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The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence call for help

Do You Know this War Hero's Family?

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, today called on RSLs, historians and ex-servicemen and women to come forward if they know the next-of-kin of 12 brave Australian servicemen who died in World War II prisoner of war camps.

In March this year, the Gillard Government announced that twenty prisoners of war who were killed while escaping during WWII will be posthumously awarded the Commendation for Gallantry, Senator Feeney said.

So far eight families of these servicemen have been found. We're looking for the rest.

I am asking RSLs, historians, ex-servicemen and women and Australian Defence Force families to come forward if they have information about the next-of-kin of these brave servicemen.

As Christmas approaches and we think of our Australian troops keeping our region and the Middle East safe and secure. We should take a moment to remember the time that POWs spent in camps, the Senator said.

Their bravery should never be forgotten, Senator Feeney said.

This was the result of the independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal inquiry into Recognition for Far East Prisoners of War who were Killed while Escaping.

Anyone who is related to any of the following men, or knows of someone who may be related, can call the Directorates telephone enquiry line on 1800 111 321 or write to:

Directorate of Honours and Awards
Department of Defence
PO Box 7952
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610

Name                             

From                             

Number       

Date Executed     

Execution Location

Private Alexander John
Bell (29 years)

Ballarat VIC

VX73838

16 Mar 43

Thambyujayat, Burma

Sergeant Joseph
Kenneth Bell (27 years)

North Melbourne
VIC

VX34637

16 Sep 42

Kuala Lumpur

Private Joseph Bell
(also known as Ernest)
(32 years)

North Richmond
VIC

VX50944,

VX18156

18 Jun 42

Malaya

Gunner Thomas Stephen
Cumming (30 years)

Northcote VIC

VX31670

6 Jun 42

Tavoy, Burma

Sergeant Clifford Edmund
Danaher (24 years)

Ascot Vale VIC

VX31946

6 Jun 42

Tavoy, Burma

Private Victor Lawrence
Gale (23 years)

Balwyn VIC

VX62289

2 Sep 42

Changi

Gunner Alan William
Glover (31 years)

East Melbourne
VIC

VX57043

6 Jun 42

Tavoy, Burma

Signalman Howard
Frederick Harvey
(21 years)

Townsville QLD

NX49419

11 May 43

Sandakan

Sergeant Caryle
Benjamin
Jones (27 years)

Murrurundi
NSW

NX45920

22 Mar 42

Djambi Camp, Sumatra

Major Alan Mull
(41 years)

Maroubra
NSW

NX12243

10 Mar 43

Thambyujayat, Burma

Warrant Officer Class II
Matthew Wallace
Quittenton (37 years)

Canterbury
NSW

VX45344

6 Jun 42

Tavoy, Burma

Gunner Arthur Reeve 
(21 years)

Geelong and/
or Colac VIC

VX27292

6 Jun 42

Tavoy, Burma
 

Please email lorna.clarke@defence.gov.au for photographs and assistance in finding Australian War Memorial and National Archives records.

Media Contact:       Lorna Clarke  0408 345 730