Not Forgotten, 117114 Flying Officer Vernon Hopetoun SMITH, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, World War 2

Vernon Hopetoun Smith was born in Cottesloe on 23 July 1900, the son of Herbert and Alice Maud Smith. From 1929 he was also the husband of Veronica Marcella Smith (nee Green) of Victoria Park. Before joining the RAF Smith was assistant secretary of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society in Perth.
Vernon Smith was appointed to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Flying Officer, 117114, on 17 May 1941 and embarked at Fremantle for Singapore on 30 May 1941 for training before being sent to Alor Star in Malaya. He served as part of the Administrative and Special Duties Branch serving with Bomber Operations at Alor Star in Malaya and later at the RAF Station Kluang in Malaya.
The Japanese Empire captured the British stronghold of Singapore with fighting lasting from 8 to 15 February 1942, resulting in the largest British surrender in history. About 80,000 British, Indian, Australian and local troops became prisoners of war, joining the 50,000 taken in Malaya. Many died of neglect, abuse or forced labour. The Japanese held Singapore until the end of the war.
Vernon was captured and held by Japanese as a Prisoner of War in Java, then in Singapore and finally in Borneo at the camps at Jesselton, Sandakan and Kuching. Life in Kuching Camp or Batu Lintang camp as it is also known was harsh as Prisoners of War and civilian internees endured food shortages, disease and sickness with little medicine available, forced labour, brutal treatment and a lack of adequate clothing and living quarters. Of around 2,000 British POWs held there, over two-thirds died during or as a result of their captivity. The construction and operation of a secret radio receiver from February 1943 until the liberation of the camp was a morale booster and allowed the prisoners to follow the progress of the war. Discovery would have resulted in certain death for those involved.
At Kuching Camp Vernon died from chronic enteritis, malnutrition and dysentery on 21 July 1945 aged 44. After the Japanese surrender he was buried in Labuan War Cemetery. On his grave in inscription reads: Greater love hath no man than this, remembered always. Vernon Smith is listed on the Dowerin War Memorial and the Minnivale Roll of Honour, although at this stage I can find no connection with Minnivale for Vernon Smith.
After the end of the war, prisoners of the Japanese were entitled to participate in the disposition of Japanese assets. RAFVR officers who had volunteered in Australia and became Prisoners of War were, given the option of transferring to the RAAF with retrospective effect to a date prior to their capture. This would allow them to be part of that disposition of assets. In the case of those who, like Vernon Smith, died in captivity, it was not practicable to give this option.
Vernon Smith was entitled to the award of the 1939-45 Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, and the War Medal.