| Accession Number | P02467.335 |
|---|---|
| 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 NX36222 Private Leonard Bills, 2/19th Battalion, ...
Description
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX36222 Private Leonard Bills, 2/19th 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 Bills, aged 31, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 14 February 1945. He was the son of William and Mary Bills, and the husband of Grace Bills, of Eden, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 12. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)