The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Seremban, Malaya. 1941-08. Portrait of NX34932 Captain Charles Cousens, Officer Commanding `A' Company, 2/19th Battalion AIF. A radio announcer for Radio 2GB in Sydney before the war, Cousens enlisted on the 1 July 1940. He was promoted to Major two days before he was captured in Malaya by the Japanese when Singapore fell in 1942. He was interned in Bunka Camp, Tokyo, and was manipulated by Major Shigetsugu Tsuneishi, of the Japanese Imperial Army, to broadcast Japanese propaganda programs for Radio Tokyo. Major Cousens was instrumental in providing content for the first program 'The Zero Hour', editing propaganda scripts, announcing the news, and reading prisoner-of-war messages in a flat, monotonous voice, often with double meanings undetectable by Japanese listeners. He was also influential in the hiring and training of lva Toguri, later notorious in the press as "Tokyo Rose". After the war Charles Cousens was subject to a court of enquiry for treason, but the case was later dropped.
Kenneth George Parkyns, as leading aircraftsman, No 20 Squadron RAAF, and a prisoner of the Japanese, 1940-1945, interviewed by Margaret Evans. On 21 January 1942, Leading Aircraftsman Parkyns was cap
An informal group portrait of Company Commanders of the 2/19th Battalion on reconnaissance near Seremban, sitting on the ground talking. The Battalion was later captured by the Japanese in the fall of
Group portrait of members of `A' Company, 2/19th Battalion at Port Dickson, Malaya. The Battalion was captured by the Japanese in the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 and most of the men were eit
Informal group portrait of officers of the 2/19th Battalion watching something in the distance while on reconnaissance near Seremban. Identified from left to right: NX34734 Capt Reginald William James
Seremban, Malaya. 1941-03. Members of the 2/19th Battalion march through the town to the parade ground led by Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Maxwell MC Commanding Officer. They are preceded by members of t
An informal group portrait of members of Headquarters Company, 2/19th Battalion, standing in front of a car prior to their embarkation for Malaya. The Battalion was captured by the Japanese in the fal
