The Soldier's Details

Jack enlisted October 1940.  He became part of ‘D’ Company, 13 Platoon in 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion; trained in South Australia and Darwin, NT prior to sailing to Singapore where he was to be soon taken POW of the Japanese.

Please read further about ‘D’ Company Platoons

He was selected from Singapore to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force V Battalion departing Singapore about 17 March 1943 by train to Thailand.

Also read about ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion

V Battalion was to endure some of the harshest working/living conditions and suffered one of the highest death rates on the Railway.  About four months later, Jack succumbed to malaria at Linson Camp, Thailand aged 24 years.  Too many 2/4th boys from V Battalion also died about this time either at Linson or nearby camps.

Today Jack rests at the Kanchanburi War Cemetery with 91 mates from the 2/4th.

 

 

Jack’s parents Michael Jack McCarthy and Catherine (Kate) Carey married in 1915.  Jack was their second son.  He had at least an older brother, Stan and two younger sisters.  When Jack died in Thailand in 1943 his parents were residing at Midland Junction.

Prior to enlisting Jack was employed as a farmhand at Dangin. His brother Stan who was working at Dangin Co-Op also enlisted.

 

Below:  Jack and brother Stan form a tennis doubles partnership at Dangin.

 

Below:  Jack plays football 1939 and we know he played cricket too.

Above:  Jack was a keen and talented tennis player

 

Above:  The Hunt and McCarthy families hear from their sons and their spirits and hopes are lifted. The POWs had sent standard cards printed by Japanese, with limited room to write any personal messages from Burma.  The mail was sent to Australia many months later.

We know Jack has already died.

 

Jack’s  name is inscribed on the Quairading District WW2 Memorial.

 

Plaque at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Plot 1, Row G, Grave 70

 

Jacks parents died at Bassendean, Michael in 1960 and Kate in 1962.

 

Below:  Jack’s brother Stan works at Dangin Co-op prior to enlisting AIF.

 

Below:  Jack’s brother Stan survives the war thankfully.

 

Above:  Mrs Laurel Morris  (nee McCarthy) is niece to Jack McCarthy.  Laurel attended the 77th Anniversary of Victory of Japan Day Service in Kings Park, 14 August 2022.  Laurel is also a sister-in-law to Lawrie and Barbara Morris (Lawrie son of ‘Romeo’ Morris)

Laurel learned much about her ‘happy go happy’ uncle Jack who was also known for being a larrikin from her mother and Grandmother (Jack’s mother, Kate McCarthy) who was devastated to learn Jack would not return home.  Kate persisted in finding further information about her son’s death.  Evenutally she was able to speak with another former POW who was at Linson Wood Camp where Jack died.  What she learned haunted Kate for the remainder of her life.

Jack was beaten severely by guards with bamboo sticks until he lost consciousness.  Jack died a few days later from internal injuries.

Kate was so angry she broke all her crockery and anything manufactured in Japan.  Understandably she never forgave the Japanese.