Five emaciated and emaciated Australian POWs reading the newspaper and drinking tea. This remarkable photo reflects the testimonies later given by surviving POWs of the inhumane conditions and callous treatment – starvation, routine beatings, abuse and forced labour.
More than 8,000 soldiers died at the hands of their Japanese captors while in captivity in South-East Asia. Most of the captured Australian soldiers were sent to Changi, Singapore and from there to other labour camps.
During the Second World War, Japan captured around 22,000 Australian POWs from across South-East Asia. They were sent to labour camps throughout the region, from Singapore to Thailand, Burma and Korea, to build railways and roads for use by Japanese forces.