124354
Image copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
- ID number
- 124354
- Object type
- Black & white
- Physical description
- Black & white
- Collection
- Photograph
- Description
- BATAVIA, JAVA 1945-09-24. AN UNIDENTIFIED AUSTRALIAN EX PRISONER OF WAR PLAYING HIS ACCORDION AT "BICYCLE" CAMP, SO NAMED BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF BICYCLES FOUND THERE WHEN FIRST OCCUPIED BY THE PRISONERS. THIS SOLDIER, A MEMBER OF "SPARROW FORCE", HAD BEEN CAPTURED ON TIMOR AND DESPITE ORDERS TO THE CONTRARY HE AND HIS COMRADES MANAGED TO RETAIN POSSESSION OF THE INSTRUMENT DURING THE THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF THEIR IMPRISONMENT. WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES PERMITTED HE WAS ABLE TO BRING MUCH PLEASURE TO HIS FELLOW CAPTIVES BY PLAYING THE INSTRUMENT. SEE ALSO 123663. (PHOTOGRAPHER LT R. BUCHANAN)
