The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Goldie
- First Name:
- James Mclaughlan
- Nick Name:
- Jim
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7627
- Company:
- 'C' Company
- Enlisted:
- 10.08.1940
- DOB:
- 1.11.1918
- Place of Birth:
- Clydesbank, Scotland
- Father's Name:
- Thomas Goldie
- Mothers's Name:
- Sarah Hamil Goldie
- Religion:
- Congregational
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Memorial:
- Epitaph, Labuan Memorial, Panel 18, Age 26.
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi (Forest Party)
- Force:
- 'B' Force Borneo
- POW#:
- 739
- Cause of Death:
- Acute Enteritis
- Place of Death:
- Sandakan-Ranau track, 2nd Ranau march.
- Date of Death:
- 4.06.1945
General Description
Jim Goldie enlisted AIF August 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company No. 12 Platoon.
Please read further about men of 12 Platoon.
GOLDIE, Private, JAMES MCLAUGHLAN, WX7627, A.I.F. 2/4 M.G. Bn., Australian Infantry. 4 June 1945. Age 26. Son of Thomas and Sarah Goldie, of Busselton, Western Australia. Panel 18 Labuan Memorial, Malaysia.
James McLaughlan Goldie
Jim Goldie and ‘Bubbles’ Holmes were best mates working at Worsley prior to enlisting. Tragically they both perished on the Second Sandakan to Ranau Death March, Borneo. Jim Goldie’s official Japanese death records state he died of acute enteritis on 4 June 1945, 38 miles from Sandakan. He was 26 years old.
With ‘B’ Force Jim left Singapore 7th July 1942, on board tramp ship ‘Ubi Maru’ and arrived Sandakan 18th July.
9 groups of about 50 POWs each, left Sandakan between 29th January and 6th February 1945 Jim left with 2nd Sandakan -Ranau March – 536 POWs again in groups of about 50 men began marching from 29 May. 288 sick POWs remained behind at Sandakan, Jim died 4 June, 1945 on the track 38 miles from Sandakan. Cause of death was given as acute enteritis.
Please go to larger version of map Sandakan
Beard died Sandakan on 10 July, 1945. Don Manning died 1943 at Kuii Camp, Burma-Thai Railway of Avitaminosis. Beard, Goldie and Manning were in ‘C’ Company and enlisted in 1940.
Charles ‘Bubbles’ Holme enlisted September 1941. Unfortunately we have no record of which Company he was with. Holme was sent to Sandakan with ‘E’ Force. Holme was Second Sandakan- Ranau March and perished 3 days after Goldie, on 7th June 1945.
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Kings Park Avenue of Honour
James (Jim) Goldie was born in Clydebank Scotland in November 1918, one of three sons and two daughters born to Thomas and Sarah Goldie.
The Goldie family emigrated from Scotland in June 1923 and two months later took up land with the Group Settlement Scheme Lot 68, Loc 854. In Mar 1928 the family transferred to Group 27 Loc 1187. The Group Settlement commenced 1921 and generally perceived as being a failed project.
Jim attended school at Kalgup. He enjoyed playing soccer as did his brothers.
After finishing school he worked as a farm hand in the district.
Jim’s name is included on Busselton World War 2 Memorial.
Camp Locations:
- Sandakan - Borneo ***
