| Accession Number | 019118 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white, Landscape |
| Physical description | Black & white, Landscape |
| Date made | 1 September 1945 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Halmahera Islands. 1 September 1945. Some of the released Indian prisoners of war (POWs) who was ...
Description
Halmahera Islands. 1 September 1945. Some of the released Indian prisoners of war (POWs) who was handed over by the Japanese. The rescued men were in poor condition, many suffering from beri-beri, dysentry and in semi starved conditions. On 1 September the Australian frigate, HMAS Barcoo, accompanied by two PT boats, kept a rendezvous with the Japanese off the coast of the Halmaheras, when 153 Indian POWs were handed over. These Indians were amongst those captured in Singapore. Of the 211 men in the original group, forty four died from various causes, sixteen were beheaded by order of the camp commandant and eight escaped and are still back in the hills. The ship's company looked on in grim silence as the five Japanese barges, manned by the Japanese, brought the men to the ship.