Private Wallace Patrick McCudden
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- WX8820
- Unit
- 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died as Prisoner of War
- Place of death
- Chungkai, Thailand
- Date of death
- 21 August 1943
- Age
- 36
- Plaque number
- L189A
- Co-located plaques
- L189 - PTE Walter Worth
- Dedicated by
- Loving Family on 16 November 2013
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private Walter Patrick McCudden was born at Esperance in May 1907. He was one of five boys and four girls born to John and Emma McCudden.
He attended school at Esperance and later worked in the salt processing industry.
Wally taught himself to play the ukulele and gave it to his nephew Andrew before going overseas.
He enlisted at Kalgoorlie in October 1940 and was posted to 'C' Company of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion.
The battalion was formed at Northam as part of 8 Division under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Anketell, who also has a plaque in Kings Park's honour avenues.
Just before Christmas, they received their distinctive black and gold triangular colour patch. In July 1941, the battalion was considered ready for deployment and moved to Adelaide by ship and rail.
They then moved to Darwin via Alice Springs arriving there in October and spent some time preparing for the defence of Darwin. The battalion then embarked for Singapore, arriving there in January 1942.
After the surrender in February, those that were left were taken prisoner and initially sent to Changi, where they were split up and Walter was sent to Thailand.
Private Walter Patrick McCudden, service number WX8820 of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion, died as a prisoner of war at Chunkai in Thailand on 21 August 1943. He was 36 years of age.