| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P02328.009 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | New Guinea1 |
| Date made | c 1939 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Assistant Medical Officer Arthur Coomber on patrol in the Maprik District with a holstered Luger ...
Description
Assistant Medical Officer Arthur Coomber on patrol in the Maprik District with a holstered Luger pistol on his belt. When New Guinea was invaded by Japanese forces in 1942 Arthur Coomber's family was evacuated from Wewak. However, Arthur was captured and taken to Rabaul. On 22 June 1942 Arthur Coomber was one of an estimated 845 prisoners of war (POWs) and 209 civilians who embarked from Rabaul 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.