WX8869 HINDLE, WX4985 Norm HARRIS, WX8433 Bob HALDANE – 9 Platoon, B Coy
Lance Corporal Dick HINDLE WX8869 – Driver/mechanic 9 Platoon ‘B’Coy bled to death 30 Sep 1944 after falling rock severed his leg at Sumitomo Besshi copper mine, Japan. He was a father of four children including his youngest Denis, who had died aged 4 years in 1937.
Hindle had worked and survived working on Burma-Thai Railway around the Hellfire Pass Cutting withD Force Thailand S Battalion At the end of 1943 the rail was completed with many lives lost and many more ill and dying being transferred the main camp hospitals in Thailand – Hindle was sent to Tamuang Camp where with a large number of 2/4th POWs, he was selected by the Japanese to be fit to work in Japan.
Dick had grown up in Palmyra and was a popular footy player with the local team
He was one of seven children born to parents Lawrence William Hindle and Bridget Emily Danks who married at Mount Margaret 1895. When their youngest child was 12 months old, Lawrence William Hindle enlisted in WW1 with 11th Battalion. He was tragically killed in action at Pozieres, France 23 July 1916.
He married about 1927 to Phyllis Harris of Fremantle, older sister to WX4985 Norman Joseph HARRIS, also with 2/4th.
Hindle and Harris enlisted about the same time in 1940 later transferred to 2/4th, ‘B’ Coy 9 Platoon under C.O. Lt Don Lee. Harris was promoted on 24 Jan 1942 to Platoon Sergeant (No. 2 IC)
Norm’s parents Elijah (Thomas) Richard Harris and Clara Matilda Kjellgren married SA 1901. They had a family of two children Veronica and Ernest when they moved to Fremantle. Their third child Phyllis May was born in 1908 and Norman Joseph born 1910 Fremantle. The Harris family remained living in Fremantle.
Harris was one of 20 men from 2/4th who sailed with ‘Wales’ Maru Party to Japan, departing their barracks 15 May 1943. Norm Harris was recovered from Toyama at the end of the war.
On returning to WA, Norm spent time at Lady Mitchell Convalescent home. He required treatment to his eyes which had suffered due to vitamin deficiency. Tragically Norm’s eyesight further deteriorated.
In 1937 Norm had married Agnes Mary (known as Bobbie) Clifford.
In 1949 Norm and his wife Agnes were residing Hamilton Road, Spearwood, market gardening the property purchased through rehabilitation.
The couple relocated to Caloundra, Qld. He died 3 June 1970 Caloundra aged 57 years, and was buried at Caloundra Cemetery. Bobbie died 1994 Caloundra.
9 Platoon B Coy – F.J. Dorrington
Also in Platoon 9 was WX8433 Robert W. HALDANE who drowned in Sydney’s Port Jackson on 9 Jan 1942 whilst ‘Aquitania’ was moored. Haldane had enlisted about the same time as Hindle and Harris. The whole platoon would have felt the loss of their mate aged 22 years.
Haldane was born Broome March 1923 to parents William and Charlotte Haldane. Charlotte known as Lottie (nee Hilliard) died in 1936 when Bob was 17 years old.
The Hilliard family were Broome and Nor West Pearling pioneers.
Hindle and Harris enlisted about the same time in 1940 later transferred to 2/4th, ‘B’ Coy 9 Platoon under C.O. Lt Don Lee. Harris was promoted on 24 Jan 1942 to Platoon Sergeant (No. 2 IC)
