| Place | Asia: Borneo, North Borneo, Sandakan |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL32903.003 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Medal |
| Physical description | Nickel Silver |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | 1946 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
British War Medal 1939-45 : Private N W Jenyns, 8 Division, Australian Army Service Corps
Description
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
History / Summary
QX12594 Private Norman Willis Jenyns, of Ipswich, Queensland enlisted on 23 July 1940 with 2 Company, 8th Division Australian Army Service Corps, and was among those captured in Singapore by the Japanese and subsequently sent to Borneo as part of 'B' Force - over 2,000 men - in July 1942.
From the date of Jenyns' death, it appears he was part of the second forced march from Sandakan to Ranau (a distance of 250 km) which left on 29 May 1945. Of about 530 marchers, only 100 were in any condition to embark on such an ordeal. The survivors of the second march reached Ranau on 27 June, 26 days out from Sandakan. By that time there were only 183 men alive -142 Australian and 41 British POWs. Jenyns died during the march, on 12 June 1945 and is buried at Labuan.
Jenyns' sister, Jean Doris, also from Ipswich, enlisted on 9 March 1943 with the AWAS as a Trade Grouped Stenographer and served with the rank of bombardier in the Anti-Aircraft Operations Room, Fighter Sector at Townsville. Jean said of her brother, 'Norman was a neat brother to grow up with. He was always inventing something or other. He was an excellent underwater swimmer, a diver and an expert rifleman. He had a very active mind.'