Cigarette case : Sandakan Prisoner of War camp

Damaged metal cigarette case with a hinge on the left side. The top of the case has a number of small regimental badges attached with spaces marking where others were once attached. Those remaining include one for the RAAF and another for the Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces. The back of the case has been faintly engraved with the words 'POW/AIF/SINGAPORE' within a decorative scroll.

In 1942 Australian and allied prisoners were sent to Sandakan on the northern coast of British North Borneo to build an airstrip. By 1944 conditions at the camp had deteriorated, with reduced rations and increased brutality. In January and July 1945 the Japanese sent 2000 Australian and British prisoners on a 260 km forced march along jungle tracks to Ranau. Those too sick to move were left in camp to die. A large number of prisoners died along the route or were killed if they fell behind. Most others died in the terrible conditions at Ranau and by the end of the war only six soldiers of the 2500 prisoners originally held at Sandakan had survived. Soon after the war 9 Military History Field Team went to Sandakan to gather historical evidence of the experiences of the prisoners. This cigarette case was among the artifacts recovered. The identity of its owner is not known.