The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Brooksbank
- First Name:
- Albert
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX9316
- Classification:
- Batman/Runner
- Company:
- B' Company Headquarters
- Enlisted:
- 30.10.1940
- Discharged:
- 11.01.1946
- DOB:
- 16.11.1900
- Place of Birth:
- Leeds, England
- Father's Name:
- Believed to be Arthur Samuel Brooksbank
- Mothers's Name:
- Martha Brooksbank
- Religion:
- Salvation Army
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Miner
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi (Garden Control Party), Changi Gaol Camp
- POW#:
- 01/01/7100
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore-Darwin-Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydney-Melbourne by troop train, Melbourne-Fremantle, HMT Strathmore.
General Description
Albert enlisted AIF October 1940. He later joined 2/4th’s “B” Coy Headquarters, becoming Batman/Runner for Platoon CO Capt Bunning.
As a POW Albert was fortunate to remain in Singapore throughout the war and did not leave with any of the work parties for the Burma-Thai Railway or Japan where POWs died too often of illnesses resulting from starvation and excessive work hours and Japanese brutality.
At the end of the war, he was recovered from Changi.
1921 England Census – Pte Albert Brooksbank, 20 years 8 months, Serial No. 4525307 – Fulford Infantry Barracks, York, Yorkshire. Occupation 1st Bn West Yorkshire Regt, Tank Corps, Royal Army Veterinary Corps & CMA.
Many British soldiers of this battalion served in Malaya/Singapore – were captured by Japan becoming POWs until 1945.
Albert was born Leeds, UK 1900 to Arthur Samuel Brooksbank and Martha Ann Jackson, theirs was a large family.
We have no knowledge of when Albert arrived in Australia from UK however it is known the British government introduced attractive schemes to encourage young men to work and live in Australia.
Prior to enlisting in AIF in 1940, Albert was found to be living 1931 Electoral Roll – C/- C. Thorn, Mt Hardy, via York working as a farm labourer.
1939 Albert was working as farm labourer C/- H. Slater, Brunswick Road, York.
Returning from war, Albert settled at Collie and in 1949 Electoral Roll he was working as a miner, residing 37 Raymond Street, Collie.
He married 22 Dec 1948 to Harriet Muriel Pittaway who was born Kalgoorlie. 1958 Electoral Roll Albert and Harriet were residing 14 Swanstone Street, Collie and Albert was working as a miner. Harriet had previously been married 1919 at Fremantle to Thomas Groundsell Brown and had a son.
Albert died 26 Nov 1960 aged 60 years at Collie and was buried there. His wife Harriet Muriel died 15 Feb 1976.
Below: discharge from UK military
Above: Albert passed away in 1960.
Below: Albert is fortunate to receive a State Housing Loan in 1948.
Above: Albert remained strongly connected to the Salvation Army.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
