WILTSHER, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES Rank: Lance Corporal Service No: NX30277 Date of Death: 19/01/1942 Age: 36 Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry A.I.F. 2/19 Bn. Grave Reference: Sp. Mem. 20. C. 8. Cemetery: KRANJI WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Christopher Charles and Elizabeth Wiltsher; husband of Janet May Wiltsher, of Manly, New South Wales, Australia.Casualty Details
Christopher Charles Wiltsher Birth: 08 Apr 1905 - London, England Death: 19 Jan 1942 Spouse: Janet May Name: L-Cpl Christopher Charles Wiltsher Death Date: 19 Jan 1942 Burial Place: Kranji, North, Singapore URL: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-... L-Cpl Christopher Charles Wiltsher ( - 1942) - Find A Grave Memorial TD
A very busy day for the unit which led to even worse events: Extracts from Australian War Memorial plus attachments from the unit's war diary. The 2/19th Infantry Battalion was part of the 22nd Brigade of the 8th Australian Division – it was rushed forward to reinforce the beleaguered 2/29th Infantry Battalion at Bakri on 17 January 1942. It held the vital crossroad there throughout 19 January, long enough to allow for the withdrawal of the remnants of the 2/29th and the 45th Indian Brigade from the direction of Muar. The Japanese had already outflanked the 2/19th's position, however, and on the morning of 20 January a torturous withdrawal towards Parit Sulong commenced. The force managed to fight its way through a succession of Japanese roadblocks, while constantly harried from its rear and from the air, but was halted by strong positions around the bridge across the Simpang Kiri River at Parit Sulong. With its ammunition exhausted, casualties mounting, and no chance of relief, the force struck out through the jungle for Yong Peng on the morning of 23 January. It was forced to leave its wounded behind; they were subsequently massacred by the Japanese. For his courage and leadership throughout the action, the 2/19th's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Anderson, was awarded the Victoria Cross. Only 271 members of the 2/19th were mustered at Yong Peng and withdrawn to Johore Bahru. Like most Australian units involved, it ended with surrender on the outskirts of Singapore city on the night of 15 February. The surviving prisoners were liberated in late August 1945 and began returning to Australia almost immediately. The 2/19th was formally disbanded later in 1945, having suffered the highest casualties of any Australian Army unit during war.
Manly Local Studies Image Library External Search: 003881 Christopher Charles Wiltsher in uniform Copy of his burials card attached