2/4th MGB’s ‘B’ Company, 8 Platoon
20 of the 50 men would not return home to Australia
Many of these men were from Goldfields.
Commanding Officer: WX3707 Lt. G.C. MacKinnon
Platoon Sergeant: WX8809 Sgt R H Sandilands – KIA Mandai Road 11 Feb 1942
Tragically Sgt Richard (Dick) Sandiland’s death was one of several from Platoon 8 who on 11 Feb 1942 lost his life while retreating from West Mandai Road. Raymond Carruthers, Don Day and Ronald Smith also lost their lives.
Sergeants:
WX9336 Cpl J Gorringe
WX4991 L/Sgt E E Hambley
Corporals:
WX7777 Cpl A M Draper
WX10095 Cpl J F Helsin – perished from ‘Rakuyo’ Maru 12 Sept 1944 South China Sea
WX10802 Cpl N J Outrim – died illness 22 Nov 1944 Kinsaiyok Camp, Burma-Thai Railway, Thailand
Privates:
WX8279 R C Badock (Capt Harris Party)
WX8766 L/Cpl H V Booth – died illness Sumatran Railway 15 Apr 1945
WX7333 A J Burns
WX7316 C J Burns
WX15690 J M Carr – died illness 23 Jul 1943 Tarsau Hospital Camp, Burma-Thai Railway, Thailand.
WX2325 R F Carruthers – KIA near Mandai Road 11 Feb 1942.
WX8792 W T (Bill) Castles Cpl, Scout
WX16369 A J Cocking – rescued from South China Seas following sinking of ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sinking Sept 1944.
WX7268 F V Cross – rescued from South China Seas following sinking of transport ship ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Sept 1944.
WX8735 J G Curtin
WX8778 L J Daily
WX7240 Donald A (known as Do-Dah) Day – KIA 11 Feb 1942 West Mandai Road.
WX7236 C H Dunn – died Sandakan, Borneo 21 May 1945.
WX7266 G H Edwards – died Sandakan, Borneo 23 Mar 1945
WX10803 T R Fotheringham – died Sandakan-Ranau Track, Borneo 7 June 1945.
WX10378 C W (Bill) Gray
WX9139 L F Hadden (Capt Harris Party)
WX10370 D C J Hall – died 21 May 1944 having returned Burma-Thai Railway.
WX8747 W H Hall – died illness 17 Jul 1943 Kanu II – Malayan Hamlet, Thailand.
WX8756 L/Cpl J Hill – died illness 11 Mar 1943 Changi, Singapore.
WX8813 L/Cpl T M Jackson
WX8370 T K Jenkins
WX7230 L H Lee
WX8689 L/Cpl H C S MacMaster – died Tarsau Camp, Thailand.
WX6173 O Morris
WX7181 C Mutton – perished when ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sank 12 Sep 1944 South China Sea.
WX5220 H F Neilson
WX7331 C W Robertson
WX10164 D N Russell – died illness 21 Jan 1944 Augganaung 105 Camp, Burma-Thai Railway, Burma.
WX8734 C Ryan
WX6682 J B ‘Jocka’ Skelton
WX8736 R L Smith – KIA Mandai Road Hill 11 Feb1942
WX8731 T E Smith – died illness 18 Dec 1944 Sandakan.
WX8776 L P Walsh
WX8753 J L Wheelock
Reinforcements: (Joined 2/4th on board ‘Aquitania’ Gage Roads, Fremantle, 15 February 1942)
WX14634 W G H Anderson
WX17997 H M Holland
WX17636 H W Holland – died 15 June 1945 SandakanRanau Track, Borneo.
WX14197 R W Ridgwell
WX16427 D C Robertson
WX17879 G J Wade
WX13161 L/Cpl H E Wright – died illness 5 Oct 1943 Kuii Camp Burma-Thai Railway, Thailand.
Please see photo of 8 Platoon (tapping on the actual photo awill enlarge the picture)
Above: 8 Platoon members From rear left R E Carruthers, D N Russell, G H Edwards, J A Taylor (A Coy HQ) and L H Lee.
The following has been researched and written by Ron Pimm on behalf of Jocka Skelton family. Pimm has used ‘Colour Patch’ by Murray Ewen for much of his reference.
