The Soldier's Details

Annear was reported missing from Singapore on 10/2/1942.

Having successfully escaped Singapore, Win Annear was captured at Padang, Sumatra on 9/5/1942.

Read of his escape to Sumatra.

Annear was at Gloe Gloer Camp, (Medan), Harukiku Maru, SS Van Waerwjick Party (rescued.) Annear was one of several 2/4th men who survived this sinking after being torpedoed, however 167 POWs drowned.

Read about the sinking of Harukiki Maru.

Sumatra: Pakan Baroe-Moearo Railway.

Read about Annear’s evacuation from Sumatra at the end of war.

Whilst Win Annear’s escape was successful, his younger brother (by 2 years) Dudley Annear WX13457 who was also in ‘D’ Coy, died of wounds received on 14 February 1942 at Jahore Straits, Singapore during an attempted escape to freedom.   Dudley was with Albert Bell and Roy Semple.  All three were in ‘D’ Coy, No. 15 Platoon. Bell died and Roy Semple was the only one to survive and escape to Sumatra.

Win Annear did not mention Dudley’s name when later recalling his escape and for this reason it is believed the two brothers were not together.

Richard Winston Annear better known as ‘Win’  WX13468 escaped from Singapore some time after Monday 16 February 1942 when Singapore was firmly under Japanese control.

Win who was in the company of two other 2/4^th men, could see no rational reason why they should surrender and suggested they make a break for Sumatra.

Remember these men had been fighting for their lives for 8 or more days. They had been fired upon by Japanese mortars for hours and hours,  the fighting had been had at times desperate, there had been great loss of life and in some areas, loss of leadership. The two men accompanying Annear made the decision they were utterly exhausted and hungry. They decided to return to Singapore and give themselves up.

Annear decided to go alone.

“I had $40 on me so I paid a native one dollar to row me to the next island where I picked up some other chaps.

From here we set off towards Sumatra and after many trials and foodless days we arrived at Sumatra, at a town called Rengat. There we met up (unfortunately) with an organised evacuation party which only slowed our travel. We eventually made the other coast of Sumatra, tired and hungry at a place called Padang, but by the time of our arrival we were two days too late and the last boat had already gone and the next one was sunk coming in. We were lucky that we missed these boats as very few of them got through the Japanese net.

Just before the Japs took Padang six of us decided to head south. All the Padang chaps were taken prisoner on 17 March. We, after much walking made a tea plantation and from there we took to the jungle where we stayed for two months eating weeds or rice, brown beans and trapping our own deer, the longest we went without meat was three days.

Eventually the natives gave us away ”         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1948 ‘Win’ Annear married widow Annie ‘Nance’ Wootten (nee Brackelmann) sister of Franz Brackelmann WX8796 of 2/4th. Annear and Brackelmann were in ‘D’ Coy and the families had grown up in Kalgoorlie.

Annie’s husband Arnold Horace Wootten died in Victoria in 1945.

Annie and Franz’s parents although originally from Victoria, were living in Kalgoorlie where their children were born.  Peter Nicholas Brackelmann employed as an engineer, died at Kalgoorlie in 1910.

Following their marriage, Annie and Win Annear remained living in Kalgoorlie for a few years before moving to Perth.

Win Annear died 1 February 1990 at Nedlands aged 82 years.  His wife Annie ‘Nance’ is believed to have lived until her late 90’s.

The Annear Family

Win and his younger brother Dudley were born in Kalgoorlie to John Henry Annear and Ada Eva Frances Anne Chapple.  Prior to enlisting into AIF and the 1931 Electoral Roll, both boys were living with their mother at 61 Campbell Street, Kalgoorlie.  Dudley recorded as being  a clerk, Win was a commercial traveller.  Also sister Fay, teacher was residing at family home.

 

Below;  Annear would have been about 11 years of age.

 

 

 

Below:  Annear’s father John Henry died 1950.

 

Win passed away on 1st February 1990.