| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR88/151 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | 1 wallet: 1 cm. |
| Object type | Letter, Map, Photograph |
| Maker |
Butler, Rex Nelson |
| Place made | Malaysia |
| Date made | 1943 |
| Access | Open |
| Related File This file can be copied or viewed via the Memorial’s Reading Room. | AWM315 743/001/035 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
| Copying Provisions | Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required. |
Butler, Rex Nelson (Sergeant, b.1913 - d.1943)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of SX2600 Sergeant Rex Nelson Butler, 8 Division Ammunition Sub Park, Australian Army Service Corps [AASC]. Collection consists of four hand-drawn maps in pencil, a handwritten letter in pencil, and two black and white photographs.
The maps are of the Southeast Asia area and were used by eight prisoners of war (NX34686 Captain R E Steele, QX4648 Lieutenant R Blow, VX34838 Lieutenant L M Gillon, NX29683 Lieutenant C A Wagner, NX58809 Lance Sergeant W Wallace, VX60861 Sapper R J Kennedy, QX21058 Private R K McLaren and SX2600 Driver R N Butler) during their escape from Sandakan Camp during May-June 1943. The group landed at Tawi Tawi where they were welcomed by Sairi Usinan, the writer of the letter which is dated 19 June 1943. After their arrival at Tawi Tawi the escapees served with guerrilla components of the US Forces in the Philippines and on 18 August 1943, Sgt Butler was killed whilst on a fighting patrol. Details and relationship of the photographs to the rest of the material is unknown.