Department of Health & Human Services - Dr John A Forbes Fairfield / Gull Force 2/21 Bn AIF / Ziarah & Rumah Sakit Ambon Hospital Indonesia Collection

Index, bib, ill, map, p.220.non-fictionThe captivity experiences of Gull Force taken prisoner by the Japanese in Ambon in 1942world war 1939 – 1945 - prisons and prisoners - japanese, prison camp - ambon

Two of three X-ray machines available at the hospital are still awaiting proper installation by a Siemens technician. The Djakarta-Ambon plane fare v. v. for the technician is about US$ 200.

William Leslie Tibbett No VX28381 enlisted on 19.6.40 in 2/21st Batt AIF age 20 years. As part of Gull Force they were posted on the Island of Ambon to defend the Harbour and Airstrip. In January 1942 some 20,000 Japanese troops invaded the Island. Off the Gull Force of 1131 men 779 were either KIA or died as POW’s. His death is listed as 1.10.43. Refer 503P also 930..1) 2/21st Batt A.I.F marching through Melbourne prior to leaveing for Darwin, black and white photo mounted on perspex, khaki on metal brass coloured stand. .2) Photo of Pte. W.L Tibbett, black and white photo mounted on perspex (fawn coloured) on metal backed frame. .3) Photo of Pte W.L Tibbett's war grave, black and white photo.1) Handwritten on back in black, 2/21 Btn Gull Force marching in Melb prior to leaving for Darwin , Pte. W.L. Tibbett VX28381 , K.I.A .2) On back handwritten in black pen - Pte W.L. Tibbett, VX28381, 2/21 Btn Gull force, K.I.A. .3) On back handwritten in black pen - Gull Force.photography - photographs,, frames, frame accessories, graves

Photograph of Private later Corporal Sperry Bodsworth born 27/8/1909. In 1940 aged 30 years he enlisted in the Army and assigned to the 2/21 Battalion. On 13/12/1941 the Battalion was deployed from Darwin to Ambon in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia, to form part of "Gull Force". The Battle of Ambon occurred between 30 January to 3 February, 1942. In April 1942 Bodsworth was listed as missing and on 1/6/1942 was reported as a Prisoner of War. Bodsworth was awarded a Mention in Despatches.The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942) occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), during World War II. Japan invaded and conquered the island in a few days, facing Dutch, American and Australian forces. The chaotic and sometimes bloody fighting was followed by a series of major Japanese war crimes. Allied casualties in the battle were relatively light. However, at intervals for a fortnight after the surrender, Japanese personnel chose more than 300 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war at random and summarily executed them, at or near Laha airfield. In part, this was revenge for the sinking of the Japanese minesweeper, as some surviving crew of the minesweeper took part.. Three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Of the 582 who remained on Ambon, 405 died. They died of overwork, malnutrition, disease and one of the most brutal regimes among camps in which bashings were routine. Blood Oath, a 1990 Australian feature film is based on the real-life trial of Japanese soldiers for war crimes committed against Allied prisoners of war on the island of Ambon, in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), such as the Laha massacre of 1942.Brown timber frame containing black and white photograph of WW2 Soldier wearing slouch hatww2, gull force, ambon, sperry bodsworth, pow

Department of Health & Human Services - Dr John A Forbes Fairfield / Gull Force 2/21 Bn AIF / Ziarah & Rumah Sakit Ambon Hospital Indonesia Collection Circa 1970 to 1971Department of Health & Human Services - Dr John A Forbes Fairfield / Gull Force 2/21 Bn AIF / Ziarah & Rumah Sakit Ambon Hospital Indonesia Collection Circa 1970 to 1971

Memorial to Gull force who where made prisoners of War in Javapicture, ww2, army

In 1943 Westralia was converted into a Landing Ship, Infantry. In this role, Westralia had a capacity of 933 soldiers, and was used primarily to transport units of the United States Army and Marine Corps. The ship arrived at Manus on 7th April 1945 befoe reaching Morotai on the 19th. The 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion embarked for attack on Tarakan Island, Borneo. On 1 May – After preliminary bombardment by two cruisers and six destroyers ,troops of 26th Australian Infantry Brigade were landed. After the end of the war, Westralia was one of the ships at Ambon on 22 September 1945 for the surrender and occupation of the island where the 164 survivors of Gull Force prisoners had already been taken off on 10 September. She was later used for the repatriation of Australian troops, before being paid off in September 1946. The ship earned five battle honours for her wartime service: Silver frame containing black and white image of a ship at seaGold coloured plaque attached top right "HMAS Westralia" - 2/24th AUST INF BATT TARAKAN ISLAND BORNEO 1ST MAY, 1945hmas westralia, 2/24th aust inf battalion