The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Leadbitter
- First Name:
- Edward Johnathan
- Nick Name:
- Ted
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX8425
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 18.10.1940
- DOB:
- 5.12.1918
- Place of Birth:
- London, England
- Father's Name:
- George Leadbitter
- Mothers's Name:
- Maud Leadbitter
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Gardener
- Memorial:
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Collective Grave, Plot 3, Row G, Grave 35-39, Age 24.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion
- POW#:
- 3/8489 & 2266
- Cause of Death:
- Cholera
- Place of Death:
- Kuii
- Date of Death:
- 10.10.1943
- Buried:
- Kuii, Grave No. 196
General Description
Ted enlisted AIF 18 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s l’D’ Company No. 15 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. Meiklejohn.
Please read about ‘D’ Company, 15 Platoon.
This soldier had been sent out to Australia as an orphan to Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School. Edward Leadbitter arrived in Australia on 23/8/1932 on ‘Oronsay’ aged 14 years.
His father had died in the Battle of Jutland and his mother had passed away when he was 11 years old. Also sailing on ‘Oronsay’ was 2/4th soldier Alfred Victor (or Albert John) King WX16236 who was then 8 years old. (He enlisted underage enlisted again and was KIA in Korea 1950).)
In 1935 and 1936 Ted Leadbitter was working at Yandal Station, Leonora. Ted is also recorded in ‘Fairbridgian’ magazine as attending the Mandurah summer camp in 1936 (holidays from work no doubt). Ted also managed to spend Christmas Day at Fairbridge. Other 2/4th blokes who were present at Christmas 1935 included Harry Scadden (also Mandurah summer camp) and Percy Westlake.
Soldier was listed as missing from 8.2.1942. He had been captured by the Japanese on the west coast of Singapore but had escaped and rejoined his unit after the surrender.
In Thailand Ted Leadbitter was suffering from malaria and delirious. He was kicked and beaten for 30 minutes by the Japanese Engineer Corporal known as ‘Black Cat’. Soldier died of cholera 14 days later.
Please read about ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion and Kuii Camp
In 1941 Ted Leadbitter married Winifred M. Purcher.
Edward Leadbitter and his wife Winifred on their wedding day.
Winifred Leadbitter remarried in 1948.
Ted’s name is inscribed on the Byford War Memorial.
Also at Fairbridge Farm School Memorial, Pinjarra.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Kuii, Kui Yae, 185.6k - Thailand
