The Soldier's Details

White was member of ‘B’ Coy, 7 Platoon.   He was  listed as missing from 10/2/1942 during the fighting.   He met up with ‘A’ Company and fought with them until the surrender on 15/2/1942.

As a POW in Singapore, Arthur was selected to work on the Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway.  3,000 POWs with ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion departed Singapore May 1942 sailing to south west coast of Burma on three ships for Victoria Point, Tavoy and Ye.

Green Force No. 3 Battalion included a very large number of 2/4th men.  They stopped off at Victoria Point on 21 May where their main task was repairs and enlarging the aerodrome.  They remained here until mid September 1942 when A Force began its journey to northern most point of Burma-Thai Railway.

Green Force No. 3 started work on the railway on 1 October 1942 at Kendau 4.8 km Camp.

Please read further about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.

When the rail link was completed the Japanese began bringing all POWs working in Burma south to Thailand.  Many of those too sick to travel remained in Burma with medical staff where they would never recover.

Arthur arrived Tamarkan and quite probably sent to Chungkai Hospital Camp.

During 1944 the Japanese selected fit men to work in Japan.  As Arthur was not included we assume he was sick.  He was later sent on work parties to Petchaburi and Kachu Mountain Camp from where he was recovered at the end of the war.

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Arthur’s parents Jeremiah White was born England (Jeremiah arrived 1911 on ‘Armadale aged 28 years ) and married 1914 Beverley to Amy Alice Louisa Price born SA.  Arthur was the eldest of 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls.

Jeremiah White died 1981 Bassendean and Amy died 1971 at Busselton.

Up until the time he enlisted Arthur appeared to be working and living in Katanning with his parents.  His father was Police Sgt.

Returning from war Arthur returned to Katanning.  In 1948 he married Doreen Maude Holly.  They remained living in Katanning for several years.  Arthur was employed as a bus driver.  In the 1970s they moved to Busselton.

Doreen’s parents William Lloyd Holly and Matilda Mary Norrish m. 1903 at Broomehill.  Doreen was the youngest of nine children  born Kataning 1921.  Her mother died in 1945 and her father died 1946 Katanning.

They are believed to have had one son.  Doreen died in Busselton in 2014.

Arthur passed away aged 86yrs of age, June 28 2002, at Busselton, WA.

Below:  Marriage of Doreen’s parents William Holly and Matilda Mary Norish in 1903.

Below: Doreen’s father William Holly died June 1945.