SCALES, James
| Service Number: | WX8843 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 October 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland, United Kingdom, 18 February 1908 |
| Home Town: | Coolgardie, Coolgardie, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Illness whilst a prisoner of the Japanese, Thailand, 11 September 1943, aged 35 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Burial reference: - Plot 1. Row M. Grave 14. Personal Inscription: - "REST IN PEACE". |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 23 Oct 1940: | Involvement Private, WX8843, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Malaya/Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1940: | Enlisted Claremont, Western Australia | |
| 23 Oct 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX8843 |
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Biography contributed by Dianne Black
Family Connections: - Private James Scales was youngest of four children born to William Scales and Jane Pierce in Ireland. His siblings were Elizabeth, Mary and William. James' father died in 1939, Ireland.
Jim migrated to Western Australia aboard the vessel "Orford" embarking from London 13th October 1928 when he was 20 years old, stating his employment as farming. Soon after arrival James moved to Kalgoorlie where his uncle was residing.
James enlisted on 23rd October 1940 in Claremont, Western Australia and after basic training was taken on strength, 4th December 1940, with 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion, 5 Platoon.
However when embarking to Singapore on 16th January 1942 with his battalion aboard the ‘Aquitania’ he went "AWOL". Jim was one of about 90 men from 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion who was unable to re-board the "Aquitania" prior to departure. He was apprehended by the Military Police and was awarded 27 days detention and forfeits 2 days pay. On 30th January 1942, Private James Scales departed Fremantle aboard HMAT Marella disembarking at Java where he remained and was attached to 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion. Here also all Allied troops were taken as POWs by the Japanese and interned in one of several camps, Private Scales remained at Makasura prior to being sent to work on the Burma-Thai Railway.
Private James Scales was evacuated to Tarsau on 20th August 1943 from Hintok River Camp suffering from malaria and then evacuated to Chungkai Hospital Camp where he died on 11th September 1943, from Polyavitaminosis and dysentery at the age of 35 years.
(polyavitaminosis – meaning a deficiency of more than one vitamin).
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