Soldier profiles

Name : ROLSTON, JAMES
Service Number : WX8382
Date of Birth : 18/07/1914
Place of Birth : NORTHAM, WA
Known as :
Occupation on Enlistment : FARM HAND
Date of Enlistment : 13/09/1940
Locality on Enlistment : KELLERBERRIN, WA
Place of Enlistment : CLAREMONT, WA
Next of Kin : ROLSTON, MARGARET
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 : N/A
Date Died : 04/07/1944
Age at Death : 29
Community Roll of Honour : KELLERBERRIN (WA)
Buried Location / Memorial (P.O.W., D.O.W., K.I.A.) : KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY, THAILAND. 1. G. 53. / AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL COMMEMORATIVE AREA PANEL 73
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) : 04/07/1944 / COLITIS, EXHAUSTION / NAKON PATON CAMP (THAILAND)
P.O.W. Camps (details) : NAKON PATON (THAILAND)
Recovered P.O.W. (location/s) : NO
Honours and Gallantry : None for display
Applicable Australian War Memorial circulars : Australian War Memorial B-JAVA-0075 Missing & POW Circular
References found (entries & photos) : National Archives of Australia (Barcode 6460117 [DIGITISED], Barcode 21517377 [NOT EXAMINED]), WW2 Nominal Roll, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Australian War Memorial, Headstone [photo courtesy of K. Fraser (son of VX18403 S. Fraser)]

Background : Son of Joseph and Margaret Rolston, of Kellerberrin, Western Australia.

Service & personal summary At enlistment : single. No previous military experience. Blue eyes, brown hair.

Service record
13/09/1940 Taken on strength general reinforcements Recruit Reception Depot Claremont, West Australia.
28/10/1940 Transferred to No.3 Depot Battalion Northam, West Australia.
29/10/1940 Marched in No.3 Depot Battalion ex Recruit Reception Depot.
27/11/1940 Transferred to 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion Northam, West Australia.
28/11/1940 Transferred from No.3 Depot Battalion.
01/07/1941 Granted pre-concentration leave from 01/07/1941 to 09/07/1941.
13/07/1941 Entrained for concentration Southern Command 4 Military District (South Australia).
16/07/1941 Detrained 4 Military District (South Australia) from 5 Military District (Western Australia).
02/10/1941 Entrained 4 Military District (South Australia) for 5 Military District (Western Australia).
04/10/1941 Attached Western Command General Details Camp for quarters and rations.
07/10/1941 Marched out to 3 Infantry Battalion.
07/10/1941 Strength increase. Marched in taken on strength ex Western Command General Details Camp.
10/10/1941 Transferred to reinforcements 2/16 Infantry Battalion.
10/10/1941 Marched in reinforcements 2/16 Infantry Battalion ex 3 Infantry Battalion.
14/10/1941 Granted pre embarkation leave from 14/10/1941 to 22/10/1941.
07/11/1941 Embarked overseas H.M.A.T. U.S. 13.
24/11/1941 Disembarked Middle East.
20/01/1942 Marched out to 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.
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.
07/03/1942 Reported missing in action, Java.
30/04/1942 Reported missing in action, Java and transferred to X list.
21/09/1942 Previously reported missing in action now reported missing in action believed prisoner of war.
22/10/1943 Reported prisoner of war.
31/12/1943 Now interned Thailand camp.
04/07/1944 Died of illness (colitis, exhaustion) whilst prisoner of war.
08/02/1946 Reburial. Exhumed from Nakhon Pathon. Reburied Allied War Cemetery Kanburi Row 1 Plot G Grave No.53.