We believe there was no loss of lives of 2/4th from Kellerberrin.

CLOTHIER, Thomas Hayward (Hay) died as a POW of Japan, is first cousin to William Ernest (Bill) Clothier WX10379 of Mt. Barker.  Their fathers, brothers moved to WA.   Bill’s father to Mt. George, William Clothier died Kellerberrin 1942.

 

Kellerberrin Boys

 

Below:  Farewell Party at Kellerberrin with Eddie  Adams, Pat O’Meara and Alf Stevens mentioned.

 

WX8245 ADAMS, Edwin Thomas (Ted or Eddy)) Born Kellerberrin 6 April 1914 to Horace John and Edith Lucy Adams.

Right:  Adams and unknown mate in Sydney prior to departing on ‘Aquitania’ to Singapore via Fremantle Jan 1941.

Adams spent most of his life in Kellerberrin.  His father was a builder-carpenter and moved there with his wife Edith Lucy and two or three of their eldest children sometime between arriving in Fremantle from England in 1908 and 1912 when their names were recorded on WA Electoral Roll.  Both Horace and Edith were born in England and they married Paddington 1905.

Adams enlisted AIF 16 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th ‘C’ Company 10 Platoon under CO’s Lt Wilson and Lt Ambrose.

Departed Singapore from Java 7 Jan 1943 with Dunlop Force 6A,  entrained to Thailand 19 Jan 1943 with ‘O’ Battalion to work on the railway in vicinity of Hellfire Pass Cutting.  Adams was selected ‘fit’ by the Japanese to work in Japan from Tamuang Camp early 1944.

He was entrained to Singapore from Thailand to await a transport ship for Japan which became known as ‘Byoki’ Maru Party and sent first to Yamane and then Niihama Mines.

He worked in the Carpenters section with Jim Elliott from 2/4th and was recovered from Japan at the end of the war.

Adams had his left middle finger amputation 12 Dec 1945.  His injury sustained in Japan Sept 1944.

Eddie returned home to find his father had died in 1942.

 

WX10931 HUMMERSTON, Laurence Slade ‘Mick’

Mick was born in Kalgoorlie 1919 to parents Harry Goldsmith Ada Mary Hummerston.  He enlisted 14 Feb 1941 and later joined ‘C’ Company 10 Platoon.

At Singapore he was selected to work on the Buma-Thai Ralway with ‘D’ Force V Battalion.

Please read further about this Work Force.

He was later selected by the Japanese to work in Japan – he sailed with ‘Aramis’ Party and was unfortunate to work at Fukuoka sub-Camp No. 17 Omuta.

Please read about Omuta Camp Japan

You may wish to read further about Omuta, Japan

Mick wrote ‘some of the food at this camp was not too appetising – including dog, whale meat that he described like eating Tarzan’s Grip!  When it was the season for persimmons they would eat them endlessly until season was finished, then there were frogs – and they would eat them for a while’.

But there was always tobacco available to buy.

The POWs never had any days off from work.  During the latter months they spent time in air raid shelters as the Americans bombed regularly – the sight of the bombers raised the men’s spirits.  At the same time they feared the future – when would the Americans invade, and where would they invade?  What would happen to them – would they be wiped out by the Japanese?

One day there was a great explosion over the Bay (we were located across the Bay from Nagasaki) and thought the bombing may have hit the gasworks.  Next minute they saw a great mushroom of smoke and they felt the shaking of it over the Bay – 30 miles away.

Of course the men did not know about the Atom Bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki – eventually they learned the details. There were several hidden radios in the camp.  Suddenly the war was over – “but we POWs were to stay where we were.  An American Major came into the Camp – all the Japanese had gone.”

The American bombers began dropping food in 44-gallon drums.

Mick Hummerston decided he couldn’t wait around at Omuta for a month to leave as the POWs were advised and about 3 days after the news he with several POWs decided to leave (they were threatened with a court -marshall when caught up with). “Being court-marshalled after being a POW for 4 years would be like having a holiday!”

Looking back Mick decided it was a stupid thing to do – but four of them departed camp. Walking to the Railway Station they intended to head south of the Island where they knew the Americans had taken over the Airport. The group proceeded to take arms off every armed soldier they came across!

On the train journey they had to get out a few times because the railway lines had been destroyed in every large town. They walked to the other side of the town to find another train. Sometimes they were picked up. The cache of arms grew considerably. They must have looked a terrifying sight. Four skinny men in rough clothes each armed with rifles.

Eventually they found there was no railway line to continue their journey. They came across a Japanese kempitai (Military Police) sitting in a truck. The 4 men commandeered the truck and under great duress got the driver to deliver them to where the Americans were, about 30 miles away.

The first American they came across in the perimeter of the air base couldn’t believe his eyes! He asked where they were from. They were probably the first POWs the men had seen.

Mick and his 3 mates were flown out to Manila after a day at the American base. They were provided new clothes. The four of them stayed in Manila for nearly 3 weeks. They were eventually joined by the POWs from Omuta by which time they were quite fat!

Mick was recovered from Omuta at the end of the War.

He moved to live in NSW.

You can listen to an interview with Australian David Runge, Driver with 8th Division, AASC sent to Omuta

Runge was tortured, forced to kneel for days in snow.  Camp Dr. Duncan had to amputate legs below the knees. Guards carried legs around laughing. Documented in Whitecross’s excellent book, Slaves of the Son of Heaven. Published in 1951, the book mentions many names and incidents from Camp 17.

Above:  Runge being carried off his ship home to Australia 1945.

 

WX8377 MacLENNAN, Kenneth Thomas (Tom) Sgt b. Mt Margaret, Laverton 1912.

 

Tom was employed at Kellerberrin before the war at W. Thomas as Co.  He was also committed to the Kellerberrin Fire Brigade.

He enlisted AIF 17 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘A’ Company No. 4 Platoon under CO Lt McCaffery.  When Lt. Manning was badly injured (he DOW 12 Feb 1942) Tom was promoted to Platoon Sergeant.

There are media print-outs reporting Tom visited Kellerberrin after the war, however we are not sure he returned to work there.

Eastern Recorder (Kellerberrin) Friday, 14 September 1945 – McLennan & Westlake

 

WX7981 O’MEARA, Joseph Patrick – son of Jeremiah and Alice O’Meara of Doodlakine.  Enlisted AIF Aug 1940 and later joined ‘D’ Coy.  He was a driver with 14 Platoon under CO Lt. Tomkins.  WIA 15 Feb 1942 Buona Vista received shrapnel wound to left thigh.  Later left Singapore as POW to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion.  Please read further

He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

 

 

WX227 STEVENS, Alfred (Alf) born Perth 1913.  Prior to enlistment, Alf Stevens was employed as an engine driver by Union Flour Mills, Kellerberrin.

As a young man at Kellerberrin Alf played football as did his brother George.  In fact Stevens played in same team as Eddie Adams.

He was one lucky man.  He was sentenced to serve a prison sentence at Outram Road Gaol for his role in the Secret Underground at Sandakan.

Please read further.

Stevens had been sent from Singapore with ‘B’ Force Borneo to Sandakan, where POWs would work to construct two airfields.

Alf Stevens captured by Kempitai and taken to Kuching for trial.

72 men from 2/4th lost their lives mostly during 1945 marches from Sandakan to Ranau. Alf was one of three 2/4th to return home to WA.

His time at Outram Road Gaol would have been unimaginable.

Should you like to learn more about Outram Road Gaol please read the life of Billie Young.  You can listen to this ABC recording.

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/bil-young27s-story/6592728

Alf returned to Kellerberrin and resumed his work at the Mills.

 

 

 

WX9570 WESTLAKE, Percival ‘Percy’ Leonard b. 1917 Aldershot England came to Pinjarra, WA as a Fairbridge Farm Schoolboy.

He worked at Kellerberrin for Mr. Harveson for several years at his Saddler and Motor Trimmer Store,  right up until Percy enlisted.

Percy participated in sporting teams and activities and would have known Stevens and  Adams.

Percy enlisted 4 Dec 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy No. 14 Platoon under C.O. Lt Tomkins.  Please read about ‘D’ Company.  Westlake received shrapnel wounds to his right knee and abdomen on the night of 8th Feb 1942.

Westlake left Singapore by train for Thailand  about mid May 1943 with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion to work on Hellfire Pass Rail cutting.

He was evacuated ill from Kanyu II Camp to Chungkai Hospital Camp and was recovered from Nacompaton Hospital Camp at the end of the war.

Below:  Percy Westlake represented Kellerberrin in amateur boxing 1938. (Boxing was a sport encouraged at Fairbridge – as was music and playing musical instruments!)

 

Westlake was a man of many talents – this time in the entertainment field.

__________

 

SAGGERS FAMILY, KELLERBERRIN

 

Parents of Major Albert (Bert) Ernest Saggers WX3454 resided in Kellerberrin for 16 years.

They operated a newsagency store and contributed much to the local community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brother to Bert, Eddie Saggers died in the Middle East.  Bert and the family were devastated.

 

 

Below:  Notices about well-being of Alf Stevens and Major Saggers.

 

Below:  Major Saggers, 2/4th ‘E’ Company SRB

 

 

 

 

Below:  The list includes the three O’Meara boys from Doodlakine.

 

 

 

Did you know there was a POW Control Centre in Kellerberrin during WW2?

During 3 June 1944 to 30 May 1946 a POW Control Centre for 200 Italian POWs was planned for Merredin (57kms east of Kellerberrin) – but was too close to military installations.  Meckering was the next choice however there was no suitable accommodation.

The number of POWs decreased to 125 and were sent to work at 79 farms from Kellerberrin.

 

MENZIES WAR MEMORIALS WW1 & WW2

Total 325 Names

 

We have been able to identify the following 2/4th men included on the above Menzies WW2 Memorial:

 

WX8192 CARLILE, Robert James (Bob)  b Meekathara 1913 to Edwin Joseph and Ellen Kathleen Carlisle and husband to Edith Brenda.

Robert married about 1941 to Edith Brenda Chandler.

Bob enlisted AIF 16 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Coy 10 Platoon (as did Keith Sawyer,  Halbart, McAskil and Morris).

Bob was KIA 11 Feb 1942 the vicinity of Reformatory Road, Ulu Pandan, Singapore aged 28 years.

 

 

WX8238 DEWAR, Victor (Vic) John Alexander b. 1906 Kookynie to Samuel Sherman and Elizabeth (Lily) Dewar who had resided in the area for a decade or more.

His parents married in Fremantle in 1898. His father was born in Victoria in 1865 died in 1921.  Victor was the firstborn of two sons.  Franklin Hector was born in 1907 Coolgardie.

Vic was recorded in the 1931 Electoral Roll living in Maylands, his occupation was salesman.  By 1937 he was living in Menzies and working as a gold mine employee.

Dewar enlisted AIF 4 June 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Coy 11 Platoon.  He left Singapore with ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway.  At the end of 1943 when the rail link was completed, Dewar was amongst the POWs in Burma sent southwards to Thailand to one of several large camps or hospitals. We believe he was sent to Tamarkan Hospital Camp, then moved to Nacompaton Hospital Camp from where he was recovered from at the end of the war.

On 27 December 1947 Dewar tragically took his own life.  He was 41 years old.  He was buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Garden.

Below:  “This man must have gone through untold suffering”

 

 

WX8250 HALBERT, FRANK b. Menzies 1907 is inscribed on WW2 and his older brother Ernest (WW1).   Ernest died in a motor cycle accident in 1925, younger brother Frank was riding pillion, and survived.

Right:  Frank in centre.

Halbert enlisted August 1940, later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy 10 Platoon, as did Keith Sawyer, Bob Carlisle, McAskil and Morris.

As a POW in Singapore, Halbert had the misfortune to leave with ‘F’ Force Thailand to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.  ‘F’ Force endured a torrid time – they walked the entire distance to their first camp and thereafter living and working conditions were horrific, food scarce, illness rampant.  Frank died during the cholera epidemic which arrived with the rains on 4 June 1943.  He was 35 years old.

Please read further about ‘F’ Force Thailand.

• Below:  From Kalgoorlie Miner, Menzies News Section. Sawyer, Dewar, Halbert and Morris home on leave before they depart for South Australia 1941.

 

WX7123 HAMPSON Robert Douglas (Doug) b 1914 Maylands was living and working in Menzies about the time of his enlistment 1 Aug 1940.  Doug had been a bicycle builder.  He later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘A’ Company, No 4 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt. McCaffrey.

He was AWOL at Fremantle and sailed to Java instead of Singapore where he was captured 9 March 1942. Please read about the men AWL at Fremantle and taken to Java.

Hampson left Java to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma Java Party No. 4 Williams Force.

Hampson survived working on the railway and at the end of 1943 the Japanese brought all POWs in Burma south to Thailand to one of several large camps or hospitals.

It was at Tamarkan Hampson was selected as being fit to work in Japan by the Japanese.  He would sail from Singapore on the ‘Rakuyo’ Maru.

The ‘Rakuyo’ Maru with 1300 POWs on board was sunk by American submarines in Sep 1944 in the South China Sea.  There was another POW transport ship also sunk in the same convoy with 900 British POWs.

Hampson was one of the extraordinarily lucky POWs to be saved 4 days later when the same submarines returned to the area.  Please read this amazing the story.

 

Inland Watch (Leonora) Saturday, 24^th June 1939

NON STOP JINGLE

THE RED TERROR SUBDUED (BY “BURRUM”)

 

T’was early one Sunday morning

  When the Cycle Club boys turned out

For a journey to little old Menzies

  To compete in a twenty-mile bout.

 

There was Tedgrie, Gillett and Latto,

  Trembath, Ted Ward and the Sec.

Six of ‘ers in the “Red Terror,”

  Each one risking his neck.

 

The driver was reckless and risky,

  The pace was on from the start,

The Terror seemed frightfully frisky

  As if bent on doing her part.

She coughed, and barked, and backfired

  Whenever a hill hove in sight,

But she flew down the slopes like a devil

          inspired,

T’was a really remarkable flight.

 

Eventually Menzies was sighted

  From the passengers rose up a cheer;

I believe young Tedge was heard to remark

  “Lord struth, it’s a fact boys, we’re

          Here.”

So then, with the long journey over,

  To breakfast the boys all adjourned,

When Ted found a nail in the butter,

  “Tis an omen, an omen” he mourned.

“There will be punctures, and punctures,

          And punctures

  Before this Sunday is done.”

So, the lads felt a little disheartened

And the look on their faces was glum.

 

Small troubles like these were forgotten

  As the starters wheeled up to the line,

Where Jack Allan was showing the trophy,

  A gold wrist watch, very fine.

“They’re off and away,” cried the large

          crowd that day

    And the race was a beaut from the Start,

But our boys had to stop, as their tyres

          went pop,

And it all but broke the Sec.’s heart.

However the sport must continue,

  For the limit men had a good lead

And the scratch men were riding like hoboes.

  In need of a good feed.

And Harry, the solid old plugger

  Was going great guns in the front

While Ossie, the “Rat” and Doug Hampson

Were flat out to catch the old runt.

 

Down there at night the winner looks easy

  And the crowd gave voice to a cheer

As Harry Pianti bright and breezy

  Sailed over the line without fear.

Alf Hince, a trier, was second

Then the scratch men came all in a bunch

But Ossie slipped out and ended the doubt

  While the Rat’s teeth went scrunch-a-

          de-scrunch.

With the race well won and the day almost done

  Our boys turned again towards home

But they hadn’t gone too far when they struck

         a sand bar

  And the Terror decided to roam.

To the scrub like a timid young turkey

  She flew midst a squealing of brakes

While a tyre blew out, setting hopes all to rout

  When she settled on some stakes.

Repairs were at this stage effected

  And homeward they set off again

While the tubes now barely protected

  Were protesting under the strain.

 

Bang went another good tyre

Before many miles had been passed

So the boys lit a great camp fire

In case they were there till late.

And so I could go on forever

With tales of the lads’ sorry plight

Till they pulled up at last with despair in their hearts.

Decided to camp for the night.

 

The “Scrub Turkey” – in other words Ted

Was earliest up from his bed

To battle away at the start of the day

On the Red Terror’s obstinate tread.

 

However, towards lunch time a traveller,

Came sailing into view,

So the boys up and stopped him, then all

promptly hopped in,

Leaving their car in stew.

“Home James, and don’t spare the horses”

Was the outspoken heartfelt request.

 

WX8261 McASKIL, Robert Ramsay (Bob)  b Victoria1901, believed to have lived in Kalgoorlie much of his earlier life.  He was a prospector in Menzies when he enlisted 17 Aug 1940 and joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ 10 Platoon under Commanding Officer Lt Wilson with Halbert, Morris and Sawyer,   Bob missed reboarding the ‘Aquitania’ 16 Jan 1942 – and with Hampson and Morris sailed to Java.

Bob McAskil came to be in Sumatra working on the Pakan Baroe-Moerao Railway where he died of cardiac beri beri 28 March 1945 – 77 years ago.

POWs were fed only with a diet of rice which did not contain adequate quantities of most vitamins and in particular thiamine.  Cardiac beri beri commonly known as wet beri beri resulted in oedema or severe swelling.  Body moisture flowed downwards toward their feet & legs until they looked like loaves of bread – their ankles disappeared.  Sometimes necks swelled until the head became part of their shoulders.

WX8200 MORRIS, William Richard (Bill) b. Kalgoorlie 1901 to William and Catherine Morris.  Bill was a prospector at Menzies when he enlisted 16 Aug 1940. He became a storeman with ‘C’ Company 10 Platoon.

Morris was unable to reboard ‘Aquitania’ at Fremantle before she sailed on 16th Jan 1942.  Bill and Bob Hampson were amongst the 88 machine gunners left behind and taken to Java.

Bill was evacuated sick ex-Java amongst the last personnel able to safely leave and sailed to Ceylon – which was in Allied hands.  At Ceylon he embarked on HMT ‘Stirling’ 28 March 1942 to sail to Melbourne.

Classified medically fit 27 April 1942, Morris was Taken on Strength with 2/3rd MGB 20 May 1942.
Admitted to Hospital 25 Nov 1942 after an explosives accident and admitted 113th AGH.  Transferred to 115th AGH on 18 Dec 1942.  His right hand was amputated below the wrist 9 Feb 1944.

 

WX7256 SAWYER, THOMAS KEITH (known as Keith & Barney)) was born Menzies 1909 to Thomas and Mary Sawyer.   He enlisted August 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy, 10 Platoon with Frank Halbert, Morris, etc.

Frank Halbert and Keith Sawyer would have grown up together at Menzies, both their families extensively involved in mining from early days.

Keith has been a keen and competitive cyclist prior to enlisting.

Keith Sawyer as POW in Singapore sailed to south west coast of Burma with the first Australian Work Party to leave – 3,000 POWs – ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.  This Force was sent to the northern end, i.e. Burma end of the railway.   

Please read further about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.

Sawyer was not selected to work in Japan, as so many ‘A’ Force were – it appears he may have been sick as he was sent to Tamarkan and was recovered from Nakom Nayok Hospital Camp at the end of the war.

Keith was fortunate to return home where he would have learned his Menzies’ mate Frank Halbert had died in Thailand.

 

 

 

Keith’s first cousin WX7939 SAWYER, CLARENCE (CLARRIE) JOHN died of dysentery, Java 1 April 1942.

Clarrie had been share farming with his brother at Nungarin prior to enlisting.  Please read further.

Please read about those AWOL in Fremantle and sailed to Java.

Below:  Clarrie is son of Joseph Archibald ‘Archie’ Sawyer who m. Mary McArthur.  Archie is older brother to Keith’s father Ephrain ‘Thomas’  Sawyer.  The parents of Archie and Thomas are William Frederick Sawyer and Susannah (nee McClaren) who moved to Menzies and settled with their family.  William and susanah died there and are buried at the Menzies cemetery.  

 

Please read more about the Sawyer family

 

Included in the Northern Grazier & Miner (Leonora) 30 August 1941:  Frank HALBERT,  Bob McASKIL,  T.K. (Keith or Barney) SAWYER, W.R. Bill MORRIS. In addition there were others who enlisted elsewhere, however had been living Menzies.

___________________________

Please read story of Kookynie Enlistments

And Gwalia Enlistments

 

 

Below:  Of interest is the number of persons applying to the Menzies Licensing Court in 1906 – a busy industry servicing miners and supporting industries. Applications not only from Menzies, but surrounds areas including Kookynie.

 

 

ADAMS, W T G
ALDERSON, Robert (World War 1)
ALLAN, F
ALLEN, W G L
ANSCOMBE, A G
ANSCOMBE, A S
ARMSTRONG, G A
BALME, W D M
BANESS, L E
BARRETT, C
BAXTER, J A
BEAGLEHOLE, J A
BELL, F
BELL, Herbert Lancelot (World War 1)
BENNETTS, R H
BEVANS, E T
BEYERS, Oswald Arthur (World War 1)
BLACKMORE, Garnett (World War 1)
BLACKMORE, P C
BLAXELL, D W
BLOXAM, K E
BOASE, William Edward (World War 1)
BOASE, William James (World War 1)
BOND, R C
BOND, Richard (World War 1)
BONE, Kingsley Vincent Stanhope (World War 1)
BONSON, J
BORMAN, J A
BOUNDY, A
BOWLER, Samuel Gregory (World War 1)
BRANDT, Peter (World War 1)
BREENEY, M *
BRETAG, B P
BRIGHT, John (World War 1)
BRIGHT, William Edward (World War 1)
BROMLEY, Harry William (World War 1)
BROWN, A
BROWN, G
BUDESILEC, G M
BURKE, W F
BURNS, G L
BUTCHER, H J C
BUTCHER, L J
BYRNES, J J
CADBY, Harry George (World War 1)
CAIRNS, John (World War 1)
CAMPBELL, W
CARLILE, Robert James (World War 2)
CARR, L
CARR, Stanley Percival (World War 1)
CARSEN, E M A
CHAMPION, Henry Goninon (World War 1)
CHANDLER, S
CLARK, Harry (World War 1)
COBBY, H W
COFFEY, James (World War 1)
COLEMAN, F G
COLLIER, A L
COLLIER, A S
COLLIER, W E
COLLINS, M
CONNOR, Ray William (World War 1)
CONNOR, William Henry (World War 1)
COOPER, T H
COWAN, R
COWEY, Frederick (World War 1)
COY, L M
CRAIG, L J F
CRAIG, P
CRAMB, Frederick Blachree (World War 1)
CRANE, A
CRISP, E
CRUICKSHANK, H
CRUICKSHANK, J
CRUICKSHANK, N J
DAVERN, J C
DAY, H
DEWAR, J V A
DILLON, T M
DINGLE, Edward Archibald (World War 1)
DOUGLAS, H J
DOUGLAS, Reginald Alexander (World War 2)
DOUGLAS, S B
DUGROW, E
DUNCAN, George (World War 1)
EASTBURN, Arthur Robinson (MM) (World War 1)
EDWARDS, E
ELLERTON, R K
EPIS, J P
EVANS, T
FORD, H
FORREST, K
GARDNER, D
GAUNT, R
GEE, W
GIBBON, A *
GIDNEY, Samuel Neal (World War 1)
GILES, A
GILIZAN, M
GOLDTHORP, J A
GRAHAM, W
GRANT, W *
GRAVES, E J
GREEGAN, J
GRIBBLE, Walter Harold (World War 1)
GRIFFITH, J
GRIFFITHS, C
GRIFFITHS, G E *
GURY, R *
HAGE, J A
HAINES, A W
HALBERT, Ernest Shelley (World War 1) older brother to Frank.
HALBERT, Francis (World War 2)
HAMILTON, R
HAMILTON, William James (World War 1)
HAMPSON, R D
HARRIS, H
HARRISON, Alfred Ernest (World War 1)
HARRISON, Hector John (MC) (World War 1)
HARRISON, John (World War 1)
HARRIS, R
HARTLEY, G M
HASSETT, Matthew (World War 1)
HAVLIN, R H
HAWKINS, R T
HAYWOOD, J W
HELLWEGE, N T
HENDERSON, C
HENDERSON, E M.M.
HENDERSON, G *
HERGARTY, J P
HILLIER, E F
HODSON, F G A
HOGAN, Michael Joseph (World War 1)
HOWARD, H
HOWELL, S G
HUNT, L F
INVERNAZZI, P
IVANKOVICH, F
JAMES, W
JENKINS, H F F
JOLLY, E
JONES, F R
JONES, L C
JONES, R H
JORGENSEN, H
JOSE, A H
JOWETT, James (World War 1)
KELLY, J
KENNEDY, J
KEYS, James (World War 1)
KNIGHT, W
KRAMER, Leslie (World War 1)
KRAMER, Stanely (World War 1)
KURTH, Leslie Arnold (World War 1)
LAMPIE, J
LANGTRY, J S
LARSEN, C L
LARSON, Carl August (World War 1)
LATWOOD, Charles (World War 1)
LAW, G
LEAR, Richard Blatchford (World War 1)
LEIPOLD, John James (World War 1) Uncle to WX16355 George Richard Leipold KIA Singapore 11 Feb 1942 

LEIPOLD, J T
LILLEY, Ronald Herbert (World War 1)
LONG, S V
LORRIGAN, P J
LUCRAFT, F A G
LYSAGHT, G
MAHER, W
MARCH, S
MARIOTTI, G
MARTIN, Edgar (World War 1)
MCCOLL, D
MCGARRIGAL, Edward Victor (World War 1)
MCGREGOR, William Duncan (World War 1)
MCLEAN, A A
MCMEIKAN, William Roy Bishop (World War 1)
MCNALLY, J M
MCNAMARA, J
MILLS, S J
MILLS, W G A
MITCHELL, Henry James (World War 1)
MITCHELL, H K
MONAGHAN, C
MONTGOMERY, M H
MOORE, E*
MOORE, H L
MOORE, W
MORGAN, F
MORRIS, G
MORTIMER, W
MORTISON, H
MOUNCEY, R *
MOYLE, H W
MUNRO, R C
MURCHI, D
MURDOCK, J H
MURPHY, D
MURPHY, J
MURPHY, T A
MURRAY, H W DCM VC DSO
MYERS, W
NEWMAN, E E
NEWTON, S
NIXON, J
NOLAN, E *
NORWOOD, T
O’BRIEN, N
O’BRIEN, William (World War 1)
O’DONNELL, P
O’FARRELL, R
ORMEROD, Albert (World War 1)
O’ROURKE, J F
PALMER, C
PALMER, H
PARTRIDGE, Lancelot Wilfred Peyton (World War 1)
PARTRIDGE, T *
PASSMORE, C R
PENDO, J I
PIANTO, H T
PIANTO, J J
PIANTO, J MM
PIANTO, J V
PIANTO, O J
PINI, J
POPE, Herbert Cecil (World War 1)
POPE, P
POULTER, Arthur (World War 1)
PRIESTLEY, J
PROCTER, R
PUGH, D
PUGH, R T
REHM, E
REILLY, A
REILLY, Leslie George Leo (World War 1)
REILLY, T A
REMNANT, R
RICHARDS, Albert Kenneth (World War 1)
RICHARDS, J
RICHARDS, William Charles (World War 1)
RIDDELL, Joseph Henry (World War 1)
RIDDELL, W R
RILEY, T
RISDEN, E J
ROBERTS, A E
ROBERTSON, A
ROBERTSON, John Finlayson (World War 1)
ROBERTSON, Robert Muir (World War 1)
ROGERS, R
ROSE, A V
ROWE, A
ROWE, E M
ROWE, J *
SANDER, B W
SAUNDERS, W
SAWYER, D H
SAWYER, H A
SAWYER, James Henry (World War 1)
SAWYER, T K
SAWYER, William Frederick (World War 1)
SCHMIDT, A
SCHMIDT, E
SCHMIDT, E G L
SCHMIDT, F
SCHRYVER, W F
SHADDICK, R G
SHAW, K R D AAMC
SKEWTHROP, W
SMITH, F
SMITH, H
SMITH, J
SMITH, James Earington (World War 1)
SMITH, J E
SNELL, J H
SPALHOLTZ, H A *
SPARGO, Harold Charles (World War 1)
STEELE, R
STEWART, Donald William (World War 1)
STEWART, F
STEWART, R T
STOLTZ, L
STOLTZ, T
STOTT, L E
TEMPLEMAN, Albert Henry (World War 1)
TEMPLEMAN, Harold (World War 1)
THOMAS, A
THOMPSON, J
TISSOTT, A
TISSOTT, H L
TONTA, J
TREWEEK, J
TUNNBRIDGE, J
TURNBULL, J
TURNER, J
TWYFORD, J *
UREN, R
VICKS, H
VIRGO, W
WAINEY, John (World War 1)

WALKER, C E

WALTERS, Jack (World War 1)

WALTON, A

WHITTING, W

WILKINSON, R B

WILLIAMS, H

WILLIAMSON, G W P

WILSON, A

WILSON, C E

WILSON, J M

WILSON, J W *

WINSTANLEY, J E

WOODS, S M

WOOLCOCK, A J

WOOSMAN, F P

WOOSNAM, John (World War 1)

WORKMAN, J

YOUNG, W

 

Menzies ls about 130km north of Kalgoorlie and 724 km north-east of Perth.  It was officially established in August 1895 and quickly became a bustling mining town.

It is thought the town honours a Canadian gold prospector named Leslie Robert Menzies who, in 1894, found gold in the area and started the rush.

The railway arrived1900.  Menzies then boasted two breweries, thirteen hotels and a population of over 10,000.

Today there are a number of abandoned mining towns south of Menzies including Siberia, Davyhurst, Mulwarrie, Mulline, Riverina, Comet Vale and Mt Ida.

 

Above:  The fabulous Menzies Town Hall built between 1896-98.

Above:  About 1930

Menzies to Kalgoorlie Bike race taken outside Grand Hotel, Menzies with Montgomery’s store in the background.

menzieskalgoorliebikeracegrandhotelmenracingbikeschildmontgomerystorebackground

Below:  https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/menzies-to-kalgoorlie-bike-race/

Menzies a town filled with rich history

 

 

The Railway arrives at Menzies 1894.

Menzies was a mining boom town in the late 1800s, boasting as many as 13 hotels.  Even so living conditions were primitive with ‘homes’ built mostly on a temporary basis of flimsy material, often tents and prone to fire.    Illness was prevalent with excessive heat and flies, Infants were susceptible. The water supply was intermittent.

 

Please read Kookynie enlistments

The following are newspaper items showing life at Menzies.

A most colourful mining town where life could be short.  Shortage of water, illnesses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW DID AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER & FORMER POW OF JAPAN TOM DAVISON OF 2/4th MGB have his name inscribed on WW2 Memorial, BUDE, CORNWALL?

 

BUDE, CORNWALL WW2 MEMORIAL – WX7804 DAVISON, THOMAS MEDLAND (TOM)

2/4TH MACHINE GUN BATTALION, 8TH DIVISION AIF

 

 

Below: Bude located on the north west coast of Cornwall.

Tom Davison was born London 1908 to parents Augustus Harry Davidson and Bessie Mabel Medland who married 1907 in Cornwall.  Bessie Mabel Medland was born in Cornwall 1880.  She died at Stratton, Cornwall in 1969 aged 89 years.  In 1911 Census the family were residing Wandsworth London where Tom’s father was a jeweller/dealer – there were then two young sons – Thomas (3) and Ken (12 months). Sister Kathleen was born 1912.

Bessie Davison returned to Cornwall with her three children. We can find no further information about Tom’s father.

Tom Davison spent his formative years residing at Bude.

He arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia from London on ‘Orama’ 6 April 1926 as a 17 year old and without his family. His London address was c/- Mrs Simmonds, 32 Becmead Avenue, Smeaton S.W. 16  with his occupation recorded as warehouseman.  Had Tom had returned to London to work, or was he was staying in London whilst waiting to sail to Australia?  We do not know.

When Tom enlisted with AIF 10 August 1940 he had been working at Comet Gold Mine, Marble Bar – one of the hottest (and remote) places  in Western Australia.  He later joined 2/4th MGB’s HQ Company, No. 3 Battalion 8th Division, AIF  becoming a driver. You can read further about Tom Davison.

The 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion was raised in Western Australia initially to fight in the middle-east.  However following the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbour and invasion of Malaya in 1941, the 2/4th was sent to Singapore as reinforcements for the ill-fated Australia’s 8th Division.

He fought with Commonwealth Troops he fought to save Singapore from the Japanese and was taken POW and was incarcerated at Selarang Barracks, Changi.

He left with the first Australian work force to leave Singapore.  3,000 Australian POWs with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion sailed in 3 junk ships from Singapore to south west coast of Burma to firstly repair and extend 3 airfields before arriving at the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway to start work on 1st October 1942.

Tom was evacuated ill from the railway to Khonkan Hospital Camp 55 km with hundreds of sick POWs.

Tom had an ulcer in his foot.  He struggled with it and Dr. Coates (Khonkan Hospital Camp) fought for him but eventually it had to come off; but Tom was by now too low (suffering chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition) he died. Tom had got a fixation about what little use it would be for him to go home to Marble Bar without a leg. ‘You couldn’t even kick anything’ said Tom.”

He underwent three amputations (due to ulcers). under Dr. Albert Coates in the most crude of jungle camp conditions. Weak from malnutrition and diarrhoea he was unable to recover and died on 25 October 1943 aged 34 years.

Please read about Khonkan, 55 km Hospital Camp

 

 

 

2/4th Boys from Koorda and surrounding areas

 

There are 237 names inscribed on the combined WW1 and WW2 Memorial.

Included above is Hugo  V.H. Throssell (VC) and his two brothers.

 

 

 

WX9129 OVENS, Enest Jesse

Ovens was KIA during the Battle for Singapore on 12 Feb 1942 at Ulu Pandan.  aged 24 years.  He was one of five  sons born to Thomas and Lily Ovens of Koorda. The five Ovens boys enlisted with AIF – sadly Jack was the only one not to return home.

Jack Ovens was a talented Aussie Rules footballer (Koorda) and was included in the 2/4th team which had much success and included several well-known players.

Ovens was named after his uncle, i.e. his mother’s brother Ernest Jesse Cole who lost his life WW1.

 

The 2/4th Football team.

 

BACK ROW:  WX8374 Con Ryan – Norseman, WX3440 Frank McCaffrey (NSW),  WX 8778 Lou Daily played Subiaco, Collingwood and Geelong, WX8407 Snow Newby was Manager WA State team 1921, WX9327 E. Hunt –  Quairading, W9289 R. Anderson – Swan Districts, WX7714 F. Clark, —, WX7996 T. Tompkins  –  Toodyay.

MIDDLE ROW:  WX8638 Clive Hellmrich – Swan Districts, WX8729 Ron Badock – Norseman, WX9268 Joe Pearce – Swan Districts, WX8952 R. Riebe – Metropolitan, WX7715 C. Spackman – Kalgoorlie, WX8617 J. Dore – Perth also State Footballer.

FRONT ROW:  WX9129 J. Ovens, Unknown, WX9143 J. Smith – Fremantle, WX8753 J. Wheelock – Norseman, WX9552 W. Innes – East Perth and Cyclist,  WX1002 H. White – Swan Districts,  WX9887 A. Mussman – East Perth.

Ernie or Jack, as he was known with 2/4th  had married 1941 to Margaret Edith Joan Cole of Goomalling.  Best man was Jack’s 2/4th mate, Harry Pickett.

__________

 

WX9282 SKINNER, Francis Kenneth Herbert aka Ken

Ken Skinner was the only son of Frank and Alice Skinner of Koorda. His father Frank died

at Northam Hospital during 4 May 1949 following a car accident. Ken was an accountant at Koorda and an active community member, including tennis.  Combined with his Accontancy Skinner had several agencies and small businesses.

He enlisted AIF 30 October 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘D’ Company 14 Platoon becoming a Platoon Sergeant under Commanding Officer Lt Tompkins.

Skinner left with the first Work Party out of Singapore ‘A’ Force Burma.  3,000 Australian POWs sailed in several old ships to south west coast of Burma where they repaired and enlarged 3 airfields before heading to the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway to start work 1 October 1941.    ‘A’ Force finally left the railway at the end of 1943 and several months later in Thailand, those who were deemed fit by the Japanese were selected to work in Japan.

The work party would become known as ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party.    

On board the same ship was Harry Pickett, Best Man for Jack Oven’s wedding.  Miraculously Pickett was one of the few  survivors picked up by the Americans 4 days after ‘Rakuyo’ was torpedoed.

Skinner lost his life after their ship was torpedoed and sank  in the South China Sea12 Sep 1944.  He was 40 years old.

 

__________

Koorda men with 2/4th who survived

WX7709 FOGARTY, Cyril Alban Lance Corporal 

Cyril Fogarty farmed at Mollerin.  He was a keen football player for Koorda, including captaining the team and competed in Rifle Shooting.

Fogarty left Singapore with ‘A’ Force Burma with Skinner and Harry Pickett.

He was wounded in an Allied bombing

raid 15 June 1945.  His name was included on a list of wounded cabled from the Red Cross Committee Geneva via Japan.

He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WX9136 CLARKE, Basil William James Lt-Cpl

Born Northam 1915 to William Jess and Daisy Linda Clarke he enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940, later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Company 12 Platoon under CO Lt Mick Wedge.   Clarke also went to the Burma end of the Railway with ‘A’ Force, Fogarty and Skinner from Singapore in 1941.

Clarke was one of endless             

numbers of POWs to be

evacuated from this work camp

with advanced tropical ulcers.

His right leg was amputated

through mid thigh 22 Sep 1943 at Khonkan Hospital Camp,Burma.  The miracle was he survived – most patients did not as they were malnourished and often suffering other illnesses such as dysentery, malaria, etc.

(Khonkan basically had no medical equipment/medicines).

You can read more about Khonkan Hospital

Clarke was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.  He returned to farming life!

 

Below:  St Paul’s Anglican Church, Koorda constructed about 1925

Below: Koorda’s earliest school about 1921-22.

Below:  Koorda Hotel construction commenced in 1925.

MURADUP – THE OLDEST WW1 WAR MEMORIAL                   IN AUSTRALIA

 

Constructed in 1916, it is believed Muradup War Memorial was one of the first WW1 Memorials to be erected in Australia – a significant forward-planning act on the part of the local population.

Of course Muradup with its railway siding, was home to a  larger community than it is today.  There was a school, local co-op, hall, garage and other small businesses and hosted numerous sporting interests.

Muradup War Memorial

The War Memorial commemorates those from the Muradup Football and Cricket Clubs who served in World War One, World War Two, the Malayan Emergency and the Borneo Confrontation. The monument was originally erected to commemorate those from the district who enlisted in World War One.

The memorial was refurbished and re-dedicated in 2005 and underwent another re-dedication ceremony on the 24th September 2016 to commemorate the centenary of the unveiling of the memorial.

‘Great Southern Herald, 15 January 1916

A meeting of the Muradup Cricket Club was held on January 9, when nearly all members of the club were present, and, after the general business, the club decided to erect a “scroll of honor” with the names of all the members of the Muradup Football and Cricket Clubs who have left for the front. The names up to the present total 17, viz., Levi Treasure, Leo Treasure, Henry Treasure, A Chipper, H Hart, T Urquhart, G White, L A Coe, T Rogerson, W McFarlane, L Glover, E Ashe, J Ashe, C Lacine, W Meiklejohn, F Norrish and J Veitch. These names will be inscribed on the scroll with the consent of the relatives.’

 

Please take a moment to listen and watch MURADUP’S 2018 MEMORIAL SERVICE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Please Note:  should read Parker G. (Miss)

 

 

Initially William Meiklejohn and his brother John were in partnership farming at Muradup.    John Meiklejohn’s son enlisted with 2/4th MGB – WX9393 John Thomson  (Mick) Meiklejohn (Jnr)

John (Jnr) was KIA aged 22 years at Singapore 8 Feb 1942 when the Japanese first invaded the west coast.  

In the company of several of his men from 15 Platoon, Meiklejohn  was last seen firing his revolver at a Japanese Corporal whilst fighting their way out of the north west coast where the Australians were quickly overrun.

Meiklejohn enlisted Nov 1941, later joined ‘D’ Coy 2/4th MGB.  Lt. Meiklejohn became Commanding Officer of No. 15 Platoon.

His parents John Meiklejohn and Lilian Grace Knable of Mornington Mills married in 1917.

 

 

We believe the Meiklejohn Brothers dissolved their partnership when Bill enlisted WW1.  Bill however returned to the district taking up the offer of a farm nearer Kojonup where he remained with his family until selling in 1927.

Following are some interesting pieces of news from the Muradup boys:

Letter from Henry Treasure who had been at Gallipoli.

 

 

________________________

 

 

WX5263 Colin (Keith) McDonald (aka Black Mac) Lance Corporal, ‘C’ Coy, 10 Platoon was born Kojonup 1902 to parents Richard McDonald and Janet Ross. He married Alice ‘Rose’ Halden in 1923.

From Singapore he was selected with ‘A Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion whose main focus was to construct the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway. McDonald became part of Williams Force – a mobile work force which moved frequently up and down the rail link often to repair. Please read about Williams Force who suffered a harrowing experience moving from one camp to another usually at night so they could start work that very morning.

Others from the Kojonup area in Green Force were Bob Ritchie of Kulikup and Bert Struthoff who was born in Kojonup 1914 and lived his early formative years at Muradup where his father was first employed as a Fettler with the WAGR and later purchased his own small property.

At the end of the war McDonald was recovered from Thailand. He returned to is family and Kojonup.

Keith McDonald died at Kojonup in 1973. Both he and his wife were buried at Kojonup.

__________

 

WX15743 William Robert (Bob) RITCHIE of Kulikup.

He was born in Lisbon, County Antrim, Ireland in 1904 to Parents Robert John and Molly Ritchie. He arrived in WA in the early 1920s. He took up sheep farming subsidised by shearing team work. He married Christine ‘Chrissie’ Bock of Kulikup in 1923.

Bob enlisted AIF August 1941 and less than two months later was Taken on Strength to Woodside Camp, SA where he joined 2/4^th Battalion ‘C’ Coy 10 Platoon training as a Stretcher Bearer with Battalion Headquarters under Commanding Officer Lt-Col Anketell.

As a POW in Singapore he was included in a 3,000 men work party to sail to Burma called ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion. First they worked on repairing and enlarged three airfields left by the British on the south west of Burma and then headed to what would become the northern most point of the Burma-Thai Railway.

Ritchie was mentioned in Dispatches and awarded a British Empire Medal for his services in the sick wards of Burma, in particular the isolated and deadly Cholera Wards in Burma’s camps, where tending the sick put you in the firing of the deadly cholera disease.

 

Ritchie returned to farming at Kulikup. About five later he sold in 1950 having settled there some 30 years earlier.

Please read further about Bob Ritchie

Below:  Ritchie and Potts receive Army awards.

__________

WX15869 Albert ‘Bert’ John STRUTHOFF

b. Kojonup 1914 to John and Ellen Struthoff.   His father was member of Farmers & Settlers Association WA, Muradup Branch (c.1917) and had his name included in the newspaper regularly with the Roads Board.

Bert Struthoff enlisted AIF 18 Aug 1941 and was Taken on Strength to Woodside SA to join 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company HQ under Commanding Officer Colin Cameron.

He left Singapore with the first work Party – ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of the Railway.

With the bulk of the Railway completed during late 1943 the Japanese began moving all POWs working at the Burma end of the rail southwards to Thailand to one of the larger camps.  This is where Bert was included with the work party to go to Japan – known as ‘Rakuyo’ Maru.    The ‘Rakuyo’ Party entrained at Thailand for Saigon, French Indo China – then Japan’s busiest shipping port to supply their front line in northern Burma. The POWs were accommodated at the former French Foreign Legion Barracks and sent out on local work parties. They had several ‘false’ starts for departing Saigon, but each time returned to their Barracks. The Americans had by now effectively blockaded Saigon and its port – the river entrance was littered with sunken shipping, the open seas were home to US Submarines. The Japanese then decided to send the POWs by train back to Singapore. Another long and dangerous journey as both American and British planes were regularly bombing the rail, Japan’s stockpiles and places like Bangkok.

As the POWs were gathering for their departure, Bert Struthoff and two other 2/4^th POWs were found to be seriously ill and unable to travel. They were left behind. Bert died on 19 September 1944 of pneumonia aged 30 years at Saigon, and was buried at Tan Son Nhut, French Indo-China.

Please read about Saigon, French Indo China.

(Tragically the ‘Rakuyo’ Maru was sunk by American submarines 12 Sept 1944, resulting in the deaths of most on board including 38 men from 2/4th.)

 

__________

WX9351 John ‘Jack’ TREASURE born 1919

the first born child to parents Leo Edward Treasure and Victoria Jenkins who married in 1918. Jack enlisted AIF in October 1940, later joined 2/4th MGB’s HQ No. 3 Platoon as a Driver.

John (Jack) Treasure played in 2/4th MG football team.  The footy team included some excellent players,  from the Goldfields and well known League players such as Joe Pearce, Lou Daley, Helmrich and Mussman.

As a POW in Singapore Jack was sent on work parties to Pulau Blakang Mati and Adam Park before returning to Selarang Barracks. He was selected with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion to work on the Thai end of the Railway.

Please read about V Battalion who were to endure possibly the highest death rate of 2/4^th men on the Burma-Thai Railway. Jack was 24 years old when he died of cerebral malaria at Kuii Camp on 13 Sept 1943. There were simply no medical supplies.

Kui

A total of 52 men including 21 machine gunners died at this camp. On 18^th December 1943 the remaining officer Major Alf Cough and 18 other ranks from the original party were evacuated to Non Pladuk. Three of these men died within 3 days of their arrival.

Jack’s brother Ronald Edward also enlisted in WW2.    He returned to Australia and lived until 1986

2/4th’s Corporal Colin Heppell WX9348 was a driver for Col. Anketell.  He died Kuii POW Camp 6 Oct 1943 of Colitis aged 38 years just 3 weeks after Jack. Colin Heppel and his wife owned and ran the Gnowangerup Store.

Please read further about Kuii Camp where Jack and Colin Heppel died of illness.

We have included Jack Treasure’s memory with Kojonup/Muradup area because his father Leo Treasure was one of the original Muradup Cricketers who gathered together to establish the Muradup War Memorial.

Jack’s name has been included with the 2/4^th men from Gnowangerup, Tambellup and Ongerup.

 

Please read further the history of Gnowangerup, railway and other places of interest.

___________________

KOJONUP WAR MEMORIAL

 

There is the story of Percy Gratwick and his VC in the grounds of the Kojonup RSL’s Commemoration Way.   WX20426 Gratwick was KIA during the attack at Miteiriya, El Alamein in  Egypt’s Western Desert on 26 Oct 1942 aged 40 years.  Private Gratwick was fighting with Australia’s 2/48th Infantry Battalion.

VC’s were awarded to 20 Australians in WW2.

His VC medal is on display at the WA Military Museum, Fremantle.

 

Further research confirms Percy Gratwick’s father was Postmaster at Katanning, however died very young in 1911 leaving the family struggling. Percy was the fifth son.  He was educated at Katanning, Boulder and Perth leaving school at 16 years.  His first job was a messenger at Parliament House.

In about 1922 Percy headed north to the Pilbara where he learnt droving and blacksmithing.  As a station hand he built up a droving plant made up mostly of aboriginal men, took up contracting until about the drought beginning in 1931. Percy then went prospecting settling in mid 1930’s at Wodgina, a tantalite mine, blacksmithing, prospecting and sometimes working cattle at White Springs .  He is described as ‘being his own man, well used to looking after himself in that tough country’. (Australian Dictionary of Biography)

5ft 10″ tall of medium build, Percy was ‘quiet and resourceful, a practical joker, a bachelor who loved children, a bushman who thought city people had profit-and-loss minds. He measured people by their actions.’

Percy Gratwick lies in the desert of El Alamein war cemetery, plot 22, row A, grave 6.

Please read further about Percy Gratwick, a great Western Australian

Below:  From RSL’s Listening Post, August 2003

 

Above:  the statue of Arnold William POTTS (DSO, OBE, MC, MiD) Brigadier, 2nd/16th Infantry Battalion, AIF (Army WW2) a veteran of WW1 and enormously honoured by his men of 21st Brigade which in August 1943 ‘he was ordered to take the village of Kokoda. With few supplies and only two exhausted militia battalions and some Papuan troops, Potts went on the defensive. Joined by some AIF battalions, the fighting on the Kokoda Trail became a series of fighting withdrawals: always buying time and lengthening the Japanese supply lines. Reinforcements trickled in but Potts was forced back towards Port Moresby. Conducting a battle in conditions so hostile they were beyond the ability of headquarters staff to imagine, Potts came under criticism for his conduct of the battle. He was recalled to Port Moresby in September 1942. Although he rejoined his brigade, Potts was believed unfairly relieved of his command on 22 October and treated most shabbily.

Potts resumed farming at Kojonup at the end of the war.  He died on 1 Jan 1968 at Kojonup.

Even today, the remaining members of 2/16th and military historians work to clear Potts name in Australia’s history books.

 

Please read further about Brigadier Potts

 

 

 

Below:  Anzac Day Kojonup March 2021

 

‘It was my great honour to be invited to address Anzac Day 2021 at  Kojonup and Muradup (18 kms apart). A large contingent of local men (in the vicinity of 60) marched from the Kojonup town hall to the War Memorial accompanied by the bagpipes.

Mrs Cheryl Mellor of 2/4th MGB and daughter of late Joe Matthews who farmed Boscabel-Chittenup – was invited to address the Kojonup Anzac Day Service and later at Muradup.

Joe Matthews known as ‘Cowboy’ was with 2/4th MGB who joined 8th Division at Singapore.  The 8th Division were taken POWs of Japan 15 Feb 1942 – the men sent to more than 200 POW Camps throughout south east Asia, Burma-Thai Railway and Japan.  The survivors were not freed until after 15 August 1945, 3 1/2 years later.

 

 

 

Below:  Cheryl Mellor with Muradup RSL President, Robert Sexton.

 

 

 KATANNING WW2 MEMORIAL

& 2/4th Boys with Katanning and Regions connections

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, 8th Division, AIF

WX16274 WHITAKER, Fred b. South Yorkshire, England enlisted AIF 29 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4 MGB’s Company HQ.  He was captured Singapore and became POW 15th August 1942.

Fred was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion.  He died of dysentery at Hindaine Camp on 6 Aug 1943 aged 36 years.  V Battalion suffered too many deaths from illness in appalling living and working conditions,  Please read further about V Battalion.

 

He arrived in Fremantle from London on ‘Armadale’ on 11 Dec 1913 with his mother, brother James and sister Mary.  Once settled in WA, a further two children were added to the Whitaker family, John in 1920 and Pearl in 1924.

In 1934 Fred married Annie Elizabeth Dunne at Katanning.

In the same year his father James Whitaker died.

Fred was father to several children.

 

 

 

 

Others with a connection to Katanning:

WX93442 Atkinson, Herbert  born Whitby, Yorkshire, England came to Nyabing as a small child with his parents in 1923. He attended school at Nyabing. He enlisted Oct 1940 and joined ‘B’ Coy7 Platoon as a driver. Same Platoon as Arthur White.

Atkinson worked on the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force S Battalion.  He was then transported to to work in Japan on the ‘Rashin’ Maru and worked at the Yamane and Nihama mines in Japan from where he was returned to Australia at the end of the war.

 

 

WX15690 John (JACK) Murray CARR was born Katanning 1915 to John Augustine and Evelyn Mary CARR.  Jack was one of seven children and spent his earlier years at Katanning where his father John Augustine Carr represented Scott & Son, suppliers of agricultural equipment.

The Carr family moved to Perth sometime in the mid 1920s.

Jack left Singapore by train 1943 with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion for Burma-Thailand Railway.

Jack Carr died of cerebral malaria and beri beri 23 July 1943 at Tarsau Hospital Camp, Thailand aged 28 years.  He had been evacuated sick from  Hellfire Pass Cutting.

 

 

 

 

WX26347 MATSON, Wilford Neville b Midland Junction 1924. Enlisted 3 Sep 1941 was a reinforcement for 2/4th joining Battalion HQ as batman/Runner.

Worked on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force V Battalion and was one of the survivors who was recovered from V Battalion in Thailand at the end of the war.

Matson was living and working in Katanning at the Postal Deparment when he enlisted.  After the war Matson again returned to work for the Postal Department moving all over the state with his wife and family.

Neville’s mother Gladys Beryl Matson married George Rodwell Perth 1941.  She died at Katanning 1966.

 

 

 

 

WX9233 MORGAN, Alfred ‘John’ born Katanning 1919 to James Alfred and Mary Ann Edith Morgan.  Enlisted 30 Oct 1940 joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company 13 Platoon and trained as a Rangetaker.

Worked on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion.  Recovered from Thailand at end of war.  Please read ‘D’ Company 13 Platoon

 

 

WX9563 RANDALL, John b. South Africa 1905 came to Australia with parents. He enlisted Dec 1940, trained with 88th Light Aid Detachment attached to 2/4th as a butcher with the rank of Corporal.  Randall was unable to reboard ‘Aquitania’ at Fremantle on its way to Singapore 16 Jan 942. He was one of about 90 2/4th men left behind who sailed a few weeks later, but had to be offloaded at Java as Singapore was about to fall.  He was captured and spent time in Java as a POW before being transferred to work on the Burma-Thai Railway with Williams Force.  Randall was then selected to work in Japan.  From Singapore he eventually sailed on ‘Both’ and got as far as Saigon where they were offloaded land remained due to American submarines.  Randall was recovered from Saigon at the end of the war.

 

Pre war John Randall worked as a blacksmith and mechanic.  Below John and his brother.

 

Their father worked was a  blacksmith and coach builder. They moved to WA between 1927-1931 where they settled at  Nyabing, farming.

John married about 1925 to Elsie Allison in Victoria.  Their children were born in Victoria prior to moving to WA. During the war Elsie was residing in Wickepin.

Jack’s mother Florence Maria Randell was 64 years old when she died in Katanning in 1947.

Returning from war John Randall, now known as ‘Axehandle’ established business manufacturing axe handles in Katanning, Wagin and other towns often with one or more of his brothers.

 

 

 

WX9333 WHITE, Arthur Thomas born Brookton to parents Jeremiah White was born England and married 1914 Beverley to Amy Alice Louisa Price born SA.  Arthur was the eldest of 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls.

Jeremiah White died 1981 Bassendean and Amy died 1971 at Busselton.

Up until the time he enlisted Arthur appeared to be working and living in Katanning with his parents.  His father was Police Sgt. White was in same Platoon as Atkinson.

He worked on the Burma end of the Burma-Thai Railway and was recovered at the end of the war from Thailand.

Returning from war Arthur went back to Katanning.  In 1948 he married Doreen Maude Holly.  They remained living in Katanning for several years.  Arthur was employed as a bus driver.  In the 1970s they moved to Busselton.

It is not known if they had a family.  Doreen died in Busselton in 2014.

Arthur passed away aged 86yrs of age, June 28 2002, at Busselton, WA.

 

2/4th Soldiers from Youngs Siding, Bornholm, Torbay, Kronkup and Elleker area (between Denmark and Albany)

 

 

 

Above:  Bornholm Eleker War Memorial.                                Names of 2/4th boys include Stan Neale, Don Ross & Bill Wolfe.

We believe this area included  large numbers of Group Settlers however there were settlers living there in early 1900’s including the Caimanos family – Elleker.

 

 

Above:  Elleker Hall was opened in 1920.

The following information is from WA Heritage Council

‘ Between c1912-1923  the Elleker Hall was one of a group of halls built in the districts established along the Denmark railway line (or Torbay line) which included the original Kronkup Hall (1912), Torbay Hall (1912), Young’s Siding Hall (1923) and Bornholm Hall (now Bornholm Kronkup-Hall 1923).

The halls were all constructed of timber reflecting the importance of the timber industry in this area and the Denmark line which was constructed specifically to service the many timber sawmills in between Albany and Denmark.

History

Elleker was originally developed as a railway junction on the Torbay line by the Western Australian Land Company, who built the Great Southern Railway which was completed in 1889. It was originally called Lakeside, after Lake Powell. The first hall for the community was built c1895 by local settler, Herbert Hortin, adjacent to his house on his property Springbank and called Hortin’s Hall. In 1896 the Government purchased the railway and gazetted Lakeside in 1899. The Torbay line served the many timber sawmills as well as the many farms that had been established in the West Albany area.’

 

Please also read about Denmark War Memorial and 2/4th men who enlisted from there.

 

WX9261 CAIMANOS John ‘Jack’ Nicholas b. Albany 1898 enlisted 30 Oct 1940 into AIF later joined 2/4th’s ‘B’ Coy 7 Platoon.  As a POW in Singapore in 1943 Jack left by train with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion to work on the Burma-Thai Railway at the Hellfire Pass Cutting region.  He was recovered from Thailand at the end of war.

Jack was one about 8 children in the Caimanos family who farmed at Ellker.  The boys were all good cricketers playing for the local team. After the war Jack married and moved to live in South Australia.  He died in 1976.

 

WX12661 CAKE, William Ernest (Bill) enlisted 9 May 1941, joined ‘A’ Coy.  Went with ‘A’ Force to Burma to work on northern end of Railway with Tom Minchin.  Bill survived sufficiently well enough to be selected ‘fit’ by the Japanese to work in Japan.  Sailed ‘Awa’ Maru Party and worked at Omuta Mine.  He was recovered from here at the

end of the war. 

Please read further about Omuta

Bill was one several children born to parents Ernest Will Cake and Jane Hargarth who had married in 1914.  The Cake family settled at Kronkup (near Albany) farming for many years, and it was from here that Bill enlisted in May 1941 and became a reinforcement to 2/4th, joining ‘A’ Coy No. 6 platoon.

Bill Cake married 1947 at Katanning to Florence Esther Caldwell with Harry Lucas of 2/4th his best man.

 

 

 

 

WX9222 MINCHIN, Thomas Albert Henry (Tom) was working in the area for several years prior to enlisting with AIF 30 Oct 1940 and later joining 2/4th’s  ‘A’ Coy 5 Platoon as  Driver/Mechanic.  He worked on the Burma-Thai Railway with Bill Cake ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force Battalion No. 3

Tom married local girl Margaret Pearl Whittem.

After the war Tom purchased a farm at Youngs Siding.

 

 

 

 

 

WW9260 NEALE, Stanley Edward (Stan) was born Northampton 1914.  He was working around the district of Elleker/Bornholm when he enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940 later joining 88th Light Aid Detatchment attached to 2/4th.

Neale left Singapore with ‘B’ Force Borneo, which along with ‘E’ Force Borneo men were sent to work on Airfields and support roads in North Borneo.  They all perished except for 6 POWS who miraculously escaped and survived in the Borneo jungle.

Please read about ‘B’ Force Borneo

Neale had been working in the area for a number of years.  We found him listed in the Electoral Rolls at Elleker in and 1936 and 1943.

Stan’s sister Hannah Jemina Nora Neale married George Robert Rouse WX7656 of 2/4th MGB in Northam 1940.  Tragically George was killed 8th February 1942 at Singapore aged 27 years.

Neale was 30 years old when he died at Sandakan (cause was not recorded by Japanese)

WX16426 WOLFE, William John (Bill) enlisted 10 Sep 1941 and joined HQ Company,  Wolfe  also went with ‘A’ Force to Burma to work on the northern end of the railway.

Bill was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.  His father Richard Wolfe is included in the above newspaper item – the family farmed at Bornholm.

Bill Wolfe married Maureen Goldsmith from same area.

Bill was son of Richard Travers Wolfe (born New Zealand) and Katherine May Leonard who married about 1908 Perth. Bill was the eldest of three sons and two daughters.

 

WX9253 ROSS, Donald (Don) was born Albany 1913, son of Alexander and Lillian Ross of Bornholm  (situated between Denmark and Albany on the railway line).   Don married Ada Bunker, daughter of George and Annie Bunker of Albany.   Ada’s brother WX9223 Harold Bunker, known as Harry was also a soldier with 2/4th MGB and had a miraculous escape from death, and returned home.  Read further about Harry Bunker.

Don Ross enlisted 30 October 19430 and was a Driver with ‘A’ Company as was WX9252 James Shackleton.  Harry Bunker was a rangetaker with ‘A’ Company.

Ross was selected as a POW from Selarang, Changi with ‘E’ Force to work in Borneo.  He died at Sandakan on 23 May 1945 aged 32 years, his death devastated the Ross and Bunker families of Albany. His name is on the Albany War Memorial.

Please read the tragic story of Sandakan

 

 

 

‘A’ Company marching to Perth from Northam March 4^th 1941

Eighty years ago on the 7th November 1940 it was announced by the Minister for the Army, Sir Percy Spender, that Lt-Col M.J.Anketell, was to form and train the 2/4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion. The decision to enlist and send Australian forces overseas to support Britain, following the outbreak of war in 1939, was traditional but not automatic. Home defence, which was not a major issue in WW1, had now assumed a dramatically new dimension – with Japan the wild card in the deck.

By 1940 Australia had amassed 2 divisions of troops, the 6^th Division, was in the Middle East and the 7^th Division was training in Australia. Initially convinced by Churchill that the priority existed for the defence of the Middle East the 7^th Division would not go to Malaya but would join the 6^th Division in the Middle East. By May the Australian Government had authorised the formation of a new division, the 8^th Division. It was this new Division that inherited the home defence role.

Stunned by positions in Europe and facing the grim prospect of the possible defeat of England. A world tragedy threatened to spill over into Australia’s own backyard. For thousands of young men, destined for the newly formed Division, filling up military camps all over Australia, there was no hint of the hopeless tasks they would be called upon to perform nor the tragic aftermath.

Western Australia’s 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion was raised as one of the support units for the ill-fated 8th Division. Formed with men from across the state, raised wholly from personnel already enlisted and training in Western Australia. They all came together at Northam military camp, east of Perth, where they carried out their initial training.

Whilst new enlistments still absorbed the early spirit of adventure and excitement, the reality of war and now the very real danger facing Australia added a new dimension to the recruitment program. No longer was it seen to be the responsibility of the young and footloose to shoulder the burden – every Australian was now committed. And they responded, with a dramatic increase in the 30/40 age group and in the number of married recruits, most with young families. Many shed years from their age to enlist. This was the backend of the 1930s depression – men wanted the security of a permanent job to provide for their families.

They came in all shapes, sizes, religious beliefs and backgrounds from all corners of the State. Equally divided at roughly 44% between City (and suburbs) and country (Geraldton to Esperance) with the remaining 12% coming from the Eastern and Northern Goldfields and the North West. Approximately 15% were originally from either the Eastern States or United Kingdom.

The average age for enlistment was 26 – with nearly half the recruits aged between 22 and 29 and the remainder (21 and under) (30 and over) roughly equal. Approximately 27% were married.

Lt-Col M.J.Anketell, at the time C.O. (Commanding Officer) 28^th Bn. (Battalion) A.M.F. (Australian Military Forces), was directed to form a Machine Gun Battalion to consist of Bn.  H.Q. (Headquarters) 4 M.G. (Machine Gun) Coys. (Companies) H.Q. Coy., attached personnel L.A.D. (Light Aid Detachment), A.A.M.C. (Regimental Medical Officer) and A.A.P.C (Postal Officer0. Personnel to be drawn from A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force) and A.M.F. Training Units in camp in Western Australia.

The initial task was completed with the appointment of Maj. C.E.Green (late 28^th Bn A.M.F.) as 2/IC and Capt.A.I.Hill (Staff College Duntroon) as Adjutant. Company Commanders and 2I/C’s were drawn from four A.M.F. Units – 25^th , L.H., 11^th and 28^th Bns, A.M.F. – most of whom had considerable MMG (Motor Machine Gun) experience.

The Battalion was brought up to strength by the end of November and had moved into training quarters at Northam Camp consisting of:-

Battalion Headquarters – headquarters staff, medical section and regimental police.

Headquarters Companies:- No1 Platoon – Signals, No2 Platoon Protection and No3 Platoon Administrative

Four Vickers machine gun companies:-

‘A’ Company Headquarters and No’s 4,5,6 Platoons

‘B’ Company Headquarters and No’s 7,8,9 Platoons

‘C’ Company Headquarters and No’s 10,11,12 Platoons

‘D’ Company Headquarters and No’s 13,14,15 Platoons

(‘E’ Company Headquarters and No’s 1,2,3 Platoons – ‘E’ Company was reinforcements taken on strength at Fremantle 16.01.1941.)

Northam was their first home – kindergarten, primary and secondary stages of their Army training. They achieved much in this camp: outstanding physical fitness and co-ordination, self-confidence and the ability to hold their own, both as individuals and soldiers, in a tough and demanding school. They made friendships to treasure for the rest of their lives and traveled a long way on the road to achieving their ultimate goal – being soldiers on active service. Little did they know these mate-ships would be tested under the most appalling conditions as POW of Japan for 3 ½ years.

 

961 were to leave Australia – some were repatriated sick or injured before the fighting began, 133 were killed in action and 239 died as a P.O.W.s.

 

 

 

 

Men of 2/4th MGB whose names are inscribed on the above Memorial – they did not return home.

 

WX9109 COLQUHUON, Alexander John ‘Alex’ b. Midland Junction 1906 to Robert and Mary Ann Colquhuon.

Alex, the first born son, firstly enlisted with 10th Light Horse Militia on 21/12/1938 before joining 2/4th on 30 October 1940.  He joined ‘C’ Company No. 12 Platoon as did Harry De-Castilla.

Please read about men of 12 Platoon

He was selected with the first work party to leave Singapore – ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.  In May 1942, 3,000 Australian POWs sailed to south west coast of Burma where they were to first work on repairing and enlarging 3 aerodromes before moving to the northern most point of Burma-Thai Railway link in Burma.

Green Force No. 3 Battalion arrived at the railway to commence work on 1 October 1942 and would remain so until end of 1943.

Please read  ‘A’ Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion

Alex went with ‘A’Force Burma Green Force No. 3 Battalion to the Burma end of the railway to work. He survived working on the railway, was evacuated with all the POWs in Burma to Thailand where he was selected to work in Japan with what would become ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party. He survived three days in the water after his ship sank, but succumbed to the ocean on 15 Sept 1944 before he could be rescued. He was 38 years old.

 

WX9062 GOSSAGE, George John b. Kalgoorlie 1915 to George Victor and Annie Elizabeth Gossage. Enlisted 25 Oct 1940. Joined 2/4^th MGB’s Headquarters Company No 1 Platoon as Signaller.

Gossage was KIA 12 Feb 1942.

He received gunshot wound to his stomach during the desperate fighting at  Hill 200, Ulu Pandan where so many 2’/4th died.His body was not able to be recovered until 21 Dec 1942 (Major Cough Party) when their Japanese captors finally agreed to 2/4^th’s frequent requests to recover bodies. Gossage is buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

George Gossage was 26 years old.

 

 

 

WX8638 HELLMRICH, Leslie ‘Clive’ b, Bunbury 1910 to John Mathieson and Hester Hellmrich.

He enlisted AIF Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4^th MGB’s ‘A’ Company. Clive departed Singapore with ‘F’ Force to work on Burma Thai Railway He died 22 Dec 1943 of malaria, beri beri and dysentery at Kanchanaburi Hospital Camp aged 33 years following evacuation from working on the railway. On 5 Jan 1943, Clive requested to join his brother Noel Hellmrich who was with 2/16^th Field Park Company. Noel survived working on the railway and returned to Australia.

Please read about ‘F’ Force Thailand, the work party Noel and Clive worked on Burma-Thai Railway with.

Clive was married with a young son and had a business at Midland Junction.

‘Clive’ Hellmrich was a talented sportsman, in particular Australian Rules Football.  He was a left footer and prior to enlisting in October 1940  he played 10 games for Swan Districts Football Club in 1934 and 1935; scoring total of 11 goals and 2 points.      Clive shared roving duties with Ron Badock with the 2/4th footy team. Read further about 2/4th Football team.

He had played cricket for the Railway Company’s team.

 

WX17390 MUNDAY, Ernest Montague b. 1916 Guildford to Harry James and Fanny Munday.  

Munday enlisted AIF 27 Oct 1941.  Was reinforcement to 2/4th MGB, joining ‘E’ Company Special Reserve Battalion.  He sailed from Fremantle on ‘Aquitania’ 16 Jan 1941.  He was KIA 11 Feb 1942 at South-West Bukit Timah aged 25 years – about 3 1/2 months after enlisting.

He was from a large family of at least 6 or 7 girls and was one of two sons born to parents Harry James Munday and Fanny Grace Bassett.  Harry died in 1968 and Fanny in 1955.

Harry’s  parents originally came from Ewelme in Oxfordshire and were very early settlers around Guildford.   The house his father George built is still standing at 4 Scott Street, Guildford.  Fanny’s parents were also from Ewelme but settled in Roebourne where they made a good income from multiple enterprises – hotel, mail contracting, farming, etc.

The kids were all sent along to The Salvation Army in Guildford (probably to give their mother a couple of hours’ peace!)  Most generations of the family maintained their links with, or are members or were Dedicated at The Salvation Army (therein lies the link to Wearn and his family, who were also with the Salvation Army).

Ernie’s father, Henry (Harry) took any job available and so for a time was a wood cutter and moved from place to place along what is now the Great Northern Highway.  This meant that all the family went along with him living in tents.   The children went to a myriad of schools – today are known as the suburbs of Bellevue, Guildford, Middle Swan, Upper Swan etc.  Henry settled on a job at the local meatworks in Bellevue, which is where Ernie worked for a time.

The family remained residing at Bellevue.

According to Dr (Mrs) Susette Bakker, the Munday family historian who has provided most of this information –

‘Ernie’s job was considered ‘essential’ and so he was actually exempt from military service, but, according to my mother’s written diary, (she was next in family line) he spent a whole evening discussing it all with his parents and decided to enlist and as he was neither married nor dating, his money would go to his mother to help her.

Well, of course, he was killed so soon after arriving in Singapore, his mother received very little, if any, money.’

We thank Dr Susette Bakker for providing the family background for Ernie Munday.  (February 2019)

 

 

 

 

WX7509 RODDA, Arthur William ‘Billy’ b. 1900 Midland to Henry & Jane Rodda. Enlisted 6 Aug 1940, joined ‘D’ Company No. 14 Platoon. Wounded in action 13 Feb 1942 received shrapnel wound to leg but remained on duty. Rodda was prone to malaria attacks. However volunteered to leave with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion (nobody knew their destination – that they were to work at Hellfire Pass Cutting at Burma-Thai Railway). On 20 Feb 1945, at Nacompaton Hospital Camp, Thailand Rodda succumbed to cerebral malaria aged 44 years.  Rodda is buried Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand.
Bill Rodda had worked 17 years at the Stores Department WA Government Railways, Midland;  he played soccer and cricket for Upper Swan and was a keen Swan Districts football follower.   He left a widow and family.

RODDA’S name is also included on the Upper Swan Honour Roll, which is to be found in the Baskerville Hall.

 

Additionally, we know Walker was connected to Midland.

 

 

 

WX15614 WALKER, Robert Joseph was born 1905  Bellvue to Alfred Henry and Flora Elizabeth Walker.  He married Amelia May Ellen Moss in 1927 and was father to two sons. Bob Walker was written up in the Midland Newspaper.

Rob Walker went to SA with 2/4th, then to Darwin before sailing to Sydney and sailing on ‘Aquitania’ to Fremantle (not Port Moresby) Walker was one of nearly 100 trained machine gunners who missed returning to ‘Aquitania’ before she sailed for Singapore on 16 January 1942.  This group of men left several weeks later, but Singapore was about to Fall and disembarked Java where they were taken POWs of Japanese early March. 

Please read further

WX9080 STRIBLEY, Albert William Lance Corporal ‘Bert’ – b. 1911 Midland Junction to Thomas and Emily Stribley.  Bert was the first born and older brother to Norm Stribley, enlisting AIF the same day 25 Oct 1940.

He enlisted AIF 25 Oct 1940, later joined 2/4^th MGB’s ‘D’ Company Headquarters as a Driver. He was KIA on 9 Feb 1942 at 2/19th Battalion HQ on the west coast of Singapore, north of  Sungei Berih. He was with the newly formed ‘D’ Company’s No. 16 Platoon.

Bert was 30 years old. He was one of eight machine gunners to be KIA between 9^th and 12^th Feb 1942. (Another three members of 16 Platoon died at Sandakan and at least two perished with sinking of Rakuyo Maru in 1944).

Stribley was married with two young sons. Albert’s brother WX9058  Norman Leslie (Norm)  Stribley enlisted the same day and joined same Company.  Norm returned home, see below.

 

 

WX12008 WEARN, Thomas Clifford ‘Tom’ (Lance Corporal) b. 1909 Boulder to Joseph Henry & Margaret Ann Wearn. Enlisted 29 Apr 1941 & joined ‘A’ Company No. 4 Platoon.(Same as Heffernan) Sailed to Burma with first work of 3,000 Australian POWs to leave Singapore – ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion.  

Tom was evacuated from Kendau 4.8km camp, Burma   to Thanbyuzayat Hospital on 8 Nov 1942. Sadly he died of dysentery in the Dutch isolated ward aged 33 years.   He is buried Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Burma.

The Wearn family were strongly connected to the Salvation Army (as was the Munday family above – no doubt Ern Munday requested to join 2/4th)

Tom Wearn wrote in his diary the following, asking for his diary to be delivered to his family, his wife Edith and daughters May and Shirley and sister May.

‘Not only by the things we do, not only by the deeds confessed,
But in the most unconscious way, is Christ expressed.
For from your eyes he beckons you, and from your heart his love is shed,

Till I lose sight of you, and see Christ instead.’

 

WX10012  WORTH, Walter George (Wally) b. 1912 Guildford to De Courcey Cleaver Worth and Olive Ernestine Roach who married 1916.  Worth enlisted AIF Dec 1940 later joined 2/4th MGB’s Company Headquarters as a signaller.  He was previously employed at Smutterman’s Flour Mill.

Worth left Singapore with ‘F’ Force to work on Burma-Thai Railway.  He tragically died of cholera 28 Aug 1943 at Kami Sonkurai Camp aged 31 years.

Wally had two brother who enlisted with AIF – they returned home.  During 1941 Wally married Millicent Harriet Dedman.

 

Other 2/4th men who lived at Midland with their families and Returned to Australia

 

WX6968 Heffernan John Charles (Jack) b. 1908  Midland Junction to Thomas Edward Heffernan and Maria Vittoria Costa who married 1902 Broken Hill, NSW.  Both Heffernan and Costa were from Yackandanah, Victoria.

In 1936 Jack’s younger brother Thomas ‘Tom’ Heffernan married Gladys McGregor – sister to 2/4th’s WX 12835 Jack McGregor. The McGregor family resided 26 Commercial Road, Midland Junction.

Heffernan enlisted AIF Jul 1940 later joining 2/4th MGB’s ‘A’ Company, No. 4 Platoon (Wearn joined same Platoon).

Jack Heffernan was with Don Force ‘S’ Battalion, initially sent to Tarsau then Konyu II to work at Hellfire Pass Cutting, moved to Kinsaiyok and believed to be hospitalised at Chungkai.  He was recovered from Thailand at the end of war.

John Heffernan died 14 April, 1991 aged 84 years.  He was buried Karrakatta Cemetery.

 

 

WX7510 JONES, Alfred James (Alf) son of James and Evelyn Jones was born 1922 East Perth.  Enlisted AIF 6 Aug 1940, later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company 14 Platoon under CO Lt. Tonkin.  Alf sailed from Singapore with ‘J’ Force Japan Party on ‘Wales’ Maru.  Please read further about this Party who were initially sent to work at Kobe, Nagoya.

WX12835 McGregor John Alexander ‘Jack or Mac’ b. 1903 Guildford to Charles Hutton and Clare Jane Shipton married in Sydney, NSW in 1890. It is not known when the McGregor family moved to WA. They resided at Midland.

McGregor enlisted AIF 15 May 1941 later joining 2/4th MGB’s ‘B’ Company Headquarters.

McGregor’s parents Charles Hutton and Clare Jane Shipton married in Sydney, NSW in 1890. It is not known when the McGregor family moved to WA.   John Alexander was born in 1903 at Guildford and resided at Midland with his family.

In 1926 McGregor married Yetta Dixon.  Both McGregor and the Dixon families were from Midland. Yetta died aged 41 years in 1945 just a few months after McGregor returned home.

From Selarang he escaped with WX6067 Lieutenant Penrod Dean. Captured 6/4/1942 at Pontian Keechil in Johore State by Malay Police and handed over to Imperial Japanese Army on 7/4/1942 he was sentenced to two years solitary confinement at H.M. Prison, Outram Road.

He wrote a book about his years in Outram Gaol “Blood on the Rising Sun” describing his experience where most men in solitary confinement drifted into ‘merciful death or were pushed there by the swift sword of the Japanese’.   John was one of those to survive his hellish ordeal. His memorable book is a must to read.

McGregor’s eyesight never recovered and had to learn braille.

He remarried in 1948.  Annie died 2003 in Western Australia and John McGregor died earlier on 21 September 1981, Sydney, NSW.

You can read a little of Tim Bowden’s interview about his book of Outram Road ‘Stubborn Buggers’

AWM has also a story about Outram Road.  Please read

Please listen to Tim Bowden’s story on Outram Road

 

 

WX6129 REES, Arthur Joseph b. Midland Junction 1917 to Joseph and Margaret Rees.

Prior to enlisting13 July 1940 he  had been working in Kalgoorlie as a yardman at the Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie.  He enlisted from Kalgoorlie.  Arthur was 5′ 3 1/2″ tall.

He later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘C’ Company 11 Platoon.

As a POW in Singapore Rees was selected to work on the Burma-Thai Railway at thee Hellfire Pass Cutting with ‘D’ Force, S Battalion.

He was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

 

 

 

WX9058 Stribley Norman Leslie (Norm) was shell shocked 12 Feb at Ulu Pandan (same area as Albert) and evacuated to AGH 2/13^th Hospital. His younger brother to Albert ‘Bert’ Stribley.

Returned to his unit 20 Feb 1942.

(There were large numbers of soldiers evacuated due to shell shock).  The Australians on the west coast were subjected to the most intense Japanese bombing and firing of arms without a break for more than 48 hours. They were pinned in their shelters unable to move for hour after hour.

Norm went to Burma-Thai railway with ‘D’ Force S Battalion to the Hellfire Pass cutting. He survived and was recovered from Thailand.

 

 

Please read about the Midland Railway and its history

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘The Bruce Rock Remembrance Park is located in our main street, Johnson Street Bruce Rock and opposite our Shire Administration Building.

Officially opened on the 6^th November 2021, this park pays tribute to the men and women who served and continue to serve Australia in military conflicts and peacekeeping operations across the globe.

The Park features 11 specific memorials accompanied by information boards outlining the story and meaning behind each memorial.  There are also eight sculptures and artworks featured throughout the park, all interpretations of the theme ‘war and peace’, with the highlight being the replica peace window from the Bruce Rock St Peters Church. The Peace Window was the first stained glass window in Australia dedicated to Vietnam Veterans. The window was a project of the Bruce Rock Veterans Group, and was installed during the inaugural Back to the Bush Veterans Reunion in 2001.

All of this is set amongst gardens, walk paths, seating, and a gazebo in the centre for people to rest, reflect, and remember those we loved and those who paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom and our way of life.

The park is a peaceful and non-sectarian space, for all Australians.  Whether during the day or at night when the park is beautifully lit, we encourage locals and visitors to our town to visit the Bruce Rock Remembrance Park as a place of significance and reflection.’ – from Bruce Rock Shire.

 

 

The 2/4th MGB boys who enlisted from around Bruce Rock included:

WX9294 William Finlay ‘Bill’ BAILLIE – b. Bruce Rock 1920 to William Finlay Baillie (Snr) and Mary Oswald.

Enlisted AIF 20 Oct 1940 later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company HQ as Batman/Runner (Walter Bow also ‘D’ Coy HQ).

He worked on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand, V Battalion (with Bow) which suffered terrible loss of lives.

Baillie was recovered from Thailand at the end of war, he initially flew from Ubon, Thailand to Colombo.

Bill Baillie was mates with Ken Lally and Doug Carter who both worked at Carnamah.  Carter was working at a Bank in Carnamah, returned safely home to renew his banking career.  Lally (born in Northam) was working at Eric H. GURR’s General Store in Carnamah from September 1939 until mid 1940.  Ken Lally was tragically killed in an accident, crushed whilst as a POW working in Japan at Omuta Mine.

Below on Right:  Doug Carter

WX9321 Andrew James ‘Jim’ LOLLER – b. Kellerberrin to James Leslie Loller and Rossietta Melba Barry.  Enlisted AIF 30 Oct 1940 joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Company No. 13 Platoon. Loller was wounded in action Singapore.  He later had his right leg amputated above the knee on 6 April 1942.  Jim Loller remained a POW at Singapore and was recovered from Changi at the end of the war.

 

WX9287 John Robert OSBORNE – b. 1915 Bruce Rock to John and Alice Osborne. Osborne had been farming at Korbel prior to enlisting on 30 Oct 1940. Osborne joined ‘D’ Coy No. 15 Platoon.   He left Singapore with ‘F’ Force to work on Burma-Thai Railway.  He died of pneumonia at Kami Sonkurai POW Camp, Thailand aged 28 years.

 

 

 

 

Others who enlisted from this area included:

WX7253 Walter Verdun BOW – b. Perth 1916 to Harry Bow and Rachel Watts who married Wandering 1903.

Bow spent his formative years in Bruce Rock.  He enlisted AIF 1 Aug 1940 later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘D’ Coy HQ as a Driver.  Wounded in action 15 Feb 1942 Buona Vista he received shrapnel wounds to left and right buttock. Worked on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force’ Thailand, V Battalion (with Baillie and Lally) which suffered terrible loss of life to tropical illnesses and starvation.  Recovered from Bangkok and flew to Rangoon, Burma before flying to Singapore.

 

WX10372 George Howard BRANSON – b. Subiaco 1918to Howard and Ethel Branson.  He enlisted 18 Dec 1940.
Was a Lt with ‘A’ Coy.  No. 6 Platoon.   Branson was recovered from Singapore at the end of the war. He travelled with ‘H’ Force to Thailand for about 4-6 months.

Below:  Branson

 

Above:  Hortin

WX9323 Melville ‘Mel’ William HORTIN of Shackleton – b. South Australia 1913. Enlisted 13 Dec 1940, was Scout with ‘B’ Company No. 7 Platoon. Hortin, due to his health remained POW at Singapore throughout war and was recovered from Changi.

 

Below:  The parents of John Osborne receive news they have been dreading.  The Loller family at Bruce Rock, finally have news their two sons who have been POWs, are now safe.

 

 

 

4 Oct 1945 Bruce Rock Newspaper

Below:  Celebrations offering a warm welcome home to the men from Bruce Rock and surrounding regions –

 

 

WX7656 ROUSE, George Robert b. Pingelly 1914 to George Henry Rouse and Harriet Lucy Rouse (nee Gill).

Rouse enlisted AIF 10 Aug 1940 and later joined 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion’s ‘D’ Company, No. 15 Platoon under the command of Lt. Meiklejohn.  Please read further about this Platoon.

George was KIA 8 Feb 1942 at Tanjong Murai, west coast of Singapore in the initial fighting.  He had been captured by the Japanese and was attempting to escape.

George married 1940 at Northam to Hannah Jemina

Nora Neale.  Hannah is sister to Stanley Edward Neale WX9260 attached to 2/4th MGB as member if 88 Light Aid Detachment. Stan enlisted October 1940.  He went with ‘B’ Force to Borneo from Singapore July 1942 and died1945 – one of the brave men from Sandakan who lost their lives.

 

QUAIRADING WW2 MEMORIAL

And the DANGIN AREA

 

 

‘The War Memorial commemorates those from the district who have served in the various conflicts in which Australia has been involved.  The memorial was originally erected in memory of those who served in World War One. 

It is a square granite obelisk with brass plates with names inscribed in raised gold lettering. 

It is also contains an Australia Remembers plaque which commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

The memorial was erected at a cost of over ₤180 and was unveiled by the Governor of Western Australia on the 19th November 1921. Out of a population of 600 men, women and children in the Quairading district, over 100 men had enlisted and gone abroad. 
The West Australian (Perth), 20th December 1921′

 

 

 

QUAIRADING WW2 – 10 men from 2/4th MGB were Killed in Action,  DOW, died of illness or drowned in South China Sea.

 

Barr, R	Clarke, L	MacDonald, LM	Newton, T
Baty, R	Godfrey, RE	McCarthy, J	Thomson, JK
Bishop, N	Hollis, R	McKenzie, R	Toms, FW
Bowron, L	Hunt, E	Minchin, A	Tregenza, F
Carter, AH	Kelly, G	Minchin, M	Tregenza, J

WX7611 BARR, Robert Shipley (Bob) b. 1918 Perth to James and Hannah Barr of Quairading.  Enlisted AIF Aug 1940.

Joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy 14 Platoon under CO Lt Tomkins.   Details of his death are unknown, however he was fighting on north-west coast Singapore with Platoon 14, believed to have been injured, admitted to hospital and discharged from hospital.  Travelling in ambulance when captured by Japanese his CO believed Bob was executed.  He was 23 years old.

 

 

WXD9326 CARTER, Alfred Henry b. 1920 Northam to Lewis Basil  and Mary Jane Carter, Dangin.   Enlisted AIF Oct 1940.

Joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy No. 13 Platoon.   Taken POW Singapore.  Selected to work Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma departing Singapore by ships May 1942.  Survived working railway. Japanese Selected by Japanese to work in Japan.  Work Party became known as ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party – this unmarked transport ship was hit by torpedoes fired by American submarines in South China Sea.  Young Henry Carter was 24 years old when he perished on 12 Sept 1944 in the South China Sea.  One of 38 2/4th Machine Gunners. Please read further about ‘Rakuyo’ Maru being torpedoes.

 

WX7606 GODFREY,  Richard Edward (known as Teddy) b. 1919 Perth to Frederick and Alice Godfrey.  His mother remarried  Percival Robinson whom Teddy recorded as his NOK.  He had two sisters and two stepsisters.  Enlisted AIF Aug 1940. Joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy as batman/runner.

In Singapore Godfrey was transferred to ‘E’ Coy HQ  Special Reserve Battalion as batman to Commanding Officer  Lt. Warhurst.   Godfrey was killed by Japanese patrol 11 Feb whilst fetching water for wounded Lt. Warhurst. Unable to move with a shattered thigh Warhurst was also killed by Japanese soldiers.
Godfrey was just 22 years old.

Please read further about ‘E’ Coy, Special Reserve Battalion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WX9327 HUNT, Edgar Harold Corporal b. 1914 Beverley to Percival Harold and Alice Matilda Hunt at Beverley. He had an older sister and younger brother who lost his life in WW2.   He was a talented football player having tried out as a team player with Swan Districts Football Club. (His name is not recorded so we must assume his effort was unsuccessful) He was also a member of the very successful 2/4th footy team.   Enlisted AIF Oct 1940, later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy, was a Corporal with No. 13 Platoon. 

In 1943 Hunt was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Coy Thailand V Battalion, departed March 1943 from Singapore Railway Station for Thailand.

Please read further about V Battalion.

V Battalion endured high rate of fatalities.  Sadly Edgar was one of them.  He died Hindaine Camp, Burma-Thai Railway of bacillary dysentery 10 Aug 1943 aged 29 years.  His brother Campbell who enlisted with RAF lost his life too.

 

 

 

WX9279 MACDONALD, Lindsay Murray (Lin)  b. 1914 York to Douglas Grant and Laura Jessie MacDonald. Lin was one of 3 sons and 2 girls.  He was working on the family farm at Quairading prior to enlisting AIF  Oct 1940.  He later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy.

 

Lin was a talented sportsman and excelled at cricket playing for his local team and 2/4th team.

Lin with No. 13 Platoon was located on north west coast of Singapore for the Japanese invasion which began Sunday 8 Feb 1942.  Their machine gun positions were quickly overrun by large numbers of Japanese troops.  Lin was KIA 9 Feb at Lim Chu Kang Road, Singapore aged 27 years.

 

 

 

WX9324 MCCARTHY, Jack Corporal b. 1918 Dangin to Michael and Catherine McCarthy.  Jack had and older brother Stanley and two sisters.  The family  resided at Midland Junction.   He enlisted into AIF Aug 1940 from Dangin where he had been working, and later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy.  He was a Corporal with D Coy  No. 13 Platoon.

As depicted by his smiling face in his photo, Jack McCarthy had a happy disposition and a love of life, sometimes a larrikin.  He was also an active sportsman in Dangin/Quairading – tennis (doubles with his brother Stan), cricket and football.

Whilst a POW at Singapore Jack was included on several work parties outside Selarang.  Johore Bahru and Adam Park before returning to Selarang Barracks.

In March 1943 he departed

Singapore Railway Station with ‘D’ Force V Battalion and headed to Thailand to work on Burma-Thai Railway.

Please read about V Battalion.

At Linson Wood Camp Jack officially aged 24 years died of malaria.  His body was buried in the Linson Wood Camp Cemetery and after the war interred to be taken to Kanchanaburi  War Cemetery.

14 August 2022 – today at the Service at Kings Park for 77th Anniversary of ‘Victory over Japan’ I learned from Jack’s niece Laurel Morris (nee McCarthy) that her grandmother and Jack’s mother Kate McCarthy sought the details of her second son’s death. Kate apparently met up with a former POW from V Battalion. Jack was beaten up so badly by the Koreans with their usual width of bamboo used for punishment that Jack  was left unconscious and died soon after of internal injuries at Linson Wood, Thailand.

Below:  Jack’s niece Laurel Morris (nee McCarthy) who learned about Jack as a young man.  Her Grandmother was unforgiving towards Japanese when she learnt the truth of his death.  (Taken 14 Aug 2022 – POW Memorial, Kings Park on 77th Anniversary of Victory over Japan)

 

WX7662 MINCHIN, Alec Randall, Corpral  b. 1914 Dangin to Frederick and Lily Minchin.  He was one of eight children and lived Dangin.Alec’s brother Mervyn also enlisted.  He died 1 May 1945 Tarakin, Borneo.

Alec married Mabel Alice Stone about 1941 at Rockingham. 

Alec enlisted AIF Aug 1940 later joining 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company 11 Platoon.  Alec sailed May 1942 with ‘A’ Force Burma to work on Burma end of Burma-Thai Railway.  He survived more than 14 months toiling on the line.  In 1944 all POWs in Burma were brought south into Thailand into one of the larger camps.  Minchin was selected to work in Japan.  His work party travelled to French Indo-China  before returning to Singapore to board ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Sept 1944.  On 12 Sep, an American submarine wolf pack attacked the convoy ‘Rakuyo’ was sailing with.  The ship was hit with 2 torpedoes.  It took nearly 12 hours to sink –  the Japanese left the POWs behind to fend for themselves.  Minchin sadly did not survive.  He wearily slipped off the man made life raft on which other machine gunners were holding, on the third day, 15th Sep 1944 aged 30 years.  He was one of 28 2/4th Machine Gunners who perished, including Carter (above) and Tom (below).

Please read about ‘Rakuyo’  Maru

 

WX7664 TOMS, Frederick William b. 1904 Aldershot, England to Septimus and Minnie Toms.  He enlisted AIF Aug 1940 later joining 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company, 11 Platoon with Minchin.

It is believed Toms arrived WA ‘Orveto’ 1930 aged 25.    We have little information about his life after his arrival.

Tom was earlier on, we believe, working for Alwyn Lohoar’s family who farmed at South Quairading.  Alwyn Lohoar married Beth Minchin – sister of Alec Minchin WX7662.  Fred Toms and Alec Minchin enlisted 10 August 1940 (there were many others who also enlisted on this date)  and joined ‘C’ Coy,  Toms was 10 years older than Minchin.  As with Minchin, Toms was sent to Burma to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘A’ Force Burma, sailing from Singapore May 1942.  He was also selected to work in Japan with ‘Rakuyo’ Maru Party.  Toms died on 14 Sep 1944, two days after ‘Rakuyo’ sank.  He was 40 years of age. Others from Quairading on board Rakuyo included Carter and Minchin.

WX9280 TREGENZA, Frederick Thomas b. 1910 Dangin to James Montague and Mary Jane Tregenza of Dangin.   He enlisted AIF Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy, No. 13 Platoon.   His brother John (Jack) also enlisted with AIF on same day and he too joined ‘D’ Coy.   

Fred with ‘D’ Coy machine gunners, was sent to west Singapore’s defensive line to support 2/20th Battalion and where Japan’s soldiers began their invasion on 8 Feb 1942. On 9th Feb Fred was reported missing believed KIA when their Vickers machine Gun was overrun by Japanese soldiers.  He was 31 years old.

 

 

WX9235 TREGENZA, John (Jack) Ernest Sgt b. 1914 Dangin to James Montague and Mary Jane Tragenza of Dangin.  He enlisted AIF  same time as his brother Fred on 30 Oct 1940, he later joined 2/4th’s ‘D’ Coy.  He was a Sergeant in No. 15 Platoon.  

Jack survived the Japanese invasion and week’s fighting from 8-15 Feb.  At Singapore he joined work parties to Johore Bahru and Adam Park and returned Selarang.  Jack also went with ‘D’ Force Thailand V Battalion to work on Burma-Thai Railway departing Singapore Railway Station March 1943 to Thailand. Jack died on 2 Sep 1943 of cerebral malaria at Brankassi Camp.  He was 28 years of age.  Please read further about D Force Thailand V Battalion

 

 

Happier days in Quairading.

 

 

 

 

 

WX9289 ANDERSON, Ronald George (Ron) was with ‘D’ Coy 13 Platoon.  Went with ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of the Railway. Anderson survived to return home.

Ron was at Linson Wood Camp with Jack McCarthy.

Also known as ‘Big Ron’ – Anderson Played footy with 2/4th team before going to war.

 

WX7608 McLennan, Chris born Beverley1920 enlisted AIF 10 Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company 10 Platoon as a Corporal to CO Lt Wilson.  He was sent to the Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force S Battalion.  McLennan survived and was recovered at the end of the war from Nacompaton Camp, Thailand.

Rod McLennan, son of Chris served as President of the 2/4th MGB from 2010 until he died in 2018.  Rod was popular with the old boys (veterans) and travelled away on several trips to lay plaques.

Rod was a conscript for the Vietnam war and had suffered ill-health in the later years of his life.  In fact he spent most of the last few years hospitalised.