The Soldier's Details

Ken Moher was youngest of six children born to William Moher (born 1862 Ireland) and Mary Wedlake who married in 1898 Perth, WA.   Two children died in infancy. The Moher family initially resided Gwalia where all their children were born.  William worked for Sons of Gwalia Mine.  The family later moved to live in Boulder.
William’s brother John (Jack) was a hotelier at Gwalia and  Boulder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Moher died at Boulder in 1926 and Mary Moher died Perth 1939 aged 65 years.

William’s father James Moher died in 1896 Goolgardie.  Both William and his father James were born in Ireland, although it is not known when they arrived in WA.

When Ken enlisted in November 1941, both of his parents had  died.  He had been working as a baker for the past previous years with his brother James Gilbert at Wiluna.  James who had married Kathleen Grace McKenzie,  later enlisted with RAAF.

Sister Margaret ‘Maggie’ married Evan James McKenzie 1918  at Mt Margaret.  Evan and Kathleen McKenzie are brother and sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ken Moher enlisted 21 November 1941 as a reinforcement with 2/4th and joined ‘E’ Company.

Moher was a fortunate man to survive the Japanese ambush which ‘E’ Company ran into on 11 February 1942.  There was a huge loss of life with 88 of  200 surviving.

Please read further about ‘E’ Company.

At Singapore he was selected with ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of the railway.

Please read about this Force.

Tragically Ken Moher died of amoebic dysentery at Khonkan 55km Hospital Camp, Burma in July 1943.  He was 28 years old.

You can read about 2/4th men at Khonkan