The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Swift
- First Name:
- John Cecil
- Rank:
- Sergeant
- Regimental #:
- WX12378
- Classification:
- Fitter
- Company:
- Attached to 2/4th, Australian Army Ordnance Corps
- Enlisted:
- 3.05.1941
- Discharged:
- 15.04.1946
- DOB:
- 23.04.1916
- Place of Birth:
- Perth, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Cecil Swift
- Mothers's Name:
- Hilda Rachel Urquhart Swift (nee Arnold)
- Religion:
- Methodist
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Motor Mechanic
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Johore Bahru, Adam Park, Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp), Selarang Barracks Changi.
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion.
- Camps Thailand:
- Kinsaiyok, Hindaine, Hindato, Nacompaton, Bangkok (go‐downs), Japanese Transport Camp with Wally Bow and Ron Manthorpe.
- POW#:
- 4/4596
- Return Details 1945:
- Bangkok‐Rangoon by aircraft, Rangoon-Singapore, HMT Highland Brigade,
General Description
Innes, Hinnrichsen and Bishop did not live to return to Australia.
The above was included ‘Daily News’ 12 Sep 1945 – the article wrote of numerous communications between freed POWs and their loved ones.
John Swift was recovered from Bangkok at the end of the war. We believe he was working at a Japanese truck depot with Bow and Manthorpe.
Note the article says John was in Rangoon (Burma) sometimes former POWs were able to get themselves onto flights other than to Singapore.
John and Joyce marry 1946.
John Swift died 3 May 1995. His wife Joyce died 2006 Booragoon.
His parents Cecil Swift and Hilda Rachel Arnold married 1915 in Perth. Cecil died in 1957 aged 70 years and Hilda died 1971 at Bentley aged 83 years. Cecil and Hilda were buried Karrakatta.
Cecil Swift migrated from Liverpool to Sydney in 1909 aged 23 years.
Below: death of Cecil’s grandparents and parents to Hilda (nee Arnold)
Joyce’s parents, Minnie Fletcher died in 1956 and Samuel Fletcher died in 1959.
Camp Locations:
- Adam Park Camp - Singapore
- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp) - Singapore
- Hindaine, Kui Mang 200k - Thailand
- Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
- Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - Thailand
