| Accession Number | P02467.740 |
|---|---|
| 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 NX57920 Private John Lear, Headquarters 8th ...
Description
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX57920 Private John Lear, Headquarters 8th Division, Australian Imperial Force. 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 Lear, aged 43, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 17 June 1945. He was the son of William and Catherine Lear. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 8. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)