This is my Dad's uncle, he was always telling me about how he was captured as a POW in the 2nd world war... did a quick search and came up with it.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/TST2/ump.retrieve_uma?surl=118790770ZZZLXWLHCETRB&parm1=UMO_ID&parm2=669510&parm1=DISPLAY_TYPE&parm2=RAW&parm1=DISPLAY_WHAT&parm2=MASTER&parm1=LOGIN_TYPE&parm2=PROFILEG&parm1=AID&parm2=2000

'Joey' belonged to QX12079 Gunner Thomas Alfred Hussey. Tom Hussey was born in Mackay, Queensland, on 7 December 1919. He was orphaned as a small boy and reared by the Salvation Army in the town. An old vaudeville ventriloquist, Malcolm McPhee, trained him in ventriloquism and Tom later joined an amteur vaudeville group known as 'The Snap Company' which performed in the townships surrounding Mackay. On 24 June 1940 the male members of the company enlisted in the AIF as a group.

They were assigned to various units in the army, Tom serving with 2/10 Field Regiment. He took 'Joey' with him. Hussey arrived in Singapore on 18 February 1941 and in October 1941 was detached from his unit to serve with the AIF Concert Party. He was reported missing in Malaya on 5 February 1942 and was later confirmed as a prisoner of war (POW) of the Japanese. When he moved back to Singapore and Changi is uncertain but he became associated with the Changi Concert Party. This talented group of prisoners organised and performed quite elaborate theatrical productions which were as popular with the Japanese adminstrators and guards as they were with the prisoners.

Tom Hussey was in the first group of POWs to be evacuated from Singapore to Australia on 15 September 1945 on the hospital ship Manunda. 'Joey' the last of three dolls made in Changi, the original having been lost when Hussey was captured, accompanied him back to Australia as was displayed in the Mackay and Bundaberg districts before being donated to the War Memorial in 1947.

Maybe not thread worthy, but I thought it was pretty interesting that they still display his doll. Also this is the same family that the Australian cricket player comes from... small world :)

Anyone else got any war stories?

im sure primal will have heaps when he comes back from iraq...

that doll scares me.