The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Dickson
- First Name:
- Andrew Alfred
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX9310
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 30.10.1940
- Discharged:
- 9.09.1949
- DOB:
- 14.08.1918
- Place of Birth:
- Wyalkatchem, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Alexander Dickson
- Mothers's Name:
- Not Known
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Java:
- ‘Blackforce’
- Force:
- ‘ A’ Force Burma, Java Party No. 4 Williams Force
- Camps Thailand:
- Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Bangkok, Petchaburi, Kachu Mountain Camp
- Camps Burma:
- Kum Knit Kway, Reptu, Thanbyuzayat, Tanyin 35km, Anakwin 45km, Taunzan 57km, Mezali 72km, Apalon 77km, Kyondaw 108km
- POW#:
- 4640
- Return Details 1945:
- Kachu Mountain Camp-Singapore by aircraft, Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Highland Brigade
General Description
Private Dickson was one of the nearly 100 men from 2/4th who went AWOL from the ‘Aquitania’ when anchored off Fremantle for the night of 15th January 1942. The men were unable to board before the ship departed for Singapore.
He joined ‘Blackforce’ which was part of the Allied Forces in Java, and was soon taken POW there.
He was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force Java Party No. Williams Force.
Please read further about this Force.
Following completion of the railway the Japanese brought all the POWs from Burma to Thailand to one of the main four Camps. Andrew Dickson was sent to Kanchanaburi.
From here he was selected with a work party to go to Petchaburi and Kachu Mountain Camp. It was from here, he was recovered at the end of the war.
Camp Locations:
- Chumphon - Thailand
- Kanchanaburi, 50k - Thailand
- Petchaburi - Thailand
- Apalon, Apalaine, 80 Kilo, 337k - Burma
- Kun Knit Kway, Kunhnitkway, 26Kilo - Burma
- Reptu, Retphaw, 30Kilo 385k - Burma
- Taungzun, 60 Kilo, 358k - Burma
- Thanbyuzayat, 415k - Burma
- Kachau Mountain Camp - Thailand
- Bangkok - Thailand
- Tanyin 35 Kilo Camp - Burma
- Anakwin 45 Kilo Camp - Burma
- Mezali 70km Camp - Burma
- Kyondaw 95 Kilo Camp – Burma
