Difference between revisions of "John Roy (Jack) Thorpe OAM"
From Our Contribution
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{{infobox soldier | {{infobox soldier | ||
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| enlistmentage = 22 years, 1 month | | enlistmentage = 22 years, 1 month | ||
− | | description = | + | | description = 5'11" (1.80m) tall; medium complexion, brown eyes, dark hair |
− | | height = | + | | height = 5'11" (1.80m) |
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− | Granted pre-embarkation leave, he then boarded the [[SS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde]] as part of Convoy 12B which departed Melbourne on 18 Sep 1941, and arrived in Fremantle on 26 Sep 1941. The convoy departed on 28 Sep 1941 and after reaching the Indonesia archipelago turned west and headed for Colombo, and eventually Port Tewfik in Egypt where they arrived on 20 Oct 1941. They | + | Granted pre-embarkation leave, he then boarded the [[SS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde]] as part of Convoy 12B which departed Melbourne on 18 Sep 1941, and arrived in Fremantle on 26 Sep 1941. The convoy departed on 28 Sep 1941 and after reaching the Indonesia archipelago turned west and headed for Colombo, and eventually Port Tewfik in Egypt where they arrived on 20 Oct 1941. They then travelled by train to Kantara where they crossed the canal and travelled by trucks across the Sinai Desert to a camp north of Gaza in Palestine. |
− | After | + | After training in Palestine, they reversed the journey to Port Tewfik and embarked on [[SS Orcades]] along with the 2nd/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion, and during the afternoon of 1 Feb 1942 the ''Orcades'' sailed alone as Convoy JS2 for Colombo where it refueled on 8 Feb 1942. The next morning it sailed for Oosthaven in Sumatra where it arrived on 15 Feb 1942, the day Singapore surrendered. The next day they sailed for Tanjung Priok (port for Batavia or Jakarta as it is now known), arriving there on 17 Feb 1942. Two days later they disembarked and Jack spent time driving his truck and avoiding the Japanese until his unit surrendered. Jack was to spend several months in captivity on Java before being loaded onto an old ship for Singapore where they were sent to Changi POW camp. |
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[[Category:1942 POW ww2]] | [[Category:1942 POW ww2]] | ||
[[Category:Returned to Australia]] | [[Category:Returned to Australia]] | ||
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Revision as of 15:51, 8 May 2019
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 9 Nov 1921 |
Place of Birth | Claremont, Western Australia |
Age at Enlistment | 22 years, 1 month |
Description | 5'11" (1.80m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair |
Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
Military Information | |
Date of Enlistment | 20 Dec 1940 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Unit/Formation | 105th Transport Company |
Date of Embarkation | 18 Sep 1941 ‒ 20 Oct 1941 |
Ship Embarked On | SS Marnix van Sint Aldegond Melbourne to Port Tewfik |
Fate |
Captured Java 1942 POW Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan Returned to Australia Served with Japanese Occupation Force |
Medals | 1939-45 Star |
Pre War
War Service
On reporting to the Northam cam, he was placed in the 2nd Recruit Training Depot. After months of training he became annoyed at not being included for a draft overseas so volunteered to join a Mechanised Cavalry Unit which required him to travel to Puckapunyal in Victoria for training.
Granted pre-embarkation leave, he then boarded the SS Marnix van Sint Aldegonde as part of Convoy 12B which departed Melbourne on 18 Sep 1941, and arrived in Fremantle on 26 Sep 1941. The convoy departed on 28 Sep 1941 and after reaching the Indonesia archipelago turned west and headed for Colombo, and eventually Port Tewfik in Egypt where they arrived on 20 Oct 1941. They then travelled by train to Kantara where they crossed the canal and travelled by trucks across the Sinai Desert to a camp north of Gaza in Palestine.
After training in Palestine, they reversed the journey to Port Tewfik and embarked on SS Orcades along with the 2nd/3rd Australian Machine Gun Battalion, and during the afternoon of 1 Feb 1942 the Orcades sailed alone as Convoy JS2 for Colombo where it refueled on 8 Feb 1942. The next morning it sailed for Oosthaven in Sumatra where it arrived on 15 Feb 1942, the day Singapore surrendered. The next day they sailed for Tanjung Priok (port for Batavia or Jakarta as it is now known), arriving there on 17 Feb 1942. Two days later they disembarked and Jack spent time driving his truck and avoiding the Japanese until his unit surrendered. Jack was to spend several months in captivity on Java before being loaded onto an old ship for Singapore where they were sent to Changi POW camp.
Award Comment
Post War
Notes
At enlistment gave his age as 9 Nov 1918. Jack Thorpe OAM has written an account of his service experience "Bloody Lucky", Hesperian Press, 2006.