Former Guildford Grammar School Students enlisted 2/4th MGB
WX9136 L/Cpl CLARKE, Basil William James: enlisted 30 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB 12 Platoon under CO Lt. Wedge.
He was son of William and Daisy Clarke. Born Northam and farmed Cadoux.
Clarke left Singapore with ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No 3 Battalion to work on the northern end of the Railway, mostly in Burma. They firstly sailed to south west Burma to repair airfields at Victoria Point.
He was evacuated from Aungganaung 105 km camp to Khonkan Hospital Camp 55 km 3 Jul 1943 with a tropical ulcer. His right leg was amputated through middle of thigh on 22 Sept 1943, during this operation he was held down by his mate Jack Thorpe. Please read the story of this procedure.
Miraculously Basil Clarke survived his ordeal and returned to Australia.
Returning from war WX10794 Percy Alfred STURTRIDGE was employed at Guildford Grammar School for 21 years. Sgt Sturtride enlisted with 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy 11 Platoon , becoming Platoon Sgt under CO Lt Boyle.
Captured at Singapore Percy became POW first accommodated at Selarang, moved to Thomson Road (Caldecot Hill Estate Camp), Mt Pleasant and back to Selerang from where he was sent to Burma-Thai Railway in Thailand with ‘D’ Force S Battalion.
Please read further about this Work Force.
Percy was sent to Tarsau, Kanu II, Kanu I, Hintock Road Camp from where he was evacuated ill to Tarsau Hospital Camp.
Following several months recovering Percy was sent to Nacompaton Hospital Camp. In 1945 he was selected for a work party to work on Prachuab Kirikhan – Mergui Escape road, accommodated at Petchaburi.
