Thomas Archibald READING

READING, Thomas Archibald

Service Number: NX40332
Enlisted: 19 June 1940
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/18th Infantry Battalion
Born: Barraba, New South Wales, Australia, 1 June 1912
Home Town: Barraba, Tamworth Municipality, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Illness whilst a Prisoner of the Japanese, Malaya, 11 August 1945, aged 33 years
Cemetery: Labuan War Cemetery
He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 11.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Barraba St Laurence's Anglican Church Memorial Window, Barraba War Memorial, Ranau Number 2 Prisoner of War Jungle Camp "The Last Camp Memorial"
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, NX40332
19 Jun 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX40332, 2nd/18th Infantry Battalion
2 Feb 1941: Embarked H.M.T. Queen Mary
27 Jan 1942: Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore

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Biography contributed by Kerry Donaghy

He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of B Force. The 1494 POW's that made up B Force, were transported from Changi on 7 July 1942 on board the tramp ship Ubi Maru, arriving in Sandakan Harbour on 18 July 1942. Private Reading, aged 33, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 11 August 1945. He was the son of Alfred and Minnie May Reading, and the husband of Edna Irene Reading, of Kogarah, New South Wales. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 11. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)

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