The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Howson
- First Name:
- William Robert
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX 16981
- Company:
- Headquarters Company
- Enlisted:
- 13.10.1941
- Discharged:
- 28.02.1946
- DOB:
- 6.08.1911
- Place of Birth:
- Midland Junction, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Robert William Howson
- Mothers's Name:
- Jane Howson
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Boilermaker’s Assistant
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi; Returned from Thailand to - Sime Road Camp; Kranji Hospital Woodlands; X10 Party; Changi Gaol Camp
- Force:
- 'F' Force Thailand
- Camps Thailand:
- Tanbaya (Burma), Kanchanaburi
- POW#:
- 1/8100 and 3/8192
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Darwin‐Sydney, HMT Arawa; Sydney-Melbourne by troop train; Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore
General Description
Howson enlisted 13 October 1941. He was a reinforcement and was Taken on Strength to 2/4th 27/12/1941.
From Selarang, Singapore Howson was selected with ‘F’ Force to work on Burma-Thai Railway.
Amongst other work Camps he was recorded at Tanbaya Hospital (Burma) and Kanchanaburi before returning to Singapore, Sime Road, then Kranji (Woodlands) Hospital. He was returned to Changi Gaol Camp in May 1945 and with X10 Party working on tunnels.
William Howson was recovered from Changi 4th September 1945.
He had married Sylvia Rennie in 1936 and lived in Subiaco. Following the end of the war they resided in Wembley. William worked as an orderly.
William Howson died 1st March 1959 aged 47 years.
