Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Max returned from Burma after being held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in Burma, working on the famed Burma Railway. He was a POW for approximately 3½ years, having been captured on Timor with the rest of his battalion who were overwhelmed but the sheer numbers of Japanese troops who descended into Timor.

On his return, he worked on the family orchard and farm at Latrobe, Tasmania where he resided for the rest of his life. He passed away at home on 27th December 1984, aged 66, leaving four surviving children and his wife Margaret [MBE].

He never discussed his feelings for his captors and showed little animosity to the Japanese people but was reluctant to talk about his incarceration.
He did tell me once, that at the time of liberation, while he was inspecting the belongings of the surrendering Japanese soldiers, one man was holding in his balled up fists, a pair of miniature pistols whish seemed to mean a lot and held a strong significance to him. He told me that he allowed that man to retain the items and continue.
Although there were many periods of illness, he became a successful businessman and respected member of the Latrobe community, holding the offices of Deputy Mayor and Justice of the Peace. He was also a keen Rotarian, honoured with a "Paul Harris Fellowship" and maintained a 100% attendance record until his passing.