The Soldier's Details

Guy Biggs died of Cardiac Beri-Beri, Dysentery and Tropical Ulcers at Khonkan 55km Camp.  Read further. Guy was one of a  number of 2/4th men with Green Force who died of illness at this ‘hospital’ camp and whose body was later interred and buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Burma.

 

Above:  Thanbyuzyat Commonwealth War Cemetery, Myanmar, (formerly Burma)

 

He was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway from Singapore with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.

Please read further.

We cannot be absolutely certain which Camps Guy worked at.  We know the Railway line was completed in October 1943 and that Khonkan 55km was established as a ‘hospital’ camp in July 1943.

 

Guy Biggs arrived in Fremantle on 6 February 1924 aged 19 years on  ‘Jervois Bay’ from London.  His occupation is recorded as farming.  It is not known where Guy worked between his arrival in 1924 until he was recorded in WA Electoral Rolls in 1936 –  miner Wiluna, 1937 miner at Wiluna and up until he enlisted in October 1944 miner, adddress Club Hotel, Wiluna.

In the 1930s Wiluna was a thriving mining town with a population of around 9,000 people.

• At the height of its prosperity before WW2, Wiluna boasted a regular railway service to Perth, four hotels and a wide range of businesses and services, including a hospital and 4 or 5 doctors.

Wiluna is located 1,127 km north-east of Perth via Kalgoorlie and 1,047 km via Mount Magnet and Sandstone. It is 183 km east of Meekatharra and 518 m above sea level.  It is remote.

Guy gave his occupation on his enlistment records as truck driver, and when he joined 2/4th he became a driver with ‘B’ Company Headquarters.

 

The above plaque is in the Town Hall, Market Street, Abergavenny, Wales.

The below details for Guy Biggs are found with online Abergavveny Memorial information.

 

Below:  War Memorial Abergavenny

Guy’s parents married in 1901.  He was the second child and first son with two further brothers Stanley and Ralph.  His older sister Doris was born in 1902.

His father was a farmer.  According to 1911 Census, there were two men working on the farm and one or two servants in the house.

His mother Miriam died in 1933.  Guy’s father Percy Biggs died 26 Feb 1959.

Guy’s medals were posted to his father Percy on 1 July 1953 to ‘Eastview, Cross Keys, Hereford, England.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below:  Guy was mentioned during a mining death inquest at Wiluna Gold Mine 1933.

 

 

Below:  1935 Guy is mentioned in Wiluna Miner’s Social column as having returned from a trip to Perth.

 

 

Below:  A day in Wiluna.

 

 

Below:  Jan 39 Temperatures in Wiluna