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NX36643
Private
Robert Heremon Fitzpatrick
1906/09/03 - Born Dublin, Ireland
From Humula in New South Wales
8th Division Signals
Australian Military Forces
Service
Trained at Bathurst.
1941/02/02 - Departed Australia on the Queen Mary.
1941/02/18 - Arrived Singapore
1941/12/08 - Japan enters the war by Bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Hong Kong and Malaya. Japanese troops land the Malayan border with Thailand at Kota Bharu (Malaya), Singora and Patani (Thailand).
As the Japanese had taken the airfield at Kota Bharu, the Allied troops had very little air cover and by the 31st of January 1942, Allied Troops were pushed back to Singapore. The causeway joining Singapore to Malaya was blown to stop the Japanese advance.
On the 9th February the Japanese attacked the North West coast of Singapore. General Percival had set his main defence on the North East coast line, and the Japanese quickly gained the advantage.
By the 15th February the Japanese were in danger of taking control of the water supply at the reservoirs, which would endanger the Singapore City water supply. General Percival had no alternative but to surrender.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese
Japanese PoW
1942/05/14 - As part of ‘A’ Force, 3000 Australian PoWs were transported oversea in the Toyuhashi Maru and Celebes Maru to Burma. Destination Moulmein, Burma.
Commander Brigadier A.L. Varley, A.I.F
POW No. II 13259
Robert was in Anderson Force Anderson Force. It was made up into Kumis of 50 men each, No 37 to 51, 750 men Kumi 37 officers Kumi, 38 Warrant Officers Sergeants.
Anderson Force arrived in Thanbyuzayat on the 5th October 1942.
On 10th October only 710 marched to the first camp which was the 18-kilo camp Alepauk (Hlepauk).
On the 3rd January 1943 this force moved to the 35-kilo camp Tanyin to join Williams Force, later became No 1 Mobile Force.
The rail lines from Thailand and Burma were joined on the 25th October 1943, near Konkoita, Thailand.
Robert was transported to Chungkai Hospital, Thailand in January 1945.
New PoW No. II 35366
1945/08/30 Liberated at Nakhon Pathom
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Far East Medals
Information
Sharon Fitzpatrick - Granddaughter
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
WX6865 8th Division AIF
KEW Files:- WO 361/2171, WO 361/1957,
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