The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Barnett
- First Name:
- Victor George
- Nick Name:
- Vic
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX8429
- Company:
- 'B' Company
- Enlisted:
- 18.10.1940
- Discharged:
- 29.11.1945
- DOB:
- 17.07.1912
- Place of Birth:
- Moora, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Alfred Henry Barnett
- Mothers's Name:
- Marion Naomie Barnett
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Window Dresser
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi
- Force:
- 'A' Force Burma, Green Force, No. 3 Battalion.
- Camps Thailand:
- Tamarkan, Non Pladuk
- Camps Japan:
- Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17 Omuta (coal mine and wharf labour)
- POW#:
- 6297, 1511
- Return Details 1945:
- Nagasaki-Okinawa-Manila, USS Cape Gloucester Okinawa-Manila, B24 Liberator aircraft Manila-Morotai-Darwin, PBY Catalina aircraft A24-306, Darwin-Perth by aircraft 10.10.1945
General Description
Vic enlisted AIF Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Coy 7 Platoon under CO Lt Dean.
Taken POW Vic was at Selarang Camp Changi and left with first work party to leave Singapore – ‘A’Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion – they were assigned to work on the Burma-Thai Railway from the Burma end.
Please read about ‘A’Force Burma Green Force No.3 Battalion
When the Rail link was completed the Japanese organised all POWs to move to Thailand to one of about 4 or 5 large camps or hospitals if they needed. Vic was selected by Japanese as being ‘fit’ to go to work in Japan.
He departed with ‘Awa’ Maru Party and sent to work in Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17 Omuta (coal mine and wharf labourer). He remained here until the end of war.
Please read further about ‘Awa’ Maru Party to Japan
The above was included in Borehole Bulletin December 2000.
Vic was born Moora 1912 to parents Alfred Henry and Marion Naomie Barnett. He was the youngest of nine children. His mother Marion Barnett died July 1954 and his father died in 1945.
Vic married about 1938 to Irene Bernice McIntyre.
Vic Barnett died in 2000 and was cremated at Karrakatta.
Below: in March 1945 Vic’s father died whilst Vic was a POW in Japan
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
- Tamarkan, Tha Makham 56k - Thailand
- Omuta Miike, Fukuoka #17-B - Japan
