Rescued prisoners of war, Balikpapan Accession Number: ART22910

Description

This work depicts Australians liberated from Japanese custody in Balikpapan, Borneo. Friend shows the deteriorating physical condition of the men held prisoners of the Japanese after such a long period. They were in a bad state from fever, malnutrition, beri beri and general ill-treatment. In 1942 Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, he was selected for appointment as official war artist. He travelled to Morotai, Labuan and Balikpapan, recording sights which confronted him and drawing in particular on the expressive potential of human form. Friend was extraordinarily prolific, producing 53 paintings and 143 drawings for the Memorial. In August 1945 he travelled to Balikpapan in Borneo.

Details

Accession Number
ART22910
Classification
Art
Object Type
Work on paper
Physical Description
Medium: pen and brush and ink, crayon, white gouache on paper
Measurement
sheet: 40 cm x 58.7 cm
Medium
pen and ink, brush and wash, crayon and white gouache on paper
Date Made
August 1945
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
Acquired under the official war art scheme 1946
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

Conflicts

Places

Tags

Accession ART22910

More like this

Japanese Prisoners

Art ART23251 Second World War, 1939-1945

Depicts three unidentified Japanese prisoners. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, Friend was selected for appointment as

Japanese prisoners being searched, Balikpapan

Art ART22916 Second World War, 1939-1945

Japanese prisoners of war and their belongings being searched by Australian personnel on arrival at prison camp. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery

Dinah - wrecked Japanese bomber

Art ART22177 Second World War, 1939-1945

Depicts a wrecked Japanese bomber on the air strip at Labuan, Borneo. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, Friend was sele

Able Seaman

Art ART23212 Second World War, 1939-1945

Portrait of a sailor reclining. Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, Friend was selected for appointment as official war artist. He

Troop train

Art ART23216 Second World War, 1939-1945

Depicts exhausted Australian soldiers asleep in the carriage of a railway train at Albury, New South Wales during the Second World War. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a g

Showers in a ruin

Art ART22907 Second World War, 1939-1945

In 1942 Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, he was selected for appointment as official war artist. He travelled to Morotai, Labuan

See more similar items →

Record information

Last modified: 25 July 2025 - 12.00 am