Thomas Henry (Tom) Whitehouse

Thomas Henry (Tom) Whitehouse

Personal Information
Date of Birth	8 May 1921
Place of Birth	Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Death	2 Aug 1997, aged 76
Place of Death	Dowerin, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 1 month
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Byford, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. Claude Whitehouse
Military Information
Reg Number	W9184 & WX14338
Date of Enlistment	18 Jun 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	7 Nov 1941 ‒ 22 Nov 1941
Transport Details	Queen Mary Fremantle to Port Tewfik
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	15 May 1945 ‒ 16 May 1945
Transport Details	plane Germany to UK
Journey Dates	3 Jul 1945 ‒ 8 Aug 1945
Transport Details	B2 unknown ship UK to Sydney
Post War Details
Fate	POW Ruin Ridge 26/27 Jul 1942 Returned to Australia
Monument(s)	ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Byford WW2 Honour Roll
External Monument(s)	The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

War Service

Original mobilisation was on 6 Mar 1941 as a part time member of the Militia's 16th Australian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders Regiment). On 30 Apr 1941 he was sent to the Melville Camp and while there reuried the services of the 8th Australian Casualty Clearing Station from 4 to 17 May 1941. his early training completed he was released back to employment on 10 Jun 1941. He subsequently enlisted in the 2nd AIF at the Claremont camp on 18 Jun 41 and two days later he was sent to the Naval Base Camp. On 10 Jul 1941 he was transferred to the 13th Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Northam, to be trained as a reinforcement for the 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion then forming up in Australia to join the unit elements already in Britain, destined for the Middle East. His records also indicate an earlier attempt to enlist, but he was discharged as 'under age'. from 15 - 22 Oct 1941 Tom enjoyed pre-embarkation leave.

On 7 Nov 1941 in Gage Roads, Tom embarked on HMT Queen Mary part of Convoy US13 for the Middle East via Trincomalee, disembarking at Port Tewfik (Suez) on 22 Nov 1941 to join the battalion at Kilo 89 in Palestine. He was evacuated to the 2/6th Australian General Hospital with Dysentry on 16 Apr 1942. On 28 Apr 1942 Tom was released to the care of the 24th Australian Infantry Training Battalion until fit to rejoin his battalion, which he did on 23 May 1942. In July 1942 Tom spent a brief period with the 2nd AIF (Middle East) Stagging Camp before rejoining the 2/32nd Battalion.

On 31 Oct 1942 Tom was posted as Missing in action, believed to be a Prisoner of War, captured at Trobuk. On 9 Dec 1942 his unit was advised that he was intered at the Italian POW Camp 57, then moving on 10 Apr 1943 to their POW Camp 106. In February 1944 prisoners held by the Italian Army were transferred to German control and Tom was sent to Stalag VIIA near Moosburg in Southern Bavaria, the largest of all the German POW Camps. Tom was transferred from Stalag VIIA to Stalag VIIA on 16 Feb 1945. His next move occurred on 17 Oct 1944 when he transferred to Stalag 317.

Following his release by the Allies, on 16 May 1945 he de-planed in the UK and was sent to No. 1 Australian Transit Camp UK. Given the option to continue to serve or otherwise, Tom chose to return home. On 4 Jul 1945 he boarded a ship for Australia, where he disembarked in Sydney on 8 Aug 1945. A week later on 15 Aug 1945 he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. From 7 to 24 Sep 1945 Tom was sent to the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot before being released to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot's Discharge Section. Tom was discharged on 24 Sep 1945.

On 8 Mar 1946 Tom re-enlisted into the "Interim Army" before being discharged on 11 Jul 1946

Post War

July 1970 at 74 Herdsman road, Subiaco