Information sheets
Australian prisoners of war: Second World War
Prisoners of the Japanese:
Sumatra
Important general background information - finding your
POW
Online Resources
Official records
Private records
Books
Important general background information - finding your POW
The Encyclopedia entry Australian prisoners of war of the Japanese Second World War contains general information about the capture of Australian troops as well as entries on each location of imprisonment.
Online resources
The Memorial's website provides extensive information about our collections. This includes databases of the Roll of Honour, over 200,000 Photograph and Art images, and the Film, Private Records, Books, Serials and Sound collections. In addition, the Memorial's official records collection can be searched on the National Archives RecordSearch database. By consulting these databases, you will identify further information or particular items in the collections relevant to your interests.
Official Resources
Statements by Sister Vivian Bullwinkel and Sister Nesta James. AWM54 553/6/2
Account of railway construction in Sumatra by allied POWs 1944-1945. AWM54 815/2/9
War Crimes and Trials. Affidavits and sworn statements by Sister Vivian Bullwinkel. AWM54 1010/4/24 A & B
CARO Compendium of statistical information. Includes data on AIF prisoners of war working parties and their movements and names of Australian POW nurses shot by Japanese or drowned after the bombing of the Vyner Brooke in Sumatra. AWM127 2
Nominal roll of women and children in Palembang including Australian civilians and Australian Army Nursing Service. AWM127 72
Records of Australian Military Forces prisoners of war and missing, Far East and South West Pacific Islands. Contains nominal rolls and paybook photographs arranged by theatre of war. AWM232. The nominal rolls can be searched online.
Private Records
C. J. Ashton (Captain, 13th AGH AIF, POW) Recollection of events leading up to her capture on Banka Island, transport of Palembang Women's camp and of life as a POW in camps at Muntok and Loebock Linguar, Sumatra, 1942-1945. PR87/080
John A. Frederick Fisher (Warrant Officer 2, 8th Div RAAOC AIF) Report written by WO2 Fisher outlining the escape from Singapore 15 February 1942 of members of the Unit, their passage to Sumatra and eventual departure for Ceylon and return to Australia. PR88/138
Betty (Agnes) Jeffrey (Lieutenant, 2/10 Australian General Hospital , AIF) Captivity at Palembang POW Camp, Sumatra.The account records her experiences from the time of the sinking of the Vyner Brooke, her capture and incarceration until release in 1945. 3DRL/1857
Veronica Turner (nee Clancy) (Lieutenant) Her account of life in the 2/13 th Australian General Hospital, the sinking of the Vyner Brooke and three and a half years as a prisoner of war on Banka Island. MSS1086
Books
Helen Colijn, Song of survival, (London: Headline, 1997).
Betty Jeffrey, White coolies : an account of the true story which inspired the film Paradise Road, (Pymble, N.S.W. : Angus & Robertson, 1997).
David Nelson, The story of Changi, Singapore , (West Perth, W.A.: Changi Publication, 1974). [Story of the UK Bureau of Record and Enquiry set up in Changi. The appendices contain a detailed record of the movement of POW parties, commanders of POW parties ex Changi, and Java parties to or via Singapore and Sumatra , as well as other useful information]
Frank Robinson, Through hell and bomb blast, (Waverley, Tas. : F. Robinson, 1982).
Allan S. Walker, Middle East and Far East, Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Series 5 (Medical), vol. II (Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1953).
Lionel Wigmore, The Japanese Thrust, Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Series 1 (Army), vol. IV (Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1957).
%7Cutmccn%3D(direct)%7Cutmcmd%3D(none)%3B){kind=small}