The Soldier's Details

 

 

Ohama, Hiroshima  POW Camp Renamed Aug 1945 Hiroshima 9-B – Okura Mining Co.

Back Row:  L-R (1)  Bert Poulton WX9764  (5)  Doug Carter WX8240

2nd Last Row: L-R (2) Alf Worth WX7440 (3)  Alex Oag WX8481

3rd Row from Back:  L-R (4) Aub Schuts WX8562 (8) Bob Whitelaw WX9076

Front Row:  L-R (9) Arthur Walker WX16370

 

As a POW in Singapore Aubrey was selected with ‘D’ Force S Battalion to work on Burma-Thai Railway.   They departed Singapore Railway Station  May 1943 for a four day crowded journey in appalling conditions to Bampong, Thailand.  S Battalion included a very large number of 2/4th men.  Aubrey was in well-known company and it was just as well, their destination was the Hellfire Pass area – Konyu II their first work camp after spending a few weeks at Tarsau.

We cannot be absolutely positive of where he worked after Konyu II but he remained in the Hellfire Pass Cutting – it could have been Hintok, Kinsaiyok, etc.  When the rail link was completed the Japanese began moving all POWs south.  Aubrey was probably at Tamuang when he was selected fit to work in Japan.

The men returned to Singapore staying River Valley Road Transit Camp to wait for their ship ‘Rashin’ Maru.  The ship’s 70 day voyage to Japan was done in appalling conditions and was terrifying and and at times frightening when they sailed through a typhoon in their old, small and damaged junk ship!  They avoided contact with American Submarines to arrive in Japan for its coldest winter in 39 years.

While most of ‘S’ Battalion men went to Yamane and Niihama – Aubrey went to work at Ohama Camp 9B, one of seven men from 2/4th.

He was recovered from here at the end of the war.

Read of the journey of the Rashin (Byoke) Maru

Aubrey passed away aged 94, September 6 2007, Bunbury WA.

 

 

 

Aubrey was one of three sons and seven daughters born to Mary Ellen Finemore and Joseph Schuts who married 1893. In 1926 Aubrey’s 18 year old brother Bertie died at Bruce Rock where the family resided.

 

 

Below:  The courage shown by Joe Schuts when confronting a snake was obviously passed onto Aubrey when he arrived Singapore and his years as a POW of the Japanese!

 

In 1938 Aubrey married at East Coolgardie to Patricia M. Feast.  The couple had their first child in 1940.

 

Tragedy struck the young couple, when baby Gerald died aged seven months.  Aubrey was away with 2/4th training.

 

 

 

 

Aubrey’s father Joseph died in 1948.

 

Below:  Aubrey is successfully allocated land at Rocky Gully.

 

Aubrey’s mother Mary Ellen Schuts died 1957 at Como aged 87 years.