Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Plot A10, Row E, Grave 7, Age 22.
Java:
'Blackforce'
Force:
'A' Force Burma, Java Party No. 4 Williams Force
Camps Burma:
Tanyin 45 Km, Anakwin 45 Km, Toungzun 57 km
Camps Java:
Bandoeng, Bicycle Camp Batavia
POW#:
3866
Cause of Death:
Cholera
Place of Death:
Beke Taung 40km Hospital Camp
Date of Death:
7.07.1943
Buried:
Grave No. 12, by Lieutenant-Colonel Eadie from 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station.
General Description
Foxall enlisted AIF 6 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Coy 11 Ptn as one of six Corporals under CO Lt Boyle.
Stuart Foxall was AWOL at Fremantle, and with about 90 men from 2/4th missed the departure of ‘Aquitania’ when she sailed for Singapore on 16 January 1942. The men disembarked Java.
Wounded in action on 22.2.1942 during an enemy air raid at Semplak Airfield whilst with 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion. Evacuated to a Dutch Military Hospital in the Batavia area.
He was at Cycle Camp receiving treatment for tinea from 5 August 1942 to 15 August 1942.
Stuart was selected with ‘A’ Force Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to work on the Burma-Thai Railway. They first sailed to Singapore arriving on 12 October 1942 and departed on 14 October sailing to Burma. ‘A’ Force included 3,000 men.
Tragically Stuart contracted Cholera and died in July 1943 at Beke Taung 40 Kilo Camp, Burma at the age of 22 years.
Above: Commonwealth War Cemetery Thanbyuzyat, Myanmar.
Stuart Foxall was the youngest of two sons born to John (Jack) Stuart Foxall and Mary Josephine O’Grady who married in 1914, Gwalia where Mary was a teacher at Gwalia State School and Jack Foxall was an engineer with Sons of Gwalia Mines.
Mary’s sister Eileen was a teacher at Leonora. In 1916 Eileen transferred to Fremantle Intermediate School. The two sisters were close.
Jack Foxall was born Ryde, NSW in 1889. Stuart’s older brother christened John Desmond Foxall was known as ‘Jack’ like his father.
The first tragedy for this family was the death of Mary Foxall in Perth, 1923. Believed to have been ill, she was 31 years old when she died. Stuart would have been at the most 3 years old and Jack (Jnr) would have been about 5 years.
In 1928 Jack Foxall (Snr) remarried.
In 1936 the Foxall family endured another tragic young death. John Desmond Foxall aged 20 years died 1936 at Gwalia mines. An Inquiry found his death was accidental and there was no one else involved or responsible. He had recently completed University exams and had been working for 3 months, had knowledge of chemistry and was employed as a produce fireman and engine room assistant.
He was buried at Leonora Cemetery.
‘FOXALL John Desmond — 20yrs, d 4 Jul 1936, at Sons of Gwalia GM, Leonora, Occ: Labourer, Cause: From injuries he received through an explosion of gas from the production plant, Verdict of the Coroner, Father: John Stuart FOXALL (Inspector of Mines), Mother: Mary Josephine OGRADY, Born: Leonora WA, Single, Reg Mt Margaret 17/1936, RC, Buried Leonora Cemetery. Mine Death – www.wavmm.com’
Foxall brother
In August 1940, Stuart Foxall enlisted in AIF. He joined the 2/4th and became a Corporal with ‘C’ Company at the age of 20 years. Stuart died in insolation cholera ward at at 40 Kilo Camp, Burma in July 1943 aged 22 years. He had been ill with fever, diarohea and malnutrition . He was buried at 40Km gave 12 and in attendance was VX14845 Col. N.M. Eadie, C.O. 2/2 CCS, a Consultant Surgeon from Melbourne.
