The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Riebe
First Name:
Robert Ronald
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX8952
Classification:
Despatch Rider
Company:
‘D’ Company, 13 Platoon
Enlisted:
25.10.1940
Discharged:
24.01.1946
DOB:
10.05.1920
Place of Birth:
Bayswater, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Charles Joseph Riebe
Mothers's Name:
Wilhelmina Riebe (nee Reynolds)
Religion:
Methodist
Pre-war Occupation:
Clerk
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi; Johore Bahru; Adam Park; Selarang Barracks Changi
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Kanu II, Chungkai, Non Pladuk, Sonkurai‐Nikhe Defence Line
POW#:
4 6546 and 8837
Return Details 1945:
Thailand-Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Highland Brigade

General Description

Reibe enlisted AIF Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘D’ Coy 13 Platoon as a Despatch Rider to CO Lt Wankey.

Reibe played in 2/4th’s Football team at Northam.

Please read about ‘D’ Coy 13 Platoon.
Undermanned along the north-west coast of ‘D’ Coy was quickly overrun by the invading Japanese.
As a POW Singapore Reibe was sent to Johore Bahru and Adam Park before returning to Selarang.  He was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway withD’ Force Thailand S Battalion.
Reibe was sent to Tarsau, Kanu II in the Hellfire Pass region then to Chungkai Hospital Camp and Non Pladuk before leaving on a work party to Sonkurai-Neikhe Defence Line, from where he was recovered at the end of the war.
REIBE served with the BCOF in Japan.  His Regt. No. was WX501060.  He was discharged on 9th March, 1949.

 

Reibe’s parents Charles Joseph Reibe and Wilhemena Reynolds married 1915, Perth.  We believe they had a family of five children.  Robert Reibe was their fifth child.
RIEBE-REYNOLDS On March 15, by the Rev. S. H. Cox, Charles Joseph, youngest Son of Mr and Mrs Riebe, of Queen St, Adelaide, to Whellmina, youngest daughter of the late William Alfred Reynolds, of Highett, Vic, and Mrs. Reynolds, The Strand, Bayswater, WA
Robe’s older brother Charles Frederick b. 1916 also enlisted Geraldton, WX25195.
In 1949 Electoral Roll, the two brothers Robert and Charles are residing with their parents Wisbech Street, Bayswater, Charles working as a caretake and Robert as a clerk.
Reibe married 1953 Geraldton to Phyllis E Jupp.  Phyllis died 2007.

 

In 1963 Electoral Roll Phyllis and Robert Reibe were residing 20 George Street, Belmont, he was Labourer.
In 1969 Robert and Phyllis are at Narrogin, Robert Proprietor York Hotel, Narrogin.
In 1977 Phyllis is working as a barmaid and Robert Bar Manager and living Belmont with two of their sons,.
His father died 1969 at Kojonup and his mother died Bayswater1966..

 

 

 

 

Bob Reibe passed away in 1991 aged 70 years.

Camp Locations:

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  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
  • Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
  • Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
  • Songkurai 294k - Thailand
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