The Soldier's Details

Prior to enlisting with the AIF Arthur had been with the 25th Light Horse Regiment.

WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX12663 Private Arthur Ernest Floyed, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW’s who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW’s were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Private Floyed, aged 26, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 12 March 1945. He was the son of John Bertram and Ada Clara Floyed, of Narrogin, WA. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 18. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)

Please read about ‘E’ Force Borneo.

FLOYED, Private, ARTHUR ERNEST, WX12663, A.I.F. 2/4 M.G. Bn., Australian Infantry. 12 March 1945. Age 26. Son of John Bertram and Ada Clara Floyed, of Narrogin, Western Australia. Panel 18.

Labuan Memorial, Malaysia.

Artie was good mates with George Chatfield, Mick Hummerston and Stew Baxter.

Above notice by WX12488 Clay, WX9146 Lush and WX17879 Wade from 2/4th.

Floyed enlisted AIF 9 May 1941 later as a reinforcement joining ‘C’ Company HQ under Commanding Officer Capt Colin Cameron. The reinforcements joined 2/4th after boarding ‘Aquitania’ 15 Jan 1942.

Arthur left Singapore with ‘E’ Force Borneo on 2 Mar 1943, 8 months after ‘B’ Force Borneo.