Tuesday, 3 July 2018
In December 1941, the Japanese Army invaded the Malay Peninsula and successfully advanced towards Singapore Island.
Brian, his mother and baby sister escaped from Singapore in February 1942. Their journey took them from Malaysia and Singapore to Sri Lanka, South Africa and England, before their safe arrival in Perth.
During all this, his father, a part-time soldier and a sergeant in the Armoured Car Corps of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, had been mobilised to resist the invasion. He fought down the peninsula and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in Johore for his armoured car rescue of soldiers of the Norfolk Regiment. In an unsuccessful attempt to escape from Singapore, his father went with many to Changi Gaol and subsequently transferred to Sentosa Island (then known as Blakang Mati) which housed 500 Australian, British and Dutch prisoners.
Come along to hear Brian's and his father's extraordinary journeys before their eventual reunification in Australia.
Tuesday 10th July 2018, 7:30pm
Reid Library, Second Floor Conference Room
Doors open 7pm, talk commences 7:30pm Cost: $5 donation (Free for Friends of the Library Members)
RSVP: Kathryn Maingard (08) 6488 2356
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/brian-leachs-escape-from-singapore-tickets-47287507207
Photograph taken at Fremantle on board M V Centaur – August 1966
Leach Family – L-R Brian, Phyllis, Bruce, Jocelyn, Brenda, Rob
Media references
University Library +61 8 6488 7425
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