Thomas Edward COUMBE

1920 - 1944  (24 years)

Thomas Edward COUMBE

1920 - 1944  (24 years)

Birth	2 Oct 1920	Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Died	30 Dec 1944
Buried	1944	Malaysia
Father	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	NEVER MARRIED

Reuben Gordon COUMBE

1900 - 1959  (59 years)

Birth	8 Apr 1900	Cuddingwarra, Western Australia, Australia
Died	31 Oct 1959	Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1959	Cemetery, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Joseph Edwin COUMBE,   b. 29 Jul 1870, Moonta, South Australia, Australia
Mother	Amelia Schroda WHITE,   b. Between 1880 and 1882, Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Married	Between 1897 and 1898	Helena Vale, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Relationship	Foster
Mother	Margaret BORLEY,   b. 1863
Relationship	Foster
Married	1905	Mount Magnet, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Ivy May R MOORE,   b. 1910, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Married	1931	Murchison, Western Australia, Australia
Children	+ 1. Donald Reuben COUMBE,   b. 28 Aug 1932

Ivy May R MOORE

1910 - 2008  (98 years)

Birth	1910	Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Died	2 Aug 2008	Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	2008	Cemetery, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Frederick James MOORE,   b. 1872, Greymouth, Grey, West Coast, New Zealand
Mother	Sarah GLIDDON,   b. 15 Nov 1881, Queensland, Australia
Married	9 Feb 1905	Queensland, Australia
Family	Reuben Gordon COUMBE,   b. 8 Apr 1900, Cuddingwarra, Western Australia, Australia
Married	1931	Murchison, Western Australia, Australia
Children	+ 1. Donald Reuben COUMBE,   b. 28 Aug 1932

Bertha Amelia COUMBE

1902 - 1990  (87 years)

Birth	17 Oct 1902	Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Died	6 Jun 1990	Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1990	Cemetery, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Joseph Edwin COUMBE,   b. 29 Jul 1870, Moonta, South Australia, Australia
Mother	Amelia Schroda WHITE,   b. Between 1880 and 1882, Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Married	Between 1897 and 1898	Helena Vale, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Relationship	Foster
Mother	Margaret BORLEY,   b. 1863
Relationship	Foster
Married	1905	Mount Magnet, Western Australia, Australia
Family 1	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Married	NEVER MARRIED
Children	1. Thomas Edward COUMBE,   b. 2 Oct 1920, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Family 2	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Children	1. Ronald Glen BRANDIS,   b. 7 Nov 1926, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 2. Living   3. Desmond George BRANDIS,   b. 7 Apr 1928, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 4. Malcolm John BRANDIS,   b. 17 Apr 1929, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 5. Leonard Albert BRANDIS,   b. 1 Apr 1930, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 6. Trevor Charles BRANDIS,   b. 1 Oct 1931, Perth, Western Australia, Australia + 7. Living + 8. Living

Michael Edwin WOOSNAM

1876 - 1935  (58 years)

Birth	5 Dec 1876	Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Died	1935	Northam, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1935	Wooroloo, Western Australia, Australia
Father	James WOOSNAM,   b. 1 Apr 1850, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Mother	Ann BUTLER,   b. 1852, Tullowbrien, Kilkenny, Ireland
Married	7 Jul 1873	Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Family 1	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	NEVER MARRIED
Children	1. Thomas Edward COUMBE,   b. 2 Oct 1920, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Family 2	Margaret BORLEY,   b. 1863
Married	1905	Mount Magnet, Western Australia, Australia
Children	+ 1. Reuben Gordon COUMBE,   b. 8 Apr 1900, Cuddingwarra, Western Australia, Australia + 2. Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia

Glen George BRANDIS

1901 - 1964  (63 years)

Birth	24 Sep 1901	Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Died	26 Dec 1964	Gingin, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	30 Dec 1964	Cemetery, Darkin, Western Australia, Australia
Father	George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Oct 1871, Dongara, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Estelle Annie KEYS,   b. 27 Feb 1877, Surrey, England
Married	12 Nov 1900	Greenough, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Children	1. Ronald Glen BRANDIS,   b. 7 Nov 1926, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 2. Living   3. Desmond George BRANDIS,   b. 7 Apr 1928, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 4. Malcolm John BRANDIS,   b. 17 Apr 1929, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 5. Leonard Albert BRANDIS,   b. 1 Apr 1930, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 6. Trevor Charles BRANDIS,   b. 1 Oct 1931, Perth, Western Australia, Australia + 7. Living + 8. Living

Ronald Glen BRANDIS

1926 - 1950  (23 years)

Birth	7 Nov 1926	Moora, Western Australia, Australia
Died	2 Apr 1950	Peak Hill, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1950	Cemetery, Gingin, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Living

Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Living
Children	1. Living

Desmond George BRANDIS

1928 - 2014  (85 years)

Birth	7 Apr 1928	Moora, Western Australia, Australia
Died	18 Feb 2014	Wilson, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	2014	Cemetery, Karrakatta, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Malcolm John BRANDIS

1929 - 2011  (82 years)

Birth	17 Apr 1929	Moora, Western Australia, Australia
Died	11 May 2011	Moora, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	2011	Cemetery, Dandaragan, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Family 1	Living
Children	+ 1. Living
Family 2	Living
Children	+ 1. Living + 2. Living + 3. Living + 4. Living + 5. Living + 6. Living + 7. Darryl Wayne BRANDIS,   b. 16 Nov 1962   8. Glen BRANDIS,   b. 16 Oct 1964, Goomalling, Western Australia, Australia

Leonard Albert BRANDIS

1930 - 1983  (53 years)

Birth	1 Apr 1930	Moora, Western Australia, Australia
Died	8 Apr 1983	Paynes Find, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1983	Cemetery, Guildford, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Living
Children	1. Living + 2. Living

Living

Father	Leslie Hawtin Ivon MARKHAM,   b. Oct 1902, Oxfordshire, England
Mother	Iris Alexandra Beresford MURRAY,   b. 1902, Claremont, Western Australia, Australia
Married	UNKNOWN
Family	Leonard Albert BRANDIS,   b. 1 Apr 1930, Moora, Western Australia, Australia
Married	1956	Swan, Western Australia, Australia
Children	1. Living + 2. Living

Trevor Charles BRANDIS

1931 - 2009  (77 years)

Birth	1 Oct 1931	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died	27 Jan 2009	Kelmscott, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Living
Children	1. Living   2. Living + 3. Living   4. Living

Living

Family	Trevor Charles BRANDIS,   b. 1 Oct 1931, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Married	1959	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Children	1. Living   2. Living + 3. Living   4. Living

Living

Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Family	John Austin ECKERMAN,   b. 3 Apr 1923, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living

John Austin ECKERMAN

1923 - 2010  (86 years)

Birth	3 Apr 1923	Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Died	Feb 2010	Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Living
Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living

Living

Father	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Living
Children	+ 1. Living + 2. Living

James WOOSNAM

1850 - 1914  (64 years)

Birth	1 Apr 1850	Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Died	27 Dec 1914	Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Family	Ann BUTLER,   b. 1852, Tullowbrien, Kilkenny, Ireland
Married	7 Jul 1873	Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Children	+ 1. Ellen Elizabeth WOOSNAM,   b. 8 Apr 1874, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia   2. James Francis WOOSNAM,   b. 1875, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia + 3. Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia   4. John WOOSNAM,   b. 1878, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia + 5. William WOOSNAM,   b. 1880, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia   6. Mary Agnes WOOSNAM,   b. 1882, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia   7. Francis Joseph WOOSNAM,   b. 24 Dec 1884, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia   8. Ann WOOSNAM,   b. 1887, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia   9. Thomas WOOSNAM,   b. 19 Apr 1888, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia   10. Nora WOOSNAM,   b. 1890

Dora Ann SCHROEDER

1837 - 1893  (56 years)

Birth	1837	New Windsor, Berkshire, England
Died	1893	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Family	William Foster WHITE,   b. Between Jan and Mar 1845, London, England
Married	26 Oct 1862	Marylebone, Middlesex, England
Children	1. Dora Emma WHITE,   b. 16 Mar 1863, Timaru District, South Island, New Zealand + 2. William John WHITE,   b. 8 Dec 1871, Ballarat East, Victoria, Australia + 3. Alice Sophia Matilda WHITE,   b. 1 Aug 1873, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia + 4. Alfred George Northcote WHITE,   b. 1875, Northcote, Victoria, Australia   5. Catherine WHITE,   b. 1878, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia + 6. Amelia Schroda WHITE,   b. Between 1880 and 1882, Northcote, Victoria, Australia

Michael Edwin WOOSNAM

1876 - 1935  (58 years)

Birth	5 Dec 1876	Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Died	1935	Northam, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1935	Wooroloo, Western Australia, Australia
Father	James WOOSNAM,   b. 1 Apr 1850, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Mother	Ann BUTLER,   b. 1852, Tullowbrien, Kilkenny, Ireland
Married	7 Jul 1873	Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Family 1	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	NEVER MARRIED
Children	1. Thomas Edward COUMBE,   b. 2 Oct 1920, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Family 2	Margaret BORLEY,   b. 1863
Married	1905	Mount Magnet, Western Australia, Australia
Children	+ 1. Reuben Gordon COUMBE,   b. 8 Apr 1900, Cuddingwarra, Western Australia, Australia + 2. Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia

Margaret BORLEY

1863 - 1932  (69 years)

Birth	1863
Died	23 Jun 1932	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1932	Cemetery, Karrakatta, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Married	1905	Mount Magnet, Western Australia, Australia
Children	+ 1. Reuben Gordon COUMBE,   b. 8 Apr 1900, Cuddingwarra, Western Australia, Australia + 2. Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia

Bertha Amelia COUMBE

1902 - 1990  (87 years)

Birth	17 Oct 1902	Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Died	6 Jun 1990	Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	1990	Cemetery, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Joseph Edwin COUMBE,   b. 29 Jul 1870, Moonta, South Australia, Australia
Mother	Amelia Schroda WHITE,   b. Between 1880 and 1882, Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Married	Between 1897 and 1898	Helena Vale, Western Australia, Australia
Father	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Relationship	Foster
Mother	Margaret BORLEY,   b. 1863
Relationship	Foster
Married	1905	Mount Magnet, Western Australia, Australia
Family 1	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Married	NEVER MARRIED
Children	1. Thomas Edward COUMBE,   b. 2 Oct 1920, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
Family 2	Glen George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Sep 1901, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Children	1. Ronald Glen BRANDIS,   b. 7 Nov 1926, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 2. Living   3. Desmond George BRANDIS,   b. 7 Apr 1928, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 4. Malcolm John BRANDIS,   b. 17 Apr 1929, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 5. Leonard Albert BRANDIS,   b. 1 Apr 1930, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 6. Trevor Charles BRANDIS,   b. 1 Oct 1931, Perth, Western Australia, Australia + 7. Living + 8. Living

Glen George BRANDIS

1901 - 1964  (63 years)

Birth	24 Sep 1901	Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Died	26 Dec 1964	Gingin, Western Australia, Australia
Buried	30 Dec 1964	Cemetery, Darkin, Western Australia, Australia
Father	George BRANDIS,   b. 24 Oct 1871, Dongara, Western Australia, Australia
Mother	Estelle Annie KEYS,   b. 27 Feb 1877, Surrey, England
Married	12 Nov 1900	Greenough, Western Australia, Australia
Family	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia
Married	27 Jan 1926	Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Children	1. Ronald Glen BRANDIS,   b. 7 Nov 1926, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 2. Living   3. Desmond George BRANDIS,   b. 7 Apr 1928, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 4. Malcolm John BRANDIS,   b. 17 Apr 1929, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 5. Leonard Albert BRANDIS,   b. 1 Apr 1930, Moora, Western Australia, Australia + 6. Trevor Charles BRANDIS,   b. 1 Oct 1931, Perth, Western Australia, Australia + 7. Living + 8. Living

• Name	Thomas Edward COUMBE
  Relationship	with Rodney VOJVODICH
  Birth Record	1920	Murchison, Western Australia, Australia
  	#74
  Birth	2 Oct 1920	Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia
  	Darlot Street
  Gender	Male
  Residence	Abt 1941	Gingin, Western Australia, Australia
  	Jones Street
  Occupation	Bef Sep 1941
  	Truck Driver
  Military Service	Between 29 Sep 1941 and 30 Dec 1944
  	#WX16743 - Sergeant - A.I.F. "Z" Special Unit, Australian Infantry
  Burial	1944	Malaysia
  	Labuan War Cemetery - 19.A.4
  Death	30 Dec 1944
  Newspaper Article	14 Mar 1947  [1]
  http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/46269592
  Newspaper Article	6 Nov 1949  [2]
  http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/59498030
  Picture	Have
  AKA	Billy; William Brandis
  Half-siblings	1 half brother and 1 half sister (family of Michael Edwin WOOSNAM and Margaret BORLEY)
  + 1. Reuben Gordon COUMBE,   b. 8 Apr 1900, Cuddingwarra, Western Australia, Australia d. 31 Oct 1959, Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia  (Age 59 years) â–» Ivy May R MOORE,  m. 1931 + 2. Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia d. 6 Jun 1990, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia  (Age 87 years) â–» Michael Edwin WOOSNAM;   Glen George BRANDIS,  m. 27 Jan 1926
  Half-siblings	7 half brothers and 1 half sister (family of Glen George BRANDIS and Bertha Amelia COUMBE)
  1. Ronald Glen BRANDIS,   b. 7 Nov 1926, Moora, Western Australia, Australia d. 2 Apr 1950, Peak Hill, Western Australia, Australia  (Age 23 years) + 2. Living   3. Desmond George BRANDIS,   b. 7 Apr 1928, Moora, Western Australia, Australia d. 18 Feb 2014, Wilson, Western Australia, Australia  (Age 85 years) + 4. Malcolm John BRANDIS,   b. 17 Apr 1929, Moora, Western Australia, Australia d. 11 May 2011, Moora, Western Australia, Australia  (Age 82 years) + 5. Leonard Albert BRANDIS,   b. 1 Apr 1930, Moora, Western Australia, Australia d. 8 Apr 1983, Paynes Find, Western Australia, Australia  (Age 53 years) + 6. Trevor Charles BRANDIS,   b. 1 Oct 1931, Perth, Western Australia, Australia d. 27 Jan 2009, Kelmscott, Western Australia, Australia  (Age 77 years) + 7. Living â–» John Austin ECKERMAN,  m. 1951 + 8. Living
  Origins
  Patriarch & Matriarch	James WOOSNAM,   b. 1 Apr 1850, Geelong, Victoria, Australia d. 27 Dec 1914, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia  (Age 64 years)  (Grandfather)  Dora Ann SCHROEDER,   b. 1837, New Windsor, Berkshire, England d. 1893, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia  (Age 56 years)  (Great Grandmother)
  Person ID	I39156	MyBradyTree
  Last Modified	29 Nov 2024

  
  

  Father	Michael Edwin WOOSNAM,   b. 5 Dec 1876, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia d. 1935, Northam, Western Australia, Australia (Age 58 years) Other Partners: Margaret BORLEY  m. 1905
  Mother	Bertha Amelia COUMBE,   b. 17 Oct 1902, Day Dawn, Western Australia, Australia d. 6 Jun 1990, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia (Age 87 years) Other Partners: Glen George BRANDIS  m. 27 Jan 1926
  Marriage	NEVER MARRIED
  Notes	Michael Edwin Woosnam only had one child. He was married to Mary Ann Borley (the local midwife..no children to this marriage)...they fostered Bertha and her brother... Michael then had an illegitimate son with his foster daughter Bertha when she was 18. That son was Thomas Edward Coombe born 1920 (so named at birth.. see birth certificate) This child later took the name of "William Brandis" possibly because his biological mother...Bertha (nee Coombe) married Glen Brandis.
  Family ID	F12773	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map	Click to hide
  		Birth Record - #74 - 1920 - Murchison, Western Australia, Australia Birth - 2 Oct 1920 - Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia Residence - Jones Street - Abt 1941 - Gingin, Western Australia, Australia Burial - 1944 - Malaysia  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Videos

  In Their Footsteps - Episode 5 - Brandis Today, some Australians take Special Forces (SAS) for granted, an indispensable arm of our Defence Forces. But it wasn't always so. With the outbreak of World War II, as Australia confronted an expansionist Japan, there were no commandos, no SAS. So, when Billy Brandis enlisted in 1941, he had no idea, after serving with distinction as a signaller, he would be handpicked to join a covert new unit. It would be commonly known as Z Special Unit and in January 1944 Sergeant Brandis is deployed to British North Borneo. Poorly trained or prepared for the operation, Billy is separated from his unit and is lost in the dense and unforgiving jungle. What follows is an extraordinary story of endurance and courage and now, nearly seven decades later, Billy's niece is following in his footsteps to discover the truth.

  
  

  Photos

  COOMBE-ThomasE1920-PT001

  
  

• Notes

  It is evident that William remained close to his Woosnam relatives and visited them on many occasions although he spent some of his early years in a boys home and fostered out. Memories of him include the fact that he had a wonderful singing voice. On the 29th July 1943 he attended the Marconi School of Wireless in Sydney where he passed with distinction on the 15th September 1943. He was transferred to "Z" Force special section on the 21st November 1943, promoted to Sergeant and attended for overseas duty. William's Uncle, Francis Joseph Woosnam wrote three letters 1966-1968 to the Army requesting information regarding William's will and with reference to his nephew's change of name. It is now clear that these letters were written in an effort to settle the estate left by his biological father Edward Woosnam who died in 1935. Location: Labuan is a small island in Brunei Bay, off the coast of north-west Borneo. The island is best reached by air from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, from where there are daily flights. There are also flights from Singapore and Manilla. The cemetery lies on the right side of the Jalan Tanjong Batu road, which leads from the airport to the town. The Cemetery is close to the airport, within a short taxi ride, and about 3 kilometres from the Island's town, Victoria, Within the Cemetery will be found the Labuan Memorial and the Labuan Cremation Memorial. A book about the Z Force and the circusmstances of William's death? It is called Sandarkan. by Don Wall . Sandakan - the Last March. [5th Edition] ISBN No. 0 646 32907 3 AU $35.00 In 1942-43, 1800 Australians and 750 British POWs were transported to Sandakan in British North Borneo to construct an airfield. By the end of 1944 900 of these men had already died of ill treatment, starvation and disease. With Allied forces increasingly within striking distance of Sandakan the Japanese High Command ordered that the prisoners be marched 265 kilometres through the mountainous jungle to Ranau, at the foot of Mt. Kinabalu. Regarded as the most definitive account of the Sandakan tragedy, the book describes and names those Australian Prisoners of War who perished at the hands of the Japanese in Borneo 1942-1945. Only six survived and the book warns of the false information provided by the Japanese of the circumstances of deaths. http://www.donwall.com.au/sandakan.html

  
  

• Reference

  Darryl Brady. "Thomas Edward COUMBE". Brady Family Tree in Western Australia. https://www.bradyfamilytree.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I39156&tree=BRADY2008 (accessed December 10, 2024).