| Place | Europe: Germany, Muhlberg |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P02028.051 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | |
| Place made | Poland: Sagan |
| Date made | 25 April 1944 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Prisoners of war (POWs) line the side of the road as an Anzac Day march proceeds at Stalag Luft ...
Description
Prisoners of war (POWs) line the side of the road as an Anzac Day march proceeds at Stalag Luft III, a German prisoner of war (POW) internment camp for enlisted men. Identified leading the March is 403215 Flight Officer (FO) David Valentine Paul DFC, 454 Squadron whose great-grandmother, Lucy Fraser, was an Aboriginal woman from the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Twelve days before this photograph was taken, FO Paul was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his “outstanding leadership, initiative and determination”. He was also awarded the Goldfish Club badge, given to Allied aircrew who survived a ditching at sea with the assistance of a floatation device. At the end of war FO Paul was liberated from the camp and returned to Australia soon afterwards. He went on to have a distinguished career in the New South Wales Police Force, and continued to serve as a squadron leader in the RAAF Reserve until his death in May 1973. Also identified on right is Major White (the Senior British Officer in the camp) taking the salute. (Original print housed in the AWM Archive Store).