The ambush at the bridge over the Gemencheh River, beyond Gemas, 14th January 1942

Places
Accession Number ART24500
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 122.2 x 91.4 cm
Object type Painting
Physical description oil over pencil on hardboard
Maker Griffin, Murray
Place made Australia: Victoria, Melbourne
Date made 1946
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

An ambush at the bridge over the Gemencheh River, beyond Gemas, in Malaya on 14 January 1942. In this ambush, which lasted 36 hours, over 1000 Japanese were killed and less than 50 Australians were killed and wounded. This action was the first time that the Australian soldiers fought the Japanese. In this work, Griffin has depicted war in all its brutality and futility. The wounded and dead Japanese, with the twisted metal of bicycles lying amongst them continue into the background and display the full horror of war.