The Soldier's Details

Hackshaw enlisted AIF 10 Aug  1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Coy 9 Platoon under CO Lt Lee.

Taken POW of Japan at Singapore he spent time working at Johore Bahru and Adam Park work parties before returniing to Selarang Barracks, Changi.

He left Singapore with one the last of the large work parties – ‘F’ Force Thailand to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.  F Force would endure a tragic number of deaths from illness caused by starvation and terrible working conditions.

Albert Hackshaw, aged 43 years died 2 Nov 1943 from ulcers at Tanbaya Hospital.  He had been evacuated from Sonkurai with other sick from ‘F’ Force to this hospital camp in Burma.  Please read about ‘F’ Force

Read further about Tanbaya Hospital Camp

Hackshaw died two days earlier than Goodwin from 2/4th,  together their funeral service was conducted by Chaplain Duckworth (British Army) on 15.11.1943. Actual burial was conducted at 0130 hours on 2.11.1943.

‘Albert’s WWI Enlistment

In January 1918, aged 18 years and 10 months Albert enlisted with 28th Battalion, WW1, his service No. 52068.  His occupation was recorded as Milk Carter.   He had completed 12 months as a cadet.  He was sent to Blackboy Hill and embarked at Albany in May 1918 sailing to Alexandria before reaching Southampton, England.   He joined the reinforcements 28th Btn in France in October 1918.

He was discharged August 1919.

Albert Hackshaw’s WW1 Enlistment:

Albert enlisted Blackboy Hill on 30 Jan 1918 aged 18 years and 10 months then 5′ 7 1/2″ tall  He gave his employment details as ‘Dairyman/milk carter’ and was residing with his parents Alice Street, Bellvue  He had served 12 months as a cadet.  His Service No. was 52068.

Hackshaw embarked Albany 8 May 1918 on ‘Port Darwin’ to England with the 1st WA General Service Reinforcements.

He was TOS to 28th Btn to France on 10 Oct 1918.  Hackshaw spent several weeks in hospital before being discharged 19 June 1919 and appears to only have spent about 3 weeks actually serving the 28th.  Discharged 1 Sep 1919.

 

 

The Hackshaw family departed London 24 December 1912 on ‘Ajana’ to sail to Fremantle.  There were 9 children recorded –  Rose, Annie, May, Albert, Reginald, Janie, Beatrice, Gertrude & Alan and a further 5 were born in Western Australia.

The family firstly resided at Bellvue where Henry Hackshaw was employed by the WA Government Railways and their youngest child Charles was born.

In 1925 the family moved to Bencubbin and it appears there was a property or properties purchased by Henry and several of his sons including Albert.

As is evidenced below, Albert, his father Henry and brothers Reginald and Frederick’s dreams of successfully farming wasn’t to be.  Sadly they joined the 100s and 100s of Western Australians who took up land at that time and due to depression, low agricultural prices, rabbits and even the weather they were forced to walk off their land.  It would have been a terrible time for them.

It is thought Albert and Reginald moved to the north-west to work before enlisting.  Albert was at Roebourne.

In 1940 Henry and Rose moved to Cannington then South Perth.

 

 

 

 

 

West Australian 10th October

 

Above:  After the end of the war Albert’s body was exhumed and laid to rest at the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Thanbyuzyat Cemetery, Myanmar (formerly Burma)

 

 

 

An earlier tragedy for the Hackshaw family was the death of Albert’s younger brother Reginald Hackshaw WX7800 who was KIA 1 Sep 1942 in Papua New Guinea whilst serving with 2/16th Btn.  He was 36 years old and married.

 

Note the brothers Reg and Albert would have enlisted same day.  Reginald was WX7800 and Albert WX7801.

Albert’s last know recorded address was Carlisle where he shared residence with his younger brother Frederick Percy Hackshaw, however it is believed he was living at Bencubbin  prior to enlistment.

Henry Frank Hackshaw died in 1955.