Prisoners of War |
This page will include information on the few Aboriginal prisoners of war from World War One and the many from World War Two who were captured, starved, beaten and murdered by the Japanese.
WORLD WAR ONE
Douglas Grant
Douglas was captured at the first battle of Bullecourt in 1917, while serving with the 13th Battalion. He is mentioned in the 13th Battalion history.
Archibald Johnson
Captured at Viller-Bretonneux whilst in action with the 35th Battalion.
William Williams
Captured at Albert, France.
WORLD WAR TWO
Bill Carlyon
While serving with the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, he was put onto the infamous Burma-Thailand railway after being held at Changi.
"During his imprisonment, a white mate of Bill's developed a duodenal ulcer which burst. His mates had heard that there was an Australian Army surgeon at another camp, 2 kilometres away through the jungle and an operation was likely to be the only thing to save his life. They persuaded the Japanese to let them take him to the surgeon and with their agreement, Bill Carlyon and his friends made a stretcher and took their mate through the jungle at night. Both men survived their captivity and became firm friends".
Cyril Brockman
Died while prisoner at Changi Prisoner of War camp.
Leonard Brown - QX 11084
Captured in Malaya
George Edward Cubby - QX 11113
Captured in Malaya. George was from Toomelah Mission, Boggabilla N.S.W.
John Knox - QX 11089
Captured in Malaya
Bill Lawson
Captured with the rest of the 2/26th Battalion he died of illness at Changi Prisoner of War Camp.
Charles Livermore - NX 45029
Captured with his unit, the 2/18th Battalion in Malaya. According to the book "Against all the Odds" (by James Burfitt on the 2/18th Bn), a Japanese guard would not believe that he was Koori and beat him up. Charles then 'pointed the bone' and the guard died, along with the next two guards that took his place.
Vivian Maynard
Captured at Singapore with the 2/40th Battalion, he died of illness at Changi Prisoner of War Camp on the 24th of June 1944.
Claude McDermott
Claude enlisted in the 2nd AIF in Queensland and was captured along with his entire unit (2/24th Bn) in the defence of Singapore in February 1942. He spent two and a half years in mainland Japan. One story he recounted was one where he challenged the ‘best’ Japanese guard to a fight, which Claude won. His prize, a whole can of bully beef.
He returned to the Tweed Heads area of N.S.W. after the war, where he passed away in 1975. His grandson is currently in the Australian Regular Army and is in East Timor as part of Operation Stabilise.
There is a picture of Claude in the wartime images gallery.
Joseph Mye - QX 13541
Captured in Malaya
Edward Mussing - QX 9776
Captured in Malaya
Howard John Percy Siddeley - QX 11091
Captured in Malaya