Mervyn Robert Farrands (1922)

Born 27 Jul 1922 in Ganmain, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Mary Wensley — married 1946 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Mervyn Robert Farrands was born on 27th July 1922 in Ganmain, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Leslie Farrands and Gladys E unknown. ^[1]

Mervyn Farrands is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1940-1945
2/19th Infantry Battalion

Mervyn Farrands was a prisoner of war in South East Asia during the Second World War.

On 1st July 1940 at nearby Wagga Wagga, he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force, his nation's all-volunteer expeditionary force for the Second World War. He put his age up two years, to nineteen years, to achieve enlistment. He was posted to the A Company, 2/19th Infantry Battalion, 8th Division and deployed with his unit to Malaya. ^[2] Following the Japanese Empire's invasion of Malaya in December 1941 and overwhelming advance through that country, Singapore fell on 15th February 1942. Like most of the 8th Division, Mervyn became a prisoner-of-war. After initially being incarcerated in Changi Prison, Singapore, Mervyn joined work parties on the infamous Thai-Burma railroad and then was embarked aboard the Rakuyo Maru, bound for Japan. The ship was bombed and sunk on 12th September 1944. He was repatriated to Australia before the end of the war in the Pacific and subsequently demobilised on 14th May 1945. ^[2]

The Australian War Memorial recorded an interview with Mervyn following his return home. The interview, he touches on: 'being transported to Japan on the Rakuyu Maru, overcrowding, men and conditions on ship; disentry and malaria; bombing of surrounding tankers; panic on board when ship bombed; escape from sinking ship; depth charges; in water clinging to hatch overnight; taking over a raft; faith and mateship essential for survival for several days in water; Japanese cargo vessel rescues their own and leaves POWs in water; salt and oil blindness.' ^[3]

Mervyn married Joan Wensley in 1946 in Marrickville, New South Wales. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #29610/1922; registered at Narrandera
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: NX36050 Lance Corporal Mervyn Robert Farrands; accessed 26 Dec 2022
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial interview; accessed 27 Dec 2022
4. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #20650/1946