The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Giles
- First Name:
- Francis Leslie
- Nick Name:
- Les or Frank
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX8788
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 23.10.1940
- Discharged:
- 15.02.1946
- DOB:
- 20.03.1908
- Place of Birth:
- Fremantle, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Albert Edward Giles
- Mothers's Name:
- Lilly Giles (nee Davies)
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Locomotive Fireman
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kinsaiyok, Brankassi, Kuii, Hindaine, Nakom Nayok
- POW#:
- 4/6159
- Return Details 1945:
- Thailand-Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Melbourne by aircraft; Melbourne-Perth by troop train
General Description
Having spent 12 months or more in Singapore as POW of Japan, Les was selected with ‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.
Read further about this Force. Les was one of the fortunate to survive with V Battalion, and was recovered from Nakom Nayok when the war ended.
Whilst a POW in Singapore, Les was a member of the Bufaloe Lodge, Changi.
Both parents Albert Edward Giles and Lilly Davies were born in South Australia, they however married at Broken Hill, NSW 1890. They had a large family of about 13 children, the eldest being William born 1891. They had several children before moving to the goldfields of Western Australia, where the remaining children were born.
Three sons enlisted with WW1 –
William joined 16th Battalion, embarking for Gallipoli 22/12/1914. Born in 1891, William finally returned to Australia in 1919 having suffered several GSW’s – one to his foot, another to his hand and the third was to his leg. He also had several hospital visits with sickness.
Edward (known as ‘Edie’) enlisted with 28th Battalion and was KIA Pozieres 28 July 1916 – Aged 16 years. He was born in 1900.
Nathaniel (known as ‘Nat’) was born 1893. He joined 11th Battalion and returned home to Australia.
Above: Interesting is the fact that ‘Francis L Giles’ in 1927 was included in compulsory military training (28th Battalion) – this Government program which began about 1909, was finally disbanded in 1929.
His father Albert died at Queens Park in 1934 and his mother Lilly in 1945.
Les Giles enlisted October 1940 aged 32 years. He was a loco driver with WAGR and been employed at Toodyay, Cue, Leonora and Norseman. He married in 1930 to Dorothy ‘Maisie’ Hostler. They divorced in 1947. Les remarried Florence Louisa Clements in 1949.
Les and Florence resided in Mt. Hawthorn from 1950s through to his retirement in 1977. It is believed Les retired due to ill-health.
He died 26 April 1983 aged 75 years at Mt Hawthorn and was cremated at Karrakatta. Florence died in 1996.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Hindaine, Kui Mang 200k - Thailand
- Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
- Kuii, Kui Yae, 185.6k - Thailand
- Nakom Nayok, Nakhon Nayok - Thailand
