WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX8818 Lance Corporal Edward James Keating, 2/6th ...

WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX8818 Lance Corporal Edward James Keating, 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 E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW's who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW's were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Lance Corporal Keating, aged 36, died, on 11 February 1944, in Kuching Gaol while awaiting trial by the Japanese, for his part in the underground intelligence organisation directed by Captain Matthews. He was the son of Walter Richard and Mary Anne Keating and the husband of Olive Vera Keating, of Bayswater, WA. He is buried in the Labuan Cemetery Section K, Row A, Plot 5. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)