SCADDAN, Harry Wright
| Service Number: | WX7617 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 August 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Ashington, England, United Kingdom, 20 August 1914 |
| Home Town: | Boyanup, Capel, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer (Butcher and Farmhand) |
| Died: | Cerebral Malaria whilst a prisoner of the Japanese, Thailand, 22 April 1944, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Burial reference: - Plot 1. Row D. Grave 66. Personal Inscription: - "REST IN PEACE". |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Fairbridge War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, WX7617 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX7617, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Dianne Black
Family History: - Harry Wright Scaddan arrived in Australia on 21st March 1926 aboard the ‘Berrima’ he was 12 years old. Harry was housed in Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra along with other orphans. Harry's father (Harry Wright Scaddan) had died in December 1924 at Doncaster, Yorkshire, England and his mother (May Winnifred "Winnie" Cameron) was incapable of caring for both Harry and his sister.
Harry was a noted sports boy at Fairbridge. His name is recorded in athletic events with John Ramsbottom (also 2/4th Machine Gun Company). He continued his sporting interests during his working life at Boyanup. In 1935 he was working at Boyanup for W. Smith, Esq. In 1936 Harry was working at “Bellaranga” Station, Arrino (small town located between Mingenew and Three Springs). He appears to have maintained close ties with Fairbridge returning there for his annual holidays.
Harry enlisted 10th August 1940, in Claremont, Western Australia, and after basic training was taken on strength with the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Headquarters Company No. 2 Platoon. The battalion was sent to Singapore, and was present at the fall of Singapore, Private Harry was taken prisoner by the Japanese on 24th January 1942. Two years, 2 months and 29 days later after working on the Burma Railway Line and having moved through various PoW camps from Singapore to Burma, Harry at the age of 29 years succumbed to cerebral malaria in the Tamarkan Hospital, Kanchanaburi, Thailand, and interred in Grave No. AX33, Tamarkan. On 21st January 1946 Private Harry Wright Scaddan was exhumed from Tamarkan and reburied in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
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