Neil Edwin WATCHORN

WATCHORN, Neil Edwin

Service Number: VX45224
Enlisted: 8 July 1940
Last Rank: Captain
Last Unit: Not yet discovered
Born: Christchurch, New Zealand , 2 April 1903
Home Town: Larpent, Colac-Otway, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Grazier
Died: Execution, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 20 February 1942, aged 38 years
Cemetery: Ambon War Cemetery, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
Ambon Memorial, Malaysia 23 B 14
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Beaufort War Memorial, Hutchins School WW2 Honour Roll
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Captain, VX45224
8 Jul 1940: Enlisted VX45224

Help us honour Neil Edwin Watchorn's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Ian Fox

The 2/21st was deployed to Ambon as part of Gull Force in December 1941 following the Japanese invasion of Malaya; however, with the defence of the island considered untenable due to the limited military resources available and overwhelming Japanese strength it was subsequently captured despite determined resistance, surrendering on 3 February 1942.

Most members of the battalion became prisoners of war, and a large number died in captivity. Gull Force lost 15 men killed during the defence of Ambon, and another 309 men at Laha who were either killed in action or by mass executions by the Japanese which occurred on 6 February and between 15–20 February. 

Captain Watchorn was one of the victims of the mass executions. 

[Source: Wikipedia, Colac Family History Project]

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