The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Saggers
- First Name:
- Albert Ernest
- Nick Name:
- Granny
- Rank:
- Major, Commanding Officer of 'A' Company & on 7/2/1942 Commanding Office of 'E' Company, Special Reserve Battalion
- Regimental #:
- WX3454
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 21.11.1940
- Discharged:
- 1.02.1946
- DOB:
- 29.11.1899
- Place of Birth:
- Parramatta, New South Wales
- Father's Name:
- Ernest Saggers
- Mothers's Name:
- Annabella Saggers
- Religion:
- Church of Christ
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Footwear Merchant
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Serangoon Road Camp, Sime Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi. Returned from Thailand to Sime Road Camp, Changi Gaol Camp, Kranji Hospital Camp Woodlands, 2/14thAustralian General Hospital.
- Force:
- 'H' Force Thailand, ‘H’ Force Group No. 3 (2/I.C. to Lt-Col Oakes and I.C. of pay & records)
- POW#:
- 4127
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Perth, Duke of Gloucester’s aircraft ‘Endeavour’
General Description
Saggers drawing of Singapore.
Major Bert Saggers enlisted AIF 21 Nov 1940 and soon after joined 2/4th MGB. He was Commanding Officer of ‘A’ Company.
On 7 February 1942 Major Bert Saggers, Commanding Officer of ‘A’ Coy was ordered to form a Divisional Reserve Battalion for the 8th Division.
Known as Special Reserve Battalion it was to comprise two companies – ‘A’ and ‘B’, made up of Australian Service Corps personnel, and ‘E’ Company. ‘E’ Company was to be formed from the large number of 2/4th reinforcements who had embarked ‘Aquitania’ on 16th January 1942 at Fremantle.
Into training it was, because large numbers of the reinforcements were very new and young enlistments and/or untrained.
‘E’ Company ran into a Japanese ambush at south west Bukit Timah resulting in a large number of men being KIA and wounded. The fortunate soldiers survived and scattered into the jungle. Some found alternative 2/4th platoons, a few made it back to Singapore and no doubt those wounded and found by the Japanese were killed. Please read further
Whilst POW at Adam Park, Saggers was finally granted Japanese permission to find and bury the Australian dead at SW Bukit Timah. Please read further about this
He left Singapore with ‘H’ Force Thailand where the men would work on the Burma-Thai railway construction. His role was 2 i/c and in charge of pay records. Please read about ‘H’ Force
Saggers was recovered from Singapore.
Read further about return of Saggers 1945
Appointment Terminated 1/2/1946
Saggers was one of few soldiers who supported Gordon Bennett and Bennett’s decision to leave Singapore before capitulation to Japan.
Please read report written by Saggers about Mentiplay during fighting at Singapore.
Above; Bert with brother Clarrie who was manpowered, Edward who was KIA.
Edward Saggers was killed at Tobruk.
Please read about Kellerberrin where Bert and Eddie’s parents resided for about 16 years.
Saggers Shoe Store, Murray Street, Perth. Doris Dore worked here after the war.
Above Map Thailand coloured by Saggers. He left Singapore with ‘H’ Force to travel to Thailand.
Below: View from train journey.
Above: Saggers drawing of Malay Hamlet, Burma-Thai Railway, Thailand 1943.
Below: Saggers was a supporter of Gordon Bennett.
Bert Saggers died 28th December 1966 at Alfred Cove aged 67 years. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Kranji Camp Woodlands - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Serangoon Road Camp - Singapore
- Sime Road Camp - Singapore
