Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John (known as Jack) was living in New Zealand with an uncle when World War 2 broke out in Europe. Answering the call to enlist, he returned to Australia and enlisted in the army, joining the 2/19th Infantry Battalion, attached to the 22nd Brigade, 8th Division of the second Australian Imperial Force.

Originally set for deployment in the Middle East, Jack recalled sitting onboard a ship in the Sunda Strait when they were told they would be going to Malaya instead to bolster Allied forces. Jack fought in the battle of the Muar, the last major battle of the Malayan campaign. Only 271 men from the 2/19th Battalion made it to British lines, with many still in the jungle when the campaign ended with the fall of Singapore. After the surrender, Jack along with his fellow survivors, were taken as prisoners of the Japanese and held in the infamous Changi Prison. Word was received back home in Goulburn that Jack was missing in action. His next of kin, parents Edward and Florence, were eventually notified that he was alive and had been taken prisoner. Soon after this, a postcard arrived at the family house in Kinghorne Street. The postcard, penned by Jack, features printed Japanese characters along with a short note, assuring his family that he was doing well. We believe that the Japanese forced their prisoners to write these postcards home as a propaganda stunt, in order to deflect attention from the atrocities they were committing.

While a prisoner of war, Jack was assigned to D company, and sent to work on the Thai-Burma Railway under the command of Sir Weary Dunlop, a legend among prisoners. Jack was imprisoned with other men from Goulburn, including his friend Lindsay Cochran. According to stories that Jack shared with his wife and family in later years, the Japanese guards found out that Lindsay could cook, and he was assigned to prepare food for them. Lindsay risked his own life to smuggle small amounts of food to Jack and others, who were starved and tortured by their captors. This act of heroism potentially ensured their continued survival, and it cemented a lifelong friendship between the men.

After three and a half long, devastating years, Australian prisoners of war were liberated by American GI’s, who were shocked and dismayed at the condition they found Allied troops in. They were taken to Raffles Hotel in Singapore, which was in use as a transit camp for prisoners of war prior to returning home. Having missed wearing shoes while in the jungle prison camps, Jack was given a pair of boots by an American GI who was moved by his service. Jack returned to Australia in 1945, declining an offer to relocate to Japan and be part of the occupying forces there, and was discharged with the rank of Lance Corporal on 30th January 1946. Settling in his hometown of Goulburn, he married Catherine Kennedy in December 1948, and they had three sons.

Jack didn’t talk about his experiences of war often but did share some memories throughout the years with his wife and sons, which have been passed down to his grandchildren. Every ANZAC Day, Jack would march down Auburn Street wearing his medals, and later in life, ride in a taxi. For him, ANZAC Day represented mateship – he had many friends, including those who shared his experiences of war, and catching up for a beer each ANZAC Day was an honoured tradition that his family now continues in his memory. Jack passed away in November 1991, aged 75 years old. His bravery and strength of character is lovingly remembered by his sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.