| Accession Number | P09751.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
The Leicagraph Co. Pty Ltd |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Sydney |
| Date made | 1940-41 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of Victor Wainwright
Description
Studio portrait of NX54267 Sergeant (Sgt) Victor Ernest Ross Wainwright, 17 Anti Tank Battery. Sgt Wainwright was taken prisoner of war (POW) on New Britain and died when the ship Montevideo Maru sank. On 22 June 1942 an estimated 845 POWs and 209 civilians captured by Japanese forces embarked from Rabaul, New Britain, aboard the Japanese transport ship MV Montevideo Maru. The POWs were members of the No. 1 Independent Company, 2/22 Battalion, and other units of Lark Force. Civilians included officials of the New Guinea Administration and missionaries. The ship sailed unescorted for Hainan Island. On 1 July 1942 all the prisoners died when the Montevideo Maru was torpedoed by a US Navy submarine, USS Sturgeon, off the coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.