| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR03815 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: .5 cm; Wallet/s: 1 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Maker |
Nicholas, William Ewart 'Bill' |
| Place made | Australia, India, Singapore |
| Date made | 1941-1945 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
Nicholas, William Ewart (Sapper, b.1920-d.2012)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX39294 Sapper William Ewart 'Bill' Nicholas, 2/12 Field Company, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia, India and Singapore, 1941-1945.
Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of three letters from Sapper Nicholas to his family. In his first letter, written in September 1941, Sapper Nicholas informs his family that he is leaving for overseas service. Sapper Nicholas’ second letter, dated 12 September 1945, was written from a Prisoner of War Reception Unit at Bangalore, India. In this letter, he writes about having malaria, finishing work on an airfield now used by the Allies, hearing news of the armistice, friends he had met while a prisoner, being dropped supplies by Liberator aircraft, and the experience of wearing substantial clothing and eating vegetables after going so long without them. A transcript of the reverse of this letter is also included. Sapper Nicholas’ third letter was written c September-October 1945 from 2 Australian Prisoner of War Reception Camp in Singapore. In this letter, Sapper Nicholas writes about his journey to Singapore, seeing friends from his hometown, and his hopes to travel home soon.
History / Summary
Sapper William Ewart “Bill” Nicholas enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 22 July 1941. He served with 2/12 Field Company in Malaya, but was taken by the Japanese as a prisoner of war in February 1942. While a prisoner, Sapper Nicholas worked on the Burma-Thai Railway. After the war, he returned to Australia, and was discharged on compassionate grounds on 12 February 1946.