The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Ward
- First Name:
- Frederick Thomas
- Nick Name:
- Fred
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7913
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- ‘B’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 13.08.1940
- Discharged:
- 25.01.1946
- DOB:
- 20.07.1917
- Place of Birth:
- Maylands, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Frederick Ward
- Mothers's Name:
- Kathleen Eileen Ward
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Truck Driver and Mechanic
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, Adam Park, River Valley Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi.
- Force:
- ‘ D ’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kanu II, Kanu I, Hintok Road Camp, Kinsaiyok, Tamarkan.
- Camps Japan:
- Fukuoka sub~Camp No. 13, Saganoseki, Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17, Omuta.
- POW#:
- 8859
- Japan:
- Rashin Maru Party
- Return Details 1945:
- Soldier made his own way to a U.S.A.A.C. base and was flown to Manila, Manila‐Sydney, HMS Formidable.
General Description
Height 5′ 5″
The men at Omuta camp was not rescued until 15 September 1945, four weeks after Japan’s surrender. (This was the case for many POW Camps.) . POWs were ordered not to leave Camps – mostly for their own safety. Some POWs thought they would never be rescued – Fred Ward decided he had had enough of being a POW of Japan and made his way to a USA A.A.C. base near Nagasaki and hitched a ride directly to Manila.
Fred’s father Frederick (Snr) who was born NSW 1873 married 1915 at Noortham to Kathleen Eileen Jones (Kate or Katie) who was born 1890 Victoria. Fred and Katie had three sons and two daughters and continued to live at Northam for some time.
Above: The tragic announcement of the Ward’s son Sydney Raymond who died aged 5 1/2 years.
Following his return from war Fred (Jnr) married in 1952 to Edna Lila Mary Martin. Fred died 28 August 1985 at Hilton Park. Edna Ward died in 2003.
Camp Locations:
- Adam Park Camp - Singapore
- Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
- River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Hintok, 154k - Thailand
- Kanu 1 151.00k - Thailand
- Kanu II, 152.30k - Thailand
- Kinsaiyok Main, 170.2k - Thailand
- Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
- Omuta Miike, Fukuoka #17-B - Japan
- Saganoseki, Fukuoka #13-D - Japan
