Rockingham man’s search for POW father John Brislin’s lost war medals spans two continents

Almost 80 years after WWII, an international operation across two continents has recovered a veteran’s war medals that were lost in the post.

Rockingham local Bruce Brislin’s father John died in 1985 without receiving his medals, including the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal and the 1939-45 War Medal.

Before WWII, under British command, Sergeant John Brislin joined the Federated Malaya States Volunteer Forces.

Sgt Brislin was originally from South Africa but trained as a mechanical engineer in the UK and worked as ground crew in Singapore.

It was in Singapore where he met and 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.

Sgt 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 a 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 WWII POW on the Burma railway — I think it was simply too traumatic.”

Mr Brislin hunted for Sgt Brislin’s medals so his son could wear them on Anzac Day, but they couldn’t be found.

This sparked a search for the medals that spanned Australia and the UK.

Mr Brislin enlisted local MP Madeleine King to help with the search and made the shocking discovery the medals were probably lost years ago.

It was then that Australia’s Head of Defence Staff in London, Brigadier Grant Mason, stepped in.

“I was personally very sorry — and stunned — to hear of Bruce and his father’s story,” Brig. Mason said.

“Here was someone who had served so courageously during World War II but yet never received his medals. I really wanted to help.”

According to the Ministry of Defence, policy medals can be replaced only if they’ve been lost due to fire, flood or crime.

But Brig. Mason 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 WWII format,” Brig. Mason said.

Mr Brislin thanked the Australian Government, Ms King and Brig. Mason for helping secure the medals.

“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,” he said.