The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Carter
First Name:
Douglas Newington Hunter
Nick Name:
Doug
Rank:
Sergeant (Promoted 28.2.1942)
Regimental #:
WX8240
Company:
'B' Company, 9 Platoon
Enlisted:
16.08.1940
Discharged:
18.12.1945
DOB:
22.07.1916
Place of Birth:
Claremont, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Rupert Newington Carter
Mothers's Name:
Dorothy Margaret Carter
Religion:
Presbyterian
Pre-war Occupation:
Bank Teller
Java:
‘Blackforce’, attached to 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion then Composite Battalion.
Force:
‘D ’Force Thailand, Java Party No. 6, O Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Evacuated sick to Tarsau, suffering from malaria and enteritis 5.9.1943
Camps Java:
Soekaboemi (2.4.1942-June1942), Tjimahi, Bandoeng ,Makasura
Camps Japan:
Ohama Camp No.9B
POW#:
6909, 278
Japan:
Rashin Maru Party
Return Details 1945:
Ohama-Wakayama by troop train, Wakayama-Okinawa, USS Sanctuary, Okinawa-Manila, USS Haskel, No other details are known.

General Description

Carter was employed as a bank clerk at Carnamah when he enlisted 6 Aug 1940, later joining 2/4th’s ‘B’ Coy 9 Platoon.
Carter was one of about 90 men from 2/4th who was left behind when ‘Aquitania’ sailed for Singapore from Fremantle on 16 Feb 1942.  Most of those men were locked up by MPs and unable to free themselves.  They sailed a few weeks later for Singapore, but were landed at Java when it was realised Singapore was about to fall.

Please read the story

The Australians were taken POWs of Japan from 8 March 1942 onwards and imprisoned in various camps on Java.
Carter had been working at a bank in Carnamah prior to enlisting, several mates from Carnamah enlisted with 2/4th – Ken Lally who was working at Eric H. GURR’s General Store in Carnamah from September 1939 until mid 1940 and Bill Baillie & Loller  (Bruce Rock).
Please read about ‘D’ Force Thailand Java Party 6 O to Burma-Thai Railway
He was evacuated  from Burma-Thai Railway to Tarsau 5 Sept 1943 suffering from malaria and enteritis from which he was fortunate to survive.  Tarsau Hospital was notorious and known by the men as being a place where one was likely not to survive.
Carter was selected fit by the Japanese to work in Japan, and sailed with ‘Rashin’ Maru Party, which first required the men to return to Singapore to board their ship.
Please read about the ‘Rashin’ Maru Party – a terrible 70 day journey to Japan
Hunter MA, Carter D & Jones E
L – R Mac Hunter, Doug Carter and Evan Jones

 

Carter D & Hunter MA
Doug Carter & Mac Hunter

 

 

Rear L-R Doug Carter, Frank Hinds Front -----, -----, Joe Lynch
Rear L-R Doug Carter, Frank Hinds
Front —–, —–, Joe Lynch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ohama, Hiroshima  POW Camp Renamed Aug 1945 Hiroshima 9-B – Okura Mining Co.
Back Row:  L-R (1)  Bert Poulton WX9764  (5)  Doug Carter WX8240
2nd Last Row: L-R (2) Alf Worth WX7440 (3)  Alex Oag WX8481
3rd Row from Back:  L-R (4) Aub Schuts WX8562 (8) Bob Whitelaw WX9076
Front Row:  L-R (9) Arthur Walker WX16370

Read about Ohama Camp, 9B  Japan

Carter was recovered from Ohama Camp at the end of the war.

 

Carter was an old Scotch College student, along with John Royce (KIA Singapore).
Below:  Carter is mentioned as attending the 21st birthday party of Royce’s sister Pat Royce.

 

Carter’s parents Rupert Newington Carter and Dorothy Margaret Isobel Wood married in 1915.  There were two children, Douglas and his sister Vivienne.

Below:  Dorothy Carter, mother of Douglas.

Below:  Dorothy’s father died in 1928

 

Above: Doug’s grandfather died 1927.

 

Above:  Carter’s sister Vivienne marries in 1940.

On returning he resumed working in banking, living with his parents Victoria Ave, Claremont.  His mother Dorothy Carter tragically died 29 Dec 1947 aged 53 years, having suicided in their home.
He married Avis Jean Prewett in 1946 and they continued residing in the Claremont home with Carter’s father Rupert.  Rupert  Carter died in 1963.   Doug Carter is residing at Victoria Ave in  Electoral Rolls – 1954, 1963 and 1968.

Below:  Avis Carter.

Doug Carter died in 1970 aged 54 years.  Avis Carter died in 2004.

 

Camp Locations:

  • Tarsau, Tha Sao 125k - Thailand
  • Bandoeng - Java ***
  • Makasura - Java
  • Soekaboemi - Java
  • Tjimahi, Cimahi- Java ***
  • Ohama, Hiroshima #9-B - Japan ***
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