Total of seven men from 2/4th commenced work on the Railway:

Annear, Magill, Quinn, Squance who were joined by 2/4th Java POWs: Booth, McAskil and Banks. (Booth and McAskil both died on Railway)

Please read about McAskil

Also read about Booth & Banks

 

 

 

LIBERATED ALLIED AND AUSTRALIAN PRISONERS OF WAR FROM PALEMBANG, SUMATRA, RELATE THEIR EXPERIENCE TO A BRITISH WAR CORRESPONDENT IN SINGAPORE. (NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTION)

 

 

 

Above:  Printed in Daily News, Perth in 1986.

 

Pakan Baroe/Pakanbaru was a small port about 90 miles along the Siak River from its mouth. The river was sufficiently deep to accommodate ships up to 800 tons all year round.

From early 1944 when Japan realised the tide was turning and they were losing many ships to the Allies it was decided that in event of an Allied attack on Western Sumatra, Japanese reinforcements could be brought in by sea utilising the shelter of islands between Singapore and Sumatra. Japanese troops would then be brought straight up the Siak River to Pakan Baroe.

 

The following list of construction camps and approx. distance from beginning at Pakan Baroe:

Construction began 26 Oct 1944 and was completed one week after the end of the war 22 Aug 1945. 

No 1.  000.00km Pakan Baroe – Lies about half way from east to west Sumatra on the Equator.

No 2.  5 km Tengkerang Hospital or Death Camp – There were two camps in this area round Camp 2 located at Tangkerang Tengah.  

No 2a.  15 km  Koebang – located at Simpang Tiga, a few hundred metres further south.

No 3. 18 km  Kampung Petas and Kubang – Camp 3 is located at Kampung Petas, (previously Kotabulu). The water storage for the kitchen and camp area is all that remains here. There may have been two camp areas here, one main camp or possibly the Japanese camp, and another closer to the Kampar Kanan river and the railway bridge approach on the northern side of the river.

​Camp 3A. Kubang – Nothing is left in this wet and swampy area other than the stream crossings and white sand quarry that was used for bridge embankments and approaches.

No. 4.  Kampar Kanan River (south bank)

No 4 A & B. 19 km Teratakboeloah

No 5.   23 km Loeboeksakat/Lubu Sakit

No 6. 36 km Sungai Pagar

No 7.  75 km  Lipatkain/Lipit Kain (North and South Bank). Camp 7 is on the south bank of the Kampar Kiri river while camp 7A is on the north side.

No. 7A. Camp was located next to where the railway line crossed the Kampar Kiri river. The bridge foundations where the line crossed the river can still be seen when the river is extremely low.

No 8.  111 km Kota Baroe

No 9. 142 km Logas

No 10. 160 km Loeboeck Ambajan/Kota Kombu

No 11. 176 km Pinto Baroe/Padang Torok – Camp 11 is the first of two camps located in the Kuantan Gorge.

No 12.  200 km Silukah (Siloewah)

No 13. 220 km Moearo/Muaro – Camp 13 is located in Muaro in West Sumatra. This is where the line connected with the original line built by the Dutch years before.

No 14.  118-119 km Tapoei-Petai  spur line to the coal mine and camps 14 and 14A began not far from camp 8 at a village called Petai.

 

 

Similarities to Burma-Thai Ralway included – type of work, rations and treatment meted out to POWs by Korean guards – except the POWs began this project with poor physical and mental  health having already been prisoners for 2 1/2 years and food supplies were reduced and became more scarce. POWs were skeletal, many unable to walk and daily deaths by the time they were rescued.

(With limited information available and few records of written/published personal accounts, we are unable to provide detailed account.)

Most important is the POWs who were there receive the recognition they deserve for their work and lives lost on this railway project. 

 

You Can read further about 2/4th men escaping Singapore to Sumatra

Please read about POWs sailing Sumatra

Please read about Evacuation of the POWs from Sumatra – another story!

A personal story of a POW who worked on Railway Sumatra

Read about three 2/4th boys sent from Java to Sumatra to work on Railway 1944 :

Of the three 2/4th POWs sent from Java to Sumatra, Banks was the only one to survive.  On arrival in Sumatra, the three men were sent to Pakan Baroe.  McAskil and Booth died working on the Railway.

 

Below:  From the Beattie Collection -unfortunately date is unknown.

 

Below: being fitted out for clothes

 

Please read POW George Duffy’s account of the Sumatran Rail 

Also please read this account by co-authors Pte R.F.(Slim)Nelson VX8212 and Pte.H.A.(Jonger)Stanton QX23428 as told to Peter Winstanley.

 

 

Awa Maru

The POWs originally selected for ‘Awa Maru’ Party to work in Japan had departed Tamarkan-Kanchanaburi-Non Pladuk area of Thailand by train travelling through Bangkok to Phnom Penh, and finally arrived in Saigon, French-Indo China on 15^th April 1944.   They were billeted in ex-French Foreign Legion barracks on Rue Jean Eudel, which ran behind, and parallel with the docks on the Saigon River. The Japanese plan was to sail their ship of human cargo from Saigon to Moji, Japan.

There were several unsuccessful attempts to depart Saigon however the American submarine blockade of this area of French-Indo China made it impossible to do so.

The ‘Rakuyo Maru’ Party (made up of Kumis 35 to 40) which was hit by American submarines on 12 September 1944 and sunk with only a few of  707 POWs surviving, had earlier departed Thailand at end of March, 1944 and travelled the same route to Saigon intending to sail to Japan. They were also redirected to Singapore because of the blockade and finally departed on 3 September 1944.

During the four-month sojourn in French-Indo China the POWs were put to work either at the go-downs, wharves or on general labouring.

Finally on 15 August 1944 the Group were ferried back to Phnom Pehn where they travelled  by rail back to Singapore – arriving on 22^nd August 1944.

Two 2/4^th men who remained in Saigon were Leonard Greaves and Harold Clayden.   Both were recovered from here when the war ended and it is thought they were too sick to travel.

 

Greaves and Clayden.

 

In Singapore the POWs were moved into River Valley Road Transit Camp to wait available shipping to Japan.  Until they boarded ‘Awa Maru’ on 15 December 1944, the men were kept busy loading and unloading ships at Keppel Harbour. Some including Jack Maude, worked some time on the dry dock opposite Jeep Island.

The 11,249-ton passenger-cargo ship ‘Awa Maru’ loaded with 525 Australian, American and Dutch POWs at Singapore to sail to Moji, Japan. The POWs were crammed into one hold modified by the addition of two platforms to provide three tiers of cramped sleeping space. In addition the passageways were crammed with sleeping POWs.

‘Awa Maru’ Party was made up of Kumis 41 and 42 (each kumi is about 150 men) several men missed their draft because of illness and remained behind in Changi hospital. There were at least two men who remained behind James Lind and John Randall from 88th LAD and left Singapore on 2 Feb 1945 with the ‘Both’ Party to Saigon.

 

We believe William Tischler WX145712  from HQ Company was another to remain behind – he also missed the Feb ‘Both’ party to Saigon because he remained in Changi and was recovered from Singapore at the end of war.

‘Tischler was transferred to Changi Gaol Camp Administration on 28/1/1945‘.

‘Awa Maru’ moved out to the roadstead on 16^th December 1944 to await the remainder of the convoy to arrive. The men were to wait 10 days for the convoy to set sail. They were aware American submarines patrolled the seas and knew several ships transporting POWs to Japan had sunk. A sense of fear prevailed throughout the hold until their safe arrival in Japan.

Fortunately ‘Awa Maru’ arrived unscathed at Moji on 15^th January 1945. There were 17 men from 2/4^th on this ship. At Moji the party was divided into several smaller groups with the majority of the 2/4^th men sent to Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17 Omuta except for 3 men sent to Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 24 Sendyu.

At Omuta the Australian POWs were sent to work in the Miutsui Coal Mine. The prison camp proved to be hell.

Please read about Omuta.

It was here Norm Grant WX8828 formerly a miner was made an underground supervisor in the mine because of his past experience.

He was recovered at the end of the war fromFukuoka sub Camp N0 17 Omuta, sailed from Nagasaki to Manila on USS Lunga Point.

From Manila to Sydney on HMS Speaker.  Please read further

From Sydney to Fremantle on HMT Dominion Monarch.

 

2/4th men who sailed to Japan with ‘Awa’ Maru party and who went to Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 24, Sendyu included:

WX9175 HAYWOOD,  William (Bill)Thomas

WX10792 MURTAGH, Edwin John

W13285 MAUDE, Jack

 

Those who sailed with ‘Awa’ Maru party and went to Omuta included:

WX8228 GRANT, Norman Herbert (Norm)

WX7757 WELLS, Hugo Clarence (Clarry or Hughie)

WX10745 HAMBLEY, Albert James

Please read further about ‘Awa’ Maru 

We acknowledge Neil MacPherson’s more detailed contribution about the voyage of ‘Awa’ Maru and thank the Mansell website.

You may like to read further about the history and the later sinking of ‘Awa Maru.

Two men from 2/4th, were later sent in a work party from Omuta to  Fukuoka No. 22 from where they were recovered.  They were WX8822 Cooper and WX7757 Hugo Clarence Wells.

‘H’ Force consisted of six groups/parties within ‘H’ Force from H1 to H6 Officers Party.

Two of these groups included 32 men from 2/4th – H3 and H6 Officer’s Party – 7 men died from illness, including Nobby Hall and Doug Hall.  It appears the two men decided to remain together and were selected with ‘H’ Force.  Several men who returned to Singapore had been seriously ill.  Gleeson had his leg amputated. 

Gleeson’s name is included with those left at Kanchanaburi Hospital Camps (1 or 2) with other sick between 8 December 1943 to 24 April 1944 then returned to Singapore 29 April 1944 – several months after the main group returned. 

‘H’ Force HQ was at Tampie and the work Force were in camps along a 20 km stretch of railway line between Tonchan and Hintok.

 

 

 

The Officers were expected to participate on labouring on the rail link like the other ranks in ‘H’ Force.  We can surmise that by April/May the Japanese were running out of POW labour and finding their pool of labour was not limitless.  ‘H’ Force had been despatched to this area in Thailand to beef up the labour force.    This middle section had encountered problems and progress fallen behind in schedule.

Like ‘D’ Force V Battalion had been separated from Japanese Thailand Administration Group 4, ‘H’ Force Groups were similarly separated and neglected because they remained under Singapore’s administration and not Thailand.

This may explain why the sick of ‘H’ Force were not evacuated down river by barge to Tarsau and instead moved by train to Kanchanaburi Hospital Camp.

‘H’ Force totalled 3,270 POWs which included 670 Australians spread between H3 and H6 Groups.  Included were 1141 British, 588 Dutch 26 American and the remaining 845 Malay volunteers & Indian soldiers.

The first ‘H’ Force train departed Singapore on 5 May 1943.  This was virtually on top of the last ‘F’ Force train’s departure which had commenced 18 April 1943.

The Japanese were desperate to complete the  rail construction schedule set down by Tokyo.

‘H’ Force Group 3

The campsite was on uncleared, slightly sloping ground and located roughly 450 yards east of Hellfire Pass Cutting and to the north of ‘S’ Force S Battalion’s Camp, Kanu II, believed to be 1.42 kilometres away.

A small area about the size of a lawn bowls green was cleared on afternoon of ‘H’ Force’s arrival on 21 May 1943 and 20 tents were pitched. During the following two days the camp area was enlarged and bamboo floors laid inside tents. Water was drawn from small stream and boiled prior to use as a precautionary practice. The stream was just south of the campsite and was crossed by a bridge on the Kanu to Hintok access road. There was another stream running south of Kanu II ‘D’ Force Camp which was also crossed by a bridge on the same road.

‘H’ Force Group 3 departed Singapore 8 May 1943 arrived at Non Pladuk four days later moving to the nearby Konma transit camp.

Their 170 km march to their camp site would take 5 days.

The following day 13 May 1943, this group marched out of Konma transit camp at 2300 hours, arriving at their first rest camp at 1000 hours the next day. ‘H’ Force followed in the steps of ‘F’ Force to Kanchanaburi heading for Malayan Hamlet/Kanu II.

The Force Commander was Lt-Col HR Humphries of Royal Artillery, his second in command was Lt-Col Oaks.

‘H’ Force was initially an all-Australian force under the command of Lt-Col R.F. Oakes.

Please read further about Lt-Col Oakes – A POW leader who failed his men on more than on occasion

Major Bert Saggers from 2/4th was his second in command and in charge of the group’s pay and records.

At Kanchanaburi ‘H’ Force camped in an open paddock. During the night local Thais crept amongst the tired, sleeping men, stealing whatever they could escape with. This would have been maddening for the men. They rested during the day and marched out at night to Temple transit Camp which ‘F’ Force had earlier passed through.

During their journey they hired 20 oxen and carts to carry their gear forward to Tardan Bridge Camp as had ‘F’ Force.

Their routine was to march by night about 15 miles and rest during the day until they covered the total distance of 90 miles. They reached Kanu III Camp at 0400 hours on 21 May. The last gruelling 4 miles to Malayan Camp took 3 hours to complete.

By the time they reached Malayan Camp the Force had increased in number to include 114 British and POWs ex-Java. On 30 May a further 98 additional stragglers marched in. Total numbers now included approximately 500 Australians, 200 British and some Americans.

111 Australians and 106 British POWs would die at Malayan Hamlet.

‘H’ Force Doctors:

NX706434 Major K.J. Fagan 2/10 AGH – Camp Medical Officer. (See below)

NX70643 39316 Major E.A. Marsden 2/10th AGH

NX76600 Capt. Mac. K.  Winchester (Dentist) 43 ADU

Japanese engineers called for the first work party on 24 May, 3 days after ‘H’ Force arrived. Officers had difficulty firming up numbers because of high number of sick POWs.

The workforce was split into 4 shifts from A to D with each shift numbering 100 men. Two shifts worked during daylight and the other two during darkness.

Within weeks the weather began closing in for monsoon season and the Camp anticipating a possible cholera outbreak had pitched two tents in the jungle about 165 yards from the main camp.   The first case was diagnosed at 1000 hours on 16 June. The POW’s death soon followed at 1630 hours.

With monsoonal rains the area around the camp became a quagmire.  Long working hours with only minimal food supplies and Japanese engineers demanding POW workers whether ill not and the apparent lack of leadership from Oats, the men would have felt very alone.

By this time cholera had already appeared at Kanu II and Hintok Road Camps which had used a separate water supply.

Following the cholera outbreak at Malayan Camp on 18 June 1943, 59 British were brought from Kanu III to set up a new camp called Kanu IIIa (Tampie North) or K IIIr (Tampie South) Advance Camp.

On 25 August 1943, 83 Australians from Groups H3 and H6 joined ‘H’ Force No. 1 Sub-Section and travelled by train to Konkoita in a last minute dash to complete the railway in that sector.

On 8 September 1943 the first Australian party from ‘H’ Force consisting of stretcher cases was evacuated to Kanchanaburi. During the following few days a further 4 parties were evacuated totalling about 500 men. This left a workforce of about 25 men to remain behind and clean up the campsite.

On 16 September the rear party who had been at Tonchan Spring Camp moved forward to Kanu IIIa (Tampie North Camp) to join the other Australians before this last group also moved south to Kanchanaburi.

The evacuation of sick to Kanchanaburi had commenced prematurely on 29 July 1943 before ‘F’ and ‘H’ Force Hospital had been completed. For the next month the sick were accommodated at ‘D’ Force Base Hospital Camp No. 1 until their own hospital was completed on 27 August and able to accept them.

As soon as the sick were classified fit, they were transferred to a ‘Fit Camp’ located two miles away in a jungle clearing. On 19 November 1943 the first party of 500 fit men left under the command of Lt-Col T.H. Newey as an advance party back to Singapore. Newey had come into Kanchanaburi from Konkoita with ‘H’ Force No. 1 Sub-Section, arriving between 8^th-12^th November 1943.

Between 20 November and 10 December 1943, ‘H’ Force returned to Singapore en-masse by train with the exception of some seriously ill men who would not return until May 1944.  62 POWs were left behind at Kanchanaburi hospital Camp when the main body left for Singapore.  Of this number 14 were Australian of whom five died.  The remainder arrived Changi May 1944.

Lt Col Oakes returned in ‘good condition’ – he had ordered that he received double portions of food whilst on the Burma-Thai Railway.  The POWs in the cookhouse hated that often Oakes came around looking to find best portions of food, knowing that most POWs out working on the rail link were starving and suffering terrible tropical illnesses.  Oakes seemed not care.

Singapore would learn of the appalling conditions experienced at the construction camps on the Burma-Thai Rail link.

‘H’ Force’s Burma-Thai Railway nightmare lasted less than 7 months.

Those of ‘H’ Force who survived were fortunate to return to the relative safety and comfort of Changi December 1943.

From this time onwards PoWs from Thailand and Burma were preparing to work  in Japan – or the remainder were either sick in various Camp Hospitals or were out on work parties throughout Thailand.

Those who remained were looking at another 20 months in Thailand’s jungle or sailing on Hell ships to Japan and working in mines, or for those on the ‘Rakuyo’ Maru fighting to survive the sinking of their transport ship to Japan in Sept 1944.

An informal group portrait of Company Commanders of 2/19th Battalion on reconnaissance near Seremban, sitting on ground talking. Left to right: NX34993 Major (Maj) E. H. J. (Bert) Bradley, `C’ Company, killed in action on 12 February 1942; Maj T. G. (Tom) Vincent, `D’ Company, who was awarded the Military Cross (MC), and killed in action on 9 February 1942; Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) R. F. (Roley) Oakes, `A’ Company; Lt Col Charles Anderson, Commanding Officer. Lt Col Anderson was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his leadership in the Malayan campaign.

LEADERSHIP OF POWS

In recent years researchers of POW Leadership has shown Lt-Col Oakes NX12525 failed the men of ‘H ‘Force spending much of his time in his tent and not venturing outside to see how they were faring in these horrific circumstances, working excessively long hours, with little food, struck down by tropical illnesses and subjected to random and frequent brutality by the Japanese engineers and guards.  Too often those very sick men were unable to remain at the camp ‘hospital’ –  the Japanese guards demanded their daily men quota.  This was the time when the men needed to know there was somebody watching for them, standing up for them!

It was mostly Camp Doctors who became the leaders the POWs required.  Their strong leadership is well documented.  Read the stories of Australian POWs working on the Burma-Thai Railway.

Please read this interesting and revealing thesis.  In particular please read P80, 81.

Officers who excelled in the battle field were sometimes unable to adapt to life as a POW and lead their men.

From the moment ‘H’ Force arrived in Thailand Major Kevin James Fagan  became completely occupied with attempting to control a severe epidemic of cholera in the men who were already suffering from chronic dysentery, malnutrition and tropical ulcers.  He had the unenviable task of sending sick men out to work to fill the daily Japanese quota of men.

He was also ordered to select 100 fit men to remain behind to continue work on the rail while everybody else were sent south eventually back to Singapore.

By the time ‘H’ Force returned to Sime Road Camp, Singapore Fagan was in a state of physical exhaustion and was critically ill with cerebral malaria.  Fagan suffered fever and delirium for more than a week – everybody waited anxiously – and the good news of his recovery was very welcomed!  Fagan was a popular man amongst the men.

_______________

Major Saggers (‘A’ Coy HQ – transf to ‘E’ Coy SRB) and a six further 2/4th officers plus Lt Colville Vincent were included in ‘H’ Force  –

Lt.s  Don Lee (‘B’ Coy 9 Pltn)

Vic Mentiplay (Btn HQ SRB)

George Branson (6 Pltn)

Bernie O’Sullivan (3 Pltn)

T.R. Ambrose (10 Pltn)

Bob Learmonth (5 Pltn)

Colville D J Vincent  – Embark. with 2/20th, transf 2/29th Pioneer Pltn, tranf 2/4th 14 Jan 1943)

 

‘Eric Watt of ‘C’ Coy was hospitalised in Singapore at Changi with a very bad abscess.  Watt apparently had a lot of sickness up north, beri beri, malaria and dysentery. He speaks highly of Leith and Miller of ‘C’ Coy.  They did an amazing job for other machine gunners in looking after and washing them and also in scrounging food for them.  Stories such as this help to restore one’s faith in human nature.’ 

The above was an entry in Tom Buninng’s diary relating to H3 Group at Malayan Hamlet.  The fortunate Tom Bunning remained at Singapore throughout the war with Garden Party.

WX8185 Jim J. Barry – ‘B’ Coy, 7 Pltn. Later X Party Singapore.

WX10282 ‘Curly’ Collins – ‘B’ Coy 7 Pltn

WX7943 Robert Drysdale – Scotsman  – ‘B’ Coy, 9 Pltn – later X Party Singapore

WX5064 Ted Elliot – Driver ‘C’ Coy HQ – later X Party Singapore

WX9132 Arthur Gamble – ‘C’ Coy, 12 Pltn.

WX16736 Stephen Gleeson – his right leg was amputated and he remained Kanchanburil when ‘H’ Force returned to Singapore by mid Dec 1943.  Gleeson returned after Dec 1943 to Singapore.

WX9350 Patrick (George) Hodgins Driver ‘B’ Coy, 7 Pltn  – later X Party, Singapore

WX9915 Francis Herbert Keirle – HQ Coy 1 Pltn, Signals – contracted cholera at Malayan Hamlet 20 June 1943 and survived!

WX4917 John (Jock) Leith  – Scotsman – ‘C’ Coy,10 Pltn -evacuated 10 Sept 43 with beri beri to Kanchanaburi.  Survived.

WX10806 Ken Lessels – HQ Coy Stretcher Bearer – Evacuated to Kanchaburi 21 Jun 43 with Cholera.  Survived returned to Singapore.later X6  Party, Singapore

WX6203 Jim McSkene – ‘D’ Coy HQ.  Evacuated with beri beri Oct 43 to Kanchanaburi.  Sime Road Camp Sinapore.

WX7885 Alby Miller – ‘C’ Coy 11 Pltn. Kanu II, Malayan Hamlet, Kanu IIIa (Tampie North), Kanchanaburi.   Sime Road Camp Singapore.

WX13816 Donald David Pearson – ‘B’ Coy 7 Pltn.  Kanu II, Malayan Hamlet, Kanchanaburi.

WX7835 William Lowes Rosel (Bill) –  from Collie, Driver ‘C’ Coy 11 Pltn

WX9067 Eric George Watt – ‘C’ Coy 12 Pltn

WX5204 Harry Worsdell  ‘D’ Coy, 14 Ptn

WX9379 Thomas William Zeeb ‘B’ Coy HQ

The overall death rate of ‘H’ Force totalled 885 men (including 179 Australians)  – 27.37% of total Force.

 

There were seven 2/4th deaths – four of these had contracted cholera.

 

1 Jul 1943 WX7628 Howard Edgar Joseph (known as Tim) Sgt, ‘A’ Coy 6 Pltn – died cholera aged 31 years Grave No. 22 Malayan Hamlet (not cremated).

‘Tim’ Howard married Elsie Beryl Pickersgill in 1932.  They had two children.  Their  youngest, son Peter John Howard born in 1939 tragically died in 1944 aged 5 years.   Peter’s father unknown to the family, had already died of cholera in Thailand.

Elsie remarried in 1950 however was again widowed in 1972.  She died at Bunbury in 1992 aged 79 years.

.

17 Jul 1943 WX8747 Hall William Harrison (Nobby) – ‘B’ Coy, 8 Pltn- died  beri-beri, cerebral malaria and cholera at Malayan Hamlet aged 42 years.  Buried Grace No. 38 (not cremated).

Nobby was father to four children.

Aged 22 years he sailed from London arriving Dec 1921 at Fremantle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

27 Jul 1943 WX9052 McDonough Henry Elvin  – ‘C’ Coy 11 Pltn – died of cholera aged 28 years, buried unmarked cemetery approx 300 yds North of Kanu IIa (Tampie North) on Kanu-Hintok  Road, Grave No 18.

 

7 Sep 1943 WX7623 Shelton George Tom – ‘D’ Coy 15 Pltn – died Malayan Hamlet, post pneumonia  and beri-beri aged 24 years.  Buried Grave No. 80 Malayan Hamlet.

 

24 Oct 1943 WX7250 Kidd George  – ‘B’ Coy  9 Pltn – Enlisted from Boulder. Died of cardiac beri-beri Kanchanaburi aged 37 years.    Buried Grave No. 214 Kanchanaburi.

 

24 Jan 1944 WX9293 Langdon Ronald Guy 

Driver ‘D’ Coy 13 Pltn –

died  of cardiac beri-beri at

Sime Road Camp, Singapore aged 32 years having earlier been evacuated to Kanchanaburi from Malayan Hamlet with cholera and beri-beri and returned to Singapore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

21 May 1944 WX10370 Hall Douglas Charles John  – ‘B’ Coy 8 Pltn – died septic thrombosis AGH Roberts Barracks Changi, Singapore aged 25 years.  Doug Hall made the journey back to Singapore, only to succumb to thrombosis on 21 May 1944.

Buried AIF Cemetery, Changi,  Grave No. 134.

Doug’s father was a WW1 Veteran, enlisted with 11th Btn.  In 1917 he was reported seriously ill for 2nd time.  ‘Billy’ Hall died at Woorooloo Sanitarium in 1923 aged 41 years.  Doug was about 4 years old.

 

 

These parties X.1 through to X.11 worked mainly as tunnelling parties at various locations around Singapore during 1945. By 1945 Japan faced defeat – but it would be months and months and two atomic bombs before they surrendered.

Some POWs believed (and rightly so) – they would be herded into the tunnels – the tunnels would serve as their tombs when the entrances were blown up.

The Japanese Garrison on Singapore initiated a programme of tunnels to store ammunition and to use as air raid shelters – their last great effort to hold off a total collapse of their war effort. Also construction of a fighter aerodrome.

Little is known and less recorded of  X and P Parties formed from Changi, Singapore during 1945.  What we do know is the POWs were used to prepare defences for IJA –  caves/tunnels as storage for explosives, etc.    (The men themselves believed IJA planned to end the POW lives by entombing them in these constructions.)

We have some information where these parties were housed, but unfortunately for most there is no record and hence we cannot record them in the category of ‘Camps’.  Also with the end of the war there was so much excitement and activity, most history of this parties was overlooked and/or not recorded.

The men who made up these parties were returned POWs from F & H Forces who had returned to Singapore at the end of 1943 and those who remained in Changi throughout the war for reasons of health, age or essential trade skills.  POWs at both Selarang and Changi Gaol Camps moved in and out on various work parties in Johore Bahru and around Singapore Island.

It is important to remember these men have been POWs for three years plus.   Those POWs who worked on the Railway endured much more – saw their mates die of illness and brutality, worked as slaves long hours on minimal food.  Men returning ill with F & H Forces after end of 1943 spent considerable time hospitalised and in recovery sometimes up to 12 months.

How did they find the strength of character to keep going?

‘Digging Funk Holes’  – digging small dugouts – for 1, 2 or 3 Japanese soldiers.

Digging tunnels and or fox holes for Japanese to hide  from where they could fight or seek safety from air attack.’

From AWM

Prisoners were used on heavy labouring works in and around Singapore. Tasks included road-building, freight-moving, mine removal and work in chemical factories. These troops suffered from diseases such as beriberi, malaria, and dysentery. Prisoners of war were sent to the following camps around Singapore: Great World, Adam Park No. 1, Bukit Timah No 5, Thomson Road No. 3, Lornie Road, Serangoon Road, Adam Park No. 4, Woodlands, Pasir Pajang, River Valley Road, Havelock Road, and Blakang Mati; and in Malaya to Johore Bahru, Mersing, and Endau.

Please Read Tom Bunnings reference to X Parties.

 

X1 Party Singapore – Jahore Bahru Tunnelling Party 28 Mar 1945 to 30 April 1945

Under the command of Capt. D. Duffy of 2/30th Btn, this party consisted of men from 2/29th and 2/30th. Work involved excavating tunnels at Johore Bahru.  The men worked on a daily rota of one hour on and one hour off due to the inadequate ventilation and the poor physical condition of POWs.

With frequent falls of earth the work became dangerous.

The POWs were initially accommodated in an old barracks and a large house which were located about two miles apart.   On 24 April 1945 the work party merged at the barracks.  Most of the men had been to Thailand so malaria was prevalent amongst their ranks.  Following this work, Capt Duffy led another group –  A.1 Party on tunnelling duties from 7 May 1945.  Eight companies totalled 282 men.

No further details are known.

The following 2/4th Men were in this party.

WX15433 James ANDERSON – previously ‘F’ Force.

WX7943 Robert DRYSDALE – previously ‘H’ Force.  Also P Force.

WX13072 William MACLEOD – Powerhouse attendant – moved on to P Party.

WX10066 Douglas Godfrey ROSS remained Singapore throughout war. In 1935 seconded to work with Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome, X1 Party and P Party.

Please read further about Jahore Bahru

X.2 Party

665 British POWs departed 29 April 1945 to Kranji.

 

X.3 Party 1 April 1945 to 20 Aug 1945

This Party was under the command of Capt Fred Stahl, 8^th Division Signals consisting of seven officers and 377 other ranks. WX6067 Lt. Penrod Dean, 2/4^th MGB was one of the seven officers – he was accompanied by 13 other ranks from the 2/4th Battalion.

The work site was at Choa Chu Kang Road, north of Bukit Panjang, approximately 400 yards west of Bukit Timah Road. The work consisted of excavation and construction of tunnels, trenches and weapon pits.

2/4th men in this party include:

WX8518 William Francis Anderton – previously remained Changi.

WX8795 Franz BLACKLEMAN -previously remained Singapore.

WX6057 Penrod DEAN – previously Outram Road Prison, Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome

WX14856 Melville Roy DOCKING – previously F Force.

WX6917 George James DOODSON – remained Singapore.

WX5064 Edwin ‘Ted’ ELLIOTT – previously ‘H’ Force & Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome

WX15422 Basil Melville FROST – JAVA PARTY No.4 Williams Force was sent from Java to work Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway. Frost was selected as fit by Japanese to work in Japan, however before he could board ‘Rakuyo’ Maru, Frost developed an infected leg and remained behind in Singapore.    Please read about ‘Rakuyo’ Maru

WX4991 Ernest Edgar HAMBLEY previously with ‘F’ Force Thailand.

WX9915 Frank Herbert KEIRLE previously worked Burma-Thai Railway with ‘H’ Force Camp No. 3. Contracted cholera 20 June 1943 at Malayan Hamlet evacuated Kanchanaburi and survived to return to Singapore.

WX7541 Clement Charles KEITEL – remained Singapore throughout war.  During 1945 Keitel was seconded to work with X3 Party in Singapore.

WX10910 Mervyn St John KENNEDY – previously ‘F’ Force.

WX6429 William John KING – remained Singapore.

WX7285 Harrie Robert LOVE – originally Java Party No. 4 -m evacuated to Hospital and remained Singapore.

WX9272 Arthur Gilbert SAUNDERS remained Singapore throughout war.  Seconded to work with Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome and X3 Party in 1945.  Recovered from Changi Gaol Camp.

 

X.4a Party 17 June 1945

Located around Bukit Timah and work party included 50 AIF.

Orchard Road Camp was situated closer to heart of Singapore on Orchard Road and considered by POWs to be a reasonably good camp.  It consisted of three two-storied huts surrounded by a high fence over which private residences and a park could be seen.  Work at this camp generally was at Keppell Harbour on the go-downs.  Keppell Harbour was used as a transit camp for POWs destined later to sail to Japan.

Towards the end of the war, the men supposedly dug sewerage trenches at Alexandra Hospital.  Undoubtably, this work was the advance party for the work of X.4c Party to continue in August 1945.

X.4b Party 6 April 1945 / TANJONG PAGAR CAMP

There were three members of 2/4^th MGB included in a total of 50 AIF. They acted as an advance party for W Party at Keppel Harbour.

The camp was adjacent to the wharf at Keppel Harbour.

WX7705 Ronald HILL – remained Singapore throughout Singapore.  Also worked with W Party.

WX7532 Robin Roy SEMPLE – recovered from ‘Hirukiku’ Maru sailing out of Medan, Sumatra – remained Changi.  Also W Party and Tanjong Pagar Camp.

WX18151 Arthur Roy SHIER previously with ‘F’ Force Thailand. He joined several work parties – X4B Party, W Party, Tanjong Pagar Camp.  Roy was recovered from Singapore.

 

X.4c Party 10 April 1945 to 17 Aug 1945

They worked in the region around River Valley Road under Command of Capt. Bowring, 2/29th. Btn.  Work consisted of tunnelling for defensive purposes.  The last few weeks before the end of the war POWs constructed machine gun pits, in particular around Alexandra Hospital.

 

X.5 Party 12 April 1945

The following three groups – X.5, X.6 and X.7 consisted of 51 AIF and 51 British POWs.

 

X.6 Party 26 May 1945

Work consisted of tunnelling around Singapore and Johore Bahru.  2/4th men we know in X6 party include:

WX10841 Arthur Crighton BRUCE – previously remained Singapore.

WX8119 Rodney Charles FULLERTON – Wounded 11 Feb 1942.  Remained Changi.  Kranji Hospital Wooidands.

WX8597 Frank HINDS – previously ‘F’ Force.  Also Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome Party & P Party.

WX10806 Kenneth Edgar LESSELS previously ‘H’ Force, Evacuated with Cholera from Malay Hamlet to Kanchanaburi 21 June 1943. Also Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome.

WX8675 Robert Russell LYLE remained Singapore.  WIA Ulu Pandan 10 Feb 1942 received GSW in arm through to his back, plus bayonet wound to stomach.  Previously Garden Contol Party before X6 Party.

WX17907 William Thomas SWANN – previously remained Changi

WX10841 Bruce Arthur CRIGHTON – remained Changi.

 

X.7 Party 29 May 1945

27 men from 2/4th were spread between these three groups.

 

X.8 Party Adam Park, Singapore – 4 Jul 1945 to 17 Aug 1945

Under the command of Warrant Officer A Crawford.

Built tunnels, probably Funk holes.

This party tunnelled in the vicinity of Jurong Road. The AIF contingent was housed in nearby huts. There were three 2/4^th men in this party including:

WX8709 Richard Bernard Blaschek – previously remained Changi.

WX9101 Jack Clifford EWEN previously ‘F’ Force Thailand.

WX8672 George David WILLIAMS previously ‘F’ Force Thailand.

 

The X Parties were from here on were engaged in the construction of fortifications, air raid shelters and gun emplacements.

 

X.9 Party 29 May 1945

Possibly in the Singapore area consisting of 200 AIF.  No further details known.

 

X.10 Party 

There were 1,000 POWs in this Party to dig tunnels in the hills about 2-3 miles from Changi Gaol Camp.

WX8584 John Sharp (Scotty) Duncan – who remained in Singapore throughout the war,  reported that on his return to Changi late 1944 from working at the Shell Refinery, Pulau Bukom he was seconded to X10 Party which was “digging tunnels in the hills”.  He said the entrance and front areas of the tunnels were shored up but further back inside they were not.

In September 1945 the men learnt the terrifying information the tunnels were to be filled with POWs and blown up at the entrance (in the instance of an Allied invasion).

You can read Duncan’s description.

Other 2/4th men who worked on this project included:

WX8185 James ‘Jimmy’ Joseph Barry – previously with ‘H’ Force Thailand.

WX13421 Ron Beckham – previously ‘H’ Force Thailand.

WX10282 Charles Leslie COLLINS – previously ‘H’ Force

WX16306 Joseph COOK – remained Singapore – Paralysed legs and back for 3 months.

WX5064 Edwin Finlay ELLIOT – previously ‘H’ Force Thailand

WX7663 Hurtle Stanley FIDGE – originally Rakuyo Maru Party – missed draft due to uler left eye – transferred Changi 28 Jan 1945.

WX4991Ernest Edgar HAMBLEY – previously ‘F’ Force

WX9350 Patrick (George) HODGINS previously ‘H’ Force & Kranji Hospital, Woodlands.

WX16981 William Robert HOWSON previously ‘F’ Force

WX8750 Huia Albert JACKSON – remained Singapore throughout war, Garden Control Party.

WX10806 Robert James MACKENZIE-MURRAY – ‘F’ Force, also P Party and Levelling Party.

WX8013 Edwin Ernest MILLER- previously ‘F’ Force

WX15457 Samuel Edward ‘Ted’ NASH – previously remained Singapore

WX10066 Douglas Godfrey ROSS – remained Singapore. Worked at Changi Aerodrome, XI Party, P Party

WX8041 Walter Joseph STONE – previously remained Changi

WX7011 Herbert William WILLIAMS – remained Singapore throughout war.  He suffered a fractured left elbow and was admitted to hospital 26 Nov 1942.

WX5204 Harold James WORSDELL previously with ‘H’ Force on Burma-Thai Railway.  Recovered from Changi Gaol Camp at end of war.

 

 

X.11 Party 28 July 1945

This group worked in Johore Bahru area.  No further details known.  175 British and 175 Australian.

With so many men sent to work outside Changi, the camp was depleted.  The officers were ordered to man the wood trailers.  100 AIF men every four days – there were incredibly large numbers of officers at Changi, many having never left Singapore throughout the war.

‘P’ PARTY

P1 and P2 Parties 7 May 1945 to 18 August 45

There were 51 AIF Men on P2 Party located one mile northwest of Jahore Bahru and 3/4 mile from Q Party.  There was a newly constructed camp to accommodate 200 men.  From 3 August to 10 August 45 the POWs worked on excavation of tunnels with ‘Q’ Party.  Work stopped on 14 August 1945 and recommenced on clearing and digging until 18 August when ‘Q’ Force finished.

WX15433 James Lorimer ANDERSON – previously ‘F’ Force & X1 Party.

WX7943 Robert DRYSDALE – previously ‘H’ Force, X1 Party.

WX9132 Arthur Raymond GAMBLE previously ‘H’ Force Thailand & Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome.

WX8597 Frank HINDS previously ‘F’ Force.   Also levelling Party Changi aerodrome, X6 Party.

WX17634 Wally HOLDING – previously ‘F’ Force Thailand. Also Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome.

WX10066 Douglas Godfrey ROSS remained Singapore throughout war. In 1945 seconded to work with Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome, X1 Party and P Party.

‘Q’ PARTY 10 JAN 1945 TO 18 AUG 1945

Located 2 miles north of Johore Bahru  on the main road.  Accommodation consisted of three X 40 metre long atap huts equipped with electric lights and showers!  The party included 140 AIF men – their first task to build a wall, the construction of which took until 25 Feb 1945 then the POWs were put to work on a large Japanese ordnance dump.  On 30 March POWs began digging tunnels until 8 Aug 45.  The work stopped for a few days then recommenced at the Japanese Military Barracks in Johore until all work ceased on 18 August 1945.

W PARTY SINGAPORE 6 April 45 to 20 Aug1945

WX5206 William HICKS – remained Changi.  WIA 15 Feb 1942.  shrapnel wound to left arm median nerve.

WX7705 Ronald HILL – remained Singapore throughout war. Also worked Tanjong Pagar, W Party & X4B Party.

WX18151 Arthur Roy SHIER returned with ‘F’ Force and in 1945 joined several work parties – X4B Party, W Party, Tanjong Pagar Camp.  Roy was recovered from Singapore.

 

LEVELLING PARTY AERODROME SINGAPORE 1945

Please read further 

During 1944 aware Allied aircraft were appearing more frequently  over Singapore, and they were losing the war,  JIA Headquarters decided to construct an additional fighter aerodrome.  They moved the Australian POWs from Selarang to Changi Gaol (it would become very overcrowded).  The fighter aerodrome would be constructed  by POWs – to be called the Levelling Party on the site of the Birdwood Camp Sports ground opposite Selarang Barracks.

The earth airstrip comprised a main runway, cross-runway  and a dispersal road at the southern end.  The aerodrome took 20 months to construct and was completed by 25 May 1945.

Please read Wally Holdings description of working with Levelling Party

WX9388 John Murray Colevllle CHEYNE – previously ‘A’ Force Green Force Burma – was ill and remained behind from ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party.

WX6067 Penrod DEAN – previously Outram Road Gaol and X3 Party.

WX5064 Edwin ‘Ted’ Finlay ELLIOTT previously ‘H’ Force Thailand & X3 Party.

WX9132 Arthur Raymond GAMBLE -previously ‘H’ Force Thailand. Returned to Singapore & seconded to work Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome and then ‘P’ Party (Jahore Bahru).

WX3450 George Wittendale GWYNNE – previously ‘F’ Force Thailand

WX8957 Frank HINDS – previously ‘F’ Force Thailand, X6 Party, P Party.

WX176344 Wally HOLDING previously ‘F’ Force.  Levelling Party & P Party.

WX10097 Aubrey HOSKING – remained Changi throughout war.  Worked Garden Control Party & Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome.

WX10806 Kenneth Edgar LESSELS previously ‘H’ Force – evacuated to Kanchanaburi with Cholera from Malay Hamlet 21 June 1943.  Also X 6 Party.

WX10066 Douglas Godfrey ROSS remained Singapore throughout war. In 1835 seconded to work with Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome, X1 Party and P Party.

WX9272 Arthur Gilbert SANDERS remained Singapore throughout war.  Seconded to work with Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome and X3 Party in 1945.  Recovered from Changi Gaol Camp.

WX3453 Avon Reah SMITH-RYAN – remained Singapore.

WX8596 Douglas Francis STERRETT previously ‘F’ Force Thailand. Worked with Levelling Party Changi Aerodrome and ‘P’ Party.

 

You can read an overview of X Parties, Singapore.

 

 

Java Party No. 3 & 4 Black & Williams Forces

Today the capital city of Java is known as Jakarta.  In 1942 it was known as Batavia. 

 

Twenty six parties left Java between September 1942 and January 1945.  There were nearly 40,000 POWs on Java most of whom were Netherlands East Indies troops.  Also British troops and of course the British and Australians who had deserted Singapore as well as though who escaped having been caught behind Japanese front lines plus those who escaped during capitulation.    Of this number there were about 10,000 AIF troops from 1st Australian Corps and the 8th Division as well as survivors of ‘Perth’ and some Americans mostly from the sunken ‘Houston’.

Also taken POWs of Japan, were the 90 or so men of 2/4th MGB who had gone AWOL from ‘Aquitania’  when it anchored overnight 15 January 1942 to pick up supplies and reinforcements on its journey to Singapore.  This group of soldiers had been unable to re-board their ship – Please read the story.

They were taken POWs of Japan when Java capitulated about 8 March 1942.  They were imprisoned in various camps depending on where they were captured, however ultimately were moved to Bicycle Camp prior to departing Java with work parties going either to Burma-Thai Railway or Japan.

Of the 3,500 Australians who left Java – almost all were sent to work on Burma -Thai Railway – either the Burma or Thailand ends of the rail link.  Those who remained behind were more often than not sick with one or more tropical illnesses.

The Australian doctors who accompanied these Forces included Albert Coates and Rowley Richards.  Rowley Richards remained with Williams No. 1 Mobile Force,  and from Thailand was sent to French Indo-China with ‘Rakuyo Maru’ Party, back to Singapore before sailing to Japan.  The convoy the ‘Rakuyo Maru’ sailed with was attacked by American submarines on 12 September 1944 and sunk 12 hours later in South China Sea.

Miraculously Richards was picked up by a Japanese warship three days after the sinking and taken to Japan.  On the ‘Rakuyo’ Maru were 1300 British and Australians POWs, most of whom perished.  Some very lucky 153 POWs were rescued four days later by the same American Submarines which had days earlier, attacked the convoy.

Please read further about ‘Rakuyo’ Maru story

JAVA PARTY NO. 3

Was under the command of Lt. C.J. Mitchell from 2/2 Pioneer Battalion – included Walter Watkins from 2/4th MGB.

Right:  Wally Watkins

JAVA PARTY NO. 4 (about 33 men survived, 10 died, 1 remained Singapore, one sent to Sandakan where he  died)

Was under the command of Lt. Col J.M. Williams.  This Party departed Tanjong Priok 8 October 1942 on ‘Kimmon Maru’ for Singapore where they disembarked 12 October 1942.

At Changi Java Party No. 4 was reunited with Java Party No. 3 who had reached Singapore a few days earlier.

Two days later Java Parties 3 and 4 departed Singapore having boarded ‘Maebashi Maru ‘ to Rangoon, Burma arriving on 23 October 1942.  They were transhipped to a smaller vessel called ‘Yamagata Maru’ which took the men up the Salaween River in Burma to Moulmein.  They arrived late on 24 October and were accommodated overnight in the local gaol.

 

Neil MacPherson prepared the following for www.mansell.com 

MacPherson with with the 2/2 Pioneers Battalion

Williams Force under Lt Col John Williams C.O. of the 2/2nd Pioneers

Was made up of 884 men mainly 2/2 Pioneer Battalion, sailors of the Cruiser HMAS Perth, arrived Thanbyuzayat late October 1942 and became part of 3 Group, moved to Tanyin 35 kilo camp first. Camp Commandant Lt Yamada was one of the best and tolerant Japanese Officers on the Railway who respected Col Williams, unfortunately he was later moved.

The Medical Officer was Ear Nose & Throat Specialist Lt Col Eadie. In March 1943 with Anderson Force, they moved back to the 26 Kilo camp Kunknikway, here they were to come under the control of the unpredictable and drunkard Lt Naito.

On April 4th they commenced the work of laying the rails & sleepers through to where the two ends joined on 17 October 1943, known as No 1 Mobile Force.

It should be noted that in all Australian camps on the Burma end of the Railway, Officers accompanied the men on the work parties and actively intervened to protect the men from punishment, often taking the bashing themselves.

This was very much the rule in Williams and Anderson Forces where the Officers had won the respect of the men in action in Syria, Java & Malaya, Col Anderson won his Victoria Cross in the Malaya fighting.

(This unfortunately did not happen in Thailand)

In October 1942 by truck those who were in Williams Force under Pioneer C.O. Lt Col Williams travelled to Tanyin the 35-kilo camp where work on the railway was to commence. Black Force made up of half the group from Java, a mixed lot Australian American and Dutch, were sent to the 40 kilo camp, work commenced on the railway on the 29th October, these Australians along with Green Force who arrived early October were the first Australians to work on the Death Railway and subsequently experienced the longest period of work of any other Australian forces.

As day followed tedious day, as food supplies shrunk, as work quotas increased, few noticed the gradual deterioration in their health, fortunately the wet season with it’s plethora of diseases had not yet arrived, despite this the daily sick parade lengthened.

In December 1942 Neil in his state of malnutrition, lack of a balanced diet, contracted conjunctivitis, his condition became so bad that he was sent down to Thanbyuzayat, where a base hospital camp existed, with very few drugs, there was little the medical staff could do to treat the sick. Major W.E. Fisher was Medical Officer in charge of the hospital and he ruled with a rod of iron, nick-named the ‘Fuhrer’ he ran a strict but caring, operation. It was late in 1942 and although the railway construction had only been going for 3 to 4 months, long hours, poor and insufficient food was already starting to take its toll. There was little that could be done for the conjunctivitis patients except to protect their eyes from the cruel glare of the sun, give them rest, they were all also allowed to stand at the head of the queues for meals.

1943

By January, with rest, and a work free regime, Neil’s condition improved to the extent that he was discharged from hospital on the 16th February and returned to the work camp. By this time work had been in progress for 5 months and at the 35 Kilo camp most of the embankments were nearing completion the bridges in the area were also constructed.

29 Mar 1943 move from 35 Km Camp to 26 Km Camp Kunknikway

From the 35 Km William’s Force moved back to the Kunknikway, 26kilo camp on the 29th March 1943, the camp commandant was the much feared drunken Capt Nito, a real mental case whose behaviour was quite unpredictable, when cholera broke out in the camp and the cases were isolated from the main camp, he told British interpreter Capt Drower that he had cholera and made him move up into the Cholera camp.

About this time prisoners were allowed to send home a post card, they were restricted in what they could say and although they all realised it was a propaganda stunt they also felt it important that their families got news of their survival.

By now the monsoon season was upon the area but there was no respite to the drive by the Japanese to have the railway operating by midyear to allow supplies & reinforcements to be transported to the fighting on the India Burma border.

For obvious reasons William’s Force was selected for the arduous task of actually laying the rails, probably because they were still a disciplined group, still controlled by the battalion system, and with skills required by the Japs. Also chosen was Anderson Force, for similar reasons, Colonel Anderson won a Victoria Cross in Malaya, he had the elements of his battalions in his force. Construction of the railway on the prepared trace involved the heavy work of carrying timber sleepers and the rails, in all weather; it also involved the more arduous task of ballasting. The worst aspect of ballasting was driving the heavy metal under the sleepers by the use of a heavy hammer headed pick, this involved striking the metal with the hammer at the base of the sleeper, a miss stroke and the shock of striking the sleeper caused many shoulder injuries.

Burma. 1943.

Australian and British prisoners of war (POWs) laying track on the BurmaThailand railway.

The POWs working on the railway in Burma were all members of A Force, designated by the Japanese as Group 3 and Group 5. Most of the men in the track laying teams came from Anderson and Williams Force which came from Java and were part of “A” Force,.

Another serious hazard encountered by the Mobile Force was the movement from camp to camp as the line was extended, this meant that the Australians often moved into camps occupied by native labourers with all the filth and disease associated with these unfortunates whose deaths were in the thousands.

Another opportunity to send a message home was presented and again it held a strong propaganda content, all lies of course, Neil again grasped the opportunity. The second message was written as he was preparing for his departure from Tamarkan on the long journey to Japan.

Neil kept copy of records

A record of the inoculations received

Dr Rowley Richards maintained the Cholera injections saving the lives of hundreds of Mobile Force from the fate of many others on the railway.

Neil by now was suffering repeated bouts of malaria as well as dysentery, there were no drugs at this stage to treat the repeated attacks which left the sufferer weaker with each bout, Neil has only vague recollections of this period of his imprisonment. with the malaria attacks, cholera, dysentery, ulcers, Berri Berri pellagra and malnutrition were taking their toll of the work force. The Japanese attitude to the prisoners was that they were all expendable, there was an endless supply of them, the non workers, the sick & dying were put on half rations, in the work camps however all rations were averaged out by the camp leaders, in fact any extra food such as eggs or fruit coming into the camps was immediately reserved for the sick. In the hospital base camps with no workers rations were reduced which made recovery nigh impossible, some times the dead were kept on strength for a while to partly over come this deficiency.

750 Pioneers worked on the Burma Thailand Railway, of these 177 died there, about 25% a further 73 Pioneers from the Railway drowned on their way to Japan when their transport was torpedoed, only 2/3rd of the 910 taken prisoner survived to get home, amongst them Neil

In the August September & October period multiple deaths were a daily occurrence, bodies were sewn into rice bags before burial in an attempt to preserve the remains for reburial at the war’s end. Work continued through the worst areas for these diseases and camps at the 45 kilo 50 kilo & 60 kilo were cesspits, many had been occupied by native labourers whose hygiene left a lot to be desired. On several occasions on taking over a camp the Pioneers had to bury dead natives lying on the ground amongst the huts, not a very pleasant task, bed bugs left by previous occupants along with lice were also prevalent and made life miserable for all prisoners.

August saw Neil now in such a poor state after repeated malaria attacks and incapable of continuing with the work was transferred to the camp hospital, a hut situated in the lowest part of the camp surrounded with water, Colonel Edie an ear nose & throat specialist was camp doctor, with no drugs he could do little for the patients. When the work force moved out of the camp, Neil along with the chronically sick were transferred back to the 30 kilo camp which had recently been made the base hospital after repeated bombing of Thanbyuzayat had forced the evacuation of the patients there.

Allied bombing now was an added terror for the POWs, as the line progressed so did the tempo of the bombing raids increase, the Japanese deliberately placed the POW camps next to strategic targets such as rail junctions, army camps, bridges. Naturally the toll on prisoners was heavy, both in death & injury, morale also became effected, what with over work, malnutrition, disease, and death the raids were an additional threat.

August & September were terrible times for Neil, deaths in the camp soared, he continued to have repeated bouts of Malaria and he was just a skeleton, with pellagra, tinea and lice infestation his nights were spent tossing on the bare bamboo slats. Throughout this period he kept himself alive with thoughts of home and how much his mother would be worried at no news, every night he said his prayers calling on God to bless each one of his family by name.

October 1943  with the joining of the two ends of the railway at Nike with only maintenance work required most of the camps on the Burma end were closed and the prisoners concentrated at the 105 kilo camp about 6 km from the Burma Thailand border. Neil was one of the sick from the 30 kilo camp transferred to the 105 kilo camp, it was here that he fought the worst malaria bouts of his internment, for the first time quinine became available, up to eight large tablets a day was prescribed for the malaria sufferers. The side effects from quinine were almost as bad as the fever, also it was a cause of extreme depression, but it was here in December 1943, some 21 months after capture that letters from Jemima caught up with Neil. Oh how these letters were treasured, read & re-read it is possible that they were a major factor in his slow recovery, it was here also that he was reunited with his best mate Bluey Rowe who was one of the few who worked through the full period of the railway construction. As the railway construction had finished work parties were needed only for light work, but food was in short supply still, disease was rampant in this jungle area and the death rate continued to soar.

A diversion occurred no doubt as a move to lift morale in the camp, the Senior Officer asked the camp commandant to allow a special holiday on the first Tuesday in November, a National holiday in Australia Melbourne Cup day. The whole camp got into the spirit, even dressed some POWs up as ladies with parasols, bookies plied their trade and one of the prisoners who had a remarkable memory and could recite every cup winner since the start of the race last century, volunteered as the race commentator. The workshop made up a cabinet similar to the wireless cabinets of the day large enough for the commentator to crouch inside and call the race, the starters were all well known cup winners and no one but the commentator knew who was going to win. The climax of the meeting was the race and the commentator was superb, his voice filled with the excitement reminiscent of real races resonated through the camp and for a short few minutes the prisoners forgot their misery the squalor and the sickness and became a typical Australian race crowd.

 

Above and Below Moulmein.

It was at Moulmein Java Party No. 4 was organised into 2 groups, Black and Williams Force.   There were approximately 43 men from 2/4^th with Williams Force (and about 6 men with Black Force, including William ‘Bill’ Gregory).

JAVA PARTY NO  4  WILLIAMS FORCE WILLIAMS FORCE:

WX1138 WILLIAMS, Alfred George – C Coy HQ ‘Blackforce” Java Party No. 4 Williams Force

W9827 STRIBLING, REGINALD HAROLD ‘C’ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX9419 STEELE, HAROLD WILLIAM ‘C’ COY HQ ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX7893 SMITH, JAMES STANLEY ‘C’ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX16424 SING, ALFRED ‘A’ COY  ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/2^nd Pioneers JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE & RAKUYO MARU PARTY – RECOVERED

WX16427 ROBERTSON, DONALD CHARLES ‘B’ Coy ‘Blackforce’  JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

 WX9563  RANDALL, JOHN 88^TH LAD  ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/2^nd Pioneers JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE AWA MARU PARTY **REMAINED SINGAPORE SICK ***

WX16417 NINYETTE, SAMUEL ‘D’ COY  ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX5536 MURDOCH, JAMES LEWIS ‘D’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX15746 MORRISON, ARTHUR EDWARD ‘D’ COY ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/2^nd Pioneers captured Garoet 9 March 42 JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX90826 MILLAR, HUBERT JAMES ‘C’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ Attached 2/2^nd Pioneers JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

 WX9825 MCLOUGHLIN, CHARLES PETER ‘C’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX13285 MAUDE, JACK ‘A’ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE- AWA MARU PARTY TO JAPAN – RTA

 WX16341 MARTIN, SAMUEL THOMAS HQ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX11316 LEWIS, LAURENCE HAROLD ‘D’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX8336 KUHL, FRIEDRICH GODFRIED BTN HQ ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX8695 HARRIS, WILLIAM DENNIS BTN HQ ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/2^nd Pioneers JAVA PARTY NO 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX15736 HANSEN, ROBERT ‘D’ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX7123 HAMPSON, ROBERT DOUGLAS ‘A’ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE***RAKUYO MARU – RESCUED USS BARB***

WX6975 HAM, REGINALD JOHN ‘D’ Coy ‘Blackforce’  JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX8625 GREGORY, WILLIAM RICE ‘A’ Coy JAVA PARTY NO. 4 ******* BLACK FORCE************

WX6980 GOLDEN, PERCY A Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX7595 GLASS, GEORGE Btn HQ ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX15422 FROST, BASIL MELVILLE HQ Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX9199 FARMER, ARTHUR ERNEST ‘A’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX7299 DOYLE, THOMAS FRANCIS ‘D’ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX9310 DICKSON, ANDREW ALFRED ‘A’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS PARTY

WX16369 COCKING, ALFRED JOHN ‘B’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/2^nd Pioneers  – RAKUYO MARU – RESCUED PAMPANITO

WX7600 BOUSFIELD GEORGE REGINALD ‘D’ COY ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO  4  WILLIAMS FORCE

 WX10322 BLAKEWAY, COLIN LT ESCORT OFFICER FREMANTLE TO JAVA ‘Blackforce’ attached ‘C’ Coy 2/3^rd MGB – JAVA PARTY NO 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX6970 BARNES, ALFRED JOHN ‘A’ Coy HQ ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/2 Pioneers JAVA PARTY NO 4 WILLIAMS FORCE

WX7164 BARKER, FREDERICK ‘C’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ *****JAVA PARTY NO 4 BLACK FORCE*****

WX9367 BAKER, JOHN ROBERT ‘A’ Coy ‘Blackforce’. JAVA PARTY NO 4 ******BLACK FORCE*****

 

Deaths: (10 men died plus Thomas Green who was sent to Kutching, died Sandakan)

WX7905 ANNESLEY, FREDERICK JOHN HQ Coy ‘Blackforce’ – JAVA PARTY NO. 4 *****Black Force*****RAKUYO MARU PARTY – LOST SOUTH CHINA SEA

 WX8682 BAKER, WLLIAM ROBERT SAMUEL ‘B’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ attached to  2/3^RD MGB -Java Pary No 4 BLACK FORCE – RAKUYO MARU PARTY-LOST AT SEA

WX8855 DAVIES, DAVID JOHN HQ Coy. ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4  WILLIAMS FORCE.  EVACUATED to DIED ILLNESS TAMARKAN 10 JUL 1944.

WX8830 DRUMMOND, ALEXANDER MCDOUGAL DONALD B Coy HQ. ‘Blackforce’JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE.  ‘RAKUYO’ MARU PARTY TO JAPAN.  LOST AT SEA

WX7569 FOXALL, STUART EDWARD ‘C’ Coy.  ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE.  Died Cholera Beke Taung hospital camp 7/7/43.

WX92370 FURY, THOMAS JOSEPH ‘A’ Coy.  ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE.  Killed allied air raid THANBUZAYAT 15/6/44.

WX8540 GREEN, THOMAS WILLIAM HQ Coy.  ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 BLACK FORCE.TRANSPORTED TO KUCHING, E FORCE SANDAKAN.  DIED SANDAKAN

WX8408 HAYES, ALBERT GEORGE HQ Coy.  ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAM FORCE.  ‘RAKUYO’ MARU to Japan.  Lost at sea.

 

WX7465 HOLDMAN, NORMAN PHILLIP HQ Coy.  ‘Blackforce’ attached ‘A’ Coy 2/3^rd MGB.  JAVA PARTY NO 4 WILLIAMS FORCE.  Killed air raid Bangkok go downs 27 March 1945

WX10795 HUGHES, RONALD EDWARD ‘A’ Coy.  ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/2^nd Pioneers.JAVA PARTY NO. 4 WILLIAMS FORCE.RAKUYO MARU PARTY TO JAPAN.  LOST AT SEA

WX5118 JENKINS, JAMES MORGAN ‘C’ Coy.  ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO 4 WILLIAM FORCE.  DIED ILLNESS THANBY 11/11 42.

 

WX9059 RAMAGE, GEORGE ROBERT ‘BOB’ HQ NO 1 SIGNALS under CO Lt Curnow.  ‘Blackforce’ Java Party No. 4, Williams Force.  Bob died dysentery at Payathonzu 108 km Camp, Burma on 23 Sept 1943 aged 38 years.  Bob was father to two children.

 

_______________

 

Those who remained Java:

WX10343 BANKS, NOEL EDWIN ‘C’ Coy HQ ‘Blackforce ‘ attached 2/2^nd Pioneers*****Sent to Sumatra*****

WX8766 BOOTH, HAROLD VERNON B Coy ‘Blackforce’ JAVA PARTY NO 22 *****SUMATRA – DIED 1945 PAKAN BAROE RAILWAY

WX10365 CALDWELL, MAURICE WILLIAM Btn HQ ‘Blackforce’ *****REMAINED JAVA********

WX9551 CARROLL, FRANK VINCENT ‘C’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ *****REMAINED JAVA*****

WX5132 FISHER, GEORGE ‘C’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ *******Remained Java***************

WX107612 WATTERS, TOM MURRAY  ‘Blackforce’ *****REMAINED JAVA*****

Those who evacuated and/or remained Singapore:

WX7333 BURNS, ARTHUR JOHN ‘B’ COY*****EVACUATED SICK TO CEYLON from JAVA. RETURNED TO AUSTRALIA*****

WX6155 BYRNE, LEO PATRICK ‘C’ Coy ‘Blackforce’ attached 2/3^rd MGB Admitted hospital 18/2/42 to 25/2/42 *****Embarked ‘Wuseh’ to Columbo.  Then Melbourne, Perth 1942*****

WX7285 LOVE, HARRIE ROBERT A Coy  JAVA PARTY NO. 4. ** BLACK FORCE** ***********REMAINED SINGAPORE DID NOT CONTINUE TO RAILWAY**

 

On morning of 26 October the two Forces marched 2 miles to South Moulmein railway station for their 40 mile train journey to Thanbyuzayat POW Camp and Japanese HQ at that time.

The following day, Williams Force was transferred to Tanyin Camp, 35 km from Thanbyuzayat. The Force then moved to Anakwin 45 km and remained from 24 April to 13 May 1943.   From this point onwards, when they left Anankwin 45 km on 13 May 1943 the Japanese did not permit movement from one camp to the next during working hours so as not to interfere with railway construction work!

They worked all day, went back to camp, packed their meagre belongings and exhausted, began their march during the night to next camp.

Williams Force was thankfully moved by rail motor to Taungzun 57km Camp on 13 May 1943.

Here, Williams and Anderson Forces became No. 1 Mobile Force.

The task of No. 1 Mobile Force now consisted of serious railway construction involving sleeper laying, ballasting and rail laying gangs; physically demanding and long hours of slave labour.   This construction force kept apace of the ever forward thrust of the rail link towards the Thai border.

Included in No. 1 Mobile Force was the experienced engineering unit of 2/2^nd, who had sailed from the Middle East to Java. The Japanese couldn’t believe their luck!

They were constantly on the move with the worsening weather (wet season), unreliable food supplies, little or no medical supplies/medicines and difficult jungle conditions.

On 13 July 1943 Williams No. 1 Mobile Force moved by rail and marched to Mezali 72 km Camp. Here they remained until 1 September 1943.   Next it was to Apalon 77km camp from 1 September to 11 September 1943.

On 11 September the men marched during the day to Kyondaw 85 km, with the numbers of sick being transported by rail.

On 17 September No. 1 Mobile Force left Kyondaw for a night march to Payathonzu 108km Camp. They were now 108 km from Thanbyuzayat and not far from Three Pagoda Pass and the border of Burma and Thailand.

Every day was the same.

Walk to the railway, work and walk back moving or dragging one foot after the after.

One miserly small meal of watery rice, with weevils if lucky.

About every 10 kilometres the men would move camp.

The food and conditions were the same – terrible.

Punishment and Japanese brutality was an every day event.

The sick would mostly remain behind with others to look after them, or be evacuated to so-called ‘hospital’ camps were there were no medicines for the tropical illnesses they suffered from. Malaria, beri beri, dysentery, avitaminosis, etc. and ulcers where hard-working and dedicated doctors such as Bruce Hunt and Albert Coates performed amputations, which often resulting in death due to the general poor health of the men lack of medicines and equipment.

No. 1 Mobile Force arrived Kami Sonkurai 116km Camp, Thailand on 21 September and remained just four days working. The native coolie cholera camp was adjacent to the POWs huts, both situated on the slope of a hill. The Burmese coolies occupied huts on top of the hill and with the consistent rainy season food and excreta was washed down the side of the hill through the lines. The camp was located a distance from the railway line which ran around the base of the hill on which the camp was situated.

After this, all camp moves for No. 1 Mobile men were made during the monsoon season. Work camps were often awash with mud and atap roofs and tents leaked rain onto the men nightly. They would go to sleep wet and wake up wet.

Kami Sonkarai was the worst camp occupied by any forces from Burma. At the nearby ‘F’ Force camp at Changaraya, the British had 200 men die of cholera (they had to share accommodation with 500 Burmese coolies).

122 Camp 25.9.43 to 26.12.43

122 Camp was in the vicinity of Sonkurai No. 2 Camp. It was here the 600 Bridge had been constructed by the British of ‘F’ Force. It was to the great cost of lives. No.1 Mobile Force marched from Kami Sonkurai 116km to 122km Camp with 80 sick men and baggage transported by rail motor. Fortunately this was a better camp than 116km, but overcrowded as was 116.
At least here the camp was not awash with mud, but  there were no palm leaves for roofs on the huts .  The men had little protection from rain and weather.

Williams No. 1 Mobile Force worked as far south as Neikhe Camp in Thailand. They were forever on the move up and down the line and constantly pushed.

Nikhe-Nikhe 131 Wood Camp 26.12.43 to 11.1.1944

Located high in the ranges this camp was cold at night. The camp was a day’s march from 122 Camp. The sick were carried on stretchers and later that day transferred to 281.80 Nikhe Camp. On 11^th and 12th January the sick were moved by train over a period of 24 hours to Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Some died on the journey. Those who survived were then marched 5km back to Tamarkan Base Hospital Camp No. 2!

Nikhe-Nikhe Wood Camp was near a series of small hills. Rail laying was suspended whilst cuttings were excavated.   Once completed the rail laying gangs recommenced their work on 13 October 1943.

Nikhe 133 km Camp 11.1.44 to 25.1.44

Located just north of Nikhe Old HQ for Japanese Camp at 276 km point, this camp was last on the rail link for Williams No. 1 Mobile Force.

The two ends of the railway had been joined on 17^th October 1943 at Upper Konkoita-Lower Teimonta at the 262.87 km point.

On 25 January 1944 the Force moved north back to the border to Changaraya 303.95km Camp (113.97 km from Burma end). About ten days later the Force was moved back to Aungganung 105 Camp. It was here No. 1 Mobile Force met up with the remnants of Australian work groups still in Burma.

Augganaung 105km Camp, Burma 5.2.44 to 25.3.44

It was during March 1944 at this camp that the fittest POWs were being selected to work in Japan. Those selected were sent to Tamarkan, Thailand which had become a collection centre.

At about this time Williams No. 1 Mobile Force like so many Forces was about to commence the move south into Thailand.   On 22 March 105km Camp, Burma was machine gunned by two B24 Liberator bombers. This resulted in the remainder of the men being evacuated 2 days later heading to Kanchanaburi.

Following ‘Speedo’ those POWs sufficiently well were assembled at four large work Camps in Thailand. The sick who were deemed to survive were also sent down the line to hospitals. The very sick remained at the hospital camps in Burma, cared for by doctors and very dedicated orderlies until they died.

‘We should note that in all Australian camps on the Burma end of the Railway, Officers accompanied the men on work parties and actively intervened to protect the men from punishment, often taking the bashing themselves. This was very much the rule in Williams and Anderson Forces where the Officers had won the respect of the men in action in Syria, Java & Malaya, Col Anderson won his Victoria Cross in the Malaya fighting.’

(Unfortunately this was not the case in the Thailand work camps where it was very much officers in their camp sometimes with little interest or interaction with with their men.  In too many cases officers took minimal responsibility to ‘lighten’ the load their men were forced to endure such as collecting food supplies at the end of a long working day on the rail, sometimes as long as 12 hours –  under these circumstances surely the Officers could have collected to food.

Please read about Black & Williams Forces

Below:  Williams at the War Trials

 

 

HMAS PERTH CREW TAKEN POWS OF JAPAN IN JAVA

Of the 681 personnel aboard, 353, including Captain Waller, did not survive the sinking. Four later died having managed to reach shore on Java, and 106 died in captivity. Just 218 survived to be repatriated to Australia.

In October 1942 survivors from the HMAS Perth were shipped to Singapore, and then to Burma. In October 1942, 385 Australians, commanded by Major L.J. Robertson, left Java on board the Moji Maru; they joined up with A Force on 17 January 1943.

HMAS PERTH men well known to 2/4th include:

Ordinary Seaman  ARTHUR BANCROFT

Able Seaman Norman Frederick FULLER

Stoker 2nd Class SYDNEY JAMES HARPER

Able Seaman   Frederick Gordon SKEELS

 

Please read further the battle of these two ships in the Sundra Strait 1942 at the Warfare History Newtwork

 

EXTRACT OF:

MOVEMENTS OF JAVA PARTY NO. 4 (INCL. HMAS PERTH POWs, 2/2 PIONEERS BATTALION AND OTHERS)

08/10/42          LEFT TANJONG PRIOK, JAVA, ON ‘KENKON MARU’

12/10/42          ARRIVED SINGAPORE – CHANGI

14/10/42          LEFT SINGAPORE 0N ‘MAEBASHI MARU’

22/10/42          ARRIVED RANGOON, BURMA

23/10/42          TRANSHIPPED WITHOUT GOING ASHORE. LEFT RANGOON ON ‘YAMAGATA MARU’

24/10/42          ARRIVED MOULMEIN. STAYED IN LOCAL GAOL

WILLIAMS FORCE FORMED

26/10/42          LEFT MOULMEIN & MARCHED TO STH MOULMEIN RAILWAY STATION. THEN BY TRAIN TO THANBYUZAYAT (4O MILES)

‘WILLIAMS FORCE’ INCORPORATED INTO BURMA ADMINISTRATION GROUP NO 3,

(INCLUDING GREEN, RAMSAY & ANDERSON FORCES)

27/10/42          TFRD TO TANYIN, 35 KILO CAMP (2 ATAP HUTS, OPEN ONE SIDE, NATIVE WELL)

28/10/42          COMMENCED WORK ON THE RAILWAY

03/01/43          ‘WILLIAMS’ AND ‘ANDERSON’ FORCES COMBINED

27/03/43          MOVED BACK TO KUN KNITKWAY, 26 KILO CAMP DURING NIGHT

24/04/43          MOVED BY TRAIN AT NIGHT TO ANANKWIN, 45 KILO CAMP

FROM HERE ON, WHEN CHANGING CAMPS, TOOK BELONGINGS TO WORK IN THE MORNING

AND AFTER WORK MOVED ON TO FOLLOWING CAMP, MOSTLY IN THE DARK.

THEN CALLED ‘NO 1 MOBILE FORCE’ LAYING SLEEPERS & RAILS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE

RAILWAY JOINED IN OCT 43 AND FULLY OPERATIONAL BY DECEMBER 43

26/12/43-        1 DAY MARCH TO LITTLE NIEKE, 130 KILO CAMP, SICK, ON STRETCHERS, MOVED

11/01/44          ON 26/12/43 TO 281.8 KLM (Ni Thea) CAMP. THEN ON OR AFTER 11^TH JAN 44 WENT BY TRAIN THROUGH THAILAND TO KANCHANABURI