NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX40491 Private Harold Robert Howson, 2/18th ...

Accession Number P02467.404
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 NX40491 Private Harold Robert Howson, 2/18th 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 Howson, aged 36, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 18 March 1945. He was the son of George Leonard and Amy Howson, of Bingara, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 10. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)