Oswald Charles BURNE

Oswald Charles BURNE Update Details

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BURNE, Oswald Charles

Service Number:	NX20508
Enlisted:	5 June 1940
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/20th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Waverley, New South Wales, Australia, 4 August 1914
Home Town:	Nowra, Shoalhaven Shire, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Suicide, Canterbury, New South Wales, Australia, 22 September 1946, aged 32 years
Cemetery:	Woronora General Cemetery, New South Wales Anglican Monumental Section AH. Grave 102.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Private, NX20508
5 Jun 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX20508, 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion
3 Feb 1941:	Embarked Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX20508, 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion, Sydney per HMT QM, disembarked Singapore
16 Feb 1942:	Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, Changi Camp, 18-03-1943 entrained with 'D' Force to Thailand
20 Feb 1946:	Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX20508, 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion

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Biography contributed by Karen Standen

Oswald Charles Burne aka Robert Smith

In May 1940, Oswald was living at the Nowra Hotel in Nowra and working as a labourer in the area. He was deemed medically fit for the army by local GP, Dr Ryan, on the 21st and two weeks later proceeded to Paddington to enlist.

Curiously, Oswald provided the name Robert Smith on his Attestation Form. His birth year is also incorrect and the signature of R. Smith could be seen as somewhat laboured. The story behind this alias will probably never be known but he served the entire war, including his time as a POW, as Robert Smith. The day after returning to Australia, Oswald provided the army with a statutory declaration to resume his true name.

Private Oswald Charles Burne was most likely discharged from the army prematurely in terms of his own health, however, it was granted at his own request on compassionate grounds. Sadly, seven months later he is said to have taken his own life.

NSW Birth Record: OSWALD C BURNE 26689/1914 Sydney

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