The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Gilmour
First Name:
James
Nick Name:
Jim
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX8623
Classification:
Scout
Company:
‘A’ Company, 5 Platoon
Enlisted:
18.10.1940
Discharged:
13.12.1945
DOB:
2.08.1921
Place of Birth:
Ayr, Scotland
Father's Name:
Hugh Gilmour
Mothers's Name:
Helen Knox Gilmour
Religion:
Presbyterian
Pre-war Occupation:
Nurseryman
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi; Johore Bahru; Adam Park; Sime Road Camp; Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Kanu II , Kanu I River Camp, Tarsau (evacuated by barge with cholera), Konkoita; Kinsaiyok, Tarsau, Chungkai, Tardan, Kachu Mountain Camp
POW#:
8780
Return Details 1945:
Thailand-Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Highland Brigade

General Description

Jim enlisted AIF 18 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘A’ Coy 5 Platoon under CO Lt Walton as a scout.  Jim had previously been a member of Cameron Highlanders.
He jumped ship at Fremantle when the ‘Aquitania’ anchored in Gage Roads for one night to collect stores and reinforcements. There was no leave given to anybody, but 100s of 2/4th men defied orders.  They wanted to see their families before they went to the front line.  You can read about the men who were left behind in Fremantle.
Jim left Singapore by train to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with D’ Coy Thailand, S Battalion – they would be working on the Hellfire Pass Cutting and their first camp on the line was Konyu 2.  His brother John left with ‘J’ Force for Japan.  The brothers would not learn of each other’s survival until the end of the war.
He was a very lucky man as he fell ill with cholera.  In the earlier days, there were few survivors.  Jim Survived to go on working and was at Kachu Mountain Camp when the war ended.

Jim Gilmour on Left.  Trip from Adelaide to Darwin 1940.

 

Gilmour brothers, Woodside SA
Gilmour brothers, Woodside SA

 

Back L-R: Jim Gilmour, Colin Rainbow. Front L-R: Frank Thaxter, Greg Burdon, Owen Doust After Release1945
Back L-R: Jim Gilmour, Colin Rainbow.
Front L-R: Frank Thaxter, Greg Burdon, Owen Doust
After Release1945

 

Jim Elliot & Jim Gilmour Sydney 1941
Jim Elliot & Jim Gilmour Sydney 1941

 

The above was included in Daily News 12 Sep 1945 – the story included news and messages from many former POWs for families who had never received news of their loved ones.

 

Bunbury 1985 Reunion

Seated:  Beryl Beattie and Jim Gilmour

 

Singapore 1992 Rear L - R ---, Tom Hampton, Wally Lynn, Les Kemp, Norm Ablett, Wally Lynn, Jack Kyrios, Ted Elliot. Front L - R, Jim Gilmour, John Gilmour, ---, Ron Badock, Jim Elliot.
Singapore 1992

Rear L – R Syd Harper (Perth), Tom Hampton, Reg Miller, Les Kemp, Norm Ablett, Wally Lynn, Jack Kyrios, Ted Elliott.
Front L – R, Jim Gilmour, John Gilmour, Ken Tucker,  Ron Badock, Jim Elliot.

Listen to an oral history interview of Jim recorded in Singapore April 2000.
Listen to an oral history interview of Jim, Owen Morris and Jim Copeland recorded in Singapore February 2001.

 

Gilmour James

 

Jim’s brother John writes to  ‘J’ Force’s newsletter ‘Benjo Kobe House’ June 2003 – advising of his brother Jim’s death.  As young men the two brothers were extremely close.  John risked all to take food to Jim in Singapore when he was sick.

 

 

Jim passed away aged 81yrs, February 25 2003, at Myaree, WA.

Camp Locations:

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  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Sime Road Camp - Singapore
  • Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
  • Kanu 1 151.00k - Thailand
  • Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
  • Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
  • Tarsau, Tha Sao 125k - Thailand
  • Tardan - Thailand
  • Kachau Mountain Camp - Thailand
  • Konkoita (Brigade or Cholera Camp) - Thailand
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