Soldier profiles

Name : BUCKLAND, ARTHUR BERNARD
Service Number : WX12655
Date of Birth : 24/01/1910
Place of Birth : VICTORIA PARK, WA
Known as :
Occupation on Enlistment : BOGGER
Date of Enlistment : 09/05/1941
Locality on Enlistment : COLLIE, WA
Place of Enlistment : CLAREMONT, WA
Next of Kin : SWALLOW, MAY
Rank (at time of discharge / death) : PRIVATE
Service : ARMY
Final Posting : 2/2 PIONEER BATTALION
Position / Platoon / Company (as 2/2 Pioneer) (date / details) :
Unit Transfers / Promotions (date / details) :
Theatres of War : SYRIA, JAVA
Actions :
Wounded (date / details) :
Discharged : 07/12/1945
Date Died : N/A
Community Roll of Honour : N/A
Buried Location / Memorial (P.O.W., D.O.W., K.I.A.) : N/A
K.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
D.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
M.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. (location/s) : JAVA
Died P.O.W. (date / details) : NO
P.O.W. Camps (details) : THAILAND
Recovered P.O.W. (location/s) : THAILAND
Honours and Gallantry : None for display
Applicable Australian War Memorial circulars : Australian War Memorial B-JAVA-0012 Missing & POW Circular
References found (entries & photos) : National Archives of Australia (Barcode 6469280 [DIGITISED], Barcode 1031896 [NOT EXAMINED]), WW2 Nominal Roll, Australian War Memorial

Background : Son of May Swallow.

Service & personal summaryAt enlistment : divorced. No previous military experience. At discharge : height 5 feet 3.5 inches, blue eyes, fair complexion, fair hair. Marks / scars : scar left leg and back, tattoo right forearm. Full time war service : A.I.F. 09/05/1941 to 07/12/1945 which included 1647 days active service (59 days within Australia & 1465 days overseas). Operational service : Java area (embarked from Australia 09/09/1941, disembarked in Australia 10/10/1945). War badge no. A126897. Discharge certificate no. 335479.

Service record
09/05/1941 Strength increase. Enlisted and taken on strength Western Command General Details Camp Claremont, West Australia.
12/05/1941 Strength decrease. 2 Training Battalion Northam, West Australia.
12/05/1941 Strength increase. Marched in from Western Command General Details Camp.
25/06/1941 Transferred to 2/16 Reinforcements 1 Training Battalion Northam, West Australia.
25/06/1941 Transferred from 2 Training Battalion Northam, West Australia.
28/06/1941 Granted pre embarkation leave from 28/06/1941 to 04/07/1941.
09/09/1941 Embarked overseas convoy U.S. 12A Fremantle, West Australia.
23/09/1941 Disembarked Middle East.
20/01/1942 Marched out to 2/2 Pioneer Battalion Middle East.
21/01/1942 Taken on strength from 21 Infantry Training Battalion.
31/01/1942 Embarked Middle East on S.S. Orcades.
18/02/1942 Disembarked Batavia, Java .
31/01/1942 Embarked Middle East on S.S. Orcades.
18/02/1942 Disembarked Batavia, Java.
07/03/1942 Reported missing in action, Java.
30/04/1942 Reported missing in action, Java and transferred to X list.
28/05/1942 Reported missing in action and transferred to X list.
19/09/1942 Reported prisoner of war by Japanese radio.
21/09/1942 Previously reported missing in action now reported missing believed prisoner of war.
25/08/1943 Previously reported missing in action believed prisoner of war now reported prisoner of war.
17/09/1943 Reported prisoner of war.
10/12/1943 Now interned Thailand camp.
31/12/1943 Now interned Thailand camp.
15/08/1945 Granted proficiency pay.
20/08/1945 Recovered from Japanese at Siam (Thailand).
29/09/1945 Embarked Singapore on S.S. Tamaroa.
10/10/1945 Disembarked Fremantle, Western Australia.
10/10/1945 Marched into Recruit Reception and General Details Depot from S.S. Tamaroa for disposal.
13/11/1945 Admitted 110 Australian General Hospital, Perth, Western Australia ex General Details Depot.
22/11/1945 Discharged to 109 Australian Convalescent Depot.
22/11/1945 Admitted 109 Australian Convalescent Depot ex 110 Australian General Hospital, Perth, Western Australia.
06/12/1945 Discharged to General Details Depot.
06/12/1945 Marched into Recruit Reception and General Details Depot ex 109 Australian Convalescent Depot.
07/12/1945 Discharged.