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Prisoners of War


            
             Within three months of the Japanese entering World War II on December 8th, 1941, over 22 thousand Australian troops had become prisoners of war. They were placed into camps in Timor, Ambon, New Britain, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Singapore and Malaya. In later stages of the war some of the prisoners were shifted further North into Southeast Asia, Formosa, Korea, Manchuria and Japan itself. At the end of World War II some 14000 Australian servicemen and about 30 service women were alive. One in three Australian prisoners of war had died, making this prisoner of war ordeal responsible for more than half the deaths of the entire war. The Prisoners of war had a rather dramatic effect for the war effort and for the victim's families back home as very limited contact or reassurance was made by the Japanese Soldiers.
             Yet the Horrendous experiences endured by the few survivors over the three years of captivity in the various areas of Asia have not fully received their permanent place In history, or a sincere commendment for their courage and determination to survive. War historians tend to be more interested in actual battles and massacres than in those people who were prisoners of war for their country. Very little research has been done to account for the impact of POW life on the physical and mental health of those people involved. The experiences and heroism of the Australian prisoners of war of the Japanese from 1942 to 1945 are not recognised and acknowledged enough compared to the proportion of their contribution towards their country. .
             The Australians of the eighth division who went to war in 1941 were aware of the Anzac tradition and were prepared to fight to any extent in order to uphold it. They did not have much time to show their power, as the well-organised and prepared Japanese imperial army swept down through Asia towards Australia. When the Australians had the chance to fight, they fought to the best of their ability.


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