LEST WE FORGET: CAPTAIN ROBERT KENNETH ALEXANDER BRUCE

And The 26th Australian Graves Registration

UNIT (26AGRU) - SOE/FORCE 136 - THE LAST MISSION?

By David Mizen

Robert Kenneth Alexander Bruce was born on the 29th August 1901 (Unknown, 1938). Probably at Donnybrook. He is the first child of John and Alice Bruce. John Bruce will be known to most that are familiar with Kalamunda’s history as John Alexander Barton of Barton’s Mill (Mizen, (2020)). For the purposes of this paper he will be referred to as Barton.

John Barton worked in the timber industry in the lower south west (Mizen, (2020)). The Bartons moved to Canning Mills probably some time in 1905. Where the Barton’s lived is not clear, Kessel states that in his time at Canning Mills circa 1906-1907, Barton was mill foreman (Historic Landmarks and Incidents, Kalamunda and Districts News, 23 July 1953, Pg. 3). This probably means that the Barton’s occupied the mill Mangers House at Canning Mills. John Barton died 13th July 1908 at the No1 Mill Pickering Brook. Roberts mother remarried and the family moved to Korbel (Mizen, (2020)). In all, the Bartons lived in ‘Kalamunda’ a little under five years. However, this was long enough for the family to make life long friends with a number of key figures in Kalamunda’s history. When Robert’s youngest full blood sister died in 1950 there were notices placed by members of the Weston, Owen and Beard families Historic Landmarks and Incidents, Kalamunda and Districts News, 23 July 1953, Pg. 3)). There is no evidence of how Robert spent his younger years.

Robert attended Perth Modern School and attained his leaving certificate in December 1919 (The University Leaving Certificate Examination, The West Australian, 15 December 1919, Pg8). Harper-Nelson states he then went into the West Australian Surveyor General’s Department (1995, p. 2). The Malay Civil Service list confirms that Robert was a Cadet Surveyor to the Surveyor General (Unknown, 1938). He gained his unrestricted surveyors license in 1924 (Unknown, 1938). Robert is recorded working in the Plantagenet District (Albany) in 1925 (Plantagenet Road Board, The Albany Advertiser, 10 October 1925, Pg 4). A little later in the year at Kojonup (Kojonup Road board, Great Souther Herald, 31 October 1925, Pg.3). These reports relate to routine land surveying for country roads and country towns. There is little in the media record of his work in WA In 1927 or early 1928 he took up a position as surveyor on agreement in Malaya. He was appointed to the Malaya Civil Service on 11 February 1929 (Untitled, Malacca Guardian, 11 February 1929, Pg 11).

During the 1930’s Robert worked his way up through the Malay Civil Service. There are references to Robert in the various editions of the Dominion Office and Colonial Office List which show his progress up through the Malay Survey Office. In addition to Robert progressing up the public service ladder, by 1931 Mrs Bruce was headmistress of the Banda Hilir English School (Malacca News, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 15 September 1931, Pg.11). They were both active in the social scene, particularly tennis. Who the Bruce’s crossed paths with in the latter part of the 1930’s is not known at this point. There are a number of possibilities.

John Davis was a Malay Police Officer. He served as part of the Police Special Branch,, he was also part of the Special Operations Executive. This later became part of GoodFellow’s Force 136. Davis began his police career in Pahang in 1931, he learnt Malay and spent time in Canton and Macau, he learnt Cantonese. This lead to his work with Special Branch. In 1941 Davis was working on intelligence relating to the Malayan Communist Party. This included the ‘stay behind’ parties (Unknown, (ND), John Davis February 12, 1911 - October 27, 2006). Prior to the fall of Singapore Davis had been training local communist guerrillas at the 101 Special Training School (Chow, A. (ND.)). Davis and others had a plan to defend Singapore but communication, organisation and forward planing does not seem to have been a strong suite of the British Army in 1941.

It became apparent in early 1941 that parts of Malaya and Siam (Burma now Myanmar) had not been mapped. As a result it was decided by Colonel W.F.N Bridges to form a military Survey Company. At the time Bridges was Surveyor General of the Federated Malay States and Deputy Director of Surveys at the Combined Military Headquarters Singapore. An experienced air surveyor Mr T.W Williamson, was recruited from the existing Survey Department. Additional personnel were given specialist training. The officers given specialist military training were Major I.C Booth, R.K.A Bruce, G.C. Stubbs and A.L.M. Greig. These four officers were sent to India for a six month course in aerial surveying and conducting war surveys. They returned to Malaya in December 1941 (Booth, 1945) see also (Auckland War Memorial Museum, (N.D)).

The Field Survey Company was formed in September 1941. It was initially comprised of 16 officers and about 400 other ranks. Major I.C. Booth, R.K.A. Bruce, GC Stubbs and A.L.M. Greig were incorporated into the company on their return from India. The company became part of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force attached to the British Army (Booth, 1945). There are a number of other figures in the Malay story who are not yet accounted for in this narrative, the first is colonel Basil Goodfellow (noted above). Goodfellow was evacuated from Singapore in February 1942, and responsible for the establishment of Force 136. Two others used less conventional methods but were successful in evading the Japanese. The first was Captain Richard Broome, the second was the previously mentioned John Davis. GoodFellow, Broome, Davis (Chow, A. (ND.) and another operative Lt Col F Chapman formed the basis of what became Force 136.

The purpose of Force 136 was to harass and sabotage by all means possible the Japanese operations. In essence Force 136’s purpose was guerrilla warfare (Government of Canada, (ND.)) See also (Chow, A. (ND).

The purpose of Federated Malay States Volunteer Force Survey Company as originally envisaged was to provide field surveys. This was soon abandoned and the local survey knowledge was put to defensive use. The company’s job became to plot, fix and orient the defensive field guns. However, Booth’s report notes that on the 5th January a party was established to assist field detachments utilising cadastral survey sheets to prepare target listings giving co-ordinates by reference to mile posts, bridges, cross roads and other points of importance. The reported purposes was for artillery use. The company was actively engaged in the defense of Singapore but was swallowed up when Singapore fell. On the 15th February 1942 the company become Prisoners of War (Booth).

The above is extracted from a short report prepared by Major I.C Booth. Booth was the company commander. The report was prepared after the Japanese occupation collapsed. The report is titled “A short History of the field Survey Company Federated Malay States Volunteer forces (FMSVF)”.The report was filed on the 10th September 1945 (Booth). The Auckland War Museum has a entry in relation to A.L.M. Greig. This entry is very close to the related part of Major Booths report. It is not clear whether Greig provided the information or whether the Museum was drawing from the Booth report. Booth’s report also notes the members of the FMVSF were put into forced labour on the Thai - Burma Railway. This included Robert. The horror of the Thai Burma railway is well known. Booth’s report notes one death while in captivity. It should also be noted that the POW’s went to extreme lengths to maintain records of all kinds during their incarceration (War Records Recovered From Soldiers Grave, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 8 November 1945, Pg.2). This record keeping became extremely important after liberation. Japan surrendered on the 2nd September 1945. The collapse of the Japanese army resulted in the liberation of the survivors of the railway and other POW camps, the liberation of the Malay and Burma regions was achieved by Force 136. By August 1945 there were 371 Force 136 operatives in Malaya backed by about 3000 Communist guerrillas (Chow, A., (ND)) .

Force 136 personnel in Malaya and Burma were operating in conjunction with the British Army Command. There was a large contingent of Gurkha troops (Chow, A..) In addition there was a significant portion drawn from the Chinese-Canadian population in Canada and parachuted into Malaya and Burma in June and August 1945. Once on the ground Force 136 co-ordinated with Army command and the RAF to air lift 1000 tonnes of supplies, 120 doctors and relief workers into all known POW camps in Malaya in the first week of September 1945. Canadian 136 operatives were parachuted into Burma in March and April 1945 and were engaged in the liberation of POWs and stabilisation work pending the arrival of the British Army (Government of Canada, (ND.)). At this point the author does not know which camp Robert was in. What happened immediately following the collapse of the Japanese occupation is not clear. There is a report in the Straits Chronicle that groups ‘Captain Bruce’ with Lt Colonel Chapman and Captain Davis as insurgents into Malaya prior to September 1945 (Daring Guerrilla Activity in Malaya, The Straits Chronicle, 21 September 1945, Pg.1). This report does not accord with Booth’s report, which puts Captain R.K.A. Bruce in captivity in a POW camp. There is nothing obvious that links Captain R. K. A Bruce with Chapman and Davis, unless the reported air survey training included other special training, there is nothing to substantiate this proposition.

It is more likely that the article has mistaken Captain R.K.A. Bruce for Captain Richard Broome who was noted above. Booths report all but rules Bruce out as an overt Force 136 operative. However, it is not possible to totally discount Robert as a covert Force 136 operative. There are a number of issues that arise from the records that are available, that are related to Roberts movements after liberation, that suggest something was afoot.

Captain R.K.A. Bruce’s movements are known from the end of September 1945 and theoretically there should be a traceable army paper trial. Before venturing into Roberts post September activities there is an issue that needs to be flagged. That issue arises from Booth’s report. In the report there are two statements of interest:

1. “1. War Diary records of the field Survey Company were destroyed on 15.2.42 – the date of the capitulation of Singapore – because they contained references to disbanded Asiatic personnel.

2. “15. [Speaking of the Asiatics] ... Many of them were frightened and said so – but they still obeyed orders. Some – and every nationality was represented did sterling individual work and behaved as old soldiers throughout.” (Booth).

However, in late 1941 Booth and the others had been in India for six months and in this period Davis was ramping up his training activities. The authors conjecture is there may well be a crossover between the local members of the Malay Survey Department and Davis. The first point above can be read in two separate ways. The first, as a general attempt to protect the non European members of the civil service who were not overt members of the British Army, an act by the master of general benevolence, an act of charity. The second reading is far darker. The company duties on the 5th January 1942 included constructing target lists and providing reference information, including mile post co-ordinates, cross roads, bridges and other points of importance. The stated rational for the compilation of these lists was for artillery purposes. Such a list would also be invaluable for a stay behind saboteur or saboteurs. With respect to the second point, the local Malay and Burmese population generally hated the Japanese. This was the motivating factor that Chapman and Davis were employing at the ST 101 training school and later when they were both on active duty in the jungle (Chow, A., (ND)) . It is also likely to be true of those locals employed by the Malay Surveys office and those that were enlisted in the Survey Company. At the least, Robert would have had situational knowledge of these matters as a result of his role as senior survey officer and by virtue of his role as Captain.

Whether Robert had direct knowledge of Chapman and Davis and their operatives and activities is unknown. In any event, Robert was assigned back to duty at some time in early September 1945.

At some point in mid to late September Robert was seconded to what has now become known as the Graves Survey Party. The details of the rational for his appointment are not available to the writer at present. The process by which he came to be in the party is recorded and forms part of the Australian War Museum records (Australian War Memorial (ND, AWM52 21/1/5 - HQ Australian War Graves Group SEAC [South East Asia Command]) . Some of the logistical details are recorded on the Australian War Memorial web site and are set out below.

The War Diary for HQ Australian War Graves reveals that Graves Command Head Quarters and the 26 WGU, took a very convoluted flight, it departed Melbourne on the 17th August, then to Sydney (18 & 19th) - Perth (19 to 21st ) - Cocos Islands (21st) - Colombo (21st to 29th) - Calcutta - Madras (31st to 1st ) arriving in Rangoon on the 2nd September. The stop over in Colombo was for 9 days. Ceylon is notable for being the Head Quarters of Force 136 operations (Chow). On the 24th of August the diarist (there is a signature which appears to be Capt R Kerr) notes:

“Comm. Attended D of Org. Conference. Had pers interview with D. of O. And read secret reports.” (Kerr, R, 1945, Pg,2).

On the 29th August Kerr or his batman notes “Captain arranged for the onward movement of HQ and 26 WGU to Madras ... 1st Sept ... HQ and 26 WGU left Madrass for Rangoon ((Kerr, R, 1945, Pg,3) (emphasis added). The diary does not record the make up of the 26 WGU. The War Diary for the 26 WGU for this period is not listed on the War Memorial Web site with the other War Grave Units. On arrival at Rangoon the HQ War Diary sets out what would be expected, the requisitioning of vehicles, finding accommodation and scheduling meetings. This includes Lt Lemman meeting the Australian Contact Team Office. It also notes that about 100 POWs were already in Rangoon and that some material including burial sites and other plans had already been handed over. The diary also notes that 26WGU was to remain in Rangoon to work the Moulmein – Bangkok area “with Br.” (Kerr, R., Pg 4). It is assumed this means with the British Army. The diary also notes that the unit was “under supervision but NOT command of A.D.G.R. &.E.”. The emphasis is in the original. This implies that (a) 26 WGU the unit was under British command and (b) it was a special purpose unit. Given Captain Kerr’s trip to Colombo and subsequent diary entries it is open to conclude it was operationally part of SOE/Force 136. On the 6th September the diary notes that Lt Leeman was conducting interviews with POWs and collecting information. There is a 9 day break in the diary where nothing is recorded. The next recorded date is the 16th September, the diary records Leeman is introduced to the upper echelons. It now also contains the first reference to the survey party. The diary states “Lt Leeman and Lt Eldridge and 3 P.W Officers to do a recce of Railway Line” (Kerr, R., Pg 6). There is a further entry confirming successful requisition of all necessary stores and equipment. The next entry is on the 22nd September and indicates that five 26 WGU personnel were to depart for Bangkok by air, poor flying conditions prevented the departure. The anticipated departure date was the 23rd or 24th (Kerr, R., Pg 7). In trying to trace Roberts story through the official army records there are a number constants:

1. On the Australian side Lt Leemon and latter his co commander,

2. The steadfast refusal to name the Prisoner of War Officers Babb and Bruce, these two do not appear anywhere in the official unit records, for all intents and purposes they don’t exist;

3. Photographs and related listings on the Australian War Memorial’s web site put both Captain R.K.A Bruce and Padre H. C. F. Babb as Survey Party team member.

The War Memorial’s web site pages dealing with the ephemera, the 26 WGU photographs and film footage allow some of the pieces to be pulled together from this point onwards. On the 22 September 1945 Captain R.K.A Bruce and Captain White of the 2/26 Australian Infantry Battalion left Bangkok by truck and traveled to Nakom Paton. There, they transfered to two trains and proceeded to the start of the Burma Thai Railway. There is film footage of the departure, it is located on the Australian War Memorial site at this location: https://www.awm. gov.au/collection/C190462. Captain Bruce appears at about the 10 second mark smoking a cigarette. The stated purpose of this mission was to locate and record British and Australian graves of service men killed in action and POW graves. It was also to locate and recover film and other records and documents the Prisoners of War had created and buried at or near the POW Camps (Australian War Memorial (ND)). Much, if not all, of the buried POW documentary material was recovered. However, this brings up another point in relation to Booths report.

Booth States:

“A draft history was prepared soon after capitulation and was buried with other records in Siam. This draft cannot now be traced although the cache has now been cleared, ...”(Booth) my emphasis).

Booth does not say the document was not recovered. Japan surrendered on the 2nd September, The 26 WGU was on site at Rangoon and operational on the 2nd of September. Booth’s report was filed on the 10th September, the recovery mission did not officially start till the end of September 1945. There is a void in the records from the 5th September to the 16th September. The Graves Survey party was formed in that void.

Documents and listings for the photographs and film footage on the Australian War Memorial web site indicate that the Graves Survey Party was attached to, or was part of, the 26th Australian Graves Registration Unit (26 AGRU). The 26 WGU and the 26 AGRU are one and the same thing, likewise Lt Leeman referred to above and Lt Leemon referred to below are one and the same person. The 26 AGRU was under the ‘control’ of AIF Lieutenant Jack Leemon. In October 1945 Major Weymyss of the British Army visited the 26 AGRU. On the War Memorial web site there is a photograph of Lt J.H. Leemon and Major Weymyss. The memorial staff cryptically point to the Majors insignia of a parachutists wing (Australian War Memorial (ND) Prachuap Kiri Khan). There was no need for a high ranking British parachute officer to visit the Australian 26 AGRU. However, this comes back to the point in Kerr’s diary, the unit was not under Australian command. There is a fundamental question – why was the 26 AGRU the odd one out with respect to its command structure. The only answer that comes to mind is that there was something in the cache, or caches that the 26 AGRU were tasked to recover that contained something the British Army wanted back. Evidently if there was such a document or documents, it was nothing to do with the Australian officers or soldiers material. The Australian material was collated and turned up in various court hearings. This included a cache created by Dr Hamilton (War Records Recovered From Soldiers Grave, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 8 November 1945, Pg.2). The cache at Thanbyuzayat included Brigadier Varley’s diary. The Graves Survey Party took a photograph of the cache after its recovery (Australian War Memorial (ND), Thanbyuzayat) Varley’s diaries were produced in court as evidence in at least two separate matters. The most conspicuous and well know was the Japaneses War Crimes Trials, see for example (Diggers Died with ‘True Valour’ Says Diary, The Argus, 6 June 1950, Pg 1). With respect to the War Crimes Trials 26 AGRU the Graves Survey Party did their work, the evidence was gathered and presented. This was phase one of the units operations. The existing diary starts on the 5th January 1946, the first report of activities is dated 26 January and notes “checking is now complete and acknowledgment will be made as soon as possible. Complete precedence is being given to exhumation and the work consequent upon exhumation. The other work is done as thoroughly as that permits.”(Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves Pg. 18). It is assumed that this means that the survey party had found all there was to find and the unit was now moving into a recovery and reburial in the cemetery. The diary notes that on the day of the report 93 bodies had exhumed and reburied, it also notes that the 26 AWGRU had been joined by the 35 and 36 AWGRU and that their returns would be provided by those units (Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves Pg. 18). There are two other points of interest. The first, the now Major Kerr visits the unit at Kanburi Cemetery on the 28th February (Australian War Memorial (ND.) Pg.31). The second point is the report for the week ending the 6th April which is as follows:

“Subject : WEEKLY REPORT NO 26/26 FOR THE WEEK ENDING 6 APR 46

1. PRAHUAB KIRIKHAN AREA

The OC (Lieut LEEMON) and party returned to unit on 1 Apr 46 in little more than half the estimated time. The Australian section of the Allied party exhumed 202 of the 258 bodies brought back to KANBURI. Numerous natural and weather difficulties were overcome, and great service was performed by all the OR’s in the party. Lieut YAMAGUCHI, OC Japanese working party, proved particularly capable and efficient and is worthy of special mention.

2. LOSS OF PISTOL

The OC’s pistol was lost while in the KIRIKHAN area. The loss was connected with the disappearance and probable murder, of L/Cpl NOMA, the Japanese interpreter. This matter has been covered fully in a report rendered separately.

3. BURMA-CHINA SEARCH PARTY

This party left on 1 Apr. The estimated time for the trip is four weeks. S/Sgt CAPPER and L/ Sgt RANKIN are members of the party. ... ” (Australian War Memorial (ND.) Pg 45).

In a modern context the loss of a soldiers weapon is a punishable matter. In the context of this situation a criminal negligence homicide charge could have been laid. Yet, there is nothing in the record to indicate any action was taken against Leemon. The rest of the diary appear to this writer to be unremarkable, the workload decreases as time goes by. In June the Unit is moved back to Bankok (Australian War Memorial (ND.) Pg.170). There is no reference in the War Memorial catalogue of any other missing diary to follow the diary that is referred to above The diary does not contain any information regarding the Unit being disbanded. It is not clear where Robert was in early 1946.

At some point in early 1946 it appears that Robert was released from the British Army. It was reported Robert was appointed as Chief Surveyor Penang in July 1946 (Malayan Union Appointments, The Straights Times, 25 July 1946, Pg.5). This follows the 26 AGRU moving to Bankok. Following the conclusion of the War Crimes Trials Robert, Mrs Bruce and daughter Katherine spent six months in Western Australia (Local chit Chat, Blackwood times 29 August 1947, Pg.12). Robert returned to Malaya on the Gorgon arriving on the 30th January 1948 (Passengers Due by the Gorgon, Morning Tribune, 30 January 1948, Pg 3).

ROBERT KENNETH ALEXANDER BRUCE died on the 26th August 1956 (Metropolitan Cemeteries Board). Roberts death was reported in Malaya on 30th August 1956 the report records that at the time of his retirement in July 1955 he had reached the position of Chief Surveyor of Johore. It also notes that he had been awarded an OBE ( Malayan Dies in Australia, The Straits Times, 30 August 1956, Pg 8) see also (Malayan Dies in Australia, Straits Budget, 6 September 1956, Pg.16). Despite numerous searches the awarding of the OBE cannot be verified.

Legacy

This paper can not comment on Bruce’s achievements in the Malay Survey Department. His contribution to the Graves Survey Party is difficult to quantify due to the refusal to refer to him in the official records. Captain Bruce’s Graves Survey Party was an anomaly, it had multiple functions, to find, record and recover documents, and, to find and record grave locations, then, secondly, recover those graves and ensure proper interment of the remains.

The Graves Survey Party was part of a slightly bigger unit, the 26 AGRU. But the party was not under the Australian command structure. The 26 AGRU’s job along with many other AGR Units was to exhume collect and relocate the remains of the fallen and inter them in a proper cemetery. This was a colossal task. The official army documentation available at the time of writing this indicates that for the majority this was ‘routine’ work. The documents lack feeling. The single 26 AGRU diary that is available comprises 191 pages and covers the period January to August 1946. There is nothing in that diary which indicates why that unit was outside of the Australian command structure, why that unit was tasked with the Railway and other recces and why the relevant personnel were appointed.

Document recovery is not a job that is given to any body. Particularly where it is known that those documents evidence War Crimes and will be used for prosecuting that issue. In addition, there is no answer as to why Capt Kerr and probably Lt Lemmon and the nucleus of 26 AGRU had to go to Colombo and why Kerr was made privy to secret documents. There is also the additional difficulty of the missing original draft FMSVF company history and the missing first 26 AGRU operations diary for the critical period September to December 1945 (Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves) and the apparent lack of action relating to the loss of Lt Leemons weapon and the apparent murder of a Japaneses officer. This paper can not conclude that Captain R.K.A. Bruce was an Force 136/SOE operative but it can say the Graves Survey Party or someone in it was operating on a completely different set of orders to the rest of the AGR Units.

Significance

There are a number of questions related to the War graves survey party that remain unanswered, this includes Bruce’s role in it. It is evident he was put there for a reason, but that reason is not clear. The evidence hints at a secondary function but the presently available evidence does not allow any kind of conclusion to be drawn. The Graves Survey Party as a whole were responsible for the recovery of documents that were instrumental in the prosecution of Japanese war crimes. The Graves Survey Party were part of the 26 AWGU , which was one of many such units.

The significance of the War Graves Units is evidenced by the experiences of 2 opposing ends of the spectrum. Edward Nannup who is remembered in Kalamunda’s Honour Avenue was a member of the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion (Mizen, 2023), Nannup is buried in the Singapore cemetery (CWGC, (ND.)). Neil McPherson also of the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion survived the fall of Singapore and after the war made several visits to the POW camps in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s (McPherson, N., (Various)).

This included visiting the Three Pagodas, there is a photograph of the Survey Party at this site. McPherson also visited the Cemetery at Thanbyuzayat , Hell fire pass and Non Pladuc station- there is also a photograph of the Survey party at this location. The significance of the War Graves Units generally is summed up in this statement: “In 1998 Neil returned to Thanbyuzayat with his son Ean to pay his respects at the graves of his many mates who died on the railway, after 56 years it was still a very emotional pilgrimage. In 1999 he returned again with two of his pioneer mates, this time to find the grave of a cousin he was unaware was buried there, in 1998, he placed wreaths on this Scottish soldier’s grave whose family did not know of its existence” (McPherson, N. (Various)).

Recommendations

During the course of writing this paper contact was made with a tour guide associated with the Thai- Burma Railway the writers attention was drawn to the following books:

1. War Graves Digger by Jack Leemon

2. First Reconnaissance of the Burma-Siam Railway by Albert Eldridge and H.C. Babb

3. Search for Graves along the Burma Thailand Railway 1949 by H.C. Babb

In addition

4. The Price of Peace: True Accounts of the Japanese Occupation, Foong Choon Hon, trans., Clara Show (Singapore: Asiapac Books, 1997). Includes chapters by Davis and (Babb or Lemmon)

5. Our Man in Malaya Margaret Shennan (Biography of John Davis);

6. The Jungle is Neutral F. Spencer Chapman (Chapmans Malay Jungle operation);

7. Operations Most Secret SOE the Malayan theatre Ian Trenowden - (Most SOE/136 were conducted by Dutch submarines out of Colombo – the Dutch did not have a submarine base in Colombo it was Fremantle ! This needs looking into. This text is in the Australian War Memorial Library )

8. The Thailand-Burma Railway, 1942-1946: Documents, post-war accounts, maps, edited by Paul H. Kratoska. It appears to be scarce, it is a 6 volume set it is expensive.

Most of these are available on the second hand market it is recommended that the City or the Kalamunda And Districts Historical Society purchase copies before they become impossible to find. The purchased copies be placed in the History reading room as REFERENCE materials.

References

Auckland War Memorial Museum, (N.D) URL https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/onlinecenotaph/record/ C143415#

Accessed 23/1/2023

Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves. URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ C2703793

Accessed 25/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/2/31 - 26 Australian War Graves URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ C2715801?image=18

Accessed 25/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND.) AWM52 21/1/5 - HQ Australian War Graves Group SEAC [South East Asia Command] URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2703681

Accessed 25/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND) URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C190462

Accessed 23/1/2023.

Australian War Memorial (ND) Thanbyuzayat, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C279266.

Accessed 23/1/2023

Australian War Memorial (ND) Prachuap Kiri Khan https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306874

Accessed 23/1/2023

Booth, I.C., (1945) A short History of the field Survey Company Federated Malay States Volunteer forces. Chow, A. (ND.) Force 136(Operation Gustavus in Malaya) URL https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_68_2005-02-02.html

Accessed 23/1/2023.

CWGC, (ND.) URL https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2139942/edwardnannup/ Accessed 26/1/2023

Daring Guerrilla Activity in Malaya, The Straits Chronicle, 21 September 1945, Pg 1

Diggers Died with ‘True Valour’ Says Diary, The Argus, 6 June 1950, Pg 1

Dominion Office and Colonial office List 1931 Straits Settlement surveyor on agreement 1931 pg 438

Government of Canada, (ND.) URL https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/secondworld-war/uncommoncourage#asia

Accessed 25/1/2023

Historic Landmarks and Incidents, Kalamunda and Districts News, 23 July 1953, Pg 3. Kerr, R., (1945) URL https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2703682

Accessed 25/1/2023

Kojonup Road board, Great Souther Herald, 31 October 1925, Pg 3.

Harper-Nelson, B. (1995, May 4th). Bartons Mill. Talk Given 4th May . Kalamunda, Western Australia: Kalamunda Historical Society.

Local chit Chat, Blackwood times 29 August 1947, Pg 12.

Malacca News, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 15 September 1931, Pg 11.

Malayan Dies in Australia, The Straits Times, 30 August 1956, Pg 8.

Malayan Dies in Australia, Straits Budget, 6 September 1956, Pg 16.

McPherson, N. (Various) URL https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2020-01/Macpherson_Neil.pdf

Accessed 26/1/2023.

Metropolitan Cemeteries Board URL https://portal.mcb.wa.gov.au/name-search/ns-detail/?id=25e13222- 8e1d-ec11-b6e700224814c2d3

Accessed 27/1/2023

Mizen (2020) John Alexander Barton URL http://www.pickeringbrookhistory.com/local%2053.html

Accessed 27/1/23

Passengers Due by the Gorgon, Morning Tribune, 30 January 1948, Pg 3.

Plantagenet Road Board, The Albany Advertiser, 10 October 1925, Pg 4.

The University Leaving Certificate Examination, The West Australian, 15 December 1919, Pg 8.

Unknown, (1938), Dominion Office and Colonial office List , M alaya Civil Service Surveys Department pg 704.

Unknown, (ND), John Davis February 12, 1911 - October 27, 2006 URL http://www.guise.me.uk/haycraft/john/obituary.htm

Accessed 24/1/2023

Untitled, Malacca Guardian, 11 February 1929, Pg 11

War Records Recovered From Soldiers Grave, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, 8 November 1945, Pg 2

Photos of Capt R.K.A. Bruce https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C43399 War Graves Commission survey party at Nakom Pathon train station https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C279290 Three pagodas https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C279266 unnamed but Bruce 2nd from right looking down. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306868 possible kneeling front right.