The Soldier's Details

Surname:
McGhee
First Name:
Alfred Joseph
Nick Name:
Tubby
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX9145
Company:
'A' Company, No. 5 Platoon.
Enlisted:
30.10.1940
Discharged:
18.04.1946
DOB:
1.10.1906
Place of Birth:
Boulder, Western Australia
Father's Name:
William James McGhee
Mothers's Name:
Isabella Jane McGhee
Religion:
Church of England
Pre-war Occupation:
After War: Lift Operator at Boans Pty Ltd
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Tamarkan, Bangkok, Nacompaton
Camps Burma:
Victoria Point, Kendau, Thetkaw, Meiloe, Aungganaung 105km, Khonkan 55km (July-October 1943, Evacuated with tropical ulcers on 6.11.1943)
POW#:
1494
Return Details 1945:
Thailand-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Tamaroa.

General Description

Murray L Raynor L Hughes R McDonald C McGhee A, Noalunga Beach SA
Murray L,  Raynor L,  Hughes R,  McDonald C, McGhee A, Noalunga Beach SA

 

 

McGhee evacuated to 2/9th Field Ambulance suffering from exhaustion. Transferred to 2/13th Australian General Hospital at Roberts Barracks Changi on 10/3/1942.
McGhee was selected with the first work party to leave Singapore – ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion – (Green Force included a very large number of 2/4th men as did ‘D’ Force S Battalion).  Made up of 3,000 POWs, ‘A’ Force sailed for south west Burma coast in May 1942 where Green Force would first work on repairing and enlarging the aerodrome at Victoria Point. They remained working here for several months before making their way to the northern most point of Burma-Thai Railway and began work 1 October 1942 at Kendau 4.8km.
They would remain working on the rail link until December 1943 after which the Japanese moved all the POWs in Burma, south to one of the larger camps in Thailand.
Read further about A Force Burma, Green Force
McGhee was evacuated to Khonkan 55km Camp Hospital on 6 November 1943 from Angganaung 105km Camp with tropical ulcers.     His leg was amputated on 4 January 1944 at Khonkan Hospital Camp. He was evacuated to Tamarkan Camp in Thailand on on 27 April 1944.
He was sent to Bangkok on 26 April 1944, and onto Nacompaton Hospital Camp from where he was recovered on 24 August 1945 at the end of the war.
Please read further about Khonkan Hospital Camp

 

McGhee, Bamford

 

Alfred married to Phyllis Maude McBrearty prior to his departure with 2/4th.  They divorced in 1949.
After the war McGhee found work as a lift operator at Boans Department Store.  His mates from 2/4th would make an effort to visit him during working hours, often taking their children as riding in a lift was rather wondrous and special during the 1950’s and 1960s.

 

McGhee’s parents William James McGhee (born SA 1872) and Isabella Jane Leng (Born Victoria)  married Kalgoorlie about 1901.  Alfred was their 4th son. There were also three daughters – all were born Boulder or Kalgoorlie.
By the 1930’s William and Isabella were residing in Shenton Street, Claremont.  In 1936 Alfred was living with them along with several sisters.
William James McGhee died in 1958 and Isabella died in 1973.
In 1963 the Electoral Roll shows Alfred residing with his mother at Glendalough,
In 1980 Alfred was residing in Adelaide Terrace, East Perth.  He was retired.
Cowie, Castles, McGhee – 1985 Bunbury Re-union

 

Please read this 1953 story of life on the line.

Tubby McGhee died on 19 November 1989 aged 83 years.

Camp Locations:

  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - 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
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