Australian P.O.W's
The Prisoners’ peril
Tom Stewart
Australian prisoners of war during World War 2 and their horrible ordeal revealed.
First of September 1939 the world was about to change again as the Second World War commenced ironically and tragically, the events which occurred at the end of WWI were destined to trigger WWII especially when the Treaty of Versailles was put into place. Not everyone was happy with the treaty. Adolf Hitler invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, triggering the WWII. Japan then started to invade South East Asia and posing a threat to Australia, this encouraged the Australians to enlist to defend their country.This resulted in many falling into the hands of their enemy, the Japanese. When Japan entered the war as they were also dis-satisfied with their treatment in the treaty, a whole number of issues arose, in addition to the ongoing war in Europe.
One group of people that were affected by the effects of the world war were the Australian soldiers. Approximately 22000 Australians were imprisoned by the Japanese as a result of the capture of the Netherlands East Indies, Singapore , Ambon and New Britain ( AWM, 16/5/13). Australian Prisoners of war (POWs) were affected in many ways through experiences such as being forced to endure on horrible death marches. One of the most infamous was the Sandakan death march, the worst single atrocity against British and Australian POWs where they were forced to walk for many kilometres enduring the sweltering tropical sun awaiting their death (Darlington et.al, 2012, P.56).
Keith Botterill, one of only six survivors in Sandakan said, “You just can't describe. Just one big death house, a death house’’ (Botterill, 2005). In addition the condition of the camps in which they were held were stricken with diseases such as Cholera which significantly affected the health of the prisoners. This disease caused bodies to “shrivel up like a walnut” described by George Aspinall, a former POW (Bowden, 2012 P.45, 46).
Tom Stewart
Australian prisoners of war during World War 2 and their horrible ordeal revealed.
First of September 1939 the world was about to change again as the Second World War commenced ironically and tragically, the events which occurred at the end of WWI were destined to trigger WWII especially when the Treaty of Versailles was put into place. Not everyone was happy with the treaty. Adolf Hitler invaded Poland on 1st September 1939, triggering the WWII. Japan then started to invade South East Asia and posing a threat to Australia, this encouraged the Australians to enlist to defend their country.This resulted in many falling into the hands of their enemy, the Japanese. When Japan entered the war as they were also dis-satisfied with their treatment in the treaty, a whole number of issues arose, in addition to the ongoing war in Europe.
One group of people that were affected by the effects of the world war were the Australian soldiers. Approximately 22000 Australians were imprisoned by the Japanese as a result of the capture of the Netherlands East Indies, Singapore , Ambon and New Britain ( AWM, 16/5/13). Australian Prisoners of war (POWs) were affected in many ways through experiences such as being forced to endure on horrible death marches. One of the most infamous was the Sandakan death march, the worst single atrocity against British and Australian POWs where they were forced to walk for many kilometres enduring the sweltering tropical sun awaiting their death (Darlington et.al, 2012, P.56).
Keith Botterill, one of only six survivors in Sandakan said, “You just can't describe. Just one big death house, a death house’’ (Botterill, 2005). In addition the condition of the camps in which they were held were stricken with diseases such as Cholera which significantly affected the health of the prisoners. This disease caused bodies to “shrivel up like a walnut” described by George Aspinall, a former POW (Bowden, 2012 P.45, 46).