Philip Mowbray Frank BESSELL

Philip Mowbray Frank BESSELL Update Details

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BESSELL, Philip Mowbray Frank

Service Number:	WX7639
Enlisted:	10 August 1940
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion
Born:	Thames Ditton England, 27 November 1914
Home Town:	Margaret River, Augusta-Margaret River Shire, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Not yet discovered
Died:	Prisoner of War - Executed, Java East Indies, Java, Netherlands East Indies, 30 April 1942, aged 27 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Tree Plaque:	Margaret River Memorial Park
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Margaret River War Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery

World War 2 Service

10 Aug 1940:	Enlisted Private, WX7639, Army Training Units
10 Aug 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX7639
28 Feb 1942:	Involvement Private, WX7639, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, Australia's Northern Periphery, Blackforce Java
25 Mar 1942:	Involvement Private, WX7639, 2nd/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, Prisoners of War

Help us honour Philip Mowbray Frank Bessell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

Private Philip Bessell 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. PTE Bessell and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force POWs. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. PTE Bessell and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942. -^{Courtesy Defence Honours and Awards}

Biography contributed

Philip Mowbray Frank BESSELL was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England on 27th November, 1914

His parents were John Hulme BESSELL & Janet CUNNINGHAM

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