Accession Number | P02467.058 |
---|---|
Collection type | Photograph |
Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain This item is in the Public Domain |
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX10233 Gunner John Francis Donald Nicholson, ...
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX10233 Gunner John Francis Donald Nicholson, 2/15th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW's who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW's were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Gunner Nicholson, aged 25, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 15 February 1945. He was the son of Henry Donald and Rose Nicholson, of West Ryde, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 4. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)