The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Wade
First Name:
Gabriel John
Nick Name:
John
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX17879
Company:
‘B’ Company, 8 Platoon
Enlisted:
4.12.1941
Discharged:
28.02.1946
DOB:
18.11.1920
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Seaton John Wade
Mothers's Name:
Annie Wade
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Shop Assistant
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi, Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp), River Valley Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi, Pulau Blakang Mati (reinforcement party 5.11.1943), Changi Gaol Camp, Kranji Camp Woodlands.
Return Details 1945:
Singapore‐Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydney-Melbourne by troop train, Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore.

General Description

Donnybrook boy Jack Wade enlisted AIF 4 Dec 1941 and was almost immediately transferred to 2/4th reinforcements; entrained to Fremantle to board ‘Aquitania’ sailing to Singapore on 16 Feb 1942.
He joined ‘B’ Company No. 8 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. MlacKinnon.

 

 

SINGAPORE. 1945-09-09. PRIVATE G. J. WADE, 2/4TH MACHINE GUN BATTALION, ONE OF THE 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION EX-PRISONERS OF WAR OF THE JAPANESE AT KALANG AERODROME TO GREET MEMBERS OF 1ST AUSTRALIAN PARATROOP BATTALION ON THEIR ARRIVAL FROM LABUAN.
SINGAPORE. 1945-09-09. PRIVATE G. J. WADE, 2/4TH MACHINE GUN BATTALION, ONE OF THE 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION EX-PRISONERS OF WAR OF THE JAPANESE AT KALANG AERODROME TO GREET MEMBERS OF 1ST AUSTRALIAN PARATROOP BATTALION ON THEIR ARRIVAL FROM LABUAN.

 

Wade GJ beer

SINGAPORE. 1945-09-09. MEMBERS OF 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION, EX-PRISONERS OF WAR OF THE JAPANESE ENJOYING THEIR FIRST BOTTLE OF AUSTRALIAN BEER FOR YEARS SOON AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF MEMBERS OF 1ST AUSTRALIAN PARATROOP BATTALION ON THE KALANG AERODROME FROM LABUAN. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- PRIVATE G. J. WADE, 2/4TH AUSTRALIAN MACHINE GUN BATTALION (1); DRIVER R. J. LEES 2/18TH INFANTRY BATTALION

SINGAPORE. 1945-09-09. MEMBERS OF 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION, EX-PRISONERS OF WAR OF THE JAPANESE, AT KALANG AERODROME WAITING TO GREET MEMBERS OF THE 1ST AUSTRALIAN PARATROOP BATTALION ON THEIR ARRIVAL FROM LABUAN. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- SAPPER (SPR) D. H. HERBERT, 2/6TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD PARK COMPANY (2); DRIVER R. J. LEES, 2/18TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION (3); SPR J. HUNTEL, 2/10TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD COMPANY (4); PRIVATE (PTE) J. W. CLAY, 2/4TH AUSTRALIAN MACHINE GUN BATTALION (5); PTE G. J. WADE, 2/4TH AUSTRALIAN MACHINE GUN BATTALION (6); SIG C. BROOKES, 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION SIGNALS (8).
SINGAPORE. 1945-09-09. MEMBERS OF 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION, EX-PRISONERS OF WAR OF THE JAPANESE, AT KALANG AERODROME WAITING TO GREET MEMBERS OF THE 1ST AUSTRALIAN PARATROOP BATTALION ON THEIR ARRIVAL FROM LABUAN. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- SAPPER (SPR) D. H. HERBERT, 2/6TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD PARK COMPANY (2); DRIVER R. J. LEES, 2/18TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION (3); SPR J. HUNTEL, 2/10TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD COMPANY (4); PRIVATE (PTE) J. W. CLAY, 2/4TH AUSTRALIAN MACHINE GUN BATTALION (5); PTE G. J. WADE, 2/4TH AUSTRALIAN MACHINE GUN BATTALION (6); SIG C. BROOKES, 8TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION SIGNALS (8).

 

SINGAPORE, 1945-09-09. TAKING A KEEN INTEREST IN THE MELBOURNE HERALD FIRST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER WHICH THEY HAVE SEEN FOR YEARS PERSONNEL ARE: PRIVATE J.W. CLAY, 2/4 AUST MACHINE GUN BATTALION (1); PRIVATE G.J. WADE, 2/4 AUST MACHINE GUN BATTALION (2); SAPPER D.H. HERBERT, 2/6 AUST FIELD PARK COMPANY (3); DRIVER R.J. LEES, 2/18 AUST INF BATTALION (4).
SINGAPORE, 1945-09-09. TAKING A KEEN INTEREST IN THE MELBOURNE HERALD FIRST AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER WHICH THEY HAVE SEEN FOR YEARS PERSONNEL ARE: PRIVATE J.W. CLAY, 2/4 AUST MACHINE GUN BATTALION (1); PRIVATE G.J. WADE, 2/4 AUST MACHINE GUN BATTALION (2); SAPPER D.H. HERBERT, 2/6 AUST FIELD PARK COMPANY (3); DRIVER R.J. LEES, 2/18 AUST INF BATTALION (4).

 

View the video – audio not available – of John’s return to Singapore.

 

John Wade, Mrs Smedley and George Williams in Adelaide
John Wade, Mrs Smedley and George Williams in Adelaide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above:  L-R Ernie Zappa and John Wade, Anzac Day 1985.

 

In the January 1973 Borehole Bulletin Bill Castles wrote ‘Jack Wade in (Hollywood Hospital) for a spell, the pressure of work has been too much.’

 

John passed away aged 80 yrs, July 31 2001, at Belmore (Sydney) NSW.

Camp Locations:

  • Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
  • Kranji Camp Woodlands - Singapore
  • Pulau Blakang Mat - Singapore ***
  • River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp) - Singapore
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