The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Sevier
- First Name:
- Joseph
- Nick Name:
- Joe
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX8544
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- Company Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 18.10.1940
- DOB:
- 5.08.1906
- Place of Birth:
- Bristol, England
- Father's Name:
- Joseph Sevier
- Mothers's Name:
- Florence Rose Sevier
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Truck and Tractor Driver
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Labuan Memorial , Panel 19, Age 38.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘E’ Force Borneo
- POW#:
- 4/6597 & 1895
- Cause of Death:
- Malaria
- Place of Death:
- Sandakan‐Ranau track
- Date of Death:
- 7.06.1945
General Description
Joe Sevier enlisted AIF 18 Oct 1940 later joining 2/4th MGB’s Company Headquarters as a Driver. His Commanding Officer was Capt McEwin who was KIA 11 Feb at Hill 200, Ulu Pandan.
Ockerby was executed by Japanese 9/2/1942 and Sevier died June 1945 on the Second Sandakan to Ranau Death March.
Joe Sevier, died 7 June 1945 and his body recovered from the Sandakan to Ranau track after the war with 3 other 2/4th soldiers. Charles Holme WX16416, George Smith WX84891 and George Taylor WX14775. The four men from 2/4th were included in about 35 POWS who were tortured and massacred at the 55 mile peg, about 8 km from the Tangkul Crossing.
Please read ‘B’ and ‘E’ Forces Borneo
Please look at Sandakan Map and photographs of all
West Australians who lost their lives.
Joe Sevier’s SA Pay Book Photo.
Below: Joe marries Hazel Stephens in South Australia.
Joe Sevier and ‘Monty’ Smith were 2 of 4 young men to join up from the small town of Muckinbudin. The other two were Dudley Squire (KIA 12th February 1942) and Reg ‘Buck’ Rogers. Only Rogers survived and returned home.
Joe Sevier migrated to Western Australia 1925 on ‘Orama’. He was the youngest of 8 children born near Bristol, England. (Four older brothers served in the British forces during WW1.) Joe worked in the wheatbelt area of Narrogin and Korrelocking before settling at Wilgoyne near Muckinbudin in 1927.
Joe’s mother Rose, sister Daisy and brother Fred with his wife arrive in WA in 1928.
In 1928 Joe was joined by his mother, sister and an older brother with his family. They initially lived in tents on their employer’s farm. With only a horse and cart, trips to Muckinbudin were rare. They went to the nearest rail siding Lake Brown where there were several wheat lumpers’ camps. There was one store, one bakery, one butcher and a hall.
Joe and his brother worked in the area clearing roads, tractor driving, fencing and general farm work. Joe and Fred took up virgin land. They cleared a small area and emus invaded and destroyed their first crop. He was working in the Nungarin area prior to enlisting.
In 1931 Joe’s sister Daisy marries.
Below: Joe successfully applies for a land grant.
Joe was a keen soccer player and represented Wilgoyne playing in the same competition as Dudley Squire from Muckinbudin. He rode a Harley motor bike. His last job was at Nungarin before he enlisted.
Joe Sevier married his wife Hazel in Adelaide shortly before going leaving for Darwin, then to Singapore.
Read story of Boys from Muckinbudin
Below: Joe’s name has been included in the death notice of a friend Sam Roberts Butcher who died of influenza at Northam Military Hospital. It appears Sam had been unwell for several months. He was a local Mukinbudin boy.
He was the son of Joseph and Florence Rose Sevier, and the husband of Hazel Beryl Sevier, of Glenelg, SA.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Sandakan - Borneo ***