Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Archie (or Strawb) was the only son and third of four children of George Henry Dyson (b1879 in Melbourne, Victoria) and Miriam Myra (known as Myra) Clifford Thompson (b1890 in Melbourne, Victoria). George (a Pearler in Broome WA) and Myra (a Singer, Entertainer and Vaudeville Artiste) married in 1911 in Broome WA where they settled and raised their family. George was a Pearler (often translating for the local Japanese), worked for the Fisheries Department and in 1925 he and Myra leased the Continental Hotel - the couple had been much involved in local functions and musical events. In 1926 George was found drowned at Entrance Point, Broome. Myra moved to Perth and remarried - in 1936 following the death of her close friend Charlotte Haldane (Hilliard), Myra fostered her five children). Myra and her second husband were Lessees of the London Hotel in Albany WA until their Divorce in 1948.

Archie attended Perth Modern School and won a gold medal as Drummer in the YAL Band. He was a Factory Worker and Truck Driver in Perth WA in August 1940 when he enlisted in the Australian Army (Private; Service No:WX7599). Archie served with 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion and was WiA on 11 February 1942 at Hill 200 Ulu Pandan (shrapnel wound). Archie was listed as Missing in Singapore before Radio Saigon alleged he was a PoW on 28 July 1943. He sailed to Japan on the (Byoki) Rashin Maru with D Force S Battalion and was interned at Yamane and Niihama. In January 1945 he was badly injured at the Besshi Copper Mine when pinned between a copper cart and the mine wall. On 12 September 1945 Arcchie was  recovered from the Japanese - 'condition poor' (National Archives Australia) and repatriated to Australia via Manila. He was hospitalised in Sydney and then Melbourne before being flown to Perth WA on 8 November 1945 where he was again hospitalised. Archie was Discharged on 23 May 1946.

In 1947 Archie was in Albany WA where his mother Myra and her second husband Ted Ribe ran the London Hotel. Archie settled in Perth, WA and was a Storeman in 1948 when he married Patricia (Pat) Leila Hall (b1925 in Perth, WA). The couple settled in Perth where Archie was a Storeman and Process Worker. Archie died in 2007.