Arthur Stafford CARPENTER

Arthur Stafford CARPENTER Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

CARPENTER, Arthur Stafford

Service Number:	QX23052
Enlisted:	18 September 1941, Rockhampton, Queensland
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/26th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Renmark, South Australia, Australia, 19 August 1917
Home Town:	Waikerie, Loxton Waikerie, South Australia
Schooling:	Ramco State School
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	(POW of Japan - Melanotic Carcinoma), Malaya, 18 November 1944, aged 27 years
Cemetery:	Kranji War Cemetery Grave Location: 4. B. 11
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Holder School Memorial

World War 2 Service

18 Sep 1941:	Enlisted Private, QX23052, Rockhampton, Queensland
18 Sep 1941:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, QX23052, 2nd/26th Infantry Battalion
19 Sep 1941:	Involvement Private, QX23052, 2nd/26th Infantry Battalion
15 Feb 1942:	Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore
18 Nov 1944:	Involvement Private, QX23052, 2nd/26th Infantry Battalion, Prisoners of War

Help us honour Arthur Stafford Carpenter's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Arthur Stafford CARPENTER was born on 19th August 1917 at Renmark to John Herbert and Dora Carpenter, of Ramco. Arthur was one of three brothers from this family (with Jack and Robert) to serve in the 2nd Australian Infantry Force. He also had a sister.

Arthur enlisted in the 2nd Australian Infantry Force 18 September 1941 at Rockhampton. He was posted to 2/26th battalion (reinforcements section) in Singapore. Arthur arrived and joined the battalion strength and a few weeks later, the garrison commander of Singapore surrendered, on 15th February, 1942, meaning that Arthur and his mates were now Prisoners Of War of the Japanese Imperial Army.

Arthur was in the dreaded Changi prison, and originally his family believed he was “Missing In Action”. In August 1942 Arthur was able to send a postcard to home telling them that he was a POW and was in good health and spirits. Arthur never contacted his family again, After two more long years in terrible conditions, Arthur contracted Melanotic Carcinoma and on November 18, 1944 he died, still in the Changi Prison camp.

Arthur is interred in the Kranji War Cemetery and is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour. He is also commemorated at Blackall War Memorial.

Arthur is also commemorated with a tree and plaque in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia