Wakayama-Okinawa, USS Sanctuary, Okinawa-Manila, USS Bingham, Manila-Darwin, B24 Liberator aircraft A72-121, Darwin-Perth by aircraft 20.10.1945
General Description
Ted originally joined ‘D; Coy HQ. At Singapore he was transferred to No. 13 Platoon with CO Lt Wankey.
“All that stood between the troops of the Imperial Japanese Army’s 5th Division on Singapore at this remote location with approximately 35 men of No. 13 Platoon, and three Vickers machine guns and with an allocation of 20,000 rounds of ammunition per gun, with the 2/20th AIF.
13 Platoon had been attached to Australian 2/20th Battalion to strengthen their defence of the north-west coast of Singapore. 2/20th’s 16 Platoon was forward and close to our machine gunners. 2/20th’s 16 Platoon was 200 yards to the east, 17 and 18 Platoon were between the forward troops and 2/20th ‘B’ Coy HQ located away from Buloh Besar Estate Bungalow.
At 1000 hours on the morning of 8th February 1942 the Japanese commenced their artillery barrage of the west coast of Singapore which would not be lifted until 2200 hours that night.”
Following completion of the rail, all POWs were sent south to either hospital camps if required and onwards to Tamuang Camp from where the Japanese selected the ‘fit’ to work in Japan.
Ted was included in this group, entrained to Singapore and sailed with ‘Rashjin’ Maru Party to Japan on what would become an epic journey of 70 days.Please read story of Rashin Maru
On reaching Moji, Japan Ted was sent to work at Yamane and then Niihama Camps.
FROM FRANK MCGLINN’S STORY: In Feb 1945, while working underground in the mine, Ted’s leg was caught between a truck and the wall. His injuries were serious and the first time he was able to walk without crutches was about the time the POWs were preparing to leave camp as freed men 13 September 1945. MCGLINN packed up Ted’s gear for him. He left by truck with the sick at 8 am on 13 Sept 1945
The remaining men left about 10.15 to walk to the station at Takamatsu to catch the train to Niihama at 12 noon. The train followed the coastline until about 4.15pm where the boarded the ferry for the mainland.
He was recovered from Niihama at the end of the war.
Ted Bunce with his wife Doreen and son Terry
Above: Bunce famiy arrive WA 1929 on Beltana.
Below: new settlers named in WestAustralian.
Ted Bunce arrived WA 1929 as a 15 year old (clerk) on ‘Beltana’ from London with his father Edward (45) painter, his stepmother Jeannie (26) and two stepbrothers and one step sister – George (5) Reginald (3) and Jean (1).
Edward (Snr) died in Perth 1963 aged 81 years and Jeannie Bunce died in 1975 aged 75 years.
In 1936, 1937 Ted was working as labourer at Wickepin. He married Doreen Annie Young about 1938. After the war Doreen and Ted resided at Basinghall St, East Victoria Park for most of their lives. Ted worked for WAGR. (Just a few streets away lived Harry Bunker, his wife and Harrys parents.)
Ted died 27 January 1989 at East Victoria Park aged 75 years and Doreen died 2006. They were both cremated at Karrakatta.
