Category: PersonalFamily

Let me tell you about John O’Connor

Let me tell you about

John Francis O’Connor

30/7/1960
–
Army Number A325347
Enlisted 10/9/1986
–
Discharged –/–/—-

John O’Connor 30/7/1960 –


Home

John Francis O’Connor

John was born on 30th July 1960, the last of the children to Mr and Mrs Joe O’Connor of 37 Mair St, Wagga Wagga. John enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) on 10th September 1986 and was assigned the service number of A325347. 

After his basic military skills and trade training, he was sent to various states across Australia before his second last position located at RAAF Townsville. After attaining the rank of sergeant, he was then sent to RAAF Richmond, NSW to undergo air movement and section operations training, which included weight and balance, cargo positioning of various aircraft operated by the RAAF and section leader and then returned to Townsville as the Duty Air Movements Officer. After the outbreak of tensions between the Indonesion and civilians of East Timor in 1999, John was sent for a 2 month deployment to East Timor as part of the International Force East Timor ( INTERFET) and returned in December of the same the same year. Then in January of 2000, he again was deployed to East Timor as part of United Nations Transitional Administration East Timor ( UNTAET) as a section leader in aircraft loading of various aircraft of the RAAF and the United Nations and returned in June of that same year. 

After discharge from the RAAF, he now resides in Townsville as a widower and enjoys spending his time with the extended O’Connor and his children and grandchildren. John also enjoys the occasional trip aboard ocean going cruise ships.66 

 

Let me tell you about Peter Crane

Let me tell you about

Peter Alfred Crane

14/10/1925
-


Enlisted RAAF Oct1943
-
Discharged Feb 1946

Peter Crane 14/10/1925 -

Peter Alfred Crane

Peter had significant health problems growing up from Scarlet fever, meazles & diptheria and by age 9 had 4 major operations some of which prevented Peter following his dreams of being a pilot in the RAAF. Not to be denied Peter joined the RAAF as a radio operator learning the new equipment of VHF equipment for wartime use.

Once again we do not have service records but will follow up what records the War Memorial has that will allow us to complete his involvement.

From Peter’s own information he joined when he turned 18 in October 1943 and had been stationed at Forest Hill Wagga Wagga on 2 ocassions as well as Queensland & South Australia

As a final training exercise Peter was stationed on Morotai island in the final two weeks of his VHF equipment training when the Atom Bombs were dropped on Japan bringing an early end to hostilities

He was discharged in February 1946

Home

Let me tell you about Alfred

Let me tell you about

Alfred Bruce Edward Crane

9th April 1901
-
9th June 1945

Army number NX52023
Enlisted 22nd July 1940

Killed as a POW 9th June 1945

Alfred Bruce Crane

Alfred Bruce Edward Crane

Initially posted to AASC.
During August & September 1940 spent some time in a Hospital for Influenza.
On 15/11/1940 Tfr’d to 8th Div AASC and transported to Dubbo for training.
In May 1941 underwent further training in Bathurst NSW which included another stay in Hospital.
On 10/7/1941 he indicated he would be coming home for a short stay then on 27th July he said it had been cancelled and he was to go “a long way away”.
On 24/7/1941 was assigned to 27th Brigade Company AASC
He was sent to Northam, Western Australia for further training before being sent to Singapore on 15th August 1941.
Whilst in Singapore he was assigned to No 2 Company AASC on 22/11/1941 where he remained until the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942.

Following the surrender Alfred would have been initially held in Changi POW Camp before being moved to Sandakan POW Camp.

By January 1945, with Allied forces advancing, the Japanese decided to send the 1900 prisoners on marches inland to Ranau, (a distance of 261 kilometres (160mi)) away from the coast in 3 sets of marches known as the Sandakan Death Marches. In total 2434 lives were lost as a result of the Death Marches with only 6 surviving – all of who had escaped. Alfred was known to have been sent on the second death march and we were advised by Lynette Silver that he had been shot and killed near the Mile 62 marker either from lack of health or attempting escape on the 9th June 1945.

 

From historical documents on the  Fall of Singapore The Japanese offensive on Malaysia commenced in early December 1941 and the Allied troops suffered heavy losses and were retreating down the Peninsular. The 8th Divi were defending the Malay peninsular. During this offensive the Japanese took no prisoners, killing all who were wounded or surrendered. It appears that the 27th Brigade were utilised in the defense of Singapore itself from February 8th until the surrender on February 15th. Following the surrender Alfred would have been initially held in Changi POW Camp before being moved to Sandakan POW Camp.

This report has been reconstructed based on the digitised service records, his letters back to his family from enlistment until the fall of Singapore, public reports and the efforts of Lynette Ramsay Silver AM on the last days at Sandaken POW camp and the death marches all of which have been uploaded to his page – Letters to Home & Correspondence Lynette Silver

As a footnote, following the death of his eldest daughter Elizabeth in 2011, the family attended the commemorative service in Sandakan and her ashes were spread at the site of the  POW camp as health prevented her from visiting the area whilst alive.

Home