The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Castles
First Name:
Wilfred Thomas
Nick Name:
Billy
Rank:
Corporal (Promoted 11.2.1942)
Regimental #:
WX8792
Classification:
Scout
Company:
'B' Company, No. 8 Platoon.
Enlisted:
23.10.1940
Discharged:
17.12.1945
DOB:
26.04.1917
Place of Birth:
Subiaco, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Albert Thomas Castles
Mothers's Name:
Elizabeth Castles (nee Kennefick)
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Miner
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battation
Camps Thailand:
Tamarkan, Kanchanaburi, Hindato, Chungkai, Ratburi, Petchaburi, Bangkok, Nakom Nayok (see Danny Bevis Diary)
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Kendau 4.8km, Thetkaw 14km, Meiloe 75km, Aungganaung 105k, Evacuated to Khonkan 55km Hospital Camp on 5.7.1943
POW#:
1531
Return Details 1945:
Bangkok-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Morotai-Sydney-Perth by aircraft.

General Description

Bill Castles & Eric Fraser at 2nd4th reunion

Bill and Eric Fraser at a 2/4th reunion

Cowie, Castles, McGhee – 1985 Bunbury Re-union

Above:  19 May 1991 – Bill Castles loses his home at Savoy Hotel.  (from Beattie Collection)

 

Bill’s parents Albert Thomas Castles and Elizabeth Kennefick married in 1915 Dubbo, NSW.  Elizabeth died in 1923 at Queens Park, WA.  Albert died in 1962.

 

 

In 1949 Bill was living and working at Kalgoorlie as a miner.  He soon moved to Perth and gained work as a hospital orderly at Hollywood Hospital.

 

 

 

 

Bill Castle’s sporting achievement in cycling – a very popular choice by so many of that time.

 

 

Read further about Bill’s POW life.

 

 

Military records

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below:  Following was published in July 1992 ‘Borehole’ and written by Vern Roach from NSW who was in ‘A’ Force Burma with the men mentioned – Stan Lance, Tom Pilmoor, Bill Carlyon, etc.
Borehole July 1992

 

 

Vale W.T. (Bill) Castles
On Christmas Day 1991, our long standing Committeeman Bill Castles passed away.
With Bill’s passing a long association with ex-members of our Battalion and all Jap POWs ended and the Hay Street Office closed.
Bill had a long association with the ‘Borehole Bulletin’ in the early years of publication he wrote about different members he met in various places around the state and in the Eastern states. He was employed at Hollywood Hospital and never missed called on battalion members. When he retired he still visited Hollywood and reported progress on the different men who were admitted. Bill used to make a country run every now and again and call on all the various members in all the towns he could.
Each year with a couple of mates, he would travel to Tasmania to the 2/40th Btn. Reunion and bring back a lot of news from the Apple Isle.
All interstate and country ex Japanese POWs were able to get information from Bill in the Hay Street Mall, our Perth ‘Office’. Bill was a mind of information on members, what they were doing and where they could be found.   He will be sadly missed.
There was a large contingent of 2/4th and other POWs at his funeral in January (1992).
Rest In Peace – Bill
(included in Borehole Bulletin April 1992)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
  • Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
  • Nakom Nayok, Nakhon Nayok - Thailand
  • Petchaburi - Thailand
  • Ratburi, Ratchaburi- Thailand
  • Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
  • Aungganaung,105Kilo - Burma
  • Kendau, Kandaw, 4 Kilo - Burma
  • Khonkan, 55Kilo Hospital 360k - Burma
  • Meilo, 75 Kilo, 340k - Burma
  • Victoria Point, Kawthoung - Burma. \'A\' Force, Green Force No. 3 Btn
  • Thetkaw 14 Kilo - Burma
Back