| Accession Number | P02468.326 |
|---|---|
| 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 VX27460 Gunner Robert John Valentine Smith, 4th ...
Description
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of VX27460 Gunner Robert John Valentine Smith, 4th Anti Tank 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. Gunner Smith, aged 50, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 10 November 1942. He was the son of Robert and Bridget Smith and the husband of Annie Smith, of Coburg, Vic. He is buried in the Labuan Cemetery Section R, Row A, Plot 11. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)