The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Tawiri, Laha, Ambon. A mass grave of Australian and Dutch servicemen executed by the Japanese on 15 February 1942, after the fall of Ambon, was found south west of Tawiri Village, in the Laha area. This grave was found on 7 December 1945, when a Japanese working party under the supervision of the 63rd Australian Infantry Battalion and directed by a Japanese NCO, after excavating to a depth of only six inches, uncovered the tip of a boot as shown in this photograph. This grave, which became known as Mass Grave No. 4, contained the remains of 135 servicemen (including at least two Dutch).
Tawiri, Laha, Ambon. 7 December 1945. Three skulls of Australian or Dutch servicemen as they were uncovered in Mass Grave No. 4, located by the 63rd Australian Infantry Battalion, south west of Tawiri
Tawiri, Laha, Ambon. 7 December 1945. Skulls of Australian or Dutch servicemen as they were uncovered in Mass Grave No. 4, located by the 63rd Australian Infantry Battalion, south west of Tawiri Villa
Tawiri, Laha, Ambon. 7 December 1945. A Japanese working party, under supervision of an Australian War Graves Maintenance Unit, recovering the remains of Australian and Dutch servicemen executed by th
Tawiri, Laha, Ambon. 7 December 1945. A Japanese working party, under supervision, trenching around one of the two burial pits at Mass Grave No. 4 site during the disinternment of the remains of Austr
Tawiri, Laha, Ambon. 7 December 1945. Bones recovered from Mass Grave No. 4, located south west of Tawiri Village, in the Laha area, Ambon. In this mass grave the remains of 135 Australian and Dutch s
Tawiri, Laha, Ambon. 7 December 1945. The early stages of exhumation from Pit No. 1, in the right foreground, at Mass Grave No. 4. In the left background, a Japanese working party, under the direction
