The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Clarke
First Name:
James Sydney
Nick Name:
Syd
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX7625
Company:
‘C' Company, No. 11 Platoon
Enlisted:
10.08.1940
DOB:
9.06.1918
Place of Birth:
Bunbury, Western Australia
Father's Name:
James Charles Clarke
Mothers's Name:
Nellie Margaret Clarke
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Abattoir Worker
Memorial:
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A3, Row C, Grave 20, Age 25.
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No 3 Battalion
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw, Khonkan, Augganaung.
POW#:
1475
Cause of Death:
Pellagra and Cardiac Failure
Place of Death:
Khonkan 55km Camp
Date of Death:
13.08.1943
Buried:
Grave No. 44, Khonkan

General Description

On 4th May 1942 the approximate number of  3,000 men in ‘A’ Force Burma embarked at Singapore on two ships.   They were the first group of POWs to depart Singapore .
‘A’ Force was then split into three groups to work on airfield runway  repairs at  Victoria Point, Mergue and Tavoy prior to moving north to begin work on the Burma-Thailand rail link.
Clarke was evacuated sick from Augganaung 105km Camp on 7.7.1943 to Khonkan 55k where he died on 13 August 1943 having suffered cardiac arrest following pellegra.
Read further about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.
There is a possibility James Sydney Clarke who enlisted 10 August 1940 may well have changed his birth year from 1921 to 1918.

 

Death of his father May 1946.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
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