Edward Johnathon (Ted) Leadbitter

Edward Johnathon (Ted) Leadbitter

Personal Information
Date of Birth	5 December 1918
Place of Birth	London, England
Death	10 October 1943
Place of Death	Kuii, Thailand
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 11 months
Occupation	Gardener
Religion	Church of England
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Winifred Leadbitter
Military Information
Reg Number	WX8425
Date of Enlistment	18 October 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/4th Machine Gun Battalion
Post War Details
Fate	POW Died from Cholera
Monument(s)	Armadale War Memorial ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
External Monument(s)	The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Australian War Memorial	Australian War Memorial
Medals	Australian Service Medal 1939-45 Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Sent out to Australia as an orphan to the Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School near Pinjarra. His father having died in the Battle of Jutland, and his mother when he was 11 years old.

War Service

A member of 15 Platoon, D Company, Edward was listed as missing from 8 Feb 1942. He had been captured by the Japanese on the west coast of Singapore, but did escape and later rejoined his unit after the surrender. Singapore POW Number was 3/8489.

Ted's Platoon

Subsequently he was a member of 'D' Force, V Battalion in Thailand with POW Number 2266. In Thailand he had been suffering with malaria and was delirious . He was kicked and beaten for 30 minutes by the Japanese Engineer Corporal known as the 'Black Cat'. Died of Cholera 14 days later on 10 Oct 1943 at Kuii, Thailand, aged 24.

Grave No. 196 Later at Knchanaburi War Cemetery Collective Grave Plot 3; Row G; Grave 35-39.

Newspaper reports "Missing" - West Aust 23 Jul 1942; "POW" - West Australian 30 Sep 1943; "Previously POW, now Died of illness while POW" - West Australian 2 Oct 1945.

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  Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
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  Edward Leadbitter's grave location