| Accession Number | P02468.507 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of VX50588 Private Michael John Phelan, 22nd ...
Description
Vic. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of VX50588 Private Michael John Phelan, 22nd Brigade Ordnance Field Park, Australian Army Ordnance Corps. 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 Phelan, aged 36, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 27 June 1945. He was the son of Michael Patrick and Ellen Teresa Phelan, of Oakleigh, Vic. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 28. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)