STONE, George Clifford
| Service Number: | WX17594 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 November 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Swanbourne, Western Australia, 18 March 1918 |
| Home Town: | Claremont, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Died of Illness (POW of Japan), Thailand, 1 March 1944, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery 1 E 45 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Private, WX17594, Claremont, Western Australia |
|---|
World War 2 Service
| 10 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, WX17594, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1944: | Involvement Private, WX17594, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Prisoners of War |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoff Tilley
George Clifford Stone was born in March 1918 in Swanbourne, Western Australia to parents George Bernard and Doris Caroline Stone. He had three sisters.
George enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) at Perth in February 1941 where he was transferred to the 2nd AIF in November 1941. On enlistment into the AIF his occupation was recorded as Orchardist.
George embarked for overseas service from Fremantle attached to the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion on 15thJanuary 1942, disembarking in Singapore on 26th January 1942.
George with his battalion was immediately put into action in the defence of Singapore from the Japanese Imperial Army that had swiftly advanced through Malaya. George who was in E Company ran head on into the Japanese advance. He was eventually captured, becoming a prisoner of war when Singapore fell on 15thFebruary 1942.
George with many of the Australian prisoners was held in Changi Prison at Singapore. It was in May 1942 that George left Singapore as apart of A Force Burma, the first of a large work force sent by the Japanese to the Southwest coast of Burma. Their task was to repair airfields before A Force was moved to the north of Burma to commence the construction of the Burma Thai railway under harsh conditions.
By the end of 1943 when the rail line was completed the prisoners were moved south to Thailand to one of the larger camps. George was evacuated sick and when he reached Tamarkan Hospital Camp in Thailand he died of illness. His funeral service was conducted by Padre J Mathieson.
Private George Clifford Stone, Service number WX17594 of 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, died as a prisoner of war in Thailand on 1st March 1944. He was 25 years of age.
He is buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand and is remembered with honour.
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