Nemo Dorph
Forestville, New South Wales
Army 1941-1946

Nemo Dorph was serving in the Citizen Military Forces, or Militia, when World War II broke out. He joined the 2nd Australian Imperial Force in August 1941 and was sent to Tamworth for basic training before going overseas with the 5th Reinforcements of the 2/18th Battalion, 8th Division, serving in Malaya.

After a rough crossing on a Dutch ship to Singapore, Nemo arrived in Malaya and was stationed at the General Base Depot at Johore Bahru when a call went out for volunteers and drivers to join the Vehicle Reception Park. Nemo was licensed to drive vehicles from motorbikes to cars and semi-trailers, so he transferred to the unit, becoming a member of the Australian Army Ordnance Corps. As a driver, Nemo was responsible for delivering vehicles and equipment to units across Malaya and Singapore, from motorbikes to Bren gun carriers and 25-pounder field guns.

Following the Japanese advance down Malaya, Nemo and his unit were evacuated to Singapore. After the invasion of the island, the men of his unit became combatants to bolster the struggling defensive lines. Nemo was promoted to Corporal, in charge of 10 men. They joined the 22nd Infantry Brigade in defending the island until the surrender on 15 February 1942. Nemo recalled they were not happy at being ordered to surrender to the Japanese and wanted to continue fighting.

Nemo spent three months in the Changi prisoner of war camp before he was selected as part of an advance party sent to Blakang Mati, now known as Sentosa, off the main Singapore Island. He was put to work preparing barracks for fellow Australian and British prisoners of war. They worked as wharf labourers, being forced to carry a range of equipment from bombs to petrol drums. Nemo recalled that although they worked hard and were subjected to many beatings by the Japanese, they were better off than other prisoners sent to work on the Burma-Thailand railway.

Nemo said throughout his time as a prisoner of war his mates were always there for him, and they have continued their friendships through to the present day. In order to survive, the Blakang Mati prisoners often went under the wire fence in the middle of the night to steal fruit and vegetables grown by the Japanese. The prisoners also sabotaged Japanese equipment and supplies whenever they could, including putting metal filings and sugar in the petrol tanks of vehicles.

During their time on the island, Nemo and his fellow prisoners were able to keep in touch with what was happening in the outside world. A Malayan prisoner was in charge of repairing the Japanese radio on the island, and would tune into the BBC if left alone. When the Japanese surrendered in August 1945, Nemo heard the news from the BBC but he and his fellow prisoners were unable to do anything about it for a few days. Indeed, they were lucky to survive, as there had been plans to kill all the prisoners on the island.

After leaving Blakang Mati, Nemo was sent to a hospital at Kranji for two weeks before heading home to Australia. Back home, his mother and his girlfriend, Joan, waited for word of his fate. They had lost track of Nemo after the fall of Singapore and it wasn't until he was able to write home - managing to get just two letters out during his three-and-a-half years in captivity - that they learned he was alive.

When Nemo got back to Australia, Joan was waiting for him. Three months after his discharge from the AIF in January 1946, Joan and Nemo were married. They have two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild, with another due in January.

After the war Nemo returned to his job as a grocer, later joining Gestetner as a sales representative, selling duplicators, printing machines and copiers. Nemo rose through the ranks and travelled throughout Australia and the world training company workers and promoting the company's products until his retirement in 1980.

Today Nemo enjoys playing lawn bowls and has been an official umpire with his lawn bowls club for more than 40 years and is a past president of the club. He is the treasurer of the 2/18th Battalion Association and has been a member of his local RSL sub-branch since 1945.

Nemo's service in World War II follows the service of his uncle, Phil Dorph, in the Boer War and another uncle, Clarence Dorph, who served as a gunner in France during World War I.

Nemo is honoured to be representing Australia at the dedication of the Australian War Memorial, London, and is proud to be representing his mates from the 8th Division AIF.

Minister's Message | Diary | Photo Gallery | Background | Media Materials | Representatives