WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX8397 Private Robert William Chipperfield, 2/4th ...

Accession Number P02468.698
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Film copy negative
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX8397 Private Robert William Chipperfield, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Australian Infantry. 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 Chipperfield, aged 28, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 11 February 1945. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Chipperfield. He is buried in the Labuan Cemetery Section R, Row A, Plot 15. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)