Edward Johnathon (Ted) Leadbitter
From Our Contribution
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | 5 December 1918 |
Place of Birth | London, England |
Death | 10 October 1943 |
Place of Death | Kuii, Thailand |
Age at Enlistment | 21 years, 11 months |
Occupation | Gardener |
Religion | Church of England |
Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Wife , Winifred Leadbitter |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | WX8425 |
Date of Enlistment | 18 October 1940 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion |
Date of Embarkation | 16 January 1942 ‒ 30 January 1942 |
Ship Embarked On | HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Singapore |
Fate |
POW Died from Cholera |
Monument |
Armadale War Memorial Australian War Memorial |
Medals |
Australian Service Medal 1939-45 Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Contents
Pre War
Sent out to Australia as an orphan to the Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School near Pinjarra. His father having died in the Battle of Jutland, and his mother when he was 11 years old.
War Service
Member of D Company.
Listed as missing from 8 Feb 1942, he had been captured by the Japanese on the west coast of Singapore, but he escaped and later rejoined his unit after the surrender. Singapore POW Number was 3/8489.
He was a member of 'D' Force. V Battalion in Thailand with POW Number 2266. In Thailand he had been suffering with malaria and was delirious . He was kicked and beaten for 30 minutes by the Japanese Engineer Corporal known as the 'Black Cat'. Died of Cholera 14 days later on 10 Oct 1943 at Kuii, Thailand, aged 24.
Grave No. 196 Later at Knchanaburi War Cemetery Collective Grave Plot 3; Row G; Grave 35-39.
Newspaper reports "Missing" - West Aust 23 Jul 1942; "POW" - West Australian 30 Sep 1943; "Previously POW, now Died of illness while POW" - West Australian 2 Oct 1945.
Notes