The Soldier's Details

Simmonds enlisted AIF Oct 1941.  He later joined ‘B” Coy 7 Platoon as a reinforcement.  The CO of this platoon was Lt. Pemrod Dean.

During May 1943 he departed Singapore Railway Station for the Thai-Burma Railway with D Force Thailand S Battalion.

Please read further about this Force.

 

Toona worked at Kanu 2 beginning  on 25 April 1943.  He moved to Kanu 1, then was evacuated to Tarsau where he would have been admitted as a hospital case.  Then to Chungkai Hospital and was recovered from Tamuang camp at the end of war.  Toona was lucky to avoid going to Japan to work.

He returned to WA on board HMT Circassia.

 

Both Collie boys.

Toona was residing with his parents Josiah & Hilda Simmonds at 99 Wittenoon Street, Collie where his father was a miner prior to  enlisting  AIF  8 Oct 1941 later became reinforcement with 2/4th’s ‘B’ Coy No, 7 Platoon under CO Lt Dean.  (this was certainly preferable than being with ‘E’ Coy – a whole Company of reinforcements.  At least Toona was with a Coy of well trained men.)

He left Singapore with ‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.  He was fortunate not to be selected to work in Japan and was recovered from Tamuang Camp, Thailand at the end of the war.

 

 

Please read about the Collie boys.

Toona was a former prominent Mines-Rover’s footballer.

After the war he resumed playing football.

 

 

He married Stella Spencer about 1948.

Returning to Collie he later became Colliery Deputy for some years prior to his retirement.

Toona passed away aged 83yrs, September 22 2002, at Collie, WA.

15 Oct 2002 Committee Meeting.  Mr J Gilmour spoke about Toona’s recent funeral, and thanked Wally Holding for his assistance in providing transport.

 

Below:  Ron & Vera Badock, Connie Smith, Rose & Alf Worth, Mary Kemp, Toona & Stella Simmonds. 2/4th 40 Anniversary 15 August 1985 Heritage on Charles.

 

40th Anniversary Heritage on Charles – 15 August 1985.