POW remembered as Fall of Singapore anniversary acknowledged

EX-GUNNER and prisoner-of-war Vernon Thumm was on the brink of death before his friends scrambled a raw egg to keep him alive before his rescue from Changi.

76TH FALL OF SINGAPORE COMMEMORATION SERVICE. Ken, Monica, 92, and Kevin Thumm, the wife and sons of Ex POW Vernon Thumm. Picture: Shae Beplate.

EX-GUNNER and prisoner-of-war Vernon Thumm was on the brink of death before his friends scrambled a raw egg to keep him alive before his rescue from Changi.

Upon his release and suffering a burst appendix, he far outlived the doctor’s prediction of 40, dying in 2005 aged 85.

Mr Thumm’s wife, Monica, sons Ken and Kevin and daughter-in-law Moira and relatives of other POWs gathered at the Townsville RSL this week to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore.

Mr Thumm was imprisoned in Changi in 1942 but the family was not told much about his war experience until 1995.

The family has attended Fall of Singapore services annually for more than a decade.

“They had him dead and buried over there but he told them he was not dying,” Moira Thumm said.

“A lot of that generation came home and didn’t speak or talk about it because there was not all the support there is today.”

The Malayan Campaign, which ended with the Fall of Singapore, lasted from December 8, 1941, to February 15, 1942.

On February 15, 1942, Japanese forces were victorious in Singapore and Allied forces laid down their arms.

Some 1800 Australians lost their lives or were listed as missing in action in the fight for Malaya and Singapore, more than 1300 were wounded and more than 15,000 became prisoners of war.

Those who surrendered in Singapore were held captive, firstly at Changi and, as the war continued, in locations across South East and East Asia, including Japan.

Originally published as POW remembered as Fall of Singapore anniversary acknowledged