailand into one of 4 large camps or hospitals for the men to recover and fatten up.  The fittest, including Tom was selected to work in Japan with what would be known as the ‘Byoki’ Maru Party.
Tom was working at Niihama, Japan when he was recovered at war’s end.

 

 

The below letter was published in ‘Borehole Bulletin’ July 1992.
45 Rome Road
Melville
Dear Sir,
Please find enclosed a donation for ‘Borehole Bulletin’ which I look forward to receiving. Sorry I was not able to attend the Anzac Day Parade (1992) as my legs are not very mobile these days.
Yours sincerely
T S Wayman

 

He married Phyllis Daphne Nesbitt in 1937 in Perth, Western Australia. They divorced in Dec 1951.

Tom then married Patricia Eileen Bullen in 1951 and it is believed they had a family of two daughters.
He spent most of his years residing at Rome Road, Melville with his wife Pat. He was employed as a bus driver.
Below:  Great Grandsons of Tom’s attending the 80th Anniversary of Fall of Singapore receiving rosemany sprigs from Jim Ridgwell.  (there were many ants!)

 

 

Tom had been raised on a market garden property at Spearwood . His father left the family when Tom was 16.  Tom was to fend for his brother,  three year old sister (a cripple) and his mother. He and his brother sought work the Goldfields.
Below:  Tom’s father involved in rescue during his work with Sewerage Dept 1929.

Below: Tom’s father was involved with West Australian Trotting Association

Camp Locations:

  • Hintok, 154k - Thailand
  • Hintok River Camp, 158k - Thailand
  • Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
  • Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - Thailand
  • Tamuang, Tha Muang 39k - Thailand
  • Bicycle Camp, Batavia, Jakarta - Java ***
  • Nihama, Hiroshima #2-B- Japan
  • Yamane, Hiroshima #3-D - Japan
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