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VX 36076
Gunner
George Joseph Young
1915/09/03 - Born Victoria, Australia
2/4 Anti-Tank Regiment
Royal Australian Artillery
Service
The 2/4 Anti-Tank Regiment was formed in November 1940 and was assigned to the 8th Division replacing the 2/3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, which was transferred to the 9th Division.
It initially consisted of four batteries, the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th, with a strength of 30 officers and 526 soldiers. In February 1941, the 13th Battery was deployed to Singapore to support the 22nd Infantry Brigade, in case of a Japanese attack.
In December 1941, the 15th and 16th Batteries were also deployed to Malaya to rejoin the 13th Battery. The 2/4 Anti Tank Regiment was based around Tampin, the 13th around Malacca with the 27th Infantry Brigade, the 15th at Mersing, and the 16th around Jemaluang with the 22nd Infantry Brigade. Their objective was to safeguard the East Coast of Malaya. The regiment were short of artillery guns and when the Japanese attacked Malaya on the 8th December the regiment possessed only twelve 2-pounder anti-tank guns and twenty-four 75 mm pack howitzers, which was twelve guns short of its entitlement.
Group portrait of men of ‘H’ Troop, 2/4 Anti-Tank Regiment in Malaya.
(Australian War Memorial)
Identified back row, third from left:- VX34880 Private Thomas Joseph Hallahan; seventh from left: VX47128 Gunner John Wilfred 'Dark' Morshead; VX36076 Gunner George Joseph Young; VX35122 Gunner Leslie Joseph Venables; VX46238 Gunner Allen Godfrey (Bill) Jones. Front row, fourth from left: VX39060 Sergeant Norman Stanley Hollow.
Eight of the ‘H’ Troop died as POWs in Thailand.
The Japanese landed on the east coast near the Thailand/Malaya boarder, the 13th Battery moved to Kluang with the 22nd Infantry Brigade. The 15th and 16th Batteries stayed on the west coast of the peninsula, supporting the 27th Infantry Brigade as the Japanese advance pushed the Allies back towards Johore.
One battery was detached to support the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade during the Battle of Muar, while another battery took part in the Battle of Gemas on 14th January.
The Japanese used tactics by getting behind lines and the troops had to withdraw. By the 30th January, the last Allied troops crossed the Causewat separating Malaya from Singapore and the causeway was blown up to stop the Japanese from using it.
The 2/4th Anti-Tank Regiment then deployed the 13th Battery to support the 27th Infantry Brigade in the Causeway Sector area of Singapore, the 15th supported the 22nd Infantry Brigade in the north-western sector, and the 16th Battery supported the 44th Indian Infantry Brigade in the south-west. Regimental headquarters was located at Yew Tee Village
The regiment was bolstered during this time with its batteries expanding from three troops to four, and receiving more guns and now had thirty 2-pounders, as well as thirteen 75 mm pack howitzers, plus four other Italian guns.
On the evening of 8/9th February, the Japanese attacked on the North West coast of Singapore, landing in the sector held by 22nd Infantry Brigade. Heavy fighting followed and over the course of a week, the regiment's batteries fought numerous local actions, often with just a single gun, as the Allies were pushed back towards Singapore town.
During this time, the regiment was heavily engaged. Several guns were placed on trucks for a mobile defence. The Australian units were eventually concentrated around Tanglin Barracks where they prepared for a final stand.
1942/02/15 - Singapore fell to the Japanese
The Regiments losses were 11 killed, 34 missing in action, and 37 wounded.
Japanese PoW
1945/02/15 - Captured Singapore
PoW No. M-9043
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1943/03/16 - Transported overland to Thailand with 'D' Force, Train 1
Work Group 4 18 (T) Battalion
Working at Wang Pho North then to Kannyu 3 (Hellfire Pass) in April 43 perhaps Hintok River.
1943, August - Then Tha Sao Hospital
1944, June - Tha Muang
Transported back to Singapore
1944/06/05 - Transported oversea in Teia Maru to Japan
On board 200 Australians and 300 Dutch
(Teia Mary was a French luxury passenger ship Aramis, non stop to Japan)
1944/06/16 - Arrive Fukuoka - Camp 21, Nakama
1945/06/21 - A further 300 British and Dutch arrive from Fukuoka 2.
Worked in Coal Mine for the Taisho Mining Company until coal mine flooded
1945/09/13 - Fukuoka 21B Nakama Liberated
Over 170 members of the 2/4 Anti-Tank Regiment died in Japanese hands.
Information
Lee Elisa
Glenda Godfrey
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Thailand-Burma Railway
Japanese Transports
KEW Files:- WO 361/2005, WO 361/1978, WO 361/1254,
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