The Soldier's Details

Read about the men enlisting from Northampton area.

Ted enlisted AIF 27 Aug 1941.  As a reinforcement, Ted joined the 2/4th MGB on ‘Aquitania’ 16th February 1942 before it sailed for Singapore.  He was promoted to Lance
Corporal on 7 Feb 1942 – the day prior to the fighting and invasion of Japan at Singapore

Please read further about ‘E’ Coy Special Reserve Battalion.

Ted was selected in Singapore to work on the Burma end of the Railway with all of the other Northampton boys. Please read further about ‘A’ Force Green Force No. 3 Battalion.  

We cannot be precise about which Camps Ted worked on the railway, however those recorded below are the main camps where Green Force worked.

When the railway was completed the Japanese moved the POW workforce in Burma  south to one of several main camps or hospitals.  Ted was sent to Tamarkan.  From Tamarkan the Northampton boys were split up into various parties.   Ted was sent on a work party to Banderra to work at Chao Puraya River where POWs were to repair the bridge damaged by allied bombing.

Marched into Bangkok area from Banderra 4th September 1945. Emplaned to Singapore 12th October 1945.

 

 

We know the PoWs in Burma were sent to Thailand by end of 1943 and the selection of those going to work in Japan was not until about March 1944 – Jimmie Randall lost his life when ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sank in Sept 1944 as did Davey Cripps from Northampton.  Ron is Ron Simkin and Bill could be Bill Carlyon and Bill McEwen.

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Ted was one of six sons and one daughter born to parents Robert Charles Cornell and Mary Edith Atkinson who married 1931 at Northampton.

 

Robert Cornell was born Dubbo 1866.  He first married about 1887 Sydney,  NSW to Martha Elizabeth Puglsley (nee Rollfe)  a widow with 7 children.  Martha Cornell died in 1924 in NSW.

Mary Edith Cornell (nee Atkinson) named her son Edward Ainsley after her mother’s maiden name, Ellen Ainsley who died in England 1902.

We are not sure when the Cornell family settled on their property at Ajana.

On 18 Nov 1943 the Cornell family were advised their son Ted who had been previously reported Missing, was now a POW.

In May 1949 Ted’s father Robert Cornell killed himself – a great shock to the Cornell family, Ajana. Robert Cornell had suffered ill-health.

 

 

Below:  Oct 1950 Ted announces his engagement to his future wife Audrey.

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In 1953 Ted’s mother Mary Edith Cornell  died at Geraldton.  Mary was 70 years of age.  Mary was buried at Northampton with husband Robert.

 

 

Audrey and Ted had a family three sons and one daughter.

 

 

Ted Cornell died 24th September 1981 at Kalbarri aged 68 years and Audrey died in 1984 aged 64 years.    They were both buried at Northampton Cemetery.

 

Below:  Re Carlyon.