The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Small aluminium plaque engraved on the obverse 'TO THE MEMORY OF BRITISH & AUSTRALIAIN (SIC) FALLEN IN MALAYA'. The reverse is roughly engraved '...ONER OF WAR CAMP SINGAPORE FEB 1942 ...X 7054 S.C. OLDFINCH R AE'. The aluminium appears to have been cut from a mess tin. A hole has been bored on either side of the plaque so that it can be attached to a larger object.
This plaque was found nailed to a rough wooden cross in the original cemetery attached to Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp in Borneo by NX167594 Private Raymond James Battram while he was serving with 31 War Graves Unit between 1946 and 1947. The unit was responsible for the location and exhumation of the bodies of prisoners of war (POWs) who died at Sandakan and on the death marches to Ranau, and their reburial in a Commonwealth war cemetery. 2,500 Allied POWs, mainly Australian, died at Sanadakan and Ranau. Only six Australian POWs survived. The plaque is thought to have been made by WX7054 Sapper Sydney Charles Goldfinch in Singapore, from part of his mess tin, and taken to Sanadakan by him. Goldfinch was born in England in 1900 and enlisted with 2/6 Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers, in July 1940. He died of disease and malnutrition on 13 July 1945.
WA. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of WX7054 Sapper Sydney Charles Goldfinch, 2/6th Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held
Damaged metal cigarette case with a hinge on the left side. The top of the case has a number of small regimental badges attached with spaces marking where others were once attached. Those remaining in
Pure bristle shaving brush with wooden and aluminium handle. The base of handle is stamped 'HAMILTON & C0 WARRANTED ALL BRISTLE. VULCANISED RUBBER SET'. In 1942 Australian and allied prisoners were
Smoker's pipe made from bamboo. The bowl has two rough decorative lines around the top rim and is lined with clay. The stem has been bound with an aluminium band and the mouthpiece is made from a type
Incomplete set of rosary beads made from hardened white-grey seeds joined by a fine metal chain. The crucifix and a small part of the chain has been broken off. In 1942 Australian and allied prisone
One small metal crucifix with a short length of rusted metal chain with beads. It would originally have been attached to a set of rosary beads. In 1942 Australian and allied prisoners were sent to S
Portrait of NX20419 Sapper Frederick Archibald Carley, 2/12 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers(RAE). Sapper Carley enlisted at Paddington in Sydney on 5 June 1940 and after training was assigne
