[dps-chat] Re: 2/4 MG Battalion

From: "Sharon. McBride" <mcbridez@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: dps-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2017 23:43:49 +0800

Hi Rob,
Thanks for that. Your family story is correct. On Royal James Baggs records on
National Archives it states he died on or after 12 September 1944. This date
would indicate that he was one of the 1318 men -717 Australian, 600 British and
one American Airman (shot down in Burma) who were on the Rakuyo Maru which was
torpedoed on the 12th September 1944. Many who didn't die initially floated on
rafts of bits of timber etc for between 4-6 days before American submarines
arrived to start pulling survivors who were still alive to safety. Of the 717
Australians 92 were rescued by Americans sub 82 by Japanese and 543 perished,
38 2/4MG members lost their lives in this tragedy. The event is covered in
Ghosts in Khaki pages 309-318. I also notice on NAA records that he is
memorialised at Labaun Memorial Borneo. I had a look through my photos to see
if I might have captured the plaque with his name on but unfortunately I didn't
but here are some photographs I took while there in 2008. There are brass
plaques with lists of names on the inside of each of the red brick columns on
the walkway into the cemetery (top picture) . The Memorial and cemetery, where
many POW who died at Sandakan and on the death marches were re buried after the
war is kept in immaculate condition. If you check with Allan he just may have a
photo of the plaque with RJ Baggs name on it as I am pretty sure he would have
photographed all the 2/4 men's names when he was over there. From what RJ Baggs
records indicate it appears he would have been on the Burma Railway before
being shipped off to Japan. Tragic to think he survived the railway only to die
at sea in such a way after all he had been through.

Another book that covered the Japan contingent is All in my Stride by Richard
Harris, the story our great West Australian long distance runner John Gilmour
who was a 2/4MG man, captured at Singapore and sent to Japan with the POW work
parties. I value my signed copy I bought from John some years back.
Sharon

Follow-Ups:
- [dps-chat] Re: 2/4 MG Battalion
  - From: Rob Nelson, Perth WA

[dps-chat] Re: 2/4 MG Battalion

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