The Soldier's Details

Read about Java and POW Camps and the men who delayed their surrender on Java to the Japanese.

Height 5′ 5″

Bluey was one of about 90 men from 2/4th Machine Gunners unable to re-board ‘Aquitania’ at Gage Roads when it sailed for Singapore on 16 January 1942.

Please read further.

Once as POW of Japan in Java Bluey spent time at Bandoeng, Bicycle Camp Batavia, Makasura Camps before being selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand, Java Party No. 6, O Battalion, known as ‘Dunlop’ Party.

Please read further about Java Party No. 6 O Battalion.

Once the railway was completed the POWs were centralised at one of several large camps (or hospitals) – the Japanese judged Bluey fit and selected to work in Japan, sailing with ‘Rashin’ Maru Party to Moji Japan.

From Moji he was sent to

Hiroshima POW Camp #9-B Onoda, Ohama, Yamaguchi

Hiroshima POW Camp #9-B Onoda, Ohama, Yamaguchi

1 July 1944 Departed Singapore for Japan

8 Sept. 1944 Interned at Fukuoka Dispatch Camp No. 4

14 April 1945 Interned at Hiroshima (new jurisdiction) Dispatch Camp No. 7

10 Aug. 1945 Interned at Hiroshima Branch Camp No. 9

Hiroshima Branch Camp No. 9 is at Ohama. The above three camp entries are all for the same location, successively renamed, as mentioned on your camp information page for Ohama, Hiroshima #9-B – Japan.

Following the Japanese surrender, Bluey sailed on HMS Speaker from Manila to Sydney.  Please read the story of Australian Unions

Please read the story of a few 2/4th mates having a night out in Northam 1941.

Bernard James Walsh was born at Sandstone to parents James Henry and Nell Walsh in 1915.

He married about 1940 to Maude A. Hooper in Perth.

He enlisted into AIF 6 Aug 1940 from Noggerup and later joined 2/4th’s Headquarters Company No. 3 Platoon, Lance Corporal to Quartermasters Capt Phelps and Lt O’Sullivan.