NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX36468 Corporal Richard George Rooke, 2/10th ...

Accession Number P02467.337
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Film copy negative
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX36468 Corporal Richard George Rooke, 2/10th Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical 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. Corporal Rooke, aged 40, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 19 June 1945. He was the son of Frederick William and Sarah Elizabeth Rooke, and the husband of Adeliade Eliza Rooke, of North Wagga, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 25. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)