"A" Force - Burma Stories

"A" Force - Burma stories

1) Watch maker at the Bridge

NX29821 - BURGESS, Clarence John (Clarrie), L/Cpl. - A Company, 7 Platoon
SX9143 - BOWMAN, Rex Stanley (Rex), Pte. - 2/4 Field Workshop

The boys might remember Rex in A Force. He was the 'watch maker' at the Bridge - he used to get old watches going, and I used to sell them to the 'boongs'; water-proof of course, as long as they didn't get wet.

(Source: Clarrie Burgess - Makan No. 264, Jan/March, 1982)

2) Jim Saunderson

NX37671 - SAUNDERSON, James (Jim), Pte. - B Company

Makan 262, July/Sept, 1981 - "Jim is appreciative of the John Korsch Diary, but says that it does not depict all that he had to go through".....read more

Makan 263, Oct/Dec, 1981 - "The name of this camp was PRATCHAI, and it was situated at the foot of hilly country, where we were employed blasting rock to make an underground ammo dump".....read more

3) Blue Beard

NX6598 - GERSBACH, Oliver Christopher (Lofty), Pte. - HQ Company, Carrier Platoon
NX46920 - HEDWARDS, Cornelius Michael (Con), Pte. - C Company, 14 Platoon
NX17253 - LANE, John Charles (Dinny), Pte. - C Company, 14 Platoon
NX36521 - PERRY, Leslie George (Les), Pte. - D Company, 16 Platoon
NX71616 - WEEBER, Alfred (Alfie), Pte. - A Company, 9A Platoon

“Con Hedwards and I worked together in all our camps in Burma and finished up with Lofty Gersbach and Alfie Weeber in our last camp in Thailand. This was a reclaimed paddy field, and after heavy rain we had to trudge through inches of water. Dinny Lane was also in that camp, and the Japanese in charge was called 'Blue Beard'. One day he got some of us, who were recuperating from malaria and on light duties, to manure his garden from our toilets. We had no foot wear so did not have much chance of escaping hook worm. We had no soap for a wash afterwards. After the capitulation a big Yank officer parachuted from a plane to take over our camp, and soon 'Blue Beard' became quite docile."

(Source: Les Perry - Makan No. 263, Oct/Dec, 1981)

4) Selling the diary

NX36521 - PERRY, Leslie George (Les), Pte. - D Company, 16 Platoon
NX71616 - WEEBER, Alfred (Alfie), Pte. - A Company, 9A Platoon

“I kept a Diary during the first two years of P.O.W. life, but I got the wind up at Tamarkan, when the Japs started their intensive search after radios etc, and the late Alfie Weeber (A Coy) and myself split all the paper with a razor blade, and sold same around the Camp for cigarette paper; and so made a few Japanese dollars."

(Source: Les Perry - Makan No. 216, Jul/Aug, 1974)

5) Bakehouse at Tavoy

NX57070 - ARPS, Eric Douglas Wade, L/Cpl. - A Company, 7 Platoon
NX46619 - KORSCH, John Donald, Cpl. - C Company, 14 Platoon
NX27159 - WHITE, George Harold (Doughy), Cpl. - BHQ, Cook HQ Company

“'Doughy' was on "A" Force, and one of John Korsch's sketches is of the inside of the Bakehouse at Tavoy. The ovens were 44 gallon drums cut in two down the sides, while the bricks were manufactured on the site. The building and the ovens were made under the supervision of members of the Pioneer Platoon of the 2/29 Bn; a notice on the ovens showed that 'Doughy' was one of the bakers, the other four being from other units, a Lt. A.E. Staples (thought to be 2/18), A.R. Bale, H. Clark and F. Johnston."

(Source: Eric Arps - Makan No. 263, Oct/Dec, 1981)

6) John Korsch sketches

NX56719 - BURBURY, Reginald (Reg), Pte. - A Company, Coy. Store
NX46619 - KORSCH, John Donald, Cpl. - C Company, 14 Platoon
NX59635 - MACLAY, John Richard (Jack), A/U/Cpl. - B Company, 12 Platoon

"When the Division was settling in to P.O.W. life and the University of Changi was established, both John Korsch and Reg Burbury were fellow students in the Art Class conducted by Murray Griffin, and naturally regretted the short time that they had with him. However on "A" Force together, they were able to carry on their sketching, more or less under the very eyes of the guards.

Jack Maclay has commented on those sketches, which John had at home, "they were so true in detail that they take you back to those dark days of ours".

(Source: Reg Burbury, Makan No. 243, Oct/Nov, 1978)

NX55561 - HALL, Leslie Gordon (Les), Sgt. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon
NX46619 - KORSCH, John Donald, Cpl. - C Company, 14 Platoon

"It was at Mergui, South Burma, the worth of John was proven. The many and countless kindly acts, to those less fortunate than himself, that he so unselfishly carried out, will, I am sure, never be forgotten, especially by "A" Force survivors.

As far as P.O.W. life is concerned I farewelled John at the 105 Kilo Camp, Burma, when I was sent to the 55 Kilo Hospital Camp. Before we parted company, he handed me quite a few of his sketches, that I value highly. And more so now."

(Source: Les Hall, Makan No. 243, Oct/Nov, 1978)

7) Men on "A" Force

"Of the 98 men of the 2/30 Bn on "A" Force, when the Burma and Thailand ends of the "Death Railway" were joined, they being at what was called the 105 Kilo Camp, there were only 24 still together to move to other camps down along the line to Kanburi, the rest either having died or been sent back to a so-called "Hospital" at the 65 Kilo Mark.

(Source: John Pryde, Makan No. 243, Oct/Nov, 1978)

8) "A" Force

NX12548 - PRYDE, John Alan (Gula), Capt. - BHQ, QM
NX34999 - RAMSAY, George Ernest (Gentleman George), Lt. Col. - BHQ, CO. 1942

It was at the camp at Kun Knit Kway (26 Kilo Peg) on the evening of Christmas Eve 1942, Lt. Col Ramsay gave a short talk to the 1500 odd members of “Ramsay” Force and “Black” Force ......more

(Source: Makan No. 256, October, 1980)

9) Cook's tour

NX27159 - WHITE, George Harold (Doughy), Cpl. - BHQ. Cook HQ Coy.

"After a stint in captivity at Changi Barracks, "Doughy" boarded the "Celebes Maru" with "A" Force and sailed to Victoria Point in Burma. From there he went to Mergui, Tavoy, Ye & Thanbyuzayat. His cooking led to a tour of the Burma-Siam railway and location at the notorious 26, 75, 99 and 105 kilo camps.

"A" Force, ravaged by cholera, malaria, dysentery, tropical ulcers and starvation, was sent finally, on the joining of the Burma and Siam rail tracks, to the railway siding town of Nom Pladuk in Thailand. This happy exchange of location was enlivened by the regular visits of the huge bombers of the Allied Air Forces.

His next port of call was Tamuan, the POW camp of "The Bridge over the River Kwai".

Then, with typical Japanese logic, his captors decided that "Doughy's” cooking lacked the finer elements of French cuisine, so they sent him to Saigon in French Indo China. But the capitulation cut short his Cordon Bleu course.

On the day of his release, accompanied by a Jap. interpreter and a British Warrant Officer, he went to the local market's to buy rations and amassed foodstuffs at a price totalling 3,000 piastres. A vigorous argument took place between the Jap and the Pommy as to who would pay and, it is believed, that the bill is still outstanding."

(Source: George White, Makan No. 254, May/Jul, 1980)

10) American Lost Battalion

Many like your scribe might have wondered the front cover of October "Barbed Wire and Bamboo". Alan explains that "quite a few of the 'Lost Battalion' American personnel came on board the 'Celebes Maru', when 'A' Force convoy called in at Belawein Dili in Northern Sumatra, on the way to the aerodrome jobs in Lower Burma - as was the case with survivors of H.M.A.S Perth. They had all been sent to Sumatra from the Batavia P.O.W. Camps. They proceeded to the Tavoy job after our group had been off-loaded at Mergui.

Ramsay Force joined up with them again at the commencement of the Railway Job about the 26 Kilo mark (Tan Besar).

They were a good crowd, both U.S. and 'Perth' men; it was pleasurable to associate with them and have the accounts of their experiences at first hand.

As was usually the case, all of us were split up and sent in different directions thereafter.

The U.S. Field Artillery men were from the National Guard - something like, I understand, our C.M.F.

(Source: Alan Pryde, Makan No. 258, December, 1980)

11) Tommy Busine

NX77799 - BUSINE, Sydney Herbert Thomas, Pte.
NX55561 - HALL, Leslie Gordon (Les), Sgt. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon
NX55172 - PHILLIPS, Clarence James (Tankie), Pte. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon

Pte. Sydney Herbert Thomas Busine enlisted on 10th December 1941. He sailed from Sydney on the last Troopship to arrive at Singapore and was marched into G.B.D on or about 18th January 1942.

We have not the details as yet as to what happened to him, nor to which Unit he was drafted on Singapore Island, nor what Unit he was with at Selarang after 15th Feb 1942.

Les Hall met him on "A" Force at the 55 Kilo alleged "Hospital” Camp, Burma in August 1943.

Tom Busine, like the late "Tankie" Phillips, a former workmate of his at The Sydney Glassworks, and a neighbour of his at Chippendale, Sydney, had contracted a tropical ulcer on his right lower leg.

On or about 21/8/43 Les Hall held Tommy, as the late Sir Albert Coates amputated the gangrenous lower extremity, and personally cared for him, together with "Tankie", and 31 other amputees, of which group 22 now rest in The War Graves Commission Cemetery at Thanbyuzayat (Tan Besar), Burma.

A son Jimmy was born to Tom Busine and his wife four days before Tom was attested into the A.I.F. He has been searching for some years for someone, who, may have known the father, whom he never knew.

Tom died on 20th Sept. 1943. One of the regrets that he had expressed, in those last few weeks, was that, as a 4th reinforcement to the 2/30 Bn, he was never taken on strength of the Unit, Les Hall remembers the night on which he died as an occasion, when, above all the sounds in the hut, the Les Darcy song was to be heard, being sung quite clearly. Les stopped what he was doing and walked down to the singer, who was Tommy, knelt by him, whilst he was still singing, but on the last word of that song, Tommy breathed his last. He was released from all further pain.

Whilst still kneeling by Tommy, Les says that he felt a drop of moisture on his arm. He looked up and realised that it was a tear from Colonel Coates' eye. He could do no more for the lad, and he felt so helpless, because of the inhumanity of the Nips in refusing even the most simplest of medicines and of instruments. He worked his heart out striving for all in his care; every one, whom he lost, was a tragedy he felt most intensely.

(Source: Les Hall, Makan No. 257, Oct/Nov, 1980)

NX77799 - BUSINE, Sydney Herbert Thomas, Pte.
NX77751 - DICKENSON, John, Pte. - C Company, 15 Platoon
NX55561 - HALL, Leslie Gordon (Les), Sgt. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon
NX55172 - PHILLIPS, Clarence James (Tankie), Pte. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon

Also:

VX503645 (VX39198) - COATES, Albert Ernest (Bertie), Lieut. Col. - 2/10 AGH
SX10761 - HOBBS, Alan Frank, Major - 2/4 CCS
VX54873 - JONES, Malcolm Bartleet (Mal), Pte. - 2/4 CCS

The smell of death and decay filled the atmosphere of the alleged hospital camp situated 55 kilometres from Thanbyuzayat prisoner-of-war headquarters, Burma. ....more

(Source: Web site: Prisoners of War of the Japanese 1942-1945, An Account Of The Last Months Of ‘Tommy’ Busine’s Life)

12) NX49755 - Pte. Frederick James DAY

NX49755 - DAY, Frederick James, Pte. - Ex Java

Pte. Day was with the 4th Reinforcements, 2/30 Bn, which left Sydney on the Aquitania on 10/1/1942. Along with others, he went AWL at Fremantle, but embarked on Marella on 30/1/1942 for the remainder of the trip to the tropics. They were disembarked at Java, and soon after became POWs of the Japanese, The men were then transported to Burma and became part of Williams Force. Jack Williams wrote: “NX49755 Pte DAY F J. Long record sickness. Evac Base 14/6/43. Died 24/6/43 of dysentery 18 kilo (Hlepauk) POW Base Hosp Buried 24/6/43 Grave 4 - 18 Kilo POW cemetery. POW No 4761”.

(Source: 2/30 Battalion Archives)

13) Col. Ramsay's care

NX70447 - KRECKLER, John Francis (Bib), Lt. - HQ Company, 2 I/c Mortar Platoon
NX34999 - RAMSAY, George Ernest (Gentleman George), Lt. Col. - BHQ, CO. 1942

"On arrival at the 75 kilo Camp, we were informed that the daily work expectation had been increased to 1.75 metres per man. It had. been steadily rising from .25 metres per man at the 26 kilo Camp. ......more

(Source: Makan No. 256, October, 1980)

14) Col. Ramsay's command

NX34999 - RAMSAY, George Ernest (Gentleman George), Lt. Col. - BHQ, CO. 1942

Colonel Ramsay's command on "A" Force was that of No.1 Battalion, comprising 850 all ranks of A.I.F. personnel, as it was formed and when it left Selarang Barracks on 14th May 1942. The 2/30 Bn provided 98 men in this No. 1 Battalion; Capt Pryde was his 2 i/c, and both they and Lieuts. Farr and Kreckler who were platoon Commanders, were included in that figure of 98. The men in the other two Battalions were mostly from the 22nd Brigade and Divisional Units, and the Commander of all of "A" Force was Brig. A.L. Varley MC.
(Source: Makan No. 256, October, 1980)

15) John Kreckler

NX70447 - KRECKLER, John Francis (Bib), Lt. - HQ Company, 2 I/c Mortar Platoon
NX34999 - RAMSAY, George Ernest (Gentleman George), Lt. Col. - BHQ, CO. 1942

After just a few months in Changi the Japanese called for a party to proceed overseas for an unnamed destination. John and I became part of this group designated A Force, comprising three Battalions each of about 1000 POWs. Our No. 1 Battalion was commanded by Lt Col George Ramsay our former 2/30th 2/ic.
After a most unpleasant voyage in a Japanese rust bucket called the "Celebes Maru" up the West Coast of Malaya, and some short stopovers at camps on the way, Ramsay Force arrived at a place called Thanbuyziat in Burma. This was to be the starting point for the construction of the infamous Burma-Thailand railway from the Burma end.
As an Officer John was responsible for daily working parties of some 40 men. Tasks were set by Japanese engineers but John thought it fair game if he could move the pegs around so then his team could excavate a smaller area in the same full work time with less effort by his men. On one occasion John was caught out and after, as he said, getting up off the ground the second time, he was marched back to the guard house to face his penalty. He was in fact saved by his own men who returned to camp with tools at the slope, singing Kreckler's favourite tune "Oh Johnny", and the impression this made on George Ramsay, that he escaped further punishment.
The appalling conditions suffered during these 42 months as virtual slaves have been well documented. However, there is one aspect recognised by those who were there (and some are here today) was the importance of having a mate to support you in times of illness, or perhaps when spirits were low. John was such a mate, willing to share meagre food supplies, some rarely available medical items, and most importantly words of encouragement to restore faith in eventual survival.
On completion of the railway in October 43 A Force was abandoned as such and its members were dispersed to various camps in Thailand. John went to Tamarkan and Kanburi. About this time the Japanese wanted to ship some of the POWs from the railway work to Japan. John tried to join this force but was denied. Many of those transported by sea were attacked by American submarines with large losses of POW lives. So someone up there loved John and spared him that possible fate.
In February 1945 the Japanese separated the Officers from the other ranks fearing a possible uprising as the war was turning against them. For a time these officers were employed on menial tasks usually around the camp site and once again John got up to his old tricks when he diverted a limited water supply to his own tomato patch at the expense of one being cultivated by his captors.
When the war ended in August 45 many of the POWs moved into Bangkok. Colonel Ramsay became the Military Governor of the City. He sought assistance to control factional fighting in the streets and John volunteered. He was appointed Assistant Provost Marshal under Captain Jack Carey. This was dangerous work patrolling the streets in a van to extricate liberated Australian soldiers wandering into off limit areas.
John also assisted with the repatriation of Australian POWs from Bangkok and as a result was one of the last to leave, eventually returning home on the ship Circassia arriving home in Sydney late October 1945.
(Source: Eulogy by Bert Farr, 23rd July, 2000)

16) Saved my life

NX55561 - HALL, Leslie Gordon (Les), Sgt. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon
NX34999 - RAMSAY, George Ernest (Gentleman George), Lt. Col. - BHQ,

At sea on the 15th May 1942, when the 2/30 Bn. Party with "A" Force on the "Celebes Maru" was heading for Burma, I had reason to be again grateful for his diplomatic ability. On the occasion he literally saved my life, as he did again in another incident in the Mergui, South Burma, Schoolhouse P.O.W. Camp.

My admiration for this man of compassion grew in abundance from that time on. We were under the dominance of one of the toughest Japanese Commandants, whom we were to come up against throughout our P.O.W. Life, Lieutenant TOKORO.

It was at that camp, perhaps more than anywhere else, that his diplomacy was exemplified at its highest peak. He exerted so much pressure on the strutting Nipponese officer, that we of the ranks benefited to a great extent.

But for the efforts of "Gentleman George" I am quite certain that the records of executions and death in consequence of privations, would have been much greater at Mergui and the subsequent jungle camps.

From the 26 kilo Camp to the 75 kilo and to the 105 kilo camp Lieut. Col. G.E. Ramsay E.D., proved beyond any doubt that he was a true soldier, a great commander, and a diplomat of the highest order.

Fear of personal punishment was never his companion. He stood up to the toughest, gave a little, gained a lot. At the 105 kilo Camp admiration for him stemmed from his determination to thwart the Japanese at every turn in their demands for more and more workers.

He held his ground, to such an extent, that he actually forced the Nipponese Area Commandant, Col. Nagatomo, to travel from his headquarters, some eighty kilometres distant, to personally inspect the "many sickmans", who, Lieutenant Colonel G.E. Ramsay and his Medical Officers stated emphatically, were absolutely unfit for any kind of work!

The result.....large groups were transported, or walked the greater part of the distance, to the 55 kilo Camp, at which the "Burma Hospital" had been set up.

That incident, in my opinion, was one of the most outstanding successes attained over the Nipponese by any Force Commander.

(Source: Les Hall, Makan 256, Oct, 1980)

17) Last job on the line

NX46451 - AINSWORTH, Arnold Marsh (Arnie), Pte. - HQ Coy. Transport Platoon
NX55561 - HALL, Leslie Gordon (Les), Sgt. - HQ Company, Signals Platoon

Returning to Les Hall's letter: "As to "Ramsay Force”, I would be interested to hear if any other than Arny Ainsworth and I of the O.R.s, was still in Thailand, when the War ended? I was in Tamuan Camp, Arnold was somewhere near Bangkok on a canal building job.

After the officers were separated from the O.R.s at Chungkai, I cannot recall what was the date, and a large number of O.R.s were taken away, supposedly en-route to Japan or Singapore. I cannot remember any other 2/30 Bn lads left with me on the Line.

My last job on the accursed Line was at the bubonic plague camp, known as Brencassi, not very far away from the Three Pagoda Pass. Ten of the lads, who were sent back, there with me, were killed there in a bomb raid. In that group of 90 Australians were members of the 2/4 M.G. Bn, 2/20 Bn, 2/19 Bn, and other Units I quite forget now.

Our guards were, as we found out the day, on which they rushed us out of camp due to the rapid development of fighting activity North of our camp - Kempe Tai - I hope I spelt that correctly, if I did not, you will know what I mean, - but surprisingly enough, they were no worse than the Koreans, whom we had had on other jobs; cranky and cruel, but, like us, almost starving, as food was as scarce as hen's teeth. They helped us steal from passing troop trains.

It was there that one of the guards, "Whisky Bill ", trapped, killed and cooked a mangy dog, a piece of which, tasted like Manna from Heaven.

(Source: Les Hall, Makan 242, July/Sept, 1978)

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Last updated 24/08/2022