Walter Lind Bell World war diary, 1943?

MLMSS 9634

fonds

1943?

1206213

0.05 metres of textual material (1 box)

Lance Corporal Walter Lind Bell (NX 29925) was born on the 15th December 1920 at Bathurst, New South Wales. He moved with his family to `Craigdon', Narrabri in 1926. He attended a boarding school at Glenn Innes Grammar School then later SHORE, North Sydney. He attempted to enlist in the RAAF in Sydney and was rejected but was successful in enlisting in the 2/30th Battalion, Australian Army. He embarked at Sydney 29th July 1941 aboard the Dutch liner Johan Van Oldenbarnet and arrived in Singapore on the 15th August 1941.

He was captured and interned at the Kanburi prisoner of war camp on the Thai-Burma railway with his friend Bob Gibbs. He died on the 15 December 1943 in the POW camp, reportedly from Beriberi disease. He is listed on the roll of honour in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

His diary was repatriated home by his friend Bob Gibbs after he was freed and given to Walter's mother Helen Bell and later kept by his sisters.

Reference:
Library correspondence file
Australian War Memorial

Copyright status:: In copyright
Copyright holder:: Greg Neilson
Approval for publication required:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Greg Neilson
Research & study copies allowed: Author has been deceased for more than 50 years