The Soldier's Details

MacMaster played the bag pipes.  When asked to play he would usually reply with his Scottish accent “Fook the pipes”.  (Information relayed to Cheryl Mellor with a twinkle in his eyes, and a smile by Veteran Ron Badock, formerly Coolgardie and 2/4th)

I had no comprehension how committed MacMaster was with his bagpipes, until I came across this photo!  He was a professional.

Son of John Cameron MacMaster and Catherine Bain. Hector emigrated to Australia in the 1930’s where he married Mary Beatrice Menagh. He enlisted in the 2/4 A I F Machine Gun Battalion and was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore in 1942. He was imprisoned in Changi and worked on the Death Railway, dying of Beri-Beri on July 25 1943 in Tarsau. He is buried in Kanchanaburi Cemetery.

MacMaster is Pipe Sgt. Middle Row Left side.

 

 

He had managed to chop off one of his big toes whilst timber cutting.

 

 

Hector enlisted AIF 11 Dec 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Coy No. 8 Platoon.

While in Singapore he was selected with ‘D’ Force S Battalion to work on  Burma-Thai Railway.  He departed by train from Singapore Station on 14 March 1943.  On 25 July 1943, MacMaster was evacuated from Konyu II Camp and
died of beri-beri at Tarsau Camp,Thailand.  He was 37 years old.

Read further about ‘D’ Force S Battalion 

‘WX5211 Pte Stan Currie confirmed he was with the burial party near Tarsau during Sep 1943. The following died:

WX11580 A/Cpl Don McGlinn 16 Jul 43 avitaminosis

WX8777 Sgt J. Sanderson 19 Jul 43 avitaminosis

WX15690 Pte J M Carr 23 Jul 43 malaria

WX8689 Lt/Cpl MacMaster 25 Jul 43 beri beri

WX13553 Pte S Spouse 13 Oct 43 tropical tumour’

 

Today he rests at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery with 91 mates from the 2/4th.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.

 

 

The above plaque is found at the Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital with a small number of memorial plaques honouring those killed in WW2 from the region.

 

 

Hector was born in Leslie, Scotland to parents John MacMaster and Catherine Bain.  He was one of a large family 7 sons and one daughter.     Hector came to West Australia departing Southampton, England on ‘Moreton Bay’ on 23 December 1929 aged 22 years.  He recorded his occupation as labourer and home address as Cheyton Cottage, Leslie, Scotland.

 

“The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950) Saturday 18 January 1930 p 8 Article

NEW SETTLERS

The officer in charge of immigration advises that the following is the list of new settlers due to arrive at Fremantle by the s.s. Moreton Bay on or about January 21: —Nominated: Cawsey, Miss Ruby E.; Craigie, David; D’Arcy, Bert, wife and child; Drust, Geo. E.; Drust, Clarence G.; Macmaster, Hector C. S.; Mason, Alfred W. B.; Prince, Miss Ellen L.; Taylor, James; White, Mrs. Rebecca. Selected Civilians: Gibson, James S.; Hannaford, Reginald O. Farmers requiring farm workers or married couples for both branches of work — domestic and farm — should apply at once to the officer in charge of immigration, 306-308 Murray-street, Perth, or the general secretary, New Settlers’ League, St. George’s-terrace, Perth.”

 

It appears from records, Hector returned to Scotland, because in 1935 he was recorded arriving in Fremantle from England on ‘Moolah’, his home address again being Cheyton Cottage, Leslie, Scotland.

MacMaster’s older brother Donald Bain MacMaster also moved to WA from Scotland (date unknown) he married in 1935 at East Murchison to Violet Jenkin.  Donald  MacMaster was residing and working as a miner in Wiluna when he enlisted in 1942 at the age of 45 years 11months!  Donald born 30 April 1896 served WW1 in France with 2nd Battalion, Argyle Sutherland Highlanders.  He would have been very young.

Donald MacMaster died in 1986.

 

 

Above this is the Militia Platoon he was with for 4 years in Scotland.

In the last electoral roll prior to his enlistment Hector MacMaster was residing in Kalgoorlie and working as a miner.

About 1941 he married Mary Beatrice (Molly) Menagh at East Coolgardie.

Mary was born in 1913, Subiaco.

Mary MacMaster’s address was West Brunswick and Subiaco on  MacMaster’s enlistment details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It appears Mary MacMaster did not remarry.  She was recorded in Electoral Rolls 1949 through to 1980 living in various addresses at Subiaco, Yokine and Claremont with her occupation as home duties.  It is quite possible she had employment as a house keeper throughout this time.

We are unable to confirm her death details.