| Accession Number | P02467.178 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX27807 Private William James Ower, 2/20th ...
Description
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX27807 Private William James Ower, 2/20th Battalion, 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 Ower, aged 44, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 18 July 1945. He was the son of William James Ower and Isabella Margaret Ower, and the husband of Doreen Mavis Ower, of East Malvern, Vic. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 14. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)