MENZIES WAR MEMORIALS WW1 & WW2
Total 325 Names
We have been able to identify the following 2/4th men included on the above Menzies WW2 Memorial:
WX8192 CARLILE, Robert James (Bob) b Meekathara 1913 to Edwin Joseph and Ellen Kathleen Carlisle and husband to Edith Brenda.
Robert married about 1941 to Edith Brenda Chandler.
Bob enlisted AIF 16 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Coy 10 Platoon (as did Keith Sawyer, Halbart, McAskil and Morris).
Bob was KIA 11 Feb 1942 the vicinity of Reformatory Road, Ulu Pandan, Singapore aged 28 years.
WX8238 DEWAR, Victor (Vic) John Alexander b. 1906 Kookynie to Samuel Sherman and Elizabeth (Lily) Dewar who had resided in the area for a decade or more.
His parents married in Fremantle in 1898. His father was born in Victoria in 1865 died in 1921. Victor was the firstborn of two sons. Franklin Hector was born in 1907 Coolgardie.
Vic was recorded in the 1931 Electoral Roll living in Maylands, his occupation was salesman. By 1937 he was living in Menzies and working as a gold mine employee.
Dewar enlisted AIF 4 June 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Coy 11 Platoon. He left Singapore with ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway. At the end of 1943 when the rail link was completed, Dewar was amongst the POWs in Burma sent southwards to Thailand to one of several large camps or hospitals. We believe he was sent to Tamarkan Hospital Camp, then moved to Nacompaton Hospital Camp from where he was recovered from at the end of the war.
On 27 December 1947 Dewar tragically took his own life. He was 41 years old. He was buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Garden.
Below: “This man must have gone through untold suffering”
WX8250 HALBERT, FRANK b. Menzies 1907 is inscribed on WW2 and his older brother Ernest (WW1). Ernest died in a motor cycle accident in 1925, younger brother Frank was riding pillion, and survived.
Right: Frank in centre.
Halbert enlisted August 1940, later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy 10 Platoon, as did Keith Sawyer, Bob Carlisle, McAskil and Morris.
As a POW in Singapore, Halbert had the misfortune to leave with ‘F’ Force Thailand to work on the Burma-Thai Railway. ‘F’ Force endured a torrid time – they walked the entire distance to their first camp and thereafter living and working conditions were horrific, food scarce, illness rampant. Frank died during the cholera epidemic which arrived with the rains on 4 June 1943. He was 35 years old.
Please read further about ‘F’ Force Thailand.
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Below: From Kalgoorlie Miner, Menzies News Section. Sawyer, Dewar, Halbert and Morris home on leave before they depart for South Australia 1941.
WX7123 HAMPSON Robert Douglas (Doug) b 1914 Maylands was living and working in Menzies about the time of his enlistment 1 Aug 1940. Doug had been a bicycle builder. He later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘A’ Company, No 4 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. McCaffrey.
He was AWOL at Fremantle and sailed to Java instead of Singapore where he was captured 9 March 1942. Please read about the men AWL at Fremantle and taken to Java.
Hampson left Java to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma Java Party No. 4 Williams Force.
Hampson survived working on the railway and at the end of 1943 the Japanese brought all POWs in Burma south to Thailand to one of several large camps or hospitals.
It was at Tamarkan Hampson was selected as being fit to work in Japan by the Japanese. He would sail from Singapore on the ‘Rakuyo’ Maru.
The ‘Rakuyo’ Maru with 1300 POWs on board was sunk by American submarines in Sep 1944 in the South China Sea. There was another POW transport ship also sunk in the same convoy with 900 British POWs.
Hampson was one of the extraordinarily lucky POWs to be saved 4 days later when the same submarines returned to the area. Please read this amazing the story.
Inland Watch (Leonora) Saturday, 24th June 1939
NON STOP JINGLE
THE RED TERROR SUBDUED (BY “BURRUM”)
T’was early one Sunday morning
When the Cycle Club boys turned out
For a journey to little old Menzies
To compete in a twenty-mile bout.
There was Tedgrie, Gillett and Latto,
Trembath, Ted Ward and the Sec.
Six of ‘ers in the “Red Terror,”
Each one risking his neck.
The driver was reckless and risky,
The pace was on from the start,
The Terror seemed frightfully frisky
As if bent on doing her part.
She coughed, and barked, and backfired
Whenever a hill hove in sight,
But she flew down the slopes like a devil
inspired,
T’was a really remarkable flight.
Eventually Menzies was sighted
From the passengers rose up a cheer;
I believe young Tedge was heard to remark
“Lord struth, it’s a fact boys, we’re
Here.”
So then, with the long journey over,
To breakfast the boys all adjourned,
When Ted found a nail in the butter,
“Tis an omen, an omen” he mourned.
“There will be punctures, and punctures,
And punctures
Before this Sunday is done.”
So, the lads felt a little disheartened
And the look on their faces was glum.
Small troubles like these were forgotten
As the starters wheeled up to the line,
Where Jack Allan was showing the trophy,
A gold wrist watch, very fine.
“They’re off and away,” cried the large
crowd that day
And the race was a beaut from the Start,
But our boys had to stop, as their tyres
went pop,
And it all but broke the Sec.’s heart.
However the sport must continue,
For the limit men had a good lead
And the scratch men were riding like hoboes.
In need of a good feed.
And Harry, the solid old plugger
Was going great guns in the front
While Ossie, the “Rat” and Doug Hampson
Were flat out to catch the old runt.
Down there at night the winner looks easy
And the crowd gave voice to a cheer
As Harry Pianti bright and breezy
Sailed over the line without fear.
Alf Hince, a trier, was second
Then the scratch men came all in a bunch
But Ossie slipped out and ended the doubt
While the Rat’s teeth went scrunch-a-
de-scrunch.
With the race well won and the day almost done
Our boys turned again towards home
But they hadn’t gone too far when they struck
a sand bar
And the Terror decided to roam.
To the scrub like a timid young turkey
She flew midst a squealing of brakes
While a tyre blew out, setting hopes all to rout
When she settled on some stakes.
Repairs were at this stage effected
And homeward they set off again
While the tubes now barely protected
Were protesting under the strain.
Bang went another good tyre
Before many miles had been passed
So the boys lit a great camp fire
In case they were there till late.
And so I could go on forever
With tales of the lads’ sorry plight
Till they pulled up at last with despair in their hearts.
Decided to camp for the night.
The “Scrub Turkey” – in other words Ted
Was earliest up from his bed
To battle away at the start of the day
On the Red Terror’s obstinate tread.
However, towards lunch time a traveller,
Came sailing into view,
So the boys up and stopped him, then all
promptly hopped in,
Leaving their car in stew.
“Home James, and don’t spare the horses”
Was the outspoken heartfelt request.
WX8261 McASKIL, Robert Ramsay (Bob) b Victoria1901, believed to have lived in Kalgoorlie much of his earlier life. He was a prospector in Menzies when he enlisted 17 Aug 1940 and joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ 10 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt Wilson with Halbert, Morris and Sawyer, Bob missed reboarding the ‘Aquitania’ 16 Jan 1942 – and with Hampson and Morris sailed to Java.
Bob McAskil came to be in Sumatra working on the Pakan Baroe-Moerao Railway where he died of cardiac beri beri 28 March 1945 – 77 years ago.
POWs were fed only with a diet of rice which did not contain adequate quantities of most vitamins and in particular thiamine. Cardiac beri beri commonly known as wet beri beri resulted in oedema or severe swelling. Body moisture flowed downwards toward their feet & legs until they looked like loaves of bread – their ankles disappeared. Sometimes necks swelled until the head became part of their shoulders.
WX8200 MORRIS, William Richard (Bill) b. Kalgoorlie 1901 to William and Catherine Morris. Bill was a prospector at Menzies when he enlisted 16 Aug 1940. He became a storeman with ‘C’ Company 10 Platoon.
Morris was unable to reboard ‘Aquitania’ at Fremantle before she sailed on 16th Jan 1942. Bill and Bob Hampson were amongst the 88 machine gunners left behind and taken to Java.
Bill was evacuated sick ex-Java amongst the last personnel able to safely leave and sailed to Ceylon – which was in Allied hands. At Ceylon he embarked on HMT ‘Stirling’ 28 March 1942 to sail to Melbourne.
Classified medically fit 27 April 1942, Morris was Taken on Strength with 2/3rd MGB 20 May 1942.
Admitted to Hospital 25 Nov 1942 after an explosives accident and admitted 113th AGH. Transferred to 115th AGH on 18 Dec 1942. His right hand was amputated below the wrist 9 Feb 1944.
WX7256 SAWYER, THOMAS KEITH (known as Keith & Barney)) was born Menzies 1909 to Thomas and Mary Sawyer. He enlisted August 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy, 10 Platoon with Frank Halbert, Morris, etc.
Frank Halbert and Keith Sawyer would have grown up together at Menzies, both their families extensively involved in mining from early days.
Keith has been a keen and competitive cyclist prior to enlisting.
Keith Sawyer as POW in Singapore sailed to south west coast of Burma with the first Australian Work Party to leave – 3,000 POWs – ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion. This Force was sent to the northern end, i.e. Burma end of the railway.
Please read further about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.
Sawyer was not selected to work in Japan, as so many ‘A’ Force were – it appears he may have been sick as he was sent to Tamarkan and was recovered from Nakom Nayok Hospital Camp at the end of the war.
Keith was fortunate to return home where he would have learned his Menzies’ mate Frank Halbert had died in Thailand.
Keith’s first cousin WX7939 SAWYER, CLARENCE (CLARRIE) JOHN died of dysentery, Java 1 April 1942.
Clarrie had been share farming with his brother at Nungarin prior to enlisting. Please read further.
Please read about those AWOL in Fremantle and sailed to Java.
Below: Clarrie is son of Joseph Archibald ‘Archie’ Sawyer who m. Mary McArthur. Archie is older brother to Keith’s father Ephrain ‘Thomas’ Sawyer. The parents of Archie and Thomas are William Frederick Sawyer and Susannah (nee McClaren) who moved to Menzies and settled with their family. William and susanah died there and are buried at the Menzies cemetery.
Please read more about the Sawyer family
Included in the Northern Grazier & Miner (Leonora) 30 August 1941: Frank HALBERT, Bob McASKIL, T.K. (Keith or Barney) SAWYER, W.R. Bill MORRIS. In addition there were others who enlisted elsewhere, however had been living Menzies.
___________________________
Please read story of Kookynie Enlistments
Below: Of interest is the number of persons applying to the Menzies Licensing Court in 1906 – a busy industry servicing miners and supporting industries. Applications not only from Menzies, but surrounds areas including Kookynie.
ADAMS, W T G
ALDERSON, Robert (World War 1)
ALLAN, F
ALLEN, W G L
ANSCOMBE, A G
ANSCOMBE, A S
ARMSTRONG, G A
BALME, W D M
BANESS, L E
BARRETT, C
BAXTER, J A
BEAGLEHOLE, J A
BELL, F
BELL, Herbert Lancelot (World War 1)
BENNETTS, R H
BEVANS, E T
BEYERS, Oswald Arthur (World War 1)
BLACKMORE, Garnett (World War 1)
BLACKMORE, P C
BLAXELL, D W
BLOXAM, K E
BOASE, William Edward (World War 1)
BOASE, William James (World War 1)
BOND, R C
BOND, Richard (World War 1)
BONE, Kingsley Vincent Stanhope (World War 1)
BONSON, J
BORMAN, J A
BOUNDY, A
BOWLER, Samuel Gregory (World War 1)
BRANDT, Peter (World War 1)
BREENEY, M *
BRETAG, B P
BRIGHT, John (World War 1)
BRIGHT, William Edward (World War 1)
BROMLEY, Harry William (World War 1)
BROWN, A
BROWN, G
BUDESILEC, G M
BURKE, W F
BURNS, G L
BUTCHER, H J C
BUTCHER, L J
BYRNES, J J
CADBY, Harry George (World War 1)
CAIRNS, John (World War 1)
CAMPBELL, W
CARLILE, Robert James (World War 2)
CARR, L
CARR, Stanley Percival (World War 1)
CARSEN, E M A
CHAMPION, Henry Goninon (World War 1)
CHANDLER, S
CLARK, Harry (World War 1)
COBBY, H W
COFFEY, James (World War 1)
COLEMAN, F G
COLLIER, A L
COLLIER, A S
COLLIER, W E
COLLINS, M
CONNOR, Ray William (World War 1)
CONNOR, William Henry (World War 1)
COOPER, T H
COWAN, R
COWEY, Frederick (World War 1)
COY, L M
CRAIG, L J F
CRAIG, P
CRAMB, Frederick Blachree (World War 1)
CRANE, A
CRISP, E
CRUICKSHANK, H
CRUICKSHANK, J
CRUICKSHANK, N J
DAVERN, J C
DAY, H
DEWAR, J V A
DILLON, T M
DINGLE, Edward Archibald (World War 1)
DOUGLAS, H J
DOUGLAS, Reginald Alexander (World War 2)
DOUGLAS, S B
DUGROW, E
DUNCAN, George (World War 1)
EASTBURN, Arthur Robinson (MM) (World War 1)
EDWARDS, E
ELLERTON, R K
EPIS, J P
EVANS, T
FORD, H
FORREST, K
GARDNER, D
GAUNT, R
GEE, W
GIBBON, A *
GIDNEY, Samuel Neal (World War 1)
GILES, A
GILIZAN, M
GOLDTHORP, J A
GRAHAM, W
GRANT, W *
GRAVES, E J
GREEGAN, J
GRIBBLE, Walter Harold (World War 1)
GRIFFITH, J
GRIFFITHS, C
GRIFFITHS, G E *
GURY, R *
HAGE, J A
HAINES, A W
HALBERT, Ernest Shelley (World War 1) older brother to Frank.
HALBERT, Francis (World War 2)
HAMILTON, R
HAMILTON, William James (World War 1)
HAMPSON, R D
HARRIS, H
HARRISON, Alfred Ernest (World War 1)
HARRISON, Hector John (MC) (World War 1)
HARRISON, John (World War 1)
HARRIS, R
HARTLEY, G M
HASSETT, Matthew (World War 1)
HAVLIN, R H
HAWKINS, R T
HAYWOOD, J W
HELLWEGE, N T
HENDERSON, C
HENDERSON, E M.M.
HENDERSON, G *
HERGARTY, J P
HILLIER, E F
HODSON, F G A
HOGAN, Michael Joseph (World War 1)
HOWARD, H
HOWELL, S G
HUNT, L F
INVERNAZZI, P
IVANKOVICH, F
JAMES, W
JENKINS, H F F
JOLLY, E
JONES, F R
JONES, L C
JONES, R H
JORGENSEN, H
JOSE, A H
JOWETT, James (World War 1)
KELLY, J
KENNEDY, J
KEYS, James (World War 1)
KNIGHT, W
KRAMER, Leslie (World War 1)
KRAMER, Stanely (World War 1)
KURTH, Leslie Arnold (World War 1)
LAMPIE, J
LANGTRY, J S
LARSEN, C L
LARSON, Carl August (World War 1)
LATWOOD, Charles (World War 1)
LAW, G
LEAR, Richard Blatchford (World War 1)
LEIPOLD, John James (World War 1) Uncle to WX16355 George Richard Leipold KIA Singapore 11 Feb 1942
LEIPOLD, J T
LILLEY, Ronald Herbert (World War 1)
LONG, S V
LORRIGAN, P J
LUCRAFT, F A G
LYSAGHT, G
MAHER, W
MARCH, S
MARIOTTI, G
MARTIN, Edgar (World War 1)
MCCOLL, D
MCGARRIGAL, Edward Victor (World War 1)
MCGREGOR, William Duncan (World War 1)
MCLEAN, A A
MCMEIKAN, William Roy Bishop (World War 1)
MCNALLY, J M
MCNAMARA, J
MILLS, S J
MILLS, W G A
MITCHELL, Henry James (World War 1)
MITCHELL, H K
MONAGHAN, C
MONTGOMERY, M H
MOORE, E*
MOORE, H L
MOORE, W
MORGAN, F
MORRIS, G
MORTIMER, W
MORTISON, H
MOUNCEY, R *
MOYLE, H W
MUNRO, R C
MURCHI, D
MURDOCK, J H
MURPHY, D
MURPHY, J
MURPHY, T A
MURRAY, H W DCM VC DSO
MYERS, W
NEWMAN, E E
NEWTON, S
NIXON, J
NOLAN, E *
NORWOOD, T
O’BRIEN, N
O’BRIEN, William (World War 1)
O’DONNELL, P
O’FARRELL, R
ORMEROD, Albert (World War 1)
O’ROURKE, J F
PALMER, C
PALMER, H
PARTRIDGE, Lancelot Wilfred Peyton (World War 1)
PARTRIDGE, T *
PASSMORE, C R
PENDO, J I
PIANTO, H T
PIANTO, J J
PIANTO, J MM
PIANTO, J V
PIANTO, O J
PINI, J
POPE, Herbert Cecil (World War 1)
POPE, P
POULTER, Arthur (World War 1)
PRIESTLEY, J
PROCTER, R
PUGH, D
PUGH, R T
REHM, E
REILLY, A
REILLY, Leslie George Leo (World War 1)
REILLY, T A
REMNANT, R
RICHARDS, Albert Kenneth (World War 1)
RICHARDS, J
RICHARDS, William Charles (World War 1)
RIDDELL, Joseph Henry (World War 1)
RIDDELL, W R
RILEY, T
RISDEN, E J
ROBERTS, A E
ROBERTSON, A
ROBERTSON, John Finlayson (World War 1)
ROBERTSON, Robert Muir (World War 1)
ROGERS, R
ROSE, A V
ROWE, A
ROWE, E M
ROWE, J *
SANDER, B W
SAUNDERS, W
SAWYER, D H
SAWYER, H A
SAWYER, James Henry (World War 1)
SAWYER, T K
SAWYER, William Frederick (World War 1)
SCHMIDT, A
SCHMIDT, E
SCHMIDT, E G L
SCHMIDT, F
SCHRYVER, W F
SHADDICK, R G
SHAW, K R D AAMC
SKEWTHROP, W
SMITH, F
SMITH, H
SMITH, J
SMITH, James Earington (World War 1)
SMITH, J E
SNELL, J H
SPALHOLTZ, H A *
SPARGO, Harold Charles (World War 1)
STEELE, R
STEWART, Donald William (World War 1)
STEWART, F
STEWART, R T
STOLTZ, L
STOLTZ, T
STOTT, L E
TEMPLEMAN, Albert Henry (World War 1)
TEMPLEMAN, Harold (World War 1)
THOMAS, A
THOMPSON, J
TISSOTT, A
TISSOTT, H L
TONTA, J
TREWEEK, J
TUNNBRIDGE, J
TURNBULL, J
TURNER, J
TWYFORD, J *
UREN, R
VICKS, H
VIRGO, W
WAINEY, John (World War 1)
WALKER, C E
WALTERS, Jack (World War 1)
WALTON, A
WALTON, E J
WATSON, J
WATT, T J
WEMM, A
WHITE, G
WHITTING, W
WILKINSON, R B
WILLIAMS, H
WILLIAMSON, G W P
WILSON, A
WILSON, C E
WILSON, G
WILSON, J M
WILSON, J W *
WINSTANLEY, J E
WOODS, S M
WOOLCOCK, A J
WOOSMAN, F P
WOOSNAM, John (World War 1)
WORKMAN, J
YOUNG, W
Menzies ls about 130km north of Kalgoorlie and 724 km north-east of Perth. It was officially established in August 1895 and quickly became a bustling mining town.
It is thought the town honours a Canadian gold prospector named Leslie Robert Menzies who, in 1894, found gold in the area and started the rush.
The railway arrived1900. Menzies then boasted two breweries, thirteen hotels and a population of over 10,000.
Today there are a number of abandoned mining towns south of Menzies including Siberia, Davyhurst, Mulwarrie, Mulline, Riverina, Comet Vale and Mt Ida.
Above: The fabulous Menzies Town Hall built between 1896-98.
Above: About 1930
Menzies to Kalgoorlie Bike race taken outside Grand Hotel, Menzies with Montgomery’s store in the background.
menzieskalgoorliebikeracegrandhotelmenracingbikeschildmontgomerystorebackground
Below: https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/menzies-to-kalgoorlie-bike-race/
Menzies a town filled with rich history
The Railway arrives at Menzies 1894.
Menzies was a mining boom town in the late 1800s, boasting as many as 13 hotels. Even so living conditions were primitive with ‘homes’ built mostly on a temporary basis of flimsy material, often tents and prone to fire. Illness was prevalent with excessive heat and flies, Infants were susceptible. The water supply was intermittent.
Please read Kookynie enlistments
The following are newspaper items showing life at Menzies.
A most colourful mining town where life could be short. Shortage of water, illnesses.
