KUHLMANN, Laurence Anzac Christian
| Service Number: | WX8077 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Ravensthorpe, Western Australia, 19 April 1916 |
| Home Town: | Big Bell, Cue, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Narrogin School of Agriculture, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Illness whilst a prisoner of war, Thailand, 3 March 1944, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Plot 1, Row F, Grave 59, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, WX8077 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , WX8077 | |
| 3 Mar 1944: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX8077, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion |
WA8077 Pte Robert A.C. Kuhlmann
Born Ravensthopre, Western Australia 19 Apr 1916 to parents Herman Robert and Bertha Matilda Kuhlmann.
Enlisted 16 Aug 1940 AiIF. Joined 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion 8th Division, WW2
"C" Coy. Wounded in action Jurong Road, Singapore. Admitted 2/9th Field Ambulance with shrapnel wounds to left chest and back on 9.2.1942. Discharged to unit on 21.6.1942.
POW Selarang Camp and Barracks, Changi. AGH Roberts Barracks Changi.
Laurie Kuhlmann was known to be a good larrikin.
He was selected with 'D' Force V Battalion to work on Burma-Thai Railway in the Hellfire Pass region. This Battalion endured one of the highest death rates with illness.
Tragically Laurie died of acute colitis at Non Pladuk aged 27 years on the 3 March 1944 having earlier been evacuated from the railway line to this POW Hospital.
Submitted 5 April 2020 by Cheryl Mellor
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Laurence Anzac Christian KUHLMANN was born in Ravensthorpe in Western Australia on 19th April, 1916
His parents were Herman Robert KUHLMANN & Bertha Matilda VOSS
He died of illness whilst a prisoner of war in Thailand on 3rd March, 1944
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Three of his brothers also served during WW2
1. Frederick KUHLMANN (SN W39860) Army - discharged 21st March, 1946
2. Herman Karl KUHLMANN (SN WX20189) Army - discharged 7th January, 1946
3. Robert Alan KUHLMANN (SN WX38277) Army - discharged 7th June, 1946
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