THOMAS JAMES SAMUEL CUNNINGTON |
WX 17588 2/1 Heavy Artillery |
|
2/1 Heavy Battery – Darwin to
Timor – POW – to Java and Singapore – Interrogated by
Kempei Tai – Trained as Health Inspector in Changi – “D”
Force to Thailand – Medical Orderly at Onte POW Camp – to
Japan on Teia Maru (Aramus) June 44 – Omuta Camp – Return
to Australia.
Thomas
Cunnington was born in South Fremantle 3 November 1915. He had joined
the Regular Army before the war and had risen to the rank of Sergeant.
However in order to join the Australian Imperial Forces he reverted in
rank to Private and became a member of the 2/1 Heavy Artillery in Darwin.
Early December 1941, as a member of “Sparrow Force” he embarked
from Darwin for Timor. The units in Timor were 2/40 Battalion, 2/1 Heavy
Battery, 2/2 Independent Company (Commandoes) and a section of 2/12 Field
Ambulance
Thomas Cunnington on left with mate Roy Barwick. Both Bombardiers
who transferred to 2/1 Heavy Battery.
The Japs attacked initially 19/20 February with overwhelming
numbers (about 18,000 to 3,000). On 23 February Colonel Leggett surrendered
“Sparrow Force “ to the Japanese.
Subsequently on 26 July many of the POWs were moved to Java. (During the
time Tom was in Java he had no contact with the 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion
or the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion). Unexpectedly on 14 September he was sent
to Singapore with 25 others.
Strangely they were all West Australians. In Singapore they were all interrogated
by the Kempei Tei about coastal conditions in Western Australia. Whilst
in Singapore Tom attended a Hygiene Officers Course. Following completion
of the course he was issued with a Red Cross armband.
In March 1943 Tom was sent to Thailand as a member of “D”
Force. On arrival in Thailand he moved from Banpong to Tarsau by truck.
He then moved on to Kinsayok and subsequently moved to Onte, passing through
Rintin. At some stage Tom was required by the Japs to drive a small herd
of Yaks up the line. This ended up being a disaster, as the yaks fled
into the jungle and he narrowly escaped severe punishment by the Japs.
At Onte Tom and a couple of other POWs became the Doctors for the camp
(there was no Medical Officer). They struggled through. When they had
a seriously ill POW they managed to take them to the nearby Dutch POW
camp Bangan, where there was a Dutch Medical Officer. One experience not
appreciated. was being one of a team of 4 stretcher-bearers who carried
a very large Dutchman to a northern camp (possibly Takanun or Nikki) where
there was a better medical facility.
Following completion of the Railway Tom, in December 1944,
Tom was sent to Japan on the Teia Maru . He arrived at Moji in Japan on
15 June 1944. Subsequently he went to Omuta POW Camp. His POW number in
this camp was 654. He worked there as a medical orderly. With the many
deaths in this camp, he found being a Medic very depressing and asked
the American Medical Officer for a change (the American doctor could have
been Thomas Hewlett- there were 2 Australian doctors Ian Duncan 508 &
Dick Parker 1992). This was refused. Whist working on the medical side
of things he had contact with a Japanese doctor, who conversed in German
or English. At a later time he actually worked in the mines. Tom’s
return to Australia is summarized below.
Following the war Tom became a Health/meat inspector and
worked for 7 years in New Guinea.
Below is a copy of Tom’s Travel Itinerary as a POW.
In 2005 Tom lives in Bassendean, Perth, Western Australia.
Dad’s Travel Itinerary compliments of Nippon Travel!!!!
Taken prisoner Timor |
|
23-2-42 |
Left Timor |
|
26-7-42 |
|
(Ship) |
|
Arrive Java |
|
3-8-42 |
Left Java |
|
14-9-42 |
|
(Ship) |
|
Arrive (Changi) |
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18-9-42 |
Left Changi |
|
17-3-43 |
|
(Train) |
|
Arrive Kanburi |
|
21-3-43 |
|
(Foot) |
|
Arrive Kinsayok |
|
30-3-43 |
|
|
|
Left Kinsayok |
|
7-5-43 |
|
(Foot) |
|
Arrive Onte |
|
9-5-43 |
|
(Foot) |
|
To Banggang |
|
21-5-43 |
To Onte |
|
8-7-43 |
To Banggang |
|
30-7-43 |
To Pelang Kasi |
|
26-12-43 |
To Hindato |
|
13-2-44 |
|
(Train?) |
|
Arrive Nonpladuk |
|
11-3-44 |
Left Nonpladuk |
|
28-5-44 |
|
(Train) |
|
Arrive Singapore |
|
3-6-44 |
Left Singapore |
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5-6-44 |
|
(MV Teia Maru (Aramis)) |
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Arrive Moji |
|
15-6-44 |
|
(Train?) |
|
Arrive Omutu |
|
19-6-44 |
Left Omutu |
|
15-9-45 |
|
(Train?) |
|
Left Nagasaki |
|
18-9-45 |
|
(Ship) |
|
Arrive Okinawa |
|
21-9-45 |
Arrive Okinawa |
|
22-9-45 |
|
(Aircraft (RAAF)) |
|
Left Manila |
|
27-9-45 |
Left Manila |
|
6-10-45 |
|
(Aircraft) |
|
Arrive Morotai |
|
6-10-45 |
Left Morotai |
|
7-10-45 |
|
(Aircraft) |
|
Arrive Darwin |
|
7-10-45 |
Left Darwin |
|
7-10-45 |
|
(Aircraft) |
|
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