Simmons, Lyndsay Ross Brown

Collection related to the Second World War service of VX134363 Sergeant (Sgt) Lyndsay Ross Brown Simmons who served with 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion. Comprises a handwritten order entitled 'Insts [Instructions] to Escort' signed by NX101130 (N217848) Lieutenant Archibald Gibbons, Adjutant 2/32 Battalion. Sgt Simmons, with three other ranks, had been assigned the job of escorting Japanese prisoner Captain (Cpt) Shoichi Yamamoto from Papar to Labuan. Cpt Yamamoto was to face war crimes charges in relation to what became later known as the Sandakan Death March. Sgt Simmons was instructed to ensure that Yamamoto was "not molested en route." On arrival in Labuan, he was to transfer Yamamoto over to Colonel A G Wilson, Chief of Staff 9 Australian Division. The order includes a handwritten Duty Pass. Captain Yamamoto's trial was held in January 1946 in Labuan. He was subsequently found guilty and executed.