The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Scales
- First Name:
- James
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX8843
- Company:
- ‘A’ Company
- Enlisted:
- 23.10.1940
- DOB:
- 18.02.1908
- Place of Birth:
- County Clare, Ireland
- Father's Name:
- William Scales
- Mothers's Name:
- Jane Scales
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Labourer
- Memorial:
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row M, Grave 14, Age 35.
- Java:
- ‘Blackforce’, attached to 2/3rd M.G. Bn. POW at Makasura Camp
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, Java Party No. 6, O Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Tarsau, Konyu 1, Hintok Road Camp, Chungkai.
- POW#:
- 6920
- Cause of Death:
- Polyavitaminosis and Dysentery
- Place of Death:
- Chungkai
- Date of Death:
- 11.09.1943
- Buried:
- Grave No. 426, Chungkai
- Return Details 1945:
- Grave No. 426, Chungkai.
General Description
James Scales migrated to WA at age of 20 years, providing his occupation at farmer. His ship ‘Orford’ departed London on 13 October 1928.
James Scales was AWOL when ‘Aquitania’ departed outside Fremantle on 16th January for Singapore. He was one of about 90 men from 2/4th who were unable to re-board their ship and weeks later the group sailed to Java where it was intended they would be transhipped to Singapore. However this arrangement never took place as Singapore was already deemed lost to the Japanese.
Read further about the men AWOL
Scales remained in Java and was attached to 2/3rd MG Btn. The Allied troops were all taken POWs of the Japanese and interned.
Jim was selected with Java Party No. 6, O Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.
Read further about this work Party.
Soldier had been evacuated to Tarsau on 20.8.1943 suffering from malaria. It seems he was evacuated to Chungkai Hospital where he tragically died on 11 September 1943 of Polyavitaminosis and dysentery aged 35 years.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery,
Camp Locations:
- Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
- Hintok, 154k - Thailand
- Tarsau, Tha Sao 125k - Thailand
- Makasura - Java
