Over 15,000 British and Australian prisoners of war (POWs), including sick and wounded, confined ...

Over 15,000 British and Australian prisoners of war (POWs), including sick and wounded, confined in the Selarang Barracks parade ground, originally designed to hold 1,200, after they refused to sign a ‘no-escape’ agreement. There was little water, shelter or latrines, and dysentery quickly broke out and a number of those who were sick died. The no-escape agreement was devised after four POWs attempted to escape in August, six months after they were captured. It is reported that after three days the Japanese executed the four POWs who tried to escape and due to this and the worsening outbreak of disease the officers advised the men to sign the agreement. The POWs voted to sign the agreement under duress and many signed under false names.