Queensland Sandakan POW photographs below with Links to AWM detail. Paybook Photos were taken on enlistment, recorded in the AWM of Sandakan POW; with a note on Rank, Service.

Over 1800 AIF & 750 British Allied prisoners of war (POW) were held in the North Borneo Sandakan POW camp to build an aerodrome, having been transferred there from Singapore as ‘B Force’. The 1494 POW’s that made up B Force, were transported from Changi on 7 July 1942 in the holds of the tramp ship Ubi Maru, arriving in Sandakan Harbour on 18 July 1942. In March 1943, approximately 500 Australian and 500 British POW left Changi prison as E Force, arriving via Labuan at Berhala Island at Sandakan. They were moved to the 8 Mile POW Camp on 6th June 1943.

Those Queenslander POW lost are commemorated on Labuan Island Memorial and at New Farm Park in Brisbane where the Sandakan Ranau Memorial was dedicated in September 1995. 50 years after the end of WWII and release of the returned POW, who were moved to Kuching and other prisons from Sandakan camp. The Australian War Memorial has a ‘Virtual Memorial’ site at Sanakan POW Memorial New Farm of all those listed on the Queensland Sandakan POW Memorial. Friends and Family are encouraged to visit and submit stories or content via the AWM site to add to their Sandakan Story.