NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX25058 Sapper George Henry Wilkins, 2/12th ...

Accession Number P02467.127
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Film copy negative
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX25058 Sapper George Henry Wilkins, 2/12th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers. 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. Sapper Wilkins, aged 54, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 9 April 1945. He was the son of Thomas and Janet Emily Wilkins, and the husband of Edith Vennes Wilkins, of Potts Point, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 6. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)