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NX28673
Private
Ronald James Holmes
1922/09/17Born New South Wales, Australia
1940/06/04 - Enlisted
Next of Kin Mother Connie Holmes
Australian Army
2/20 Infantry Battalion
Service
Attestation Form
Ronald gave a false date of birth on the Attestation Form form as he was too young to enlist.
The 2/20th Battalion was raised in mid-1940 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, with recruits primarily from New South Wales.
In early 1941, the battalion was deployed to Malaya, where it was stationed with the 22nd Brigade.
Training in Malaya, around Port Dickson and Mersing, on the South East Coast. With the Japanese threat, the 2/20th prepared defensive positions, particularly around Mersing, which was seen as a potential landing area for Japanese forces.
On the 8th December 1941 Japan entered the War by bombing Pearl Harbour and attacking Hong Kong and Malaya. Japanese troops Landed at Singaora and Patani in Thailand and Kota Bharu in North Malaya. The Japanese soon took control of Kota Bharu airfield, taking away air cover needed for the defense troops.
The 2/20th Battalion was involved in intense fighting in Malaya, including a detachment that delayed the Japanese advance near Endau. The battalion was eventually withdrawn to Singapore and played a significant role in the defense of the island.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese .
Ronald was reported ‘Missing’
Australian War Memorial
Escaped Singapore
Japanese PoW
Captured Java
PoW No. J-17023
1943/01/04 - Transported with Java Party 6 in Usa Maru to Singapore
1943/01/07 - Arrived Singapore with 1484 Australians and 486 Dutch
1943/01/21 - Transported overland to Thailand, train 6
With 625 PoWs
This was the 39th Train to Thailand
New PoW No. IV 7001
Dunlop Force Group 4 26 (P) Work Battalion
Ronald’s camps in Thailand:-
Kannyu, 151 km from Nong Pladuk
Hin Tok, 156 km from Nong Pladuk
Tha Sao, 125 km from Nong Pladuk
New PoW No. IV 36129
Tha Muang, 38 km from Nong Pladuk
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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
Died
Died 65 years old
On the 10th February 1988, in Sydney from Cancer
Westella District Honour Roll
The Westella District Second World War Honour Roll is a white marble tablet, inscribed with the names of 14 veterans from the area who served in WW2.
The roll was produced in 1948 and installed in the Westella Hall. Mr Albert Mawbey, convenor of the unveiling ceremony, and P. Giddings were responsible for the installation.
The hall closed in 1980 and the plaque remained there until around 1987, when it was attached to the base of the Wongarbon First and Second World Wars Soldiers' Memorial in the grounds of Wongarbon Primary School. The monument is surrounded by a wrought iron fence, set between eight decorative concrete posts. It was erected by P. Giddings and A. Mawbey.
Information
Donna Loudoun - Granddaughter
Andrew Snow - Thailand Burma Railway Centre
Fall of Malaya and Singapore
Java Index
Japanese Transports
Java Parties
Thailand Burma Railway
KEW Files:- WO 361/1957, WO 361/2214,
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