NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX36469 Private Frank Bartle Ledwidge, 2/19th ...

NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX36469 Private Frank Bartle Ledwidge, 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 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. Private Ledwidge, aged 43, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 12 March 1945. He was the son of Michael and Rose Ann Ledwidge and the husband of Mabel Veronica Ledwidge, of Merriwagga, NSW. He is buried in the Labuan Cemetery Section 20, Row E, Plot 10. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)