The Age newspaper dated Monday January 15, 2024, page 30 - Obituaries - Frank McGovern October1,1919-May 24,2023 WW2 great survivor lived to be 103 - In 1939 McGovern aged 19 enlisted in the RAN and served on HMAS Westralia for 18 months prior to being deployed to HMAS Perth. On February 28 1942, two weeks after the fall of Singapore and having survived the Battle of Java HMAS Perth together with USS Houston entered the Sunda Strait coming into contact with the Japanese invasion convoy. HMAS Perth was vastly outnumbered and with no ammunition remaining the order came to abandon ship. Frank survived the sinking but 347 sailors including his older brother, ultimately perished. Frank became a prisoner of war and put to work on the Burma Railway for 12 months prior to being transported along with over 1000 Australian and British prisoners aboard the Rakuyo Maru to Japan. On September 12 1944 Rakuyo Maru and another prisoner transport ship were struck by American torpedos. As a result 1559 POW’s perished of which 543 were Australian. For the second time Frank survived a torpedo attack only to become a prisoner of war. Frank was a prisoner of war for 3 1/2 years and in 2019 was awarded the Order of Australia for services to veterans and their families, HMAS Perth Association and HMAS Perth Prisoner of War Association.Black frame containing newspaper article of obituary with three imagesfrank mcgovern, ran, ww2, pow, hmas perth, battle of sunda strait, hmas westralia, rakuyo maru

The RAS Badge is for "Ross Rhodes Smith" VX28346 (born Seddon Vic, enlisted Caulfield) on …….. age 21 years 9 months, posted to 2/8th TRG Bn and then to Cookery School and graded Cook Grade 2. Embarked 10.4.1941 for Singapore, disembark 24.4.1941, listed as a POW and detached with “A” Force to work on the “ Burma Railway” on 14.5.1942. His records give an insight to his movements and listed as such. 1. Changi to 14.May 42 2. Victoria Pt to Aug 42 3. Tavoi to Oct 42 4. Moulmein briefly. 5. Thanbazyat briefly. 6. Railway Camps to 17 Mar 44. 7. Tamarkan briefly. 8. Saigon to 24 June 44. 9. Singapore to 4 Sept 44. He was on the RAKUYO MARU and was rescued by the USS Submarine USS Barb and was listed as recovered from the Japanese on 10.10.44. He disembarked in Brisbane on 18.10.1944. Discharged from the 2nd AIF on 25.5.1945. Refer Cat No 3144 for Cyril Johnson who was also on the RAKUYO MARU Return from Active Service Badge, depicting a Rising Sun, wings and anchor of the 3 Services. Two rings on back and engraved A72475.Stamped on the rear, "A72475" and issued by "C'Wealth Govt"pow, ras badge, ross rhodes smith, ww2, rakula maru

This hat was sent home to Laanecoorie, from Malaya, in 1941 by Driver Cyril John Johnson VX36298, 1 Coy A.A.S.C whilst a POW. Cyril enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 17.6.1940 age 22 years 2 months. Posted to 8th Div Petrol Coy Seymour 25.7.1940, hospital 12.8.1940 with Mumps, rejoin unit 31.8.1940, embark for overseas 2.2.1941, disembark Singapore 19.2.1941. He is listed as missing on 16.2.1942 and later listed as POW in a Thai Camp no date. (He was on the Burma Railway) Last entry on his records states Presumed to be dead 12.9.1944 SWPA. (South West Pacific Area) He with hundreds of others were on the Japanese prison ship Rakuyo Maru to Japan when it was sunk by an American submarine. The hand written signatures on the hat include high ranking AIF Officers, major local Officials and dozens of 8th Division AIF soldiers. British pattern Pith Helmet, khaki coloured cotton cloth with brown leather strap over the top. Large quantity of hand written names on top. Inside rim has green felt lining. Dome section is plaited red silk with manufacturer's label at crest. Hat band is brown leather.On top written in pen & ink: Many army numbers & names of soldiers and some dignitaries.. On top written in ink: To Dad etc from Cyril.military equipment - army, costume - male headwear

Assembled by family and donated to S and D.H.S by Lyn LearmonthRecord of Australian Government Department of Veterans Affairs Sapper Martin Montgomery Lynch VX27139|History of Labuan War Cemetery Malaysia Roll of Honour|Army Casualty List Victoria Overseas for Martin Montgomery Lynch from Commonwealth War Graves Commission|Commemorative information for Martin Montgomery Lynch|The Argus Newspaper 16 November 1944 army Casualty List of Missing believed deceased previously reported Prisoner of War|In memory of Martin Montgomery Lynch with photograph of grave location|History of Rakuyo Maru and its sinkingmartin montgomery lynch, world war 1939 - 1945