| Accession Number | P02468.103 |
|---|---|
| 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 QX17743 Driver William Samuel Steen, No. 2 ...
Description
Qld. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of QX17743 Driver William Samuel Steen, No. 2 Company, Australian Army Service Corps. 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. Driver Steen, aged 35, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 15 July 1945. He was the son of Andrew and Jane Steen, of Brisbane, Qld. He is buried in the Labuan Cemetery Section 10, Row C, Plot 5. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)