19 August 2024
“We will remember them” is more than a phrase.
Nearly 80 years after the end of World War 2, the family of a World War 2 veteran – who died without ever receiving his war medals – has finally received his medals after an international effort across three cities on two continents.
John Frederick Brislin died in Perth, Western Australia, in February 1985, at the age of 80. His son Bruce went to look for his medals recently so his own son could wear them on Anzac Day, but couldn’t locate them.
“I was shocked and got in touch with my local MP, the Federal Member for Brand, Madeleine King, for help,” Bruce Brislin said.
Sergeant John Brislin joined the Federated States of Malaya Volunteer Forces (FSMVF), under British command, prior to the outbreak of the war. He was originally from South Africa but trained as a mechanical engineer in the UK and worked as ground crew in Singapore, initially servicing and repairing Royal Air Force Brewster Buffalo fighter aircraft before moving on to Spitfires and Hurricanes.
While in the then British colony, he married his Australian wife.
“My mother and her sister managed to escape when the Japanese bombed Singapore on one of the few ships that managed to avoid being sunk; they sailed to Fremantle. My father, though, was captured in the surrender and sent to Changi jail,” Mr Brislin said.
Sergeant Brislin was then sent north to work on what became known as the infamous Siam (Thailand) Burma death railroad, along with 60,000 other prisoners-of-war, including 13,000 Australians.
“Although it was horrific time, my father developed a great friendship with Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop, who I was fortunate enough to meet just before Dad died. I learnt a lot more about his life from Sir Edward,” Mr Brislin said.
“Dad never talked about his time as a World War 2 POW on the Burma railway – I think it was simply too traumatic.”
In searching for his father’s war medals, Mr Brislin made an unfortunate discovery.
“I wrote to the UK Ministry of Defence earlier this year and they confirmed that Dad was eligible for the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-45. But, while they were issued and sent, they must have got lost in the post or misplaced in transit from the [Ministry of Defence Medal Office],” he said.
Australia’s Head of Defence Staff in London, Brigadier Grant Mason, intervened.
“I was personally very sorry – and stunned – to hear of Bruce and his father’s story. Here was someone who had served so courageously during World War 2 but yet never received his medals. I really wanted to help,” Brigadier Mason said.
MOD policy is to only replace medals that have been lost due to fire, flood or crime, along with a police report. He approached the ADF’s Directorate of Honours and Awards.
“I was deeply relieved when they not only said they could help but would gift him a set of his father’s medals as per the original UK World War 2 format,” Brigadier Mason said.
“I was personally very sorry – and stunned – to hear of Bruce and his father’s story. Here was someone who had served so courageously during WWII but yet never received his medals. I really wanted to help."
Mr Brislin is grateful. “I would like to thank the Australian Government and my MP in Rockingham Madeline King and her staff, plus Brigadier Mason in London for their exceptional care and help to secure my Dads WW2 service medals,” he said.
“These medals will be always treasured and worn with pride on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, in memory of my father and all those other service personnel who have served with such distinction.”
