Gaden, Edward William (Captain, b.1917 - d.1976)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX12543 Captain Edward William Gaden, 2/20th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australia, Singapore, Malaya, Thailand, Burma, India, 1940-1949.

Wallets 1 and 2
- 42 letters, 2 facsimiles of letters, 3 telegrams, and 1 empty envelope, spanning the period 10 November 1940 to 26 August 1941
- 31 letters, 3 photocopied letters, and 1 telegram, spanning the period 30 August 1941 to 2 February 1942.
These two wallets contain letters written by CAPT Gaden, mainly to his mother, but occasionally to other family members such as sisters ‘Ginge’ and ‘Sue’. The letters are very general in nature. The letters begin while CAPT Gaden is still in basic training in Bathurst, including when he is promoted to the rank of Captain. These largely discuss family matters and training activities preparation for embarkation. The letters then discuss the brief voyage to the Pacific, including details of the passage and various stops in Australia and their kangaroo mascot that was smuggled aboard. After reaching the Pacific, there are regular letters discussing leave in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and the foreign sights encountered there. Letters then go on to discuss the 2/20th Australian Infantry Battalion training in the jungle near Singapore, and building up a camp with trenches and other fortifications for their position. The letters end with CAPT Gaden’s unit relocating to Singapore to try and defend the city, which would fall the following week. Also included is one 2/20th Australian Infantry Battalion Christmas card from December 1941.

Wallet 3
- 9 facsimiles of letters, 8 telegrams, and 69 letters. The letters span the period 8 February 1942 to 6 January 1946. They begin with two that were returned to Australia following CAPT Gaden’s capture in Singapore, they then proceed with letters written sparingly to CAPT Gaden over the following three years during his internment. Most letters have written on them the date that they were received by CAPT Gaden, at times being up to 18 months from the day that they were posted. These letters are largely written by CAPT Gaden’s mother, and a family friend, Connie Cay. Following the liberation of Changi, letters from CAPT Gaden begin; with 16 letters and 2 telegrams written between his liberation and return to Sydney. Throughout there are also 25 letters from various other friends and family members. Following CAPT Gaden’s return to Australia, there is a series of letters and telegrams welcoming him home. The letters largely discuss affairs at home in Australia. A regular theme is the growth of CAPT Gaden’s family, with his sister’s marriage and having children. Throughout, very little relating to the war is mentioned. Following CAPT Gaden’s liberation, there are several letters discussing sightseeing in Bangkok, where CAPT Gaden was sent for initial rehabilitation. There are also brief mentions of the same in Bangalore. These also mention the soldiers’ returning to health through and the foods and Red Cross supplies that were provided to them.

Wallet 4
- 1 x letter from Australian Military Forces – Eastern Command, dated 27 February 1941, stating that CAPT Gaden is reported is in hospital, but his condition is not serious;
- 4 x Japanese POW postcards from during CAPT Gaden’s internment, all addressed to his mother, ‘Doukie’ (Vera), informing her, ‘Sue and Ginge’ that he is well;
- 2 x letters to Vera from ‘Agnes’, one dated 1941, the other undated discussing family affairs;
- 1 x telegram dated 14 September 1945 addressed to CAPT Gaden’s mother informing her that he is alive and a POW;
- 1 x telegram dated 18 October 1945 informing CAPT Gaden’s mother that he is recovered and embarked for Australia on 15 October 1945;
- 1 x letter dated 2 March 1942 from the Red Cross Bureau for Wounded, Missing, and Prisoners of War to CAPT Gaden’s mother Vera written in response to her enquiry about his whereabouts, stating that the situation is unknown with regards to personnel in Malaya and Singapore;
- 1 x letter dated 30 April 1942 reporting CAPT Gaden’s whereabouts as unknown;
- 1 x letter dated 29 June 1942 officially listing CAPT Gaden as missing;
- 1 x telegram dated 6 January 1943 from the Minister for the Army to CAPT Gaden’s mother Vera informing her that CAPT Gaden’s status has been changed from missing to POW, interned in Malaya;
- 1 x letter dated 9 January 1943 with illegible (J. Bowon?) signature addressed to CAPT Gaden’s mother stating that they were delighted to hear that she received satisfactory information about CAPT Gaden;
- 1 x undated poem entitled ‘Our Picnic’ discussing jungle warfare in the Pacific;
- 1 x 11-page document entitled ‘Report on Atrocities as POW under IJA’ by N12543 Capt. E. W. Gaden, documenting atrocities and camp conditions witnessed by CAPT Gaden from February 1942 to approximately December 1943;
- 1 x interview transcript with former POWs from the Thai-Burma Railway, including CAPT Gaden, given on 30 September 1945 with the ABC, conducted at Bangkok University Camp, AIF;
- 1 x letter written in Thai language with English translations wishing Australian solders well, and signed by various locals, dated 5 October 1945;
- 1 x list of items to be issued to soldiers, dated 1 November 1945;
- 1 x letter from CAPT Gaden to CO AIF Siam, dated 27 October 1945, recommending that eight soldiers have their acting ranks from 14 March 1943 confirmed;
- 1 x AMF PW medical history card for CAPT Gaden, dated approximately October 1945;
- 1 x certificate of service of an officer, dated 24 December 1945;
- 1 x brown-covered ‘demobilization procedure book’, dated approximately December 1945;
- 1 x brown-covered ‘record of service’ book, dating from the period 10 October 1945 to 3 December 1945;
- 1 x condolence card for a Mr Lloyd Rutledge dated 14 May 1943
- 1 x variation of allotment form address to CAPT Gaden’s mother Vera dated 10 September 1945.
- 1 x military allotments (discharged, deceased and missing) form dated January 1946;
- 1 x final statement of account – discharged member dated 2 January 1946;
- 1 x generic letter written by LTGEN Berryman to Army Reserve officers, dated 7 January 1949 informing them of the state and importance of the reserve forces.
- 2 x letters from HQ Eastern Command to CAPT Gaden, dated 19 November 1946 and 9 September 1948, informing him that he had not provided them with his current address;
- 1 x letter dated 27 March 1946 from HQ Eastern Command to CAPT Gaden informing that he has transferred to the ‘reserve of officers’, and that he is to report to their office annually; and
- 1 x document on ‘obligations and status of officers on the retired list / Eastern Command’.

Oversize
- 1 x letter dated 30 August 1945 to Doukie, from CAPT Gaden stating that he is well and in Bangkok awaiting transport back to Australia, and catching relaying his reply to news from Australia during the period of his internment;
- 1 x letter dated 2 September 1945 to Doukie expressing CAPT Gaden’s joy at being free, but the difficulty and frustration that former POWs such as himself are having trying to catch up with news from around the world that has broken during their time in captivity.

See also a book 'Pounding along to Singapore' held in the Memorial's Library collection at 940.5472 G218p. This book was compiled by Caroline Gaden and is based on the diary of letters of Captain Edward William Gaden.