The Soldier's Details

Surname:
Norton
First Name:
Albert William
Nick Name:
Bert
Rank:
Private
Regimental #:
WX8493
Company:
‘A’ Company Headquarters
Enlisted:
18.10.1940
Discharged:
9.01.1946
DOB:
25.07.1918
Place of Birth:
Perth, Western Australia
Father's Name:
Albert Norton
Mothers's Name:
Margaret Norton
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Pre-war Occupation:
Shop Assistant
Singapore:
Selarang Camp Changi; Johore Bahru; Adam Park; Selarang Barracks Changi, River Valley Road Transit Camp
Force:
‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
Camps Thailand:
Kanu II, Kanu III, Tarsau (July l943-January 1944 working in tropical ulcers ward); Chungkai; Tamuang; Nacompaton; Non Pladuk
Camps Japan:
Yamane; Niihama (copper refinery)
POW#:
1 /8839 and 3/ 9017 and 8827 and 1697
Japan:
Rashin Maru Party
Return Details 1945:
Wakayama-Okinawa, USS Sanctuary; Okinawa-Manila, USS Bingham; Manila-Morotai-Darwin, PBY Catalina aircraft A24-377; Darwin-Perth by B24 Liberator aircraft

General Description

Soldier was experienced Lewis gunner so was transferred from No. 4 Platoon to ‘A’ Company Headquarters as a Bren gunner.

 

Albert William Norton
Albert William Norton
A.W. Norton Index Card1 - record kept by Japanese on A.W. Norton. Only 12 of these cards were returned.Australian Government received them in 2016.
A.W. Norton Index Card1 – record kept by Japanese on A.W. Norton. Only 12 of these cards were returned.Australian Government received them in 2016.

 

A.W. Norton Index Card 2 - Japanese record kept.
A.W. Norton Index Card 2 – Japanese record kept.
Bert and Thelma Anzac Day 1946
Bert and Thelma Anzac Day 1946
Bert second from left
Bert second from left
Bert taken standing next to ant hill at Larramah, 18th Oct 1941 - 1 year after enlisting
Bert taken standing next to ant hill at Larramah, 18th Oct 1941 – 1 year after enlisting
Bert on his way to Darwin - top LH Cnr in shadow
Bert on his way to Darwin – top LH Cnr in shadow
Left to right - Bert Norton, Jim Dore, Johnny Gilmour, Clarrie McDonald
Left to right – Bert Norton, Jim Dore, Johnny Gilmour, Clarrie McDonald
Keith McDonald, Bert Norton, Johnny Gilmour
Keith McDonald, Bert Norton, Johnny Gilmour
Bert Norton
Bert Norton
Snow Watt, Bert's cousin, Bert Norton with Uncle George Norton at Woodside. Snow and Bert stayed with Uncle and family when on leave at Woodside.
Snow Watt, Bert’s cousin, Bert Norton with Uncle George Norton at Woodside. Snow and Bert stayed with Uncle and family when on leave at Woodside.
L-R Jim Gilmour, "Widgee" Holst, "Blue" McMahon, Bert Norton, Jim Elliott, Clarrie McDonald. Kneeling - Jim Dore
L-R Jim Gilmour, “Widgee” Holst, “Blue” McMahon, Bert Norton, Jim Elliott, Clarrie McDonald. Kneeling – Jim Dore
Back L-R: Thomas Gibson, Bert Norton, Fred "Cowboy" Matthews, Ralph Hadfield, Front: George Chatfield, Norm Thompson, Claude Dow, Andrew "Mick" Lambie
Back L-R: Thomas Gibson, Bert Norton, Fred “Cowboy” Matthews, Ralph Hadfield,
Front: George Chatfield, Norm Thompson, Claude Dow, Andrew “Mick” Lambie
Bert was on his honeymoon in Kalamunda - stayed at Kalamunda Hotel - local dog.
Bert was on his honeymoon in Kalamunda – stayed at Kalamunda Hotel – local dog.
Front 2nd from right - Bert Norton
Front 2nd from right – Bert Norton
2/4th Christmas Card 1941
2/4th Christmas Card 1941

Bert and Thelma 8.3.1941

Bert and Thelma 8.3.1941

Edwin A.A. Watt and Bert Norton

Snow Watt and Bert Norton, Woodside, SA

Visitor's cards25012017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandson Stephen Norton proudly wears Bert’s
Service Number.

 

 

 

 

 

Bert passed away on 15th June, 2000 aged 81, at Hollywood Hospital, Nedlands, WA.
Read WX8493 Bert Norton’s recollections as per his diary.
Read about Bert at Tampie South Camp
Read of Bert’s movements with U Battalion
Below:  Former POW were not obligated to, but chose to complete these Interrogation Forms following their initial release from the last POW Camp, in this instance for Bert Norton  – Niihama’s Mitsui’s Mine. Bert completed his form with one or two words to describe conditions at the camps he was held POW.

 

Camp Locations:

  • Adam Park Camp - Singapore
  • Johore Bahru, - Malaysia
  • River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
  • Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
  • Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
  • Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
  • Kanu 1 151.00k - Thailand
  • Nacompaton, Nakom Pathom Hospital - Thailand
  • Non Pladuk, 0k - Thailand
  • Tamuang, Tha Muang 39k - Thailand
  • Tarsau, Tha Sao 125k - Thailand
  • Nihama, Hiroshima #2-B- Japan
  • Yamane, Hiroshima #3-D - Japan
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