Seeking copyright holders
The Memorial’s Research Centre Digitised Collections team digitises archival collections at risk of deterioration. This process helps to preserve the original items and enables the selected collections to be accessed online in future.
The Memorial is seeking permission from the copyright holders to publish the collections listed below. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of the persons named below, please contact the Memorial via email: Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au
Edward Temple Miles, 1914–1995
Edward Temple Miles (also known as Edward John Temple Miles, and Paddy) was born on 10 November 1914 at Ringwood, Victoria, to Winifred Emily Miles (née Moir) and Augustus Temple Miles.
During the Second World War he served as 13610 Lance Corporal E.T. Miles in the Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces. He was taken as a prisoner of war after the fall of Singapore in 1942 and was repatriated to Australia in 1945.
In 1949 he married Joan Irene Whiteside, from then known as Joan Irene Miles (1926–2013). Their marriage produced two sons: Ian Leonard Miles (1953–1978) and Stephen Temple Miles.
Edward Temple Miles died in June 1995 at the age of 80 in Victoria.
The Australian War Memorial holds a handwritten diary and letters by Edward Temple Miles, which cover the period May 1942 to September 1945. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Edward Temple Miles, please contact the Memorial via email: Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR00348
Stanley Septimus Pavillard, 1913–1997
Stanley Septimus “Pav” Pavillard was born on 19 January 1913 at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, to Susanna Maria Salome Josefa Jardin Pavillard (née Domenech) and Victor Eugene Pavillard.
Stanley studied tropical medicine at the University of Edinburgh before enlisting in 1940. In December 1941 he was posted as a medical officer to the Straits Settlement Volunteer Forces, with the rank of lieutenant. Becoming a prisoner of war in February 1942 with the fall of Singapore, he joined working parties on the Burma–Thailand Railway, located in the southern area, as far north as Kinsayok. In 1947 he was awarded an MBE for his actions as a prisoner of war, and in the following year he received the Territorial Decoration.
In 1950 he married Irene Mavis Templeton, from then known as Irene Mavis Pavillard (d. 1992). Their marriage produced three daughters: Linda Susana Pavillard, Anita June Pavillard, and Alexandra Maria Sandra Pavillard.
Between 1946 and 1955 he was in private practice in Singapore, then practicing medicine in Las Palmas until his retirement in 1989. In 1993, Stanley moved to Brighton, England, where he died in July 1997 at the age of 84.
Pages from his book Bamboo Doctor, first published in 1960, appear within the private collection of Edward Temple Miles, detailing the events of a raid on Japanese medical supplies at Changi camp in April 1943. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Stanley Septimus Pavillard, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR00348
Robert Marriott William Webster, 1889–1968
Robert “Bert” Marriott William Webster was born on 20 July 1889 at Caulfield, Victoria, to Annie Webster (née Marriott) and Joseph John Webster.
During the First World War Bert served in the 10th Australian Field Ambulance and was awarded the Military Cross, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Before returning to Australia, Bert married Ethel Violet Webster (1895–1987) from Middlesex, England, in 1918. Their marriage produced three children: William John Webster (1920–1987), David Aburn Webster (1921–1981) and Elizabeth (Betty) Nancy Stainthorpe (née Webster) (1923–2010). His son David had three children with his wife Agnes (Cissie) Webster (née Ralph): Michael, Robert and Sally.
During the Second World War he served as TX2107 Lieutenant Colonel R.M.W. Webster in the 2/9 Field Ambulance. After the Fall of Singapore in February 1942, Webster was in command of Kranji Hospital, where he treating fellow prisoners of war for tropical diseases, infections, wounds, and amputations. Webster was awarded the Australian Efficiency Decoration.
Robert Marriott William Webster died on 24 July 1968 at the age of 79 in Melbourne, Victoria.
The Australian War Memorial holds a collection of diaries and papers relating to his internment and medical service. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Robert Marriott William Webster, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: 3DRL/3435
John Joseph Kerr, 1904–1982
John “Jack” Joseph Kerr was born on 24 December 1904 at Johannesburg, South Africa, to Elizabeth Kerr (née Griffiths) and John Joseph Kerr.
During the Second World War he served as QX9248 Warrant Officer Class 1 J.J. Kerr in the 2/3 Ordnance Company AAOC, arriving in Singapore in February 1941. When Singapore fell in February 1942, he was taken as a prisoner of war by Japanese forces until he returned home in October 1945.
In 1948, Jack married Irene “Rene” May Warren, who from then was known as Mrs Rene May Kerr (1914–1992). It is unknown if their marriage produced any children. John Joseph Kerr died on 31 July 1982, in Queensland, at the age of 77.
The Australian War Memorial holds a collection of records and diaries documenting Kerr’s internment in Changi prison. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of John “Jack” Joseph Kerr, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR86/191
John Kevin Lloyd, 1904–2004
John “Jack” Kevin Lloyd was born on 18 June 1904 at Caulfield, Victoria, to Julia Lloyd (née Burgess) and William John George Lloyd.
In 1931 Jack married Ann Elizabeth Herron, who from then was known as Ann Elizabeth Lloyd (1908–2001). She was also known as Nancy Lloyd. Their marriage produced four children: Ann, John, Mary and Catherine.
Lloyd worked as a bank clerk before enlisting in 1940. He served as VX39006 Major J.K. Lloyd in the 2/29 Australian Infantry Battalion during the Malayan Campaign. When Singapore fell in 1942, he was taken as a prisoner of war by Japanese forces until he returned home in October 1945.
John Kevin Lloyd died on 18 September 2004, in Camberwell, Victoria, at the age of 100.
The Australian War Memorial holds a two handwritten diaries relating to Lloyd’s internment. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of John “Jack” Kevin Lloyd, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR03869
Desmond Henry Mulcahy, 1916–2004
Desmond Henry Mulcahy was born on 25 February 1916 at Temora, New South Wales, to Mary Evelyn Elizabeth Mulcahy (née Crisp) and Michael John Mulcahy.
Before enlisting in 1940, Des worked as a labourer on his family farm. During the Malayan Campaign of the Second World War he served as NX35370 Warrant Officer Class 2 D.H. Mulcahy in the 2/19 Battalion. As a prisoner of war he was sent to Changi prison and various work camps along the Burma-Thailand Railway, before ending up at Fukuoka camp in Japan, where he was put to work in a coal mine. He was recovered in September 1945.
In 1947, Desmond married Norma Joan Butler, from then known as Norma Joan Mulcahy (1928–1997). Their marriage produced nine children: Mary (1949–1949), Desmond, Janet, Evelyn, Michael, Robert, Louise, Paul and Naomi.
Desmond Henry Mulcahy died on 8 September 2004, in Sydney, New South Wales, at the age of 88.
The Australian War Memorial holds a collection of letters and papers relating to the restoration of the Changi Prison Chapel during the 1960s, mostly addressed to and from Des Mulcahy. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Desmond Henry Mulcahy, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR01680
Joseph George Carter, 1874–1956
Joseph George Carter was born in 1874 at Sydney, New South Wales, to Clarissa Elizabeth Carter (née Close) and Thomas Carter.
In 1909 at Suva, Fiji, Joseph George Carter married Mary “Mollie” Emma Burrows, from then known as Mary Emma Carter (1886–1975). Their marriage produced two children: William Norman Carter (1910–1981) and Gladys Hughes (née Carter) (1912–1998).
Before enlisting in 1916, Carter worked as a forest ranger. During the First World War, he served as 2774 Sergeant J.C. Carter with the 34th Battalion. Carter served in England, and in various areas of the Western Front before returning to Australia in January 1919.
Joseph George Carter died on 12 November 1956 in Marrickville, Sydney, at the age of 82.
The Australian War Memorial holds a photocopy of a handwritten diary by Joseph George Carter. It covers the voyage from Australia to Europe on SS Beltana, training, and time in England and France. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Joseph George Carter, please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: PR01158
Michael John Egan, 1939–2024
Michael John Egan was born in 14 September 1939 in New South Wales, to Thelma May Egan (née McNellee) and James Joseph William Egan.
Michael lived in Killarney Heights, New South Wales, with his wife Anne, and worked as a teacher. He had five children: Maria, Anne, John, Kevin and Philip, and three stepchildren: Peter, Adam and Lisa. Michael died on 1 May 2024 in New South Wales, at the age of 84.
Michael John Egan is the nephew of NX25651 Private Jack Edgar George Egan (1915–1942). The Australian War Memorial holds a photocopy of a diary by Jack Egan covering his involvement in the Malayan Campaign, the Fall of Singapore, and his experiences as a prisoner of war. It includes a short biography of Jack written by his nephew Michael. If you are a copyright holder, a relation, or a descendant of Michael John Egan please contact the Memorial via email on Digitised.Collections@awm.gov.au.
Collection number: AWM2016.42.1