Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Charles James Talbot and Stella Christina Talbot, of Mt. Gambier, South Australia.

DEATH OF P.O.W.
Pte. Malcolm James Talbot Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Talbot, of Moorak, have received word of the death this year on March 23 of their second son, Pte. Malcolm James Talbot, POW on Amboina Island. Jim was  born at Moorak and attended the Moorak School. After working for various people for a few years he and his brother Bob went share dairy farming for Mr. Fred Wright at Tyrendarra (Vic.) for a while. They later bought a scrub block and were clearing it when war interrupted them. Jim was the first to enlist, followed soon after by Bob. He was drafted into the 2/21st Btn. of the 8th Division, which did garrison work at Darwin for about nine months. This was later called the "Gull" battalion, and just before Japan entered the war it was shifted on to Amboina, an island about 500 miles north of Darwin.
About the beginning of February, 1942, the Japs came in force and this little band, of men, who were furnished with the usual too little and too late equipment, were forced to capitulate after three days fighting, and were interned in their own barracks, around which they had to build their own barricade. All the usual atrocities were committed by the "Sons of the nether regions" on this hapless band of men, who were so near yet so far from the mainland. Out of the original 1093 men only 314 survived the Japanese brutality. On entering camp Pte. Jim Talbot met a man with the same name  as himself, and they became bosom friends. This man died in August this year. Another pal was Charlie Woodward, who has just been recovered on Hainan Island, and who is also well known in Mt.  Gambier.
Jim was of a bright and cheery disposition, and many expressions of regret have been tendered to his sorrowing relatives upon his untimely death.
The brothers and sisters are:
Robert (now serving at Balik Papan after service in the Middle East and Kokoda Trail) ; Stella L. (Mrs. R.. Symes, of George Street), Marjory (Mrs. R. A. Taylor, Tyrendarra, Vic.), Betty (Mrs. J. J. Telford,  Mt. Gambier), Miss Julie Talbot, and Master Ted Talbot. He was engaged to Miss Mary Sloane, of Beechworth.