Forces
In early May 1942, the first work party was sent away from Singapore.These parties were called Forces, and each given a letter of the alphabet, thus 'A' Force, 'B' Force etc. Officers and other ranks of the 2/26 Battalion were in every Force sent away. Several of these Forces were never to see Singapore again.
The majority of members of the 2/26 Battalion were selected as members of 'F' Force.
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May 1942 |
“A” Force – 4,000 prisoners – 3,000 of them Australians sent to Burma. |
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July 1942 |
“B” Force – Approx. 1,500 prisoners sent to Sandakan |
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August 1942 |
Senior Officers Party - 1,375 prisoners sent to Japan via Formosa and Korea – approx 850 Aussies |
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August 1942 |
Senior Officers Party - 500 Aussies sent to Takoo (Formosa) Seoul (Korea) |
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November 1942 |
“C’ Force 2,250 prisoners sent to Japan – 750 Australians |
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January 1943 |
1,375 prisoners, among them 1,000 Aussies sent to Burma |
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March 1943 |
“D” Force - 3,650 Aussies out of a total of 5,000 prisoners sent to Thailand |
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March 1943 |
“E” Force – 1,000 men, half of them Aussies sent to Borneo |
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April 1943 |
“F” Force – over 7,000 men, just over half of them Aussies sent to Thailand |
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April 1943 |
“G” Force of 1,500, including 250 Aussies sent to Japan |
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May 1943 |
“H’ Force of 3,250, including 500 Aussies sent to Thailand |
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May 1943 |
250 prisoners sent to Burma |
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June 1943 |
“J” Force of 875 including 250 Australians sent to Japan |
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June 1943 |
"K" Force sent to Thailand |
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June 1943 |
"L"; Force sent to Thailand |