| Accession Number | P02468.319 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of VX25134 Private Norman Spears, 2/5th Hygeine ...
Description
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of VX25134 Private Norman Spears, 2/5th Hygeine Section, Australian Army Medical 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. Private Spears, aged 39, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 13 November 1942. He was the son of John Thomas Spears and Ellen J Spears, of Auburn, Vic. He is buried in the Labuan Cemetery Section R, Row A, Plot 6. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)