The Cost - World War 2

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WW2 ‘Collie Boys’ - The Cost                                                  

 45 ‘Collie Boys’ Died during WW2; (see Roll of Honour), those that died included;  

• 9 RAAF servicemen (aircrew) were KIA in Air Operations, whilst serving with Bomber Command, UK.
• 8 Army servicemen were KIA in New Guinea.
• 1 Army serviceman was KIA in Borneo.    
• 3 Army servicemen were KIA in the Middle East.
• 14 Army servicemen Died whilst Prisoners of War, (13 POW-Japanese, 1 POW-Germans).    
• 2 RAN servicemen KIA at Sea, (1 HMAS Sydney, 1 attached to RN - HMS Jaguar, Mediterranean).
• 6 servicemen (4 RAAF and 2 Army) were accidentally killed, whilst on active service.
• 2 Army serviceman died of illness, whilst on active service.

WW2 ‘Collie Boys’ – POWs

30 ‘Collie Boys’ were POWs of the Japanese; they were subjected to severe maltreatment by their Japanese captors. The majority of these POWs were members of the ill-fated 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, captured in the disastrous fall of Singapore in February 1942. 13 of the ‘Collie Boys’ died whilst POWs of the Japanese. (36 per cent of prisoners of the Japanese died in captivity).

20 ‘Collie Boys’ were POWs of the Germans;  they were generally well treated and most survived their captivity. The majority of these POWs were members of the 2/28th and 2/11th Infantry Battalions, the 2/28th members were taken prisoner during the first battle of El Alamein, Egypt, whilst the 2/11th members were taken prisoner during the disastrous battle for Crete. 1 ‘Collie Boy’ died whilst held as a POW of the Germans (the soldier died of illness).