Why was he with this regiment? Any information would be appreciated. Need assistance on Who/Where/What/How for this man who is on the Australian Commemorative Roll which is for those "Australians" who died in other Allied Services. If proved not to be "Australian" their names will not be removed from the Commemorative Roll however their details will be updated accordingly. I have researched the Air Force members but there are many more Land and Sea deaths in a myriad of different forces. There is not a lot of information on these people that can be accessed easily and I ask your assistance to fill in at least some of the gaps. Hopefully some relatives may see this thread and add more. I will make a different thread for each along the way as they may tend to get lost if clumped together. In Memory of Captain KENNETH LEWIS SPINKS 13962, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force who died age 33 on 17 October 1943 Son of Thomas William James Spinks and Gertrude Augusta Spinks, of Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Iris Lottie Spinks, of Eastwood. Remembered with honour CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY Commemorative Roll - Kenneth Lewis Spinks Service number: 13962 Rank: Captain Unit: Field Survey Company Service: Federated Malay States Volunteer Force Conflict: 1939-1945 Date of death: 17 November 1943 Place of death: Chungkai (Burma-Siam railway) Cause of death: Illness (Amoebic dysentery) Cemetery or memorial details: Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand Title Diploma certificate awarded to Kenneth Spinks by the Institution of Surveyors, New South Wales, 1930 December 23 [manuscript]. Creator Spinks, K. L. Other Creators Institution of Surveyors, New South Wales. Published [1930] Physical Description 0.30 m. (1 folio p.) Subjects Spinks, K. L. Surveyors -- New South Wales -- Certification. Surveyors Time Period 1930/12/23 Biography Kenneth Lewis Spinks was born in 1910 in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales. In 1931 he became mining surveyor for New Guinea Goldfields Company and was based at Wau. In 1933 he returned to Sydney. During the war Ken joined the Volunteer Forces undertaking surveying work for the Royal Artillery, and was promoted to Captain. Ken and his unit became prisoners of war at Changi and he died while working on the Burma Railway on 17 October 1943. Notes Manuscript reference no.: MS 10055. Diploma certificate, number 754, awarded to Spinks from the Institution of Surveyors, New South Wales, on 23 December 1930. Ken Spinks Special Collection Located at National Library of Australia Map collection MAP Ken Spinks Special Collection. Access Conditions Available for research. Not for loan. Terms of Use Copying of Kenneth Spinks' copyright material permitted for research purposes. Language English Libraries Australia ID 43297320 Contributed by Libraries Australia The central ranges of the mandated Territory of New Guinea from Mount Chapman to Mount Hagen / E.W.P. Chinnery. Mapping the Purari Plateau, New Guinea / K.L. Spinks. London : Royal Geographical Society, pp. [398]-416, [1] folded leaf... 1934 English Book; Illustrated 4 Check copyright status Cite this Title The central ranges of the mandated Territory of New Guinea from Mount Chapman to Mount Hagen / E.W.P. Chinnery. Mapping the Purari Plateau, New Guinea / K.L. Spinks. Also Titled Mapping the Purari Plateau, New Guinea Geographical journal. Author Chinnery, E. W. Pearson (Ernest William Pearson), 1887-1972. Other Authors Spinks, K. L. Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain) Published London : Royal Geographical Society, 1934. Physical Description pp. [398]-416, [1] folded leaf of plates, : ill. ; 25 cm. Subjects Cartography -- Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea -- Description and travel. Notes From The Geographical journal, vol. LXXXIV, no. 5, Nov. 1934." Includes bibliographical references. Language English Dewey Number 919.53 Libraries Australia ID 7436552 Contributed by Libraries Australia Work history Versions / Editions versions:1 (out of 1) Expand all / Collapse all Title, Author, Edition Date Language Format Libraries The Wahgi River valley of central New Guinea / K.L. Spinks. London : Royal Geographical Society, pp. [222]-228, [1] folded leaf... 1936 English Book; Illustrated 1 Check copyright status Cite this Title The Wahgi River valley of central New Guinea / K.L. Spinks. Also Titled Geographical journal. Author Spinks, K. L. Other Authors Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain) Published London : Royal Geographical Society, 1936. Physical Description pp. [222]-228, [1] folded leaf of plates, : ill. ; 25 cm. Subjects Papua New Guinea -- Description and travel. Wahgi River Valley (Papua New Guinea) Language English Libraries Australia ID 40579510 Contributed by Libraries Australia
Spidge, Not sure how much information you have on Captqain Kenneth Lewis Spinks. He was my Great Uncle. As some information says he went surveying in HNew Guinea and then returned to Australia. In actual fact after being in New Guinea he went on to Malaya where he continued to work as a surveyor. When war broke out he was in the Volunteer Forces and then his group joined the British Army as they were surveying with them. He was captured in the fall of Singapore and died as a POW as stated.
Spidge, Not sure how much information you have on Captqain Kenneth Lewis Spinks. He was my Great Uncle. As some information says he went surveying in HNew Guinea and then returned to Australia. In actual fact after being in New Guinea he went on to Malaya where he continued to work as a surveyor. When war broke out he was in the Volunteer Forces and then his group joined the British Army as they were surveying with them. He was captured in the fall of Singapore and died as a POW as stated. spinks23 welcome to the forum Please post any information you have unless you deem it to personal. Spidge and fellow forum members will appreciate your input. Captain KENNETH LEWIS SPINKS 13962, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force who died age 33 on 17 October 1943 Son of Thomas William James Spinks and Gertrude Augusta Spinks, of Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Iris Lottie Spinks, of Eastwood. Remembered with honour CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY
Spidge, Not sure how much information you have on Captqain Kenneth Lewis Spinks. He was my Great Uncle. As some information says he went surveying in HNew Guinea and then returned to Australia. In actual fact after being in New Guinea he went on to Malaya where he continued to work as a surveyor. When war broke out he was in the Volunteer Forces and then his group joined the British Army as they were surveying with them. He was captured in the fall of Singapore and died as a POW as stated. Great to see this has brought you to the forum and confirmed the details. I had never heard of the exploits of these lads which is the reason I am bringing them to open forum. As Clive states, if you have any further information it would warmly received. Cheers Geoff
Hello Geoff This gentleman was also my great uncle. My Grandfather was Alan his brother. Alan also was in the RAAF stationed in Darwin WWII ( ground crew). Thank you for sharing the above information, which I already knew, but great to see it out there!! Uncle Ken has never been forgotten. Many thanks Janelle