Times (Victor Harbor, SA : 1987 - 1999), Friday 8 November 1996, page 14

Bert remembers

Old digger Bert Oliver, pictured right, VX36216, 2/29th Battalion was prisoner of the Japanese during World War 11.

The sprightly 84-year old from Normanville survived the hell-on earth that was the Burma Railway by heeding the advice of the noted wartime medico Sir Albert Coates. Bert spent more than 1000 days in a prisoner of war camp in the steaming jungles of Burma after being cap-tured when the 2/29 Bat talion AIF met the Japanese in Singapore. For most of that time he toiled with pick and shovel on the railway that killed hundreds of his mates. The only food their hated Japanese captors provided to sustain the prisoners in their labor was a daily cup of rice.

With virtually no medical supplies, Sir Albert was charged with maintaining the health and morale of the thousands of Aussie Diggers who were imprisoned in the old Gordon Highlanders Barracks. "His greatest saying was: Your passport home is in the bottom of your dixie'," Bert siad. "In other words, if you didn't eat your rice you wouldn't get out of there. ' ' It was not only food that was lacking. "All the years we worked on the railway they did not give us any issue of clothing or boots or anything. It was pick and shovel work in our bare feet." Bert typifies the spirit and pride of the Aussie Diggers who overcame the worst treatment the Japanese could hand out.

1996 'Bert remembers', Times (Victor Harbor, SA : 1987 - 1999), 8 November, p. 14. , viewed 21 June 2025, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197141420

Death notice for

OLIVER, Herbert James

Publication: Herald Sun

Date Listed: 18/5/2001

OLIVER. - Herbert James (Bert). Ex 2/29th Batt. and ex P.O.W. of Normanville (S.A.), formerly of Blackwood, Victoria Suddenly on May 16, 2001 at the Repatriation Hospital. In his 90th year Dearly loved and loving husband of Joy. Loved father and father-in-law of Herbert and Meredyth, Doris and Bill. Adored Papa of Gregory, Catherine, Danielle, Nicolle and Lee, Colleen and Paul. Great Papa of Brendon, Roxanne, Gabriel, Shelley, Hayden and Jasmine. "LEST WE FORGET"