TX3430 Private (Pte) Lance Desmond Robotham, 2/40th Battalion AIF, of Launceston, Tas. Pte Robotham enlisted at Ridgley, Tas, on 19 June 1940 and in December 1941embarked with his unit to defend Timor following a series of Japanese attacks throughout the Pacific on 7 and 8 December. Pte Robotham was captured when his battalion was forced to surrender to the Japanese on Timor on 23 February 1942. He was one of 772 Australian, British and American prisoners being transported in the Tamahoko Maru to work in Japan when on 24 June 1944 the ship was sunk by the submarine USS Tang. Pte Robotham was one of 559 killed.
C'WEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
Name: ROBOTHAM, LANCE DESMOND
Initials: L D
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry
Unit Text: A.I.F. 2/40 Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 24/06/1944
Service No: TX3430
Additional information: Son of Harold Vincent and Ethel Ann Robotham,of
Ridgley, Tasmania, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 134.
Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL