The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Rainbow
- First Name:
- Vernett Winston
- Nick Name:
- Frosty
- Rank:
- Pte
- Regimental #:
- WX10756
- Company:
- C Coy 2/3rd MGB
- Enlisted:
- 15.01.1941
- DOB:
- 28.02.1916
- Place of Birth:
- Mt Barker WA
- Father's Name:
- Rainbird, Charles Henry
- Mothers's Name:
- Rainbird , Catherine Elizabeth (nee O'Neill)
- Religion:
- C of E
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farm Hand
- POW#:
- 6772, 38000 Thailand
- Cause of Death:
- Cholera
- Place of Death:
- Hintock, Thailand
- Date of Death:
- 20.07.1943
- Buried:
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Row R, Plot I, in one of graves 2-78.
General Description
Review WX10756 Vernett Rainbird‘s military records held at NAA.
Rainbird was captured by the Japanese in Java about 8 March 1942. The Dutch East Indies capitulated to the Japanese without any consultation with the Australians, who were no too pleased about this decision.
The Australians were mostly kept in one of several POW Camps in Batavia before being taken on ships to Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.
It was whilst working at a camp known as Kinsayok that cholera broke out. A large number of POWs died of this terrible illness. As time went on the POW doctors were able to create a means of treating the men but there was no medicine at all. Rainbird was 27 years old when he died.
Above: Kinsaiyok POW Cemetery records include Rainbird who died of cholera on 21 July 1943. On this page alone there were 14 cholera deaths between 29 June to 21 July 1943.
Withnell, Todd, Jenkins and Holland died about the same of cholera. Dawe, Watson and Robinson died of dysentery at that time.
Frosty’s older brother was discharged from AIF on medical grounds Jan 1944. On 1 Dec 1942 Alan Adair Rainbird WX5602 received GSW to right side of face and neck. He had enlisted June 1940, joining 2/16th Battalion, 7th Div.
Below: Message from George Lilford to his family mentions Frosty Rainbird and Alf Platt.
Alan Rainbird embarked 25 Oct 1940 Fremantle, and disembarked in Middle East. 29 Jan 1942 he embarked at Suez and disembarked 4MD on 25 Mar 1942. He embarked Brisbane and disembarked Port Moresby Aug 1942.
Evacuated to 2/9th AGH. He rejoined his unit 20 October 1942 upon discharge from hospital. WIA 1 December 1942 and evacuated to Hospital suffering Gun Shot Wounds to face and neck. Transported to Hospital Ship 23 Jan 1943. He disembarked the Hospital Ship in Sydney, and transferred to 113 AGH.
Above: Kit Rainbird.
Vernett was the second born child to parents Charles Henry
Rainbird of Albany and Katherine Elizabeth O’Neill of Mt Barker who married 1911. Their first born son Allan Adair Rainbird was born 1914.
Allan Rainbird also enlisted WW2 his service No. WX5602. He died 2 Jun 1977 and was buried Mt. Barker.
Charles Rainbird died Albany 7 Sep 1954 aged 71 years. Katherine known as Kit died 27 July 1983 aged 97 years.
It is believed Charles Rainbird lived most of his life in Albany where he died in 1954. Kit Rainbird, alone, raised he two sons in Mt Barker.
Below: In 1948, Charles Rainbird is severly injured during a kanagaroo hunt.
Below: Believed to be Frosty Rainbird
