Maurice Finn

Born: 01/02/1920 at Scotsburn, Victoria
Enlisted: 16/05/1941 – 2/29th Battalion
Captured: Was in hospital during Fall of Singapore
           but listed as MIA on 16/02/1942
 14/05/1942 Ramsey’s A Force – sent to Thanbyuzayat
 Left Tamarkan Camp in February 1944 for River Valley camp in Singapore.
 Departed Singapore on 16/12/1944 aboard Awa Maru.
Died:  01/11/2012 aged 91.

Maurice was captured and was held in Changi before being sent to work on the Burma Railway as part of Ramsey's A Force. After returning to Singapore's River Valley Road Camp he was sent to Japan on the Awa Maru to work in the Omuta - Fukuoka 17 coal mine. 
John served with the 2/3 Pioneer Battalion and fought in the Middle East and the Battle of El Alamein. He later served in New Guinea and Borneo.
Bernard enlisted with the 2/7 Australian Infantry Battalion and served in the Salamaua campaign in New Guinea. He was awarded the Military Medal for Outstanding Gallantry.
All four brothers survived the war and returned home to their families.
This is a brief summary of Maurice’s records.
16/05/1941    Taken on Strength RRD Royal Park
 23/05/1941    Transferred to 6th Training Battalion Darley
24/05/1941    Transferred from RRD Royal Park
1/07/1941      Posted to 2/29 Battalion Darley
2/07/1941      Mobilised to Bathurst Establishment Command
3/07/1941      Taken on Strength of 2/29 Battalion ex 6 Training Battalion SG (3 Military District)
30/07/1941    Embarked per "EE" (Marnix Van St. Aldegonde) 
               from Melbourne EC 3 Military District in transit from EC 2 Military District 
15/08/1941    Disembarked "EE" (Marnix Van St. Aldegonde) Singapore
13/02/1942    Admitted to 2/9 Field Ambulance
16/02/1942    Transferred to 13 Australian General Hospital 
Nola Finn: I don’t know where or how Maurice came to be a POW. It is known he was part of Ramsey’s A Force and went to Burma.
16/02/1942    Missing Malaya
9/10/1943      Now reported Prisoner of War - Casualty List
11/12/1943    Now interned Thailand Camp
13/01/1944    Transferred to Thai Camp
 After being fattened up at Tamarkan Camp in February 1944  he returned to River Valley camp in Singapore.
 Departed Singapore on 16/12/1944 aboard Awa Maru.
15/01/1945    Transferred to Fukuoka Japan
15/08/1945    Granted proficiency pay
13/09/1945    Recovered from Japan at Fukuoka
26/09/1945    Mobilised in 8 Prisoner of War Recovery Camp Manilla to Hospital Ship 
30/09/1945    Fit for Repatriation to Australia No 8 PW Reception Camp Manilla
8/10/1945      Admitted to 115 Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg for investigation from EV Air Convoy
9/10/1945      Discharged to General Details Depot Watsonia
30/11/1945    Final Medical General Details Depot Watsonia
5/12/1945      Discharged Victoria

Submitted by Maurice’s niece, Nola Finn.