| Accession Number | P02468.661 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX6998 Sapper Eric James Gardner, 2/6th Field ...
Description
WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX6998 Sapper Eric James Gardner, 2/6th Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers. 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. Sapper Gardner, aged 41, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 9 July 1945. He was the son of Hugh Charles and Thena Gardner, and the husband of Francee Elizabeth Gardner, of North Perth, WA. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 7. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)