Henry Francis THOMPSON

Henry Francis THOMPSON Update Details

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THOMPSON, Henry Francis

Service Number:	WX4113
Enlisted:	15 June 1940
Last Rank:	Lance Corporal
Last Unit:	2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion
Born:	Maylands, Western Australia , 10 April 1917
Home Town:	Bridgetown, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Farm Labourer
Died:	Prisoner of War - Executed, Java, Java, Netherlands East Indies, 30 April 1942, aged 25 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" (CWGC) Official Commemoration - Memorial Location: Column 135, Singapore Memorial (within Kranji War Cemetery)., Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Bridgetown War Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery, South Perth Wesley College Lych Gate

3 Sep 1939:	Involvement Private, WX4113, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion
15 Jun 1940:	Involvement Private, WX4113, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion
15 Jun 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Corporal, WX4113
15 Jun 1940:	Enlisted Private, WX4113, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, Northam, WA, Australia
30 Aug 1941:	Promoted Lance Corporal, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, (NAA, Pg-3)
23 Feb 1942:	Promoted Corporal, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, (NAA, Pg-4)
7 Mar 1942:	Promoted Lance Corporal, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, Promoted (Reverted): 07/03/1942, [L/Cpl] Lance Corporal; (NAA, Pg-4).
30 Apr 1942:	Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, POW - Prisoner of War - as per stated: 3/04/1942, POW - Missing, Presumed Dead; (NAA, Pg-7).

Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

Corporal Henry Thompson was awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt in about April 1942. Corporal Thompson and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force Prisoners of War. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. Corporal Thompson and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942. - ^{Defence Honours and Awards}

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