Defence Honours & Awards is part of the Defence People Group.
The awarding of the Commendation for Gallantry to 28 servicemen who were killed while escaping or following recapture during World War II has been approved by the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd).
The servicemen were identified through the Inquiry into Recognition for Far East Prisoners of War (POW) who were killed while escaping or following recapture by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal from 2015 to 2017, and through a review of the Department of Defence.
The next-of-kin of the 28 servicemen are encouraged to come forward to receive the Commendation on behalf of the servicemen by writing to YourCustomer.Service@defence.gov.au.
A PDF version of this page is available here.
The members receiving the Commendation for Gallantry are:
Lieutenant John Appleby is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for his actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt and subsequent activities in support of the Dutch Resistance in Java on 6 September 1943. During the nineteen months when LT Appleby was an escaped POW, he joined the Dutch Resistance in the area and engaged in resistance activity against the Japanese.
Corporal James Armstrong is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on Dutch Timor during the period 23 February until his execution on or about 12 June 1943. CPL Armstrong participated in an intelligence system within the POW camp, which included him leaving the camp to carry intelligence reports to Portuguese Timor. He is also being honoured separately for actions in Timor as part of Sparrow Force in February 1942.
Private Philip Bessell is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt in about April 1942. PTE Bessell and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force POWs. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. PTE Bessell and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942.
The five men who escaped, and were executed, with PTE Bessell are also receiving a Commendation for Gallantry. They are:
Private Arthur Francis Davey is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following an escape from the Imperial Japanese Army at Mergui, Burma until his execution on 18 June 1942 as a result of his escape. At the beginning of the War, PTE Davey re-enlisted in the Army under the name Frank Davies after being medially discharged following a fractured elbow. The service number shown on his photo, QX6710, is the original service number issued when he first enlisted. He was determined to serve his country.
Private John Durkin is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in early March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 14 August 1945. PTE Durkin laboured on the Burma-Thailand Railway and in mid-July 1945 escaped from Songkurai Camp for several days before his recapture. PTE Durkin was suffering from the effects of malaria, dysentery and malnutrition when he left his work party and escaped into the jungle so as not to be a burden on his fellow POWs who were also in poor condition.
Private James Elmore is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 26 March 1945 until his death as a result of an escape attempt on 22 May 1945. PTE Elmore escaped from Tan Toey Camp on 26 March 1945 with another Australian Prisoner of War, PTE Federick Schaefer, who is also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry.
Corporal Edward Emmett is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his death as a result of escaping on 18 June 1945. CPL Emmett was part of the second Sandakan Death March when, on 7 June 1945, while three Allied aircraft flew overhead, he and four other Australians took advantage of the situation and escaped into the jungle. The group evaded capture until 18 June 1945, when they were approached by a small boat. Hiding in the boat was a Japanese soldier who appeared from beneath a cover and shot and killed Corporal Emmett and Private Sidney Webber, who is also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. Only one member of the group of five survived. Gunner Owen Campbell survived the escape attempt and was able to return to Australia to provide evidence of what happened on the Sandakan death march.
Lieutenant Wilkins Fitzallen is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions while held in captivity, during his escape and subsequent recapture by the Imperial Japanese Army on Dutch Timor during the period 23 February 1942 until his execution on, or before, 23 October 1942. LT Fitzallen escaped in May 1942, and was believed to be making his way to the south coast of Dutch West Timor with SGT Bertram West, intending to escape Timor by boat. SGT West is also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. Both SGT West and LT Fitzallen had undertaken reconnaissance work while within the POW camp.
Private Arthur Ford is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 17 March 1942. On or around 16 March 1942, PTE Ford and five other men escaped Changi Prison Complex, stole a boat but were recaptured by Japanese forces while wading ashore on the Malay side of the Johor Strait. Private Ford and the other five men, who are also being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry, were subsequently sentenced to death and executed on 17 March 1942.
The five other soldiers who were executed with PTE Ford are:
Private Charles Foster is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 17 March 1942. On or around 16 March 1942, PTE Foster and five other men escaped Changi Prison Complex, stole a boat but were recaptured by Japanese forces while wading ashore on the Malay side of the Johor Strait. PTE Foster and the other five men, who are also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry, were subsequently sentenced to death and executed on 17 March 1942.
The five other soldiers who were executed with PTE FOSTER are:
Private Raymond Geraghty is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 17 March 1942. On or around 16 March 1942, PTE Geraghty and five other men escaped Changi Prison Complex, stole a boat but were recaptured by Japanese forces while wading ashore on the Malay side of the Johor Strait. PTE Geraghty and the other five men, who are also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry, were subsequently sentenced to death and executed on 17 March 1942.
The five other soldiers who were executed with PTE Geraghty are:
Private Edwin Goodrick is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on or around 22 March 1942. Together with Warrant Officer Class 2 L G Davies and Sergeant C B Jones, PTE Goodrick escaped with the help of a local Dutchman. Their presence, however, was reported to the Japanese by locals. WO2 Davies and SGT Jones posthumously received the Commendation for Gallantry in 2009.
Private Robert Goulden is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 12 July 1942. Following his escape, PTE Goulden was located 25kms from the POW camp within a coconut grove. He was subjected to a summary trial and sentenced to death which was carried out immediately.
Corporal Michael Grace is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 17 March 1942. On or around 16 March 1942, CPL Grace and five other men escaped Changi Prison Complex, stole a boat but were recaptured by Japanese forces while wading ashore on the Malay side of the Johor Strait. CPL Grace and the other five men, who are also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry, were subsequently sentenced to death and executed on 17 March 1942.
The five other soldiers who were executed with CPL Grace are:
Private George Alfred Irwin is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 21 August 1943. Very few escapes were attempted from POW camps in Japan due to the heavily populated areas surrounding the camps. PTE Irwin sought food from a local Japanese woman following his escape. She alerted the Japanese Imperial Army to his presence which led to his recapture and subsequent execution.
Private Jack Jones is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt in about April 1942. PTE Jones and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force Prisoners of War. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. PTE Jones and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942.
The five men who escaped, and were executed, with PTE Bessell are also receiving a Commendation for Gallantry. They are:
Sergeant Howard Manning is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt in about April 1942. SGT Manning and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force Prisoner of War. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. Sergeant Manning and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942.
The five men who escaped, and were executed, with SGT Manning are also receiving a Commendation for Gallantry. They are:
Private Norman McArtney is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942, until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 12 July 1943. PT McArtney had been held at the Hindame camp under appalling conditions, with a steady death toll as a result of malnutrition and overwork. He escaped after being transferred to Brenkassi camp.
Private Edward Moffatt is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 17 March 1942. On or around 16 March 1942, PTE Moffatt and five other men escaped Changi Prison Complex, stole a boat but were recaptured by Japanese forces while wading ashore on the Malay side of the Johor Strait. PTE Moffatt and the other five men, who are also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry, were subsequently sentenced to death and executed on 17 March 1942.
The five other soldiers who were executed with PTE MOFFATT are:
Private James O’Dea is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 17 March 1942. On or around 16 March 1942, PTE O’Dea and five other men escaped Changi Prison Complex, stole a boat but were recaptured by Japanese forces while wading ashore on the Malay side of the Johor Strait. PTE O’Dea and the other five men, who are also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry, were subsequently sentenced to death and executed on 17 March 1942.
The five other soldiers who were executed with PTE O’DEA are:
Flight Sergeant John Orgill is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions while a Prisoner of War for attempting to escape from the Imperial Japanese Army near Tomohon in the Northern Celebes on 27 July 1945. FSGT Orgill was shot down over the Northern Celebes on 27 July 1945. He refused to seek safety until he had ascertained the fate of the other crew members, but was arrested. Whilst being escorted to a cell at the Kempeitai jail at Kakaskasen, FSGT Orgill snatched the bayonet from the scabbard of one of his guards and attempted to escape. As a result he was severely beaten and later found deceased in his cell.
An informal group portrait of ten of the twelve crew members of Liberator (B-24L) A72-92 is available at www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1237408. FLTSGT Orgill is second from the right, seated with a hat or cap in his lap.
Private Frederick Schaefer is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 26 March 1945 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt on 30 April 1945. PTE Schaefer escaped from Tan Toey Camp on 26 March 1945 with another Australian Prisoner of War. He was recaptured on 10 April 1945 at Halong and subsequently interrogated. Following interrogation, Private Schaefer was observed to be moving under escort towards Ambon and was executed on 30 April 1945.
Squadron Leader Daryl Sproule DFC is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following his capture by the Imperial Japanese Navy and until his execution as a result of an escape attempt around the middle of August 1943. SQNLDR Sproule was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire on 2 August 1943. Swimming from his downed Kittyhawk, he reached the beach near Lindenhafen, in the Gasmata area of New Britain. Around the middle of August 1943, SQNLDR Sproule was captured, and the following day attempted to escape. During the escape attempt he was shot and subsequently executed for this escape attempt.
Corporal Kenneth Stewart is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt in about April 1942. CPL Stewart and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force Prisoner of War. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. CPL Stewart and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942.
The five men who escaped, and were executed, with CPL Stewart are also receiving a Commendation for Gallantry. They are:
Corporal Henry Thompson is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt in about April 1942. CPL Thompson and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force Prisoners of War. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. CPL Thompson and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942.
The five men who escaped, and were executed, with CPL Thompson are also receiving a Commendation for Gallantry. They are:
Private Sidney Webber is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 until his death as a result of escaping on 18 June 1945. PTE Webber was part of the second Sandakan Death March when, on 7 June 1945, while three Allied aircraft flew overhead, he and four other Australians took advantage of the situation and escaped into the jungle. The group evaded capture until 18 June 1945, when they were approached by a small boat. Hiding in the boat was a Japanese soldier who appeared from beneath a cover and shot and killed and PTE Webber and CPL Edward Emmett, who is also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. Only one member of the group of five survived. Gunner Owen Campbell survived the escape attempt and was able to return to Australia to provide evidence of what happened on the Sandakan death march.
Sergeant Bertram West is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions while held in captivity, during his escape and subsequent recapture by the Imperial Japanese Army on Dutch Timor during the period 23 February until his execution on, or before, 23 October 1942. SGT West escaped in May 1942, and was believed to be making his way to the south coast of Dutch West Timor with LT Wilkins Fitzallen, intending to escape Timor by boat. LT Fitzallen is also being awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. Both SGT West and LT Fitzallen had undertaken reconnaissance work while within the POW camp.
Sergeant Henry Whitton is being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions following capture by the Imperial Japanese Army in March 1942 until his execution as a result of an escape attempt in about April 1942. Sergeant Whitton and five other men escaped, making for the coast of Java by hiding among Royal Air Force Prisoner of War. The group continued their escape from Djokjakarta but were recaptured by Japanese forces, interrogated and taken away to Taskimalaja. Sergeant Whitton and the five others are reported to have been executed near Taskimalaja about April 1942.
The five men who escaped, and were executed, with SGT Whitton are also receiving a Commendation for Gallantry. They are: