Each year, Finley High School’s Year 10 History students research a family member or local individual who served in either World War I or World War II.
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This meaningful project allows students to connect with personal stories and develop a deeper understanding of the past through the lens of real lives and experiences.
A special thank you to their teacher, Mrs Jackson, for guiding and supporting them throughout this project.
We’ll aim to bring you some of these stories, as told by Finley High School students, over the coming weeks.
The first is about Robert William Bryans, as told by Lilly Baron.
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Robert William Bryans was born on March 13, 1920 in Tocumwal, NSW.
His father was William Robert Bryans. Little is documented about his mother.
However, we do know that his mother’s name was Mary Eileen and had passed away in 1930 when Robert was just 10 years old.
Robert’s dad continued on to remarry to a woman named Mrs W Bryans.
Before enlisting to World War ll, Robert worked as a bricklayer improver.
On April 21, 1941, at 21 years of age, Robert enlisted for World War II at Royal Park, Victoria.
Throughout the war, Royal Park was generally known for and used as a military camp as well as a recruitment centre.
Robert was assigned service number VX53793 and positioned into the 2/21 Battalion.
Robert’s paperwork for enlisting reported him as being a male with brown eyes, dark brown hair, and to be of Presbyterian faith.
None of his official records documented his height, weight, or other physical attributes.
He was also listed as having no identifying features.
Robert began his military journey the day after his enlistment, on April 22, 1941.
He was taken on strength in the RRD, formally known as the Regimental Reconnaissance Division, at Royal Park.
This department had the responsibility of scouting, gathering intelligence, and issuing crucial information to the armoured units.
Being "taken on strength" meant Robert had been officially placed into a unit, his being the 2/21 Battalion.
Just two days later, on April 24, 1941, Robert was granted leave without pay up until April 30.
This means that Robert had left where he was stationed for a period of seven days without compensation.
On May 2, 1941 he officially rejoined the unit again. Details about why remain unclear.
Following his return, he was posted to the 2/21 Battalion on May 8, 1941 and continued to march into the 2/21 battalion from RRD.
On June 3, 1941, he marched to 7MD (military district) in Darwin, which was likely an act of administrative movement.
Later that year, On December 1, Robert updated the address of his next of kin to his father William.
This act was likely in preparation for his nearing overseas service.
On December 13, Robert embarked overseas. After just four days at sea, he landed at Ambon.
This is a city on an island in eastern Indonesia.
As a Private (Pte.) in the 2/21 Battalion, he served for his country in Indonesia until April 20, 1942.
This was when he was reported as missing in action.
Following this report, it was sadly discovered that on June 1, 1942 he had been captured by the opposing side and was now a prisoner of war in Ambon.
On Robert’s official paperwork, the red ‘R’ next to his prisoner of war statement tells us that this was confirmed and registered.
Robert was likely held as a prisoner of war in the Ambon camp.
This war camp was infamous for its harsh and severe conditions during World War II.
Prisoners held here faced immense starvation, extensive disease, and extreme brutality from the hands of their captors.
All these hardships are what led to a significant mortality rate, with between 400 and 532 Australian men dying before the war's conclusion.
Tragically, Robert became one of many Australians to die at Ambon as a prisoner of war.
He passed away due to illness on September 13, 1945, only 11 days after the war had officially ended.
Robert William Bryans is buried at Ambon War Cemetery in Maluku, Indonesia.
His name is also honoured at the Tocumwal War Memorial to remember his sacrifices and contributions.
During his service abroad, Robert was awarded various medals.
These included the 1939/45 Star, the Burma Star, the War Medal, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, and the ASM. Medal.
All his medals were later given to his father, which allowed him and those around him to honour and remember Robert's sacrifice.
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