During the last days before the Allied surrender to Japan, numbers of injured were evacuated from Singapore by hospital ships to Batavia where they boarded other ships bound for Colombo or continued onto Colombo. There were also the sick/injured soldiers picked up from Batavia. During this time civilians, ie women and children continued to be evacuated mostly to Fremantle. One can only begin to imagine the fear and mayhem of Singapore harbour!
Many women and children did not escape Singapore, becoming prisoners of the IJA.
Wu Suii, Wah Sui, Wusei
On 12 February 1942, a Boat named the ‘Wui Sui’ which really was a rust bucket, had been converted to a hospital ship sailed out of Singapore Harbour with sick and injured. Surprisingly it arrived safely in Batavia two days later. However it was stopped by a Japanese cruiser and boarded by an inspection party – however, was miraculously allowed to continue to its destination.
At Batavia, Captain Melville of the ‘Wu Suii’ and the evacuees transferred to the British Hospital Ship ‘Karapi’ which then sailed to Colombo arriving on 22 February 1942. Here the patients were transferred to Australian General Hospital No. 12 where they were able to recover before being repatriated to Australia.
Capt Melville also remained at the convalescent hospital until a suitable ship arrived to sail them back to Australia.
There were other hospital ships sailing out of Singapore and Batavia.
On 14 March 1942 the ‘Stirling Castle’ with approximately 800 troops on board sailed from Colombo to Melbourne, arriving on 28 March 1942.
Evacuees included several men from the 2/4th – William Darcy O’Neill WX8828, Leo Patrick Byrne WX62155, William Richard Morris WX8200 and Arthur John Rowland WX17293.
Rowland was wounded in his thigh 11 February 1942, listed as missing in action and believed to have escaped to Sumatra. Having boarded a hospital ship he was admitted to 2/12th AGH Colombo Colombo on 9 March 1942 he embarked on ‘Stirling Castle’ for Australia on 13 March 1942.
We also know “Wu-Suii” sailed to Colombo, after which she was seconded to serve as a hospital ship in and around Burma throughout the war. She was eventually returned to Hong Kong from where she was originally working, and sailed as a Hong Kong ferry.
Eight (8) 2/4th men had successfully escaped Singapore to Sumatra: Richard Annear, Burgess, Ted Hopson, Magill, Quinn, Semple, Harold Smith and Cliff Squance.
Ted Hopson died With Atjeh Party 1944
Three survivors of Harugiku’ sinking remained injured/ill in Singapore – Burgess, Semple and Harold Smith.
Four 2/4th returned Sumatra to work on Railway: Richard Annear, Magill, Quinn & Squance. They were joined by (3) 2/4th Java POWs Banks, Booth and McAskil. (Booth & McAskill died 1945)
Total Five 2/4th were recovered from Sumatra Railway war’s end.
The S.S. van Warwijk was built in 1909 Netherlands.
Below: HMS Trucelent
The ship (which has several variations to her name) was scuttled by her crew in early 1942 at Tandjong Piok as part of a blockade to prevent the Japanese entering the port of Jakarta. Following their invasion the Japanese refloated and repaired Warwijk – after which renamed her ‘Harujkiki’ Maru becoming another Japanese ‘hell ship’.
On 26 June 1944 sailing from Belawan (Medan) to Pekanbaru Sumatra the ship was hit by one of 2 torpedoes fired by British submarine HMS Truculent. The Harujkiki Maru broke in two and sank within minutes.
It sank about 100km off the Sumatran coast at Medan carrying 1190 POWs. POW clung to lifeboats and debri for hours before being rescued by a Japanese tanker. 189 lives were lost. The POWs were taken to Singapore where they remained for about a month prior to being shipped back to Pekanbaru, Sumatra, where they built the railway until the end of war.
Semple and Squance
Harugiku Maru – SS Van Waerwjick Party
Atjeh Party including 50 Australian POWs departed Gloe Gloer, Sumatra on 7 March 1944 under the command of Lt. Tranter of 2/29th Battalion and included 2/4th men George Quinn, Ted Hopson and Arthur Magill – there remained behind 49 Australians – including Roy Semple, ‘Win’ Annear, ‘Squasher’ Squance, Alf Burgess and Harold Smith of 2/4th.
On 24 June they were alerted to be ready to leave for Singapore and the following day trucks arrived at Gloe Gloer camp to transport the POWs to the port of Belawan (Port of Medan) to board the ship to sail to Singapore through the Malacca Straits between Sumatra and Malaysia.
The ship was SS Van Waerwjick, a 3,040-ton passenger-cargo ship captured by the Japanese on 3 March 1942. As was Japanese custom the ship was renamed ‘Harugiku’ Maru.
The POWs arrived at the docks around noon and crammed into the fore and aft hold of the ship. A Japanese corvette was to act as escort to this small convoy that included 2 tankers and 2 transport ships. The ‘Harugiku’ Maru left Belawan about 1500 hours on 25 June, heading into the Malacca Straits to join the convoy.
The following day, 26 June at 1350 hours two mighty explosions amidships rocked the ship breaking it into two, and quickly sent it to the depths of the sea. The ‘Harukiku’ Maru hit the bottom at 68 feet. There was no loss of life from the 2/4th but tragically 167 POWs went down with the ship.
Following four hours of treading water, the men were rescued by one of Japanese tankers from the convoy. The POWs then continued their voyage on board this tanker to Singapore where they disembarked and were taken to River Valley Road Transit Camp. Annear WX13468, Squance, Magill and Quinn would return to Sumatra to work on the Pakan Baroe-Moearo railway.
Harold Smith WX17448 was sent to hospital with appendicitis on 21 July and Alf Burgess WX15756 suffered a head injury during the sinking of Harukiki Maru.
Harugiku Maru was the ex-Van Waerwijck, scutlled in March 1942 at Tandjong Priok by the Dutch, but refloated and repaired by the Japanese. Built in 1909 by Maats. Feyenoord; 3.040 tons; 325.3x44x22.8; Her triple expansion engines gave her 233 nhp.
On June 26th, 1944, the Harugiku Maru, a 3.040 tons Dutch steamer, on her way from Belawan to Pakan Baroe with 1.190 allied prisoners of war, was torpedoed twice and sunk by HMS Truculent (Lt.Cdr. R.L. Alexander) 60 miles SE of Medan, Sumatra.
Unknown to Truculent, Harugiku Maru was transporting 1.190 allied prisoners of war for forced labour work at the Pakan Baroe railway. 198 of them perished. Most of the survivors were able to survive by clinging on debris and liveboats for hours. They were picked up by a tanker and remained one month at Singapore, before being put to work at the railway.
Note: sometimes quoted as Harukiku Maru by some sources.
(We wish to acknowledge ‘wrecksite’ for this information.
In ‘Ghosts of Khaki’ Captain Archie Thomas WX3424 wrote of their departure from Sydney for Fremantle and ultimately Singapore.
Saturday 10t January 1942: Paraded for an inpection by Lord Gowrie. The reinforcement troops were now aboard as were some sailors, airmen, nurses and civilians returning from Malaya returning to join the Malayan Forces. A lot of our equipment that had been left behind on the Marella and the Westralia during transhipment to the Aquitania had been replaced by Eastern Command.
We sail at 14.00 hours our escort HMAS Canberra.
Sunday 11th January 1942: Very Calm day. Church Parade. Passed very close to Wilsons Promontory. Received our embarkation comforts today – pair socks, pair of stockings, 3 handkerchiefs, packet of razor blades, toothpaste and packet of barley sugar.
Monday 12th January 1942: We are now well into the bight – sea calm, weather cold. Instructions on the Bren gum and an introduction to the Tommy Gun (Thompson Sub Machine Gun).
Wednesday 14th January 1942: Ship is rolling a bit, I think we are now approaching the Leeuwin. We will be in Fremantle at 8 o’clock tomorrow.
______
The ‘Aquitania’ sailed into Gauge Roads from Sydney 15th January 1942 carrying large numbers of Australian reinforcements who would end their journey at Singapore (they did not know their final destination until reaching Fremantle). Included onboard was 8th Division’s Western Australian raised 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion. They had been training at Woodside, South Australia and more recently Darwin – at that time the men believing they were to be sent to middle east – they had been training for this desert warfare.
The troops were very hopeful of leave to see their families and loved ones whom they had not seen for at least 6 months, before they went to fight who knows where? This thought was sadly quelled when receiving instructions “No Leave” would be provided to any soldier at Fremantle. ‘Aquitania’ would only stay overnight to load further provisions and reinforcements for 2/4th.
Ship Staff Officer, Major L C Allen and the Captain of the Day were responsible for posting guards and sentries. An anchorage guard of two Officers, three Sergeants, three Corporals and 30 privates was mounted immediately ‘Aquitania’ dropped anchor at 8.30 am on 15 January 1942.
The Commanding Officer Troops on convoy “MS 2” was Col Chas H. Lamb. Col. Lamb promulgated orders that during the Fremantle stopover, no leave was to be granted to the troops on board ‘Aquitania’. These instructions were issued to Lt-Col. M J Anketell and the other group commanders.
When advised of the situation Lt-Col M J Anketell said that he did not expect trouble from the men of his battalion!
A guard from Western Command also embarked for the duration of the stay at Fremantle. As launches and tugboats towing lighters came alongside, men appeared on deck in readiness to go ashore.
Earlier,a rumour had circulated amongst the troops that the ship’s company had been granted leave until 1300 hours the following day. This of course proved to be false as ‘Aquitania’ was under orders to weigh anchor at 1100 hours, the next day on 16 January. With trouble looming, the guard was doubled on exits and gun ports and all Officers and NCO’s not on essential duties were placed on picquet duty. The strengthening of the guard was to no avail as by 1030 hours approximately 40 troops had managed to squeeze out of the portholes and scramble down hawsers.
The first wave of ship breakers were obviously determined to get ashore and by their actions brought home the reality that a riot and possible bloodshed could ensue.
The launch with the first ship breakers compelled the helmsmen to take them ashore, a request he duly obliged despite a call requesting the Navy to intercept the launch. Orders were cabled to the Military Police and the Garrison Battalion Guard ashore to form a reception committee and take the first wave of ship breakers into custody. This military manoeuvre, like the naval plan, did not eventuate and a request to the tug masters not to tow the lighters ashore also proved useless.
Seeing the first wave of troops go ashore appeared to encourage more on board to try their luck at scaling down hawsers and ropes onto lighters. Officers were instructed to go onto the lighters and to plead with the men to return to the ship, but by this time hearts were ruling minds as many men steadfastly refused to budge. Approximately 1,300 troops including, it is believed, more than half of the 2/4th MGB broke ship that day and proceeded ashore. Strong shore patrols of Western Command personnel with a large proportion of motor transport patrolled the Fremantle area, Perth city and suburbs during 15 and 16 January with the result that about 150 troops were apprehended and returned to the ‘Aquitania’.
On the 16th between 0700 and 1030 hours another 650 troops returned to the ship. When the ship was due to sail at 1100 hours there were still 500 troops absent, however between 1030 and 1330 hours another 350-400 troops returned onboard. Some of these men had made it back to Fremantle wharf and been shepherded out of harm’s way by the troops of the Garrison Battalion Guard and pointed in the direction where they could find transport out to Gauge Roads.
Others were not as fortunate and were apprehended by the M.P.s. Many were assured they would be ferried back out to their ship. Unfortunately for the ship breakers the M.P.s were under orders. Their motives were not in the troop’s best interests as they were taken into custody and given a cell for the night at Fremantle Prison. The prison was being used as a detention barracks for the AIF as all the civilian inmates had been relocated to Barton’s Mill Prison.
The final tally of 169 imprisoned 2nd AIF personnel consisted of 81 Sydney reinforcements and 88 2/4th machine gunners.
Partly compensating for the loss of these men from 2/4th were 145 reinforcements for the battalion who had travelled overnight from Northam Army Camp. This group included 6 Officers, 4 Sergeants and 134 other ranks – who would become ‘E’ Company.
However when the ship pulled up anchor later on 16th January there were 93 men from 2/4th AWOL.
(Their reasons were varied – some had been imprisoned at Fremantle unable secure release, a truck carrying a number of men from the country region west of Perth hills had broken down)
The above information is from ‘Colour Patch’ by Murray Ewen. Ewen wrote in his book ‘That is the story as it occurred and one that has been recounted faithfully utilising official records. (MPO729/7 File 42/422/68 Western Command Convoy “MS2” National Archives of Australia.)
Amongst those men who went AWOL and managed to return before ‘Aquitania’ sailed included Bert Norton, John and Jim Gilmour, Clarrie and Jeff McDonald, Jim Elliott and Jim Dore just to name a few!
Many of those who were unable to reboard ‘Aquitania’ were arrested at the harbour by Military Police who were waiting with vehicles. The MPs took men to Fremantle gaol – even though it was obvious they were trying to board ‘Zepher’ to reach ‘Aquitania’. Losing 90 well trained machine gunners was a huge loss to the Battalion. There was a lot of anger about this incident. Nobody knew who gave the order to the MPs.
John Gilmour wrote in his book ‘All in My Stride’ ……
with 2/4th MGB on board ‘Aquitania’ as ship sailed to Fremantle to anchor at Gauge Roads.
‘It had been more than 6 months since we left Perth. As ‘Aquitania’ prepared to pick up supplies and more troops the last straw for the 2/4th MGB was to be told there would be no shore leave.
Some orders are just too mean to be followed.
The men knew it was possibly their last chance to see their loved ones before they went to war. When the barges came out we jumped ship by the dozen and in most cases it was a jump of between 3 and 5 metres. The skippers of the barges were well paid for cooperating and for them the choice was simple: either head back to the wharf or risk sinking because the longer the barge stayed alongside the more soldiers jumped aboard. Some men were climbing through the portholes to jump.
An officer pulled his revolver on us and yelled “Stop it”.
He got a kick in the shins and his revolver dropped overboard into the ocean. There was no way he could identify the culprit in that seething mass of men scrambling for the opening at the side where the supples came aboard. The men were in no mood for obstruction and the officer was lucky he didn’t go overboard with his revolver.
My brother Jim and I jumped on to a water barge where we were soon joined by Clarrie and Jeff McDonald, Jim Elliott and Jim Dore. Once on the wharf we split up and went our separate ways knowing we had to be back the following day to sail away.
It was grand being home, even for a few hours. Perth was full of soldiers because many troops from the Eastern States had never been to Perth and they too had jumped ship to see the Western Australian capital for the first time and maybe the last time. Who could know what the future held for them in those circumstances?
Getting back onboard the ‘Aquitania’ the next day was tricky. The military police were rounding up all the men and taking them to Fremantle Gaol. Luckily my father a Corporal was a guard at the wharf and was on duty when we returned. He helped me get on the last launch, accompanied by Jeff and Clarrie, before ‘Aquitania’ sailed. By the time we got out to the ship, she was hauling her anchor in and we had to climb aboard using a rope ladder, not any easy feat because the ship was spinning around with the drag on the anchor.
Back on board, some of the men who had been drinking decided it was time for a swim. They dived in from the deck despite a warning from the crew that sharks had been seen scavenging on the ship’s wastes. The departure was delayed while the crew coaxed the swimmers out of the water and up the rope ladder. Being somewhat under the weather this task seemed to take forever.
One of the swimmers, Wally Kenney, lived in Fremantle and was a member of the 2/4th.
I could understand why he took that farewell swim. Fremantle people generally have a powerful bond of affection for their home city and the clean, flashing waters of the ocean send them a cooling wind, the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ on hot summer afternoons. Wally was taking a last lucky dip in the sources of his city’s sanity during what might turn out to be his last summer. Any West Australian will tell you that such behaviour is fully comprehensible. The war would still be there tomorrow!
So many of us had gone ashore the admission of guilt was voluntary. There were people who would not own up but I wasn’t one of them, and for my sins I received the only red mark in my pay book. I was fined a few days’ pay but proud of it (some lost their stripes).
The ‘Aquitania’ took us to the Sundra Straits where we transhipped to small Malaysian freighters which took us on to Singapore.”
From Bert Norton
‘We were told that there would be no leave ashore as troops were required urgently in Malaya. Under those circumstances most agreed okay that is the way to run a war. Late in mid morning we saw crew members going ashore and were told they had been granted 24 hours leave. The ship’s captain requested Western Command to grant us leave but, no leave. We were still under Eastern Command who, when asked said “no leave”. Troops thereupon decided to go AWOL. Climbing down ropes and ladders and out portholes on to water lighters tied up to ship. The lighter I was on pulled into wharf. On the wharf was a C.O. of the local Garrison Battalion who didn’t look too happy at being there. They were WWI Veterans and were sympathetic. Neither were we very happy as it looked as if there could be trouble. Their C.O. called down to us “are there WA men down there?” and were told yes, we are all from WA. Probably 50% were, the rest probably including the Convoy Dodgers who came aboard in Sydney. He told us to come upon to the wharf and fall in behind his men. He then marched us into the street and said “off you go and be back here tomorrow morning.” A Mills and Wares delivery van pulled up in front of us, the driver who offered us a lift took about 50 of us, a standing load and as I was the last on asked him to drop me at the corner of St Geo’s Tce and Milligan Street intersection. It was only a few minutes walk down Spring Street and along Mounts Bay Road to my parents’ home at 210 Mounts Bay Road. I stayed with them for an hour then to Barrack Street jetty to catch ferry to Coode Street. The ferry master told me the M.P.’s had been stopping all service men and checked for leave passes and advised me to hide my Colour Patch on hat by turning hat band inside out which I promptly did. Home to Thelma at 301 Suburban Roadwhich is now Mill Point Road, for the night. Next morning Eddie Pummel (Battalion’s bootmaker) came with his wife Audrey who was a friend of Thelma’s to see if I had got ashore. He said that he heard M.P.s were arresting all AWOLs and taking them to Fremantle Gaol. So I wasn’t able to cross river and say goodbye to my parents. Eddie, Audrey, Thelma and I caught the Metro Bus to Fremantle, warned by driver to keep down in seats as M.P.’s were checking buses from their vehicles. If they saw uniforms they were stopping buses and checking I.D.’s. Changed to tram at Beaconsfield, conductor gave us the same warning and said driver would drop us at nearest street to wharf. Got to wharf where R.A.N. guard at gate told us not to go down harbour side of sheds. M.P.’s had vehicles there and were arresting men and taking them to Fremantle Gaol, even though they can see that men are going back to “Aquitania” by “Zephyr”. Major Saggers spoke to me and hoped I had seen my family, he was very angry at the way M.P.’s were acting. Ninety 2/4th missed the ship because of the M.P.’s action. It was never found out which idiot gave orders to M.P.’s. to arrest men. Ship preparing to leave harbour at 1pm, sent with other 2/4th to man ships anti aircraft Vickers Machine Gun as ship left harbour on 16.1.1942.’
Frank Thaxter was one of the 2/4th men who went AWL. His record’s say from 1400 on 15 January to 0900 hours the next morning 16 Feb 1942 – he was fined 40/- ………….we are sure Frank thought it was worth it, he would have seen his wife who gave birth to their first child in April 1942.
Above: Frank Thaxter
Those who were unable to re-board ‘Aquitania‘
Ninety-three members of 2/4th failed to re-board HMT ‘Aquitania’ on the morning of 16 January 1942. They were detained at Fremantle Prison before being transferred to Claremont Details Camp, charged (AWOL) and fined. They remained here until 30 Jan 1942. They then embarked on ‘Marella’ to Java 12 Feb 1942. For reasons of age or health, five of these men did not continue their journey overseas.
Noel Banks from Woorooloo left the ‘Aquitania’ with others from around his hometown including Hubert Millar, Harold Steele and Clayden. Banks said he had been unsure whether to leave, but because he was assured by others including an officer, he would be returned to the ship in time, he went over board. The following morning the truck transporting them back to Fremantle broke down on the Greenmount hills, Great Eastern Highway. They were stranded, unable to repair their truck or get lifts. They would have been frantic. There was little traffic in those days. The men were unable to report for duty when the ship sailed next day,16 Jan 1942 for Singapore remaining in Java.
On 30th January 1942 the remaining 88 men were transported to Fremantle with their escort Officer, Lt. Colin Blakeway and boarded convoy “MS 3” departing Fremantle. The small convoy escorted by HMAS ‘Canberra ‘consisted of seven tankers destined for Palembang on Sumatra and four cargo ships for Tanjong Priok, the Port of Batavia on Java. One of the 4 cargo ships was the 7,475-ton SS ‘Marella’ carrying the machine gunners and their escort officer Col Blakeway,
The initial intention had been to put these well-trained machine gunners ashore at Java and transship them onwards to Singapore.
Before they arrived in Java, it was apparent Singapore would fall to the Japanese, it was therefore decided the machine gunners would remain in Java. They disembarked at Tanjong Priok on 13th February 1942 where they were moved to their barracks at Meester Cornelis, an older European area on the south side of Batavia. Batavia was divided into three sections. The northern section was the old town, the south was the new town of Weltevreden and further south of this was the new town of Meester Cornelis. The towns formed the municipality of Batavia, covering about 66 square miles.
The machine gunners found they were then reinforcements for the Allied Forces in Java and assigned guard duties at ammunition dumps within the area of Batavia and tasked with movement of stores from the wharves to the aerodromes.
Following the landing of further Australian troops from HMT Orcade’s on 19th February the 2/4th reinforcements joined either the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion or 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion for airfield defence at either Kemajoran or Tjilitan Aerodromes. **** At Tjilitan many of the ‘stragglers’ absconded from their posts leaving a dangerous gap in the 2/2nd Pioneers defence. Blackburn gave the entire Reinforcement Battalion a ‘roasting’ however 52 men refused to fight.
Australians guarding the aerodromes were amazed to find the Dutch officers left their posts each night to return to the comfort of their homes – returning in the morning! This Dutch indifference did little to increase the troops respect of their new allies. The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army were barely prepared to fight the Japanese.
2/2nd Pioneers history records say these men ‘were escorted from the position lest their low morale and deplorable fighting spirit contaminated their more worthy comrades-in-arms.’ Most were placed in a Dutch lock-up, returned to Australia on one of the last ships to leave Java. The rest were officially transferred to 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion and with later fighting impressed everyone with ‘courage and steadfastness.’ From ‘The Lost Battalions’ by Tom Gilling.****
By 17th February the Japanese were rapidly closing on Java from both east and west. Singapore had fallen. The Japanese invaded Bali on 18th February and on 19th February Darwin was subjected to aerial attack. General Wavell secretly notified the British joint staff mission Washington on 18th February 1942 that Hong Kong, Malaya and Singapore had been lost to the Japanese as had most of the islands of Netherlands East Indies.
Tom Hampson was allotted to 2/3MGB 11 Ptn C Coy under CO Col Blakeway.
Later Hampson with 2/3 was moved near Buitenzorg and a Battalion was formed under De-Crespigny.
BLACKFORCE
On 21st February 1942, Lt-Col Arthur Seaforth Blackburn was promoted to Brigadier and appointed to command all A.I.F. troops on Java, to be known as ‘Blackforce’. At the same time Brigadier Blackburn was to come under direct control of Dutch Commander, Chief Lt-Gen Hein ter Poorten.
Blackburn had earned a VC as a 23 year old fighting on the Somme, France in WW1. He had earlier fought at Gallipoli.
Enlisting again in 1940 Blackburn was given Command of 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion and fought in Syria.
He was one several senior Australian Officers not happy at being ordered to Batavia by General Wavell – the ‘Orcades’ sailed into Tanjong Priok on 17 February amidst scenes of total confusion bordering on panic. Refugee vessels of all shapes and sizes from Singapore and Sumatra bobbed around a sea of ship masts sunk by Japanese planes and there were two battle scarred British cruisers with gaping holes.
Deserters from Singapore who had been looting stores on the wharves began pelting ‘Orcades’ with tins and other items. It is said Blackburn, described as being the ‘tall, skinny solicitor’ from Adelaide was a ‘hotheaded old so-and-so’ and threatened to go ashore and shoot them. Instead he sent an armed patrol of Pioneers ashore who sent them scurrying.
(Blackburn later had the looters rounded up and placed under close arrest. Perth boy Bill Haskell from 2/3rd remembers Blackburn giving the deserters the option of teaming up with him or being classed as deserters when the war was over. Those who refused were sent back to the lock-up). At the time of organising the defence of Java, Blackburn expected little from the 180 ‘stragglers’ from Singapore – he knew their poor morale and indifferent training made their ability to fight very doubtful. Fearing the worst he assigned them to a reinforcement draft. ****
Meanwhile most of the Australian troops remained on board ‘Ocades’ on 17th and 18th February. They were all dead keen to leave Batavia and all the dramas as soon as possible. It was a depressing scene. On the 18th, 7th Division’s commanding officer, General Allen and two senior staff came onboard and held long discussions with Blackburn, presumably delivering General Wavell’s order to disembark. Blackburn strongly argued against his men being put ashore.
On the night 19th Blackburn received orders that certain troops on board, numbering about 2,000 should be disembarked.
Right: Lavarack
Above: Wavell
Lavarack and other senior Australian officers disagreed with the Java disembarkation, however were ignored by Wavell. – Blackburn’s men would defend Java’s airfields and stiffen Dutch resistance when the Japanese invasion came.
Apart from the unreliable Dutch colonial army on Java – the Australians with a few thousand RAF personnel, were now on their own!
Intelligence reports state Wavell had decided as early at 27 Jan that Singapore could not be held. The Australian 6th and 7th Divisions were not to come to Java – and only a small division under Blackburn was to stay for political reasons, to bolster the Dutch resistance to prolong the war as long as possible! On 27 Jan the 2/3rd Machine Gunners were still in Lebanon – their fate had been sealed prior to their departure for Australia, which is where they believed they we heading.
The men were told to disembark then re-embark 5 – 6 times before the men finally left the ship. With all that was going on, the men could only guess and did not really know. Some finally left part of their belongings behind believing they would be ordered to stay once again. As the 2/1st Light Anti Aircraft regiment were marching off ‘Orcades’ they suddenly received orders to get back on-board. Darwin had been bombed that morning so the 2/1st Bofors guns were needed for ground defence in Australia.
Finally ‘Blackie’ as was endearingly called by his men, was promoted to Brigadier and ordered off the ship. He had to obey or face a court martial. He was too good a soldier to disobey. Poor Bugger.
The men of the 7th Division remaining onboard with those at that time sailing back to Australia – would go on to fight in New Guinea.
2,000 downhearted soldiers trudged off ‘Orcades’ as others boarded on another ramp to leave Java. It was not a happy day – each man carried three day’s rations because no arrangements had been made to feed the men. The soldiers knew they were outnumbered by the Japanese and dreaded what lay ahead. They had no machine guns, no ammunition and no transport.
It seems so similar to circumstances on Singapore – the Australian senior command had a lot to answer for.
Wonder what Wavell reported on the men he left behind on Java?
You may recall Wavell was scathing of the Australians at Singapore, blaming them for the surrender of Singapore!
Lavarack appointed Blackburn brigadier in charge of all Australian troops on Java – 3,000 of them – sufficient for a whole Battalion. However as was the situation at Singapore, about half this number of 3000 were non-combatant troops – engineers, cooks, drivers, clerks, etc.
Blackburn knew there to be Japanese spies (5th column) on the ground in Java and undertook in the next week or so, a ploy to give the impression to the local force (and spies) of a larger force than in reality. He had the transport vehicles drive ‘around the blocks’ several times to give the impression of far greater numbers of troops. Who knows if it worked.
As in Singapore, Java had too many men at the top making decisions:
Wavell – then at his his head quarters at the Grand Hotel at Lembang, near Bandung. Blackburn met with Wavell late in the afternoon of 24 Feb 1942 at his HQ. It was a five hour journey of 100 kms for Blackburn. – his orders were to ‘give every assistance possible to the Dutch forces in resisting the invasion – impressing every hour gained by resistance would be of value to the Allied cause to SW Pacific in general and to Australia in particular. Blackburn was to use his troops in offensive operations against the Japanese wherever possible‘.
An Australian Officer seconded to Wavell’s staff told Blackburn that Wavell had already given Java up as lost. With no substantial force on Java to command, his Java command would be dissolved and Wavell would fly to India to take up a new role Commander-in-Chief India!
Wavell had messed up with Singapore and now Java. There was no-one to answer to!
Churchill must also take responsibility. In Burma, Wavell was replaced by Mountbatten in 1943. His attempts to organize the liberation of Burma during the spring of 1943, his troops led by General William Slim, failed in several attempts to drive the Japanese out of the area.
General Lavarack, Australian 7th Division Commander – should he have stood firmer against Wavell. He said to Blackburn he would arrange for Blackforce to be evacuated by ships – this never eventuated. Everybody had moved onto bigger things by then.
Major General Allen – Commanding Officer of parts of 7th Division.
British Major General Sitwell – Wavell’s anti-aircraft commander – Blackburn and his troops were placed under his command (this order came from the British Chief of General Staff, South West Pacific Command, General Playfair in Washington.)
General ter Poorten, Dutch Commander-in-Chief – local Dutch Commander and the appointed commander of land forces in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, a short-lived unified command of all Allied forces in South East Asia – to whom Blackburn was to support and report to.
**Hein ter Poorten (21 November 1887 – 15 January 1968) was a Dutch military officer. He was commander of Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in World War II. Ter Poorten was also Allied land forces commander in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command on Java during early 1942.
Below: Blackburn WW1
Blackforce consisted of approximately 2,900 Australian, British and American troops. Organised on a brigade basis Blackforce consisted of three battalions.
No. 1 Battalion – Total Strength 700
710 troops 2/3rd Machine Gun Btn under command of Lt-Col Lyneham
One section from 2/6th Field Company – 222 engineers.
One Officer and a number of other ranks ex-Singapore and a proportion of reinforcement draft from Australia.
No. 2 Battalion – Total Strength 900
937 troops with 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion under command of Lt-Col J.M. Williams
‘C’ Company No. 10 Platoon, 1st Australian Corps Headquarters Guard Regiment as well as those troops ex-Singapore and the reinforcement draft ex-Australia not allocated to other two Battalions. The guards platoon included WW1 veterans in their 4o’s and 50’s who lied about their age when joining up – found out later, they were assigned to headquarters units.
This 3rd Battalion was formed 28th February when all surplus reinforcements were allotted to this unit. This included Lt. Colin Blakeway and 40 of the 87 X 2/4th machine gunners that were transferred across from 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion on this day.
On 1st March Japanese troops simultaneously began their invasion of Java at four different points.
Strategic places like Bandung, Batavia and Surabaya were invaded by two invasion forces totalling 45,000 Japanese troops accompanied by superior Japanese air power. Following 8 days of fierce fighting and the loss of 1,000s of lives, the Allied Forces surrendered. The Australians were not happy, they felt the Dutch Forces had’ rushed in’. The Allied troops were advised any further resistance would result in instant reprisals against the civilians. The Japanese terms of surrender were unconditional. The Allied POWs were made up of Dutch, Australian, American, British and Naval personnel from Australian and American ships who had survived the sinking of their ships.
Troops retained to defend the Dutch airfields on Java, Batavia, Java, 19-02-1942
Members of ‘Blackforce’ in preparation of invasion of Java Feb/March 1942.
2/4th MGB Personnel AWL Fremantle,
When ‘Aquitania’ Sailed from Fremantle 16 January 1942
Total 88 men sent Java 1942
24 men died of illness/lost at sea
Including Five Men died of illness in Java – several others remained Java throughout war.
Three men were evacuated ex Java to Ceylon then to Australia
WX8245 Adams E.T. (10 Pln) Java Party No. 6 P Battalion. With ‘Rashin’ Maru Party to Japan, recovered Niihama, Japan
WX7064 Allpike B.W.J. (Btn HQ). Java Party No. 6, O Battalion to Thailand. Recovered from Thailand.
WX7905 Annesley F.J. (HQ Coy 2 Pln) Java No. 4 Died ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sinking in South China Sea Sept 1944
WX9367 Baker John Robert (6 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Black Force to Burma. Recovered Thailand.
WX7587 Barbour T. (11 Pln) Java Party No. 6 O Btn. Leg amputation Thailand. Recovered from Thailand.
WX7164 Barker F. (11 Pln) Java Party No 4, BlackForce to Burma end of Railway.
WX6970 Barnes A.J. (4 Pln) attached 2/2 Pioneers. Java Party No. 4 William Force to Burma end of Railway.
WX10791 Beattie A.R. (4 Pln) Java Party No. 6, P Battalion to Burma-Thai Railway Thailand, Recovered from Omuta Camp, Japan.
WX8766 Booth Harold Vernon (‘B’ Coy 8 Pln) Java No. 22 Died Apr 1944 Pakan Baroe, Sumatra aged 37 years.
WX7600 Bousefield (13 Pln) Java party No. 4, Williams Force to Burma end of railway. Worked with William Force No. 1 Mobile Force. Recovered from Thailand.
WX7333 Burns A.J. (8 Pln) Evacuated sick to 2/12th AGH Ceylon 4 March 1942. Disembarked Fremantle ex Ceylon 6 May 1942. Served with 43rd Water Transport Company.
WX6155 Byrne L.P. (10 Pln) Admitted to hospital 18-25 Feb 1942. Embarked HM Hospital Ship ‘Wuseh’ on 25 Fe 1942 to Colombo, Ceylon. ‘Wuseh’ sailed from Singapore 9 Feb 1942 left Java crowded with patients.
WX10365 Caldwell (‘B’ Coy HQ) Remained POW at Java throughout war. Recovered from Java.
WX9551 Carroll F.V. (10 Pln) Remained POW Java. Recovered Java.
WX8240 Carter D.N.H. (9 Pln) Java Party No. 6 O Battalion to railway in Thailand. Recovered from Ohama POW Camp, Japan.
WX10354 Clayden H.T. (Buck) (11 Pln) – MUNDARING TRUCK BREAKDOWN. Clayden had older brother Syd Clayden who also survived. Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Selected to work in Japan with ‘Awa’ Maru Party, but remained French Indo China. Harold was recovered from French Indo China.
WX16369 Cocking A.J. (8 pln) Java Party No. 4, Williams Force to Burma end of Railway. Sent to Japan on ‘Rakuyo’ Maru – survived ship sinking and was rescued by US submarine four days later, USS Pampanito. Arrived back WA end 1944.
WX10048 Cosson E.J. (1 Pln) Ted Cosson with Java Party 5a, Robertson Force to Burma end of Railway. Recovered from Thailand.
WX8855 Davies David John (HQ Coy 2 Pln) Java No. 4. Evacuated sick to Thailand. Died Jan 1944 Kanchanaburi, Thailand aged 33 years.
WX9310 Dickson Andrew A. (6 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Kachu Mountain Camp, Thailand at end of war.
WX7299 Doyle Tom F. (14 Pln) Java Party No, 4 Williams Force to Burma. Evacuated from railway Burma. Seriously ill Nacompaton Hospital Camp, Thailand 29 April 44 to 9 Jan 1945. Recovered from Thailand.
WX8830 Drummond A.McD. (‘B’ Coy HQ) Java No. 4 Died ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sinking Sept 1944 aged 33 years.
WX9266 Dunwoodie W. Bill (6 Pln) Java Party No 6, P Battalion. Recovered from Kachu Mountain Camp, Thailand.
WX9199 Farmer A.F. (6 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force. Recovered from Thailand.
WX9070 Fielder, Charles (12 Pln) Rangetaker. Java Party No. 6 P Battalion. Recovered from Thailand.
WX5132 Fisher George (12 Pln) Rangetaker.
Remained Java and recovered from there.
WX7569 Foxall Stuart Edward (‘C’ Coy 11 Pln) Java No. 4 Party Williams Force to Burma. Died Jul 1943 Beke Taung Hospital, Burma aged 22 years.
WX15422 Frost Basil M. (3 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Railway. Selected with ‘Rakuyo ‘Maru Party to work in Japan. However evacuated to Changi Gaol Hospital with infected leg. Remained in Changi and recovered from here. Lucky man,
WX9270 Fury Thomas Joseph (‘A’ Coy 6 Pln) Java No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Killed air raid Thanbuyuzayat, Burma Jun ‘43 aged 35 years.
WX7595 Glass George (Btn HQ) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Railway. Recovered from Thailand
WX6980 Golden Percy (6 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Railway. Recovered Nacompaton Thailand.
WX8540 Green T.W. (HQ Coy 3 Pln) Java No. 4 Joined ‘E’ Force at Sandakan died Jan ‘45 aged 23 years.
WX8265 Gregory W.R. (5 Pln) Rangetaker ‘A’ Coy. Java Party No 4, Black Force to Burma end of Railway. Recovered from Thailand.
WX6975 Ham Reginald John (14 Pln) Driver. Java Party No. 4 Battalion Williams Force to Burma. Recovered Thailand.
WX7123 Hampson Robert Douglas (4 Pln) Java party No. 4 Williams Force. Selected to work in Japan with ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party – rescued from China Sea by US Submarine USS-Barb. Sent home late 1944.
WX15736 Hansen Robert (15 Pln) Java Party No 4. Williams Force to Burma. Recovered Thailand.
WX8695 Harris William Denis (Btn HQ) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Thailand.
WX8408 Hayes A.G. (HQ Coy 2 Pln) Java No. 4 Died Sept 1944 ‘Rakuyo’ Maru
WX7642 Henderson Clarence George (10 Pln) Java Party No. 6 P Battalion to Thailand. ‘Rashin’ Maru party to sail to Japan. Recovered Saganoseki Copper Smelter, Japan.
WX7465 Holdman N. (HQ Coy 2 Pln) Java No. 4 Killed air raid Bangkok wharf area whilst being transported on train.
WX10795 Hughes Ronald Edward (‘A’ Coy 5 Pln) Java No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Died Sept 1944 when ‘Rakuyo’ Maru was torpedoed and sunk by US Submarines moving around in a Wolfpack. Hughes was 24 years old.
WX9130 Hunter Malcolm Ashton (9 Pln) Java Party No. 6 O Battalion to Thailand. Contracted cholera at Hintok Road Camp and survived. Recovered from Thailand.
WX5118 Jenkins Cpl James Morgan (‘C’ Coy 12 Pln) Java No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Died Nov ‘42 Thanbyuzayat, Burma aged 41 years.
WX7453 Jones Edgar Cheetham (HQ Coy 2 Pln) Died Jul ’42 Bicycle Camp, Java aged 40 years.
WX7612 Kelly Charles George McQueen (‘D’ Coy 13 Pln) Java No. 4 Williams Force to Burma, Evacuated to Thailand Died Jan ‘44 Tamarkan Hospital Camp aged 39 years.
WX4949 Kingswell Ronald James (‘C’ Coy 12 Pln) Died Mar ’42 No. AGH Bandeong, Java aged 23 years.
WX8336 Kuhl F.G. (Btn HQ) Java Party 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Railway. Evacuated to Tamarkan Hospital Camp 21 Sep 1945.
WX7230 Lee Leslie H. (8 Pln) Java party No. 4 to Singapore then joined Java Party 5a Robertson Force to Burma. Recovered from Thailand.
WX15744 Lee Leslie Wallace (6 Pln) Java Party No. 6 O Battalion to Thailand. Evacuated sick to Tarsau 1 Sep 1943. Recovered from Thailand.
WX11316 Lewis Laurence Harold (‘D’ Coy HQ) Java Party No 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Ubon, Thailand.
WX7285 Love Harrie R. (4 Pln) Trade Group No. 1. Java Party No. 4 Black Force – sailed to Singapore however was evacuated sick to Roberts Barracks Changi and did not continue journey to Burma probably due to his trade skills. Recovered from Singapore.
WX16341 Martin Samuel Thomas (3 Pln) Java Party No. 4 William Force to Burma. Recovered from Thailand.
WX13285 Maude Jack (6 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Sent to Japan with ‘Awa’ Maru party to Sendyu. Recovered from Japan.
WX8261 McAskil Robert Ramsay (10 Pln) Java Party No. 20. Died Sumatra Railway 28 Mar 1945. (He missed draft to Japan due to illness – later joined Java Party No. 22)
WX9825 McLoughlin C.P. (HQ 12 Pln). Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Nakom Nayok Thailand.
WX9826 Millar Hubert James (11 Pln) Driver. MUNDARING TRUCK BREAKDOWN. Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Thailand.
WX13562 Moate Peter Joseph (‘C’ Coy HQ) Java Party No. 6 O Battalion to Thailand. Recovered from Thailand.
WX8200 Morris William Richard (10 Pln) Storeman. Evacuated sick from Java. Embarked HMT ‘Stirling Castle’ from Ceyon on 13 Mar 1942 to Melbourne arrived 28 Mar 1942.
Classified medically fit on 27 Apr 1942 was Taken on Strength with 2/3rd MGB on 29 May 1942.
WX15746 Morrison A.E. (13 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma, then worked Thailand and recovered from Tamuang Camp, Thailand.
WX5336 Murdoch James Lewis (D Coy 15 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Ubon Camp, Thailand.
WX7645 Nicholls W.J. (HQ 1 Pln) Died 10 Oct 1942 illness Bicycle Camp Hospital, Batavia.
WX16417 Ninyette Samuel (D Coy 15 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams force to Burma end of Railway. Recovered from Thailand.
WX8856 Pearce Harry Walter (C Coy 11 Pln) Java Party No. 5 Williams Force sent to Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway. Whilst in Thailand he was selected fit to work in Japan. He died when ‘Rakuyo’ Maru sank after being torpedoed by US submarines12 Sep 1944 aged 30 years.
WX8725 Pryce John Henry Lloyd (HQ 1 Pln) Signaller. Javva Party No. 6 P Battalion. Recovered from Kachu Mountain Camp, Thailand at end of war.
WX9563 Randall John (88th LAD) Butcher. Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. ‘Both’ Party. Recovered from French Indo China.
WX7493 Rennie R.G.S. (HQ 3 Pln) Java Party No. 6 P Battalion. Died post leg amputation 4 Oct 1943 Tamarkan, Thailand.
WX7750 Roberts Stanley Henry George (A Coy 6 Pln) Was returned to Australia sick and arrived Melbourne 28 March 1942.
WX16427 Robertson Donald Charles (B Coy 8 Pln) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway. He was recovered from Thailand.
WX5200 Robinson William Joseph (B Coy HQ) Sel;ectd with Java Party No. 6 O Battalion to Thailand to work on Burma-Thai Railway. Died 17 Jul 1943 dysentery Hintok, Thailand aged 25 years.
WX7939 Sawyer Clarence John (Btn HQ) Died 1 Apr 1942 dysentery at No. 1 General Hospital, Bandeong, Batavia aged 34 years.
WX8843 Scales J. (A Coy 5 Pln) Sent with Java Party No. 6 O Battalion to work on Burma-Thai Railway in Thailand. Died 11 Sep 1943 illness Chungkai, Thailand aged 35 years.
WX7576 Simmonds Norman Edward (C Coy 10 Pln). Java Party No. 6 P Battalion to Thailand. Recovered from Nakom Nayok, Thailand.
WX16424 Sing Alfred (A Coy HQ) Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Railway. Selected in thailand to work Japan with ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party. Was another very lucky man to be rescued by US Submarine UUS Sealion from
South China Sea Sep 1944 after Rakuyo Sank. Returned home by end of 1944.
WX7893 SMITH James Stanley (C COY 12 Pln) Lance Corporal promoted 1 Mar 1942. Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Thailand.
WX8506 Smith Walter John (88 LAD) Driver. Java Party No. 6 O Battalion to Thailand. Recovered from Tamuang Camp, Thailand.
WX9419 Steele, Harold William (Bill) (C Coy HQ Pln) MUNDARING TRUCK BREAKDOWN. Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway. Recovered from Kachu Mountain Camp, Thailand.
WX9827 Stribling Reginald Harold (C Coy 12 Pln). MUNDARING TRUCK BREADKDOWN Driver. Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway. Recovered from Thailand.
WX8585 Vidler Cyril Jack (A Coy 5 Pln) Java Party 5A Robertson Force. Recoverd from Thailand.
WX15654 Walker Robert Joseph (HQ 3 Pln) Died 5 May 1942 dysentery Bicycle Camp, Batavia aged 36 years.
WX7466 Walsh, Bernard James (HQ 3 Pln) Driver. Java Party No. 6 P Battalion to railway Thailand. ‘Rashin’ Maru Party to Japan. Recovered from Omuta Camp, Japan.
WX8356 Watkins, Walter Stafford (Btn HQ) Java Party No. 3 Williams Force (advance party with Lt. C.J. Mitchell) to Burma. Recovered from Thailand.
WX10762 Watters Tom Murray (HQ 3 Pln) Remained Java and was recovered from there.
WX7502 Wayman Tom S. (HQ 3 Pln) Driver. Java Party No. 6, P Battalion to Thailand. ‘Rashin’ Maru to Japan. Recovered from Niihama, Japan.
WX10049 Wilkinson Mervyn Wilfred (HQ 1 Pln) Java Party No. 5a, Robertson Force and later attached to Williams Force. Recovered Thailand.
WX1138 Williams A.G. (C HQ) Cook, Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to Burma. Recovered from Thailand.
Murray Ewen wrote what every 2/4th soldier thought – even after the war.
The question must be asked ‘why 88 trained machine gunners and support staff who were all trained as infantry were kept behind bars as ‘Aquitania’ weighed anchor and set sail for Singapore?’
Whether the soldier was a driver, cook or a member of the Vickers Machine gun section, the Battalion’s fighting strength was effectively weakened. Someone had issued the order to restrain these men from re-boarding their ship but this person remains a mystery to this day.
Above: Left General Hein ter Poorten with Robert Menzies.
Above: Centre Hein ter Poorten with Wavell on Right.
Below: Japanese arrival
9 MARCH 1942 DUTCH COMMANDING OFFICER GENERAL TER POORTEN SURRENDERED TO GENERAL COMMANDING OFFICER 16TH ARMY – DUTCH EAST INDIES.
1941-11-06
–
1942-11-09
General Officer Commanding 16th Army [Dutch East Indies]
1942-11-09
–
1945-09-02
Commander in Chief 8th Area Army [New Guinea – Solomons Island]
1946-04-XX
–
1947-05-XX
Arrested and tried as a war criminal
1947-05-XX
Condemned to 10 years imprisonment as a war criminal
A group of 649 Australians embarked on the Rakuyo Maru; the Kachidiko Maru, carrying some 1,000 British prisoners of war, was also in the convoy. Off Hainan Island, both vessels were sunk by an American submarine: 503 AIF, 33 RAN and 7 RAAF personnel were lost in the Rakuyo Maru; 80 survivors were picked up by American submarines. Those picked up by the Japanese were sent to the Kawasaki group of factories, and Moji and Sakata prison camps.
9,419 ton ‘Rakuyo’ Maru was built 1921 by Mitsubishi Company at Nagasaki.
Initially entrained from Thailand via Bangkok (where they also worked for a few days) to Saigon in French Into China, the Rakuyo Maru work party arrived in Saigon where they worked for several months around the wharves and the city, accommodated at the former French Foreign Legion quarters – a huge improvement from the attap huts on the line where they slaved long hours, had little food and no medicines.
Several times the Japanese prepared them to board their ship to Japan, after waiting around all day the men were returned to camp. Finally the Japanese decided it was too dangerous to sail with the American blockade and ordered them to travel to Singapore by rail.
The POWs had in comparison found work and living conditions in Saigon far better than when working on the railway. Also their food rations became more generous. They now had to make their way to Singapore.
Arriving by train Singapore on 4 July 1944 from Saigon, the men designated for ‘Rakuyo’ Maru were accommodated at River Valley Road Transit Camp – and remained here until 3 September 1944 when it was announced ‘Rakuyo’ Maru was ready to board. In the meantime, POWs were taken on daily work parties around the docks and some worked on the excavation of a dry dock opposite Pulau Damar Laut, otherwise known as Jeep Island.
Several 2/4th men were sent to Changi Gaol Camp hospital and were unable to proceed to Japan. Murray Cheyne on 14 July 1944 was hospitalised suffering from malaria and pneumonia. On regaining his health, because he was a Pay Sergeant he was later transferred to Changi Administration 28 January 1945. Basil Frost was hospitalised with an infected leg.
When it was time to embark, it was found the ship did not have sufficient room to take Australian Kumis No.’s 35-40. No. 40 was deleted from the passenger list – 2/4th men in No. 40 included: Vic Barnett, Bill Cake, Harry Lucas, Albert Hambley and Les Holtzman – they later sailed with ‘Awa’ Maru to Japan end of December 1944 and were very lucky indeed!
On 4 September 1944, 718 Australian, 600 British and one American (shot down over java) POWs were marched to docks. Earlier attempts saw them sit around waiting until late evening (large numbers of men were unable to march and others were sick with usual tropical diseases) before being marched back to their accommodation at Transit Camp.
Many doubted they would actually see a ship on this particular day. The same had occurred in French Indo China when they were ordered to march to the docks and board their ship on several occasions only to later return to their accommodation.
But there it was – ‘Rakuyo Maru‘ moored at the docks!
Many POWs were familiar with the ship as they had been loading her for the past weeks with raw rubber, copra, tin and scrap metal.
The men were herded below decks where conditions were very crowded, dark and stifling hot in the Singapore heat. A tense standoff had taken place with the Japanese when a large number of POWs refused to go below into the over-crowded hold. They were warned there would be no water and food until they did so and situation became hostile.
Eventually the Japanese agreed with senior POWs officers that two thirds of the men would go into the hold. The remaining third could remain on deck but must not impede the movement of crew.
Prodded by rifles with bayonets and the usual slapping and kicking, two-thirds of the men squeezed themselves below. Sitting back-to-back and knee-to-knee the men including the sick, settled down and waited in the dark hold sweating in the appalling conditions.
On deck and below there were numerous injuries from earlier hostilities – sore heads, bruises, cuts and broken ribs. They tried to maintain a path to the primitive but hygienic latrines – a slatted box lashed with rope to the port rail.
On 4 September 1944 ‘Rakuyo Maru‘ with 1318 POWs moved off just before dusk and soon dropped anchor in the roads outside the harbour.They remained in the roadstead for another 36 hours. Those on deck were able to see the lights of Singapore and enjoyed the faintest of breezes. For those below there was no relief, it must have been horrific trying to sleep sitting with heads on their knees, listening to the sick and injured cries and moans, the air filled with fear and the growing stench of so many bodies.
At about the same time ‘Kachidoki’ Maru with 1500 British POWs onboard sailed out of Singapore to join the convoy (also sunk by American Submarines).
There was no food ration this night. Whatever food they had been provided in the early morning was supposed to be for the day – however rice would not keep in the heat.
During the night ‘Rakuyo Maru’ joined a convoy of two tankers and further three transports to form two lines headed by a light cruiser, flanked by two destroyers and followed by a corvette and sailed away from Singapore.
It was nearer midday before POWs received their small serving of food. They each received a small mug of rice with a tiny drop of stew! There was chaos and queue jumping by ravenous men. They were advised they would receive half a pint of tea later in the day. Cooking facilities were absolutely inadequate. The cooks had use of two kwalies for more than 1,000 men, worked in a lean-to cookhouse made of corrugated iron at the ship’s stern, exposed to weather and open deck. There was no way the POWs would receive more than two meals per day in daylight hours with two kwalies cooking for 1300 men. (There would be no fires at night for cooking).
Australians manned the cookhouse and eventually the British conceded the rice was well cooked. Initially the British felt outsmarted by the Aussies who had manoeuvred themselves into the cookhouse ahead of the British. By the second day they all received a pint of tea each man and the British conceded the Aussies were doing well. The prisoners soon settled into a routine with food distribution points, pathways to latrine, etc. The men knew if they created any trouble everybody would be jammed into the hold and hatches closed.
Those on deck faced stinking hot conditions during the day, but were rewarded with cooler nights. For those in the hold it was otherwise and they were glad of a turn upstairs. By the fifth day men were desperate for water for cleaning themselves. Conditions soon became unsanitary. The Japanese agreed for bath parades! 5-6 men at a time allowed on deck and the use of a pump for 5 minutes. It was heaven beneath the 3-foot torrent of water whilst they splashed and rolled about.
Drinking water had become dangerously short and that night, thankfully the heavens opened up! Those on deck were happily drenched and filled their drink containers and from below came the hordes taking turns to do likewise. On deck, temperatures plummeted and the men with their sodden belongings gathered together to keep warm until morning when the sun was again out.
On the morning of 6th September the ‘Kachidoki Maru’, two passenger cargo vessels, two tankers and several escorts joined them.The POWs felt reasonably safe as the convoy forged on in favourable conditions accompanied by one cruiser, 4 destroyers and 2 corvettes.
The convoy headed directly northeast for the Formosa Straits.
The following day the convoy approached the danger area of the voyage – midway between Hainan Island and Luzon in the Philippines where the American submarines were concentrated.
Extra lookouts were evident on the foredeck and the bridge and the gun crews practiced on an antiquated artillery piece in the bow. Tension was high!
At this point (according to Ghosts in Khaki) the convoy was joined by three empty freighters and three frigates. The convoy became three columns of ships with tankers in the centre and ‘Rakuyo Maru’ becoming ‘tail end charlie’ at the right rear.
There was a hunt on for life jackets and ample stock was found on ‘Kachidoki Maru’ however 25% or more of POWs on ‘Rakuyo Maru’ missed out.
Survivors on board from HMAS Perth (taken POWs in Java after their ship sank) were active in spreading the message of ‘abandon ship survival’. They found the life jackets, wooden life rafts and advised how to launch them. They also devised a plan to empty the holds quickly. The Perth survivors prepared those around them as much as was possible under the conditions.
On the evening of 11th September two 2/4th Machine gunners Alf and Wally Winter had been out scrounging and this incident proved to be a minor crisis, taking minds off the torpedoes!
“We broke a lock and got into a hold. We pinched a small bag of sugar, got it back to the hold and split it up amongst our Kumi (platoon). Everybody gulped it down by the handful. The Japs were onto the theft pretty quickly and announced that if they couldn’t find the culprit everyone would be punished.” …………Alf Winter (from Ghosts in Khaki Page 310)
The decision was left until the next morning – and the ship eventually settled down. As the ship sailed on the number of men sleeping on deck grew to many 100s of POWs on the forward deck. The decision of the missing sugar was never made and was taken over by a much greater crisis.
A little before midnight of the 6th day, on 12 September the convoy was attacked. For those on deck the night was dark, as the moon had not risen. The previous quiet evenings had lulled them into a sense of safety and tranquillity. Startled awake by the roar of activity, POWs on deck saw the destroyer escort charging around with lights blinking. There was a huge flash of light, an explosion or two, and the destroyer was gone.
Pandemonium followed, bells ringing, Japs racing everywhere and some even jumping into the lifeboats. Terrified men heaved themselves out of the holds. For those on deck they could see one of the tankers ablaze, and lighting up the night. ‘Rakuyo Maru’ was veering evasively right to the starboard. There were more explosions. Alarm bells continued ringing amidst the hysterical cries from men everywhere and from below, they could hear the scurrying of crew feet in a night which had suddenly gone mad. The POWs did not know what was to happen, or what they were to do as their ship rocked about.
The panicked guards and crew began to force the POWs back down the hold. A young Australian Officer took command. He confirmed the convoy had been attacked and two ships hit and advised the men to sit quietly and settle down. Nothing further happened and the convoy again settled down.
The ship remained on an even keel and control returned. The ‘Rakuyo Maru’ was drawing away from the convoy and they thought they would be all right. The terrified men had willed their ship to find safety away from the convoy into the safety of darkness. They were suddenly aware the’ Rakuyo Maru’ was now alone. One cannot begin to imagine what was going through their minds of those hundreds of terrified men below decks.
At 5.30am POWs on deck saw a tanker not too far away go up in flames joined a few minutes later by a freighter. It was now the ‘Rakuyo Maru’s’ turn. Watchers at the rails yelled “they’re going to hit” as two torpedoes streaked toward their ship. One torpedo went into the engine room bringing the ship to an abrupt halt with a loud explosion and a sheet of flame and second torpedo hit below where it was seemingly cushioned by the cargo of rubber bales or even missed its target.
A massive wave poured over the forecastle. POWs on deck were thrown violently about as they were pounded by boiling and hissing seas. Many thought the ship had already sunk. Next the water had gone leaving men confused, spluttering and blundering about the deck, their meagre possessions washed overboard.
They had hung on to avoid being swept overboard. Harry Bunker said, “It was like being hit by an enormous dumper at Cottesloe beach. I was all ends up scraping along the deck”. Harry Pickett said he had to hang on to stop being swept over the side. (from ‘Ghosts in Khaki P. 311)
There were continual splashes as men jumped into the water. For those on-board there was further panic with the Japanese seemingly not knowing what to do and taking longer to do it. However the Japanese crew didn’t waste time appearing in life jackets (some POWs managed to grab one from their supply) and several rafts hit the water. Before everybody was out of the hold, the lowered lifeboats loaded with crew were pulling away from ‘Rakuyo Maru’.
The panicked POWs in the holds had immediately scrambled for the ladder. On deck, there were some savage confrontations between POWs with years of pent up hatred and a few of Japanese still on board. It appeared the majority of men had jumped overboard. In the reappearing moonlight those in the water desperately sought floating cargo and debris for support. Especially those unable to swim.
By now the ship was sitting still. The initial rush to jump overboard slowed down.
Some POWs returned to their ship. Some with leadership and survival skills began throwing overboard rafts and floatable material such as that which could be ripped off the superstructure following the explosion. Chairs, tables, hatch boards, POW cookhouse, oil drums, wooden stairs, etc. – anything which would float. Some of these struck men floating in the water further increasing injuries and deaths amidst the mayhem.
Groups were drawn into the sea of blazing oil from the tanker – unable to make their way to safer waters. For now it was mostly darkness, the unknown, confusion, and shocked voices calling for mates. A few Japanese who found themselves alone and swimming in the water were now facing the prospect of being outnumbered by POWs.
Doug Hampton said, “The Jap frigates were moving amongst the wreckage picking up their own survivors. We had one Jap officer aboard our raft and we were hoping someone would come to collect him and take us too! Small hope, they came for him in a small boat with a Jap in the bow holding a tommy gun. The two frigates then cruised alongside the rafts, the crew lining the rails with guns pointed at us. We thought we were going to get it (be shot) and gave them our thumbs up sign, I think they got the message.” (Page 312 Ghosts in Khaki)
The Japanese boats finally after ramming through wreckage, sinking rafts, breaking up groups and killing men in the water turned away and with the remaining freighter leaving behind a mass of struggling, shocked and injured survivors.
The moon once again disappeared leaving 100’s of nameless men floating in the dark water eager to push away from ‘Rakuyo Maru’ fearing the sinking ship may take them with it. Some men managed to get a place on a few lifeboats or larger pieces of floating debris – nobody wished to remain alone. It would be dawn in a few hours and they hoped to see their situation more clearly.
Phil Beilby, a lucky survivor, was well prepared when he jumped over board having first thrown a hatch cover. He had three canteens of water and a life jacket. He left behind his most cherished possession, his battered clarinet. He was joined by Vic Cross on a large raft.
Alf Winter said “When I jumped I forgot to fold my arms over the life jacket and it came up and cracked me on the chin. I was nearly knocked out and it took some minutes to recover. I finally managed to get on a raft with eight others.
In the first rush, all everybody thought about was getting over the side before the ship sank, but when we realized we had no (drinking) water, we went back on board and collected some water bottles but they had no corks and the water was lost! We got away from the ship as fast as we could.” (from Ghosts in Khaki Page 312)
By early morning the extent of the night’s tragedy was there for all to witness. Many who had clung onto floating debri and craft had died in the night and it was evident many more had little chance of surviving the day. The current was carrying them into the oil covered waters where the tanker had sunk. The oil soon covered everything including the wreckage, the men, their bodies – eyes, ears and mouths. The oil made if impossible for some to hold onto wreckage. They slipped away and didn’t have the strength to swim back.
The heat, despair and their overwhelming thirst began to take hold. Resorting to drinking sea water resulted in death.
Doug Hampton said “People were doing strange things”.
RAKUYO MARU sank 12 Sep. 1944 South China Sea following torpedo attack by USS ‘Sealion.’ ‘Rakuyo’ Maru took 12 hours to sink. On board were 52 POWs from 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion.
11 very lucky POWs survived to be picked up by USS Submarines
3 POWs were picked up by Japanese vessel and taken to Japan (including Climie who survived in the water and was picked up by Japanese vessel, taken to Japan. He was killed during Allied Air raid whilst working as a POW in Japan 13 July 1945 – just one month before end of war.)
38 Men from 2/4th perished in South China Sea, including Gibbs brothers Jimmy and Lacey from Wanneroo.
WX7905 ANNESLEY, Frederick John (Fred) b. Collie 1926. One of 88 men 2/4th who were AWOL from ‘Aquitania’ when she sailed from Fremantle on 16 Jan 1942 for Singapore. Please read further about this incident which left 2/4th Btn short of 88 well trained machine gunners during battle to save Singapore. Fred was captured with “Blackforce” in Java. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Java Party No, 4 Black Force he sailed from Java to work Burma end of railway for more than 12 months. Selected ‘fit’ by Japanese with ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party. Fred perished 16 Sep 1944 aged 28. Married with children.
WX9864 BAGGS, Royal James b. 1909 Weymouth, Dorset, England. Fought Singapore ‘A’ Coy 4 Platoon as a cook. Selected at Singapore to work Thai-Burma Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Bn where he worked at least 12 months after which he was sent with the POWs in Burma, south to Thailand. He was selected ‘fit’ by Japanese to work in Japan with ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party. Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 34.
WX8720 BAKER, Arthur Joseph “Joe’ b. Coolgardie 1914. Family lived Coolgardie. Driver with HQ COY and fought Singapore. Selected to work Burma end of Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Remained on rail link more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 30.
WX8682 BAKER, William Robert Samuel(known as Bob or WRS) b. 1919 Esperance. Formerly Norseman. Captured with “Blackforce” Java. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Java Party No, 4 Black Force. Worked Burma end of railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 25.
WX16390 BELL, Robert Joseph (Bob) b. Perth 1920. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end of railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 24.
WX9326 CARTER, Alfred Henry (Harry) b. 1920 Northam. Formerly Dangin. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end of railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Son of Lewis Basil and Mary Jane Carter, of Dangin. Harry was one of several men of 2/4th who came from around Dangin. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 24.
WX4927 CLIMIE, Austin Newman (Aussie) Corp. b. 1907 Perth. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. Selected with ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party to work Japan.
Survived Sinking of Rakuyo Maru – picked up by Japanese vessel, taken Japan. Climie killed 13 July 1945 during an Allied Air Raid at Kawasaki Camp No. 14 D Aged 37.
WX9109 COLQUHOUN, Alexander John (Alex) b. 1906 Midland Junction. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. Perished 15 Sep 1944, three days after ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Sank aged 38 (This information would have been passed on from one of the survivors)
WX9092 COUSINS, Arnold Vivian b. 1913 Mt Helena. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 30 years. (Previous service 10th Light Horse Militia)
WX15783 CRIPPS, David Charles (Dave) b. Geraldton 1921. Formerly from Northampton. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 22.
WX8011 DELAPORTE, Harry Thomas b. Capel 1914. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 30. Harry enlisted with mates Claude Knott and Charlie Harris from Boyanup. The three men were in ‘A’ Coy. Harry m. Mrytle May Harris and Claude Knott m. Ellen Bertha Harris – sisters of Charlie Harris. Both Harry Delporte and Charlie Harris died overseas. Harris died Sandakan 27 May 1945 aged 31.
(Claude Knott was one of 21 Fairbridge Farm School Boys to enlist with 2/4th. Only 10 returned to Australia.)
There were 2 Fairbridge Farm School Boys who died Sandakan from 2/4th – Bob Chipperfield, supposedly tallest man in 2/4th, died First March d. 11 1945 aged 28 and Osborne.
WX8830 DRUMMOND, Alexander Donald Drummond (Alex, Bull or Bulldog) b. 1911 Kinross, Scotland. Formerly from Norseman. He was one of 88 men from 2/4th who missed their ship ‘Aquitania’ sailing from Fremantle 16 Jan 1942 to Singapore. Instead these men were landed in Java as Singapore was about to fall. Taken POW in Java with “Blackforce”. Selected A Force Burma, Java Party No. 4 Williams Force to work northern end Thai-Burma Railway. Spent more than 12 months on rail in Burma as well as Thailand. He lost his life on 15 Sept 1944 aged 33 years.
WX16407 GIBBS, Lacey Gordon b. 1917 Cannington. Formerly Wanneroo. (Brother to Jim Gibbs below). Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 27.
WX8958 GIBBS William Herbert (Jim) b. 1916 Cannington. (brother to Lacey Gibbs). Formerly Wanneroo. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 28.
The Gibbs family farmed at Wanneroo – it wasn’t an easy life. Waneroo was then virgin land. The older boys were skilled horsemen. Jim and Lacey’s mother had died young leaving a baby and large family for father Jabesz Gibbs to care for.
WX10822 HARVEY, Laurence John b.1919 Kent, England. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 24.
WX8408 HAYES, Albert George b. 1911 Kalgoorlie. Captured “Blackforce” Java.
Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Java Party No, 4
Williams Force. Worked Burma end of railway more than 12 months, and Williams Force worked in Thailand on the rail link. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 33.
WX1009 HELSIN, John Frederick (Jack or Johnny) Corp. b. 1919 London. Formerly Cottesloe. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 25. John Helsin’s English born mother returned to WA with her baby son following the death of her Australian-born husband who served with 16th Battalion AIF WW1, Corp. John Malmo Nelson (awarded Military Medal) who d. 3 Sep 1918 Rouen, France aged 33. Father and son were each only sons.
WX16446 HOBSON, Clifford b. 1905 Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Formerly Kalgoorlie. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 38.
NX73270 HOWARD, Bernard James b. 1914 Quirindi, NSW. 88thth Light Aid Detachment attached 2/4th. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 29.
HUGHES, Ronald Edward b. 1920 Manjimup. Enlisted 15 Jan 1941. Joined ‘A’ Coy. AWOL when ‘Aquitania’ sailed 16 Jan 1942 Fremantle to Singapore. Sent Java. Captured “Blackforce” Java. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Java Party No, 4 Williams Force. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months and in Thailand. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep aged 24.
WX7646 HUTCHISON, Robert Bamford b. 1912 Subiaco. . Fought Singapore. Wounded in action 12 Feb 1944 receiving shrapnel wound to his back. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 32.
WX5584 McCRACKEN, Ronald Duncan b. 1918 Narrogin. Fought Singapore. Involved in bayonet charge at Hill 200, Ulu Pandan where he was wounded in action. Admitted to 2/10th Australian General Hospital with gunshot wound right foot. Discharged to unit 28 Feb 1942.
Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 15 Sep 1944 aged 24.
WX8760 McMAHON, Thomas Membury b. 1920 Loxton, S.A. Fought Singapore. Wounded in action Ulu Pandan 12 Feb 1942. Admitted to 13th Australian General Hospital with shrapnel wound to his left food. Discharged to unit 24 Feb 1942. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 24.
WX7662 MINCHIN, Alec Randolph (Corp) b. 1914 Dangin. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 15 Sep 1944 aged 30.
WX8076 MOORE, Frank Clifford b. 1911 Northam. Formerly Bowgada. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 33.
WX7181 MUTTON, Charles b. 1913 Perth. Enlisted 1 Aug 1940 from Agnew, a goldmining town near Leinster. Scout with ‘D’ Coy. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months and in Thailand with Williams Force. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 31.
Son of Arthur Stephan Mutton and Bridget Agnes Mutton, of St. Kilda, Victoria. (his father died in 1937)
WX7940 NICHOLSON, Walter George b. 1907 Norwich, England. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 13 Sep 1944 aged 36.
WX7659 NOLAN, Edwin Leslie b. 1910 Durham, England. Formerly Bodalin. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Seo 1844 aged 34.
WX8856 PEARCE, Harry Walter b. 1914 Fremantle. Captured “Blackforce” Java. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, Java Party No, 4 Williams Force. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months and in Thailand on rail link. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 30.
WX16356 RANDALL, Ernest Edward b. 1908 Northampton. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 36.
WX9282 SKINNER Francis Kenneth Herbert b 1903 Melbourne. Formerly Koorda. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 40.
WX7337 SPOONER, Alex b. 1910 Redhill, Surrey, England. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 33.
WX15869 STRUTHOFF, Albert John b. 1914 Kojonup. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months.
Travelled to Saigon with ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party. Struthoff remained behind due to illness when POWs departed Saigon for Singapore.
Died 19 September 1944 Pneumonia Tan Son Nhut, French Indo-China.
WX6623 THOMAS, David William b. 1919 Perth. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 23.
WX7664 TOMS, Frederick William (Fred) b. 1904 Aldershot, England. Formerly Bonnie Rock. Fought Singapore. Wounded in action Buona Vista 15 Feb 1942. Admitted 2/13th Australian General Hospital with splinter wounds to back. Operated on same day. Discharged to Unit 18 Mar 1942.
Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 40.
WX17863 TRIGWELL, Vernon Chapman b. 1919 Donnybrook. Member of Donnybrook 25th Light Horse Brigade Militia prior enlisting 2/4th 3 Dec 1941. Reinforcement with ‘C’ Coy Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 14 Sep 1944 aged 24. Vern’s death two days after Rakuyo Maru was sunk by USS “Sea Lion” was confirmed by his Donnybrook mate Bert Wall WX12989 who was one of the survivors picked up by Imperial Japanese Navy – taken to Japan)
WX7484 TUCKER, William John b. 1906 Northam. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 38.
He was one of 9 children born to Robert Henry Tucker and Jennie Maxwell (Irvine). The Tucker family resided around West Swan/Guildford.
Jack married in 1940. He left his widow Susie and two step-daughters.
WX9292 VENEMORE, Norman James b. 1916 Cottesloe. Formerly Shackleton. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 15 Sep 1944 aged 28.
WX8776 WALSH, Leo Patrick b. 1907 Kalgoorlie. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 36.
WX9829 WEBB, Frederick William ‘Spider’ b. 1921 Subiaco. Fought Singapore. As a hairdresser he would regularly cut the hair of his Japanese guards – payment probably cigarettes. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn departed Singapore May 1942 to sail south west coast Burma to Victoria Point where POWs worked several months repairing and extending aerodrome. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. Was on ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 22 years.
Semple and Squance
Harold Mervyn Smith WX17448
Right: Lavarack
WX9864 BAGGS, Royal James
WX1009 HELSIN, John Frederick (Jack or Johnny) Corp. b. 1919 London. Formerly Cottesloe. Fought Singapore. Selected to work Thai-Burma Railway with 3,000 POWs ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Btn. Worked Burma end railway more than 12 months. ‘Rakuyo’ Maru. Perished 12 Sep 1944 aged 25. John Helsin’s English born mother returned to WA with her baby son following the death of her Australian-born husband who served with 16th Battalion AIF WW1, Corp. John Malmo Nelson (awarded Military Medal) who d. 3 Sep 1918 Rouen, France aged 33. Father and son were each only sons.
WX9282 SKINNER Francis Kenneth Herbert
