The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Marsh
First Name:
Robert Walter
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX17639
Company:
‘E’ Company, Special Reserve Battalion
Enlisted:
12.11.1941
DOB:
20.01.1923
Place of Birth:
Pinjarra, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Walter James Marsh
Mothers's Name:
Beatrice Kathleen Marsh (nee Munday)
Religion:
Methodist
Pre-war Occupation:
Labourer
Memorial:
Kranji War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row C, Grave 9, Age 18.
Cause of Death:
Died of Wounds
Place of Death:
A. G. H. Roberts Barracks Changi
Date of Death:
5.04.1942
Buried:
A.I.F. Cemetery Changi, Grave No. 19

General Description

Robert Walter Marsh
Robert Walter Marsh

 

Marsh was a 2/4th reinforcement and joined ‘E’ Company.
Please read about ‘E’ Company.
Soldier was wounded in a Japanese ambush at South-West Bukit Timah on 11.2.1942. He stayed out with Laurence Kearney, also from ‘E’ Company until captured by the Japanese on 7.3.1942  and we believe he with Kearney we taken to ‘Seamen’s Retreat’  ** in Singapore where there were civilians also hospitalised.
They were not seen by a doctor and Marsh became worse in a delirious state. Marsh was delivered  by Japanese to Australian General Hospital at Roberts Barracks Changi with gunshot wounds to his left hip and stomach, Robert Marsh died of wounds about 4 weeks later on 5.4.1942, it was 53 days since the ambush.
His Funeral Service was conducted by Padre F. Bashford from the 2/4th Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 6.4.1942.
Kearney wrote in his Casualty Statement to AMF –  Marsh and  Kearney were still free after capitulation on 15 February 1942 and were not picked up by Japanese until 7 March 1942 and taken to Singapore.
Kearney wrote ‘Marsh seemed to be doing ok but then was in a bad way, became delirious through lack of  (medical) attention with the Japanese (presuming they were imprisoned by Japanese and not with the POWs) and moved to the POW hospital at Changi. Kearney was informed on 22 March by Australian M.C. that there was no hope for Marsh.  Robert Marsh died on 5 April 1942.’  He was 18 years old and had enlisted underage.
Marsh had been given a blood transfusion at Changi and when they called back next day for further one, they were informed Marsh had died.
From A.D. Winter.’

Below:  AGH Roberts Barracks in damaged state after war.

EPSON MFP image
Robert Walter Marsh

 

 

Robert Marsh enlisted 12 November 1941 and as a reinforcement boarded the ‘Aquitania’ with 2/4th to sail to Singapore on 16th January 1942.   He recorded his birth year as 1919, but was in fact born 1923.  He had been in the AIF less than four months when he died of wounds 5 April 1942.

 

Walter James Marsh married Beatrice Kathleen Haub (nee Munday) at Pinjarra 1921.
Her first husband Otto Haub was murdered (shot) by his neighbour.

Robert’s mother Kathleen ‘Una’ Marsh (nee Munday)  was from a large farming family at Bungulla, near Tammin.
Son Robert George and Merle Marsh, farmed at Kalgarin.     He did not learn much of his father until he and his wife Merle Chatfield married.
Merle is in fact a niece of George Keith Chatfield WX11279 of 2/4th MGB,
Robert’s mother Beatrice Kathleen Marsh (nee Haub)  married Walter James Marsh 1922 at Pinjarra and Robert Walter was born in 1923.  She was previously married to Otto Haub.
Walter James Marsh and Beatrice Kathleen Marsh divorced in the 1950s.   Many years later in about 1959,  Beatrice Kathleen Marsh married Percy George Cooper Palmer,  having worked for him as a housekeeper.

 

(We have communicated with Robert George Marsh, son of Robert Walter who was born 24th July 1942.  Sadly Robert never knew his father and Robert Walter died without learning he had a son.)
** This could have been Connell House, also popularly known as the Mariner’s Club.  During the Japanese Occupation, Connell House became the headquarters of the Japanese Merchant Marine, providing the same services (like a hotel) this time to the Japanese.  We cannot be certain.
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