NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX52402 Private Walter George Read, 2/10th Field ...

Accession Number P02467.621
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 NX52402 Private Walter George Read, 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. Private Read, aged 25, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 15 July 1945. He was the son of Walter George and Mabel Read, and the husband of Roma Edith Read, of Artarmon, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 26. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)