| Accession Number | P02467.953 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Qld. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of QX5989 Bombardier John Seymour Handley Commins, ...
Description
Qld. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of QX5989 Bombardier John Seymour Handley Commins, 2/10th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery. 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. Bombardier Commins, aged 33, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 8 May 1945. He was the son of Alfred and Flora Mary Commins, of Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 2. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)