Names & personal details of Aust & NZ Airmen, Soldiers & Nurses. No Known Grave. KIA Malaya-Singapore War Area. Recorded on the Singapore War Memorial
When reading this book, pay attention to the date of death, it can tell you many things. From 7th December, 1941 to 14th February, 1942, the fighting was very bitter, you can almost feel the Australians fighting as they were forced to retreat to Singapore.
On the 15th February, 1942, Singapore was forced to surrender, many Australians died even on this day.
16th February, 1942, is a special date for it is the day many Australian nurses died when they drowned, or were shot by the Japanese on Banka Island after the ship that was trying to take them to safety was bombed and sunk.
The letter "Z" indicates that the serviceman was most probably killed on a commando raid.
Deaths between 16th February, 1942 and 15th August, 1945 sadly indicate that the service person died on air operations or while a prisoner of war.
The most tragic deaths occurred in September, 1944 when American submarines attacked a Japanese ship convoy enroute to Japan not knowing one of the ships was carrying Australian, British, Dutch and American P.O.W.'s.
One American submarine risked its own safety to rescue from the sea some eighty Australian P.O.W.'s and this actual submarine is now moored as a museum at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, U.S.A.
So please read between the lines, feel the heartbreak of the fighting as the Australians were slowly pushed back until Singapore was forced to surrender, and remember that as long as these names can be read in a public library, where they can be seen and read, these servicemen will never be forgotten.
This volume covers the Malaya-Singapore war area. R.A.A.F. & R.N.Z.A.F. names are recorded first. R.A.N. men lost at sea are recorded on separate special Naval Memorials at Plymouth, England, as well as on the walls of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, A.C.T. James McClelland, OAM
The names of the Australians recorded in this book have no known grave. Their names are recorded on the Singapore War Memorial. The column number is where the name can be located.
DESCENDANTS OF THOSE SERVICEMEN RECORDED IN THIS BOOK WHOM REQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT:
THE OFFICE OF AUSTRALIAN WAR GRAVES,
C/- DEPT. OF VETERAN AFFAIRS,
WODEN,
A.C.T. 2606
YOU WILL FIND THEM THE MOST COURTEOUS AND HELPFUL OF ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.
FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS MADE TO THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION FOR COMPILING THESE RECORDS AND FOR THE THOUGHFULNESS AND GREAT DIGNITY THEY USE IN CARING FOR OUR WAR DEAD.
ISBN: 978-0-908492-92-3
A4 Comb Bound with laminated covers. 104 pages
