Description
NSW. Paybook photograph, taken on enlistment, of NX56694 Signalman Stanley Victor James Reay, 8th Division Signals, Australian Corps of Signals. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW's who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW's were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Signalman Reay, aged 23, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 8 February 1945. He was the son of James Robert and Ethel Florence Reay, of Eastlakes, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 8. (Photograph copied from AWM232, items 4 and 5. Personal information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database.)
Details
Accession Number
P02467.715
Classification
Photograph
Object Type
Black & white - Film copy negative
Physical Description
Colour: Black & white
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain
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Units
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