| Accession Number | P02467.097 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX19999 Private William Joseph McGowan, ...
Description
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX19999 Private William Joseph McGowan, Headquarters 22nd Infantry Brigade, Australian Infantry. 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 B Force. The 1494 POW's that made up B Force, were transported from Changi on 7 July 1942 on board the tramp ship Ubi Maru, arriving in Sandakan Harbour on 18 July 1942. Private McGowan, aged 43, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 3 April 1945. He was the son of John James McGowan and Charlotte McGowan, of Newton, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 9. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)