DOCSLIB.ORG

Leadership of Australian Pows in the Second World War

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Leadership of Australian Pows in the Second World War University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 1954-2016 University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2015 Leadership of Australian POWs in the Second World War Katie Lisa Meale University of Wollongong Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses University of Wollongong Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorise you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author. Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. A court may impose penalties and award damages in relation to offences and infringements relating to copyright material. Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong. Recommended Citation Meale, Katie Lisa, Leadership of Australian POWs in the Second World War, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong, 2015. https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/ 4620 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] LEADERSHIP OF AUSTRALIAN POWS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy From UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by KATIE LISA MEALE, BA (Hons)/LLB (Hons), Grad Dip, Grad Cert RE Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts School of Humanities and Social Inquiry 2015 i ii iii iv CONTENTS Certification iii Abbreviations vi Abstract vii Acknowledgment ix Dedication xi Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Leadership, Sources, Case Studies and Literature Review 18 Preface: Authoritarian Leadership 61 Chapter 2: Lieutenant Colonel Frederick (Black Jack) Gallagher Galleghan 64 Chapter 3: Captain Reginald James Newton 89 Chapter 4: Squadron Leader Roger Bushell 116 Preface: Transformational Leadership 146 Chapter 5: Wing Commander Harry Melville Arbuthnot Day 151 Preface: Democratic Leadership 178 Chapter 6: Positional and Informal Democratic Leadership 184 Preface: Self-Sacrificial Leadership 225 Chapter 7: The Self-Sacrificial Leadership Style of Medical Officers on the Burma-Thailand Railway 231 Chapter 8: Group, Positional and Emergent Self-Sacrificial Leadership in Volatile and Extreme Captive Settings 268 Preface: The Collapse of Leadership Structures 300 Chapter 9: The Collapse of Formal and Informal Leadership Structures 302 Conclusion 335 Bibliography 353 v ABBREVIATIONS Australian Imperial Force (AIF) British Directorate of Military Intelligence (MI9) GOC (General Officer Commanding) Intelligence School 9 (IS9) MBE (Member of the British Empire) MO (Medical Officer) MOC (Man of Confidence) NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) OBE (Order of the British Empire) OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht) POW (Prisoners of war) RAF (Royal Air Force) RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) RAN (Royal Australian Navy) SBO (Senior British Officer) MOC (Man-of-Confidence) SMO (Senior Medical Officer) vi ABSTRACT This thesis is a study of one common aspect of the Australian POW experience across the Pacific and European theatres of the Second World War; leadership. The leadership of POWs is examined through a series of case studies based on three different types of leaders; positional (rank), professional (Medical Officers or chaplains) or emergent. Dependent on their leadership type, these men were responsible for a formal or informal group. Formal groups consisted of the POW population within a camp, compound, prisoner battalion or marching group. Informal groups were usually mates or acquaintances who found themselves in the same camp compound, working or marching group. Two other similar structures existed across the Pacific and European theatres; camp types and conditions. Four common camp types existed; transit, permanent, working camps or forced movement. There were three common camp conditions; relatively stable, volatile and extreme conditions. Using this contextual framework this thesis’ examination of POW leadership is structured through an examination and analysis of a leader’s dominant behavioural style that he adopted in making his decisions and in the way he formed relations with and interacted with men and the captor. The work of leadership theorists, sociologists and behavioural scientists have informed the structure and composition of this study, but its disciplinary focus and methodology are historical. Four leadership styles are examined in this thesis; authoritarian, transformational, democratic and self-sacrificial. The authoritarian leadership style was adopted by POW leaders in both theatres, albeit for very different reasons. Democratic and self- sacrificial leadership styles were unique to the context of captivity in relatively stable conditions in Europe and volatile and extreme captive settings in the Pacific Theatre. The only transformational leader examined in this thesis comes from the European theatre. The relatively stable conditions in Air Force Officer Camps combined with the particular circumstances and character of this individual, enabled this leadership style to be adopted. For each leader examined in this thesis key questions have been posed. The manner in which they were selected for their leadership position, their behaviour and decisions as a POW leader and their interaction with and the relationship they formed with their vii respective formal or informal group and the captor. These questions are posed and considered using a variety of examples of the leader’s behaviour and his reactions to the respective challenges of leading men within their captive context. Irrespective of the style a leader adopted, or the conditions they endured, a leader’s ability to maintain his legitimacy from the perspective of his formal or informal group members impacted on his ability to perform and, in some cases, maintain his leadership positon. Some of the leaders examined in this thesis realised the fundamental importance of the group’s perception of their decisions and the reasons for their decisions. These men worked hard to maintain the trust of their group. Others, either through choice or the nature of the volatile and extreme circumstances of their captive setting, chose to put their own interests and survivorship above the collective needs of their group. These leaders lost the trust of their men and in some cases their leadership position collapsed. The final chapter of this thesis examines what happened when the breakdown of leadership structures occurred in both formal and informal groups. This thesis therefore, is essentially a study of human dynamics within the unique setting of POW camps. It considers what behavioural and leadership traits allowed positional leaders to retain legitimacy in captivity and the behaviour which led positional leaders to lose their leadership legitimacy. When the latter occurred, professional and/or emergent leaders responded to the physical and psychological needs of the group who, particularly in the Pacific Theatre, were powerless against the demands of their captor. viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis began its development at the Australian National University under the supervision of John Knott, with assistance from Peter Stanley and Douglas Craig. I acknowledge their thoughts and ideas on this project. This thesis was completed under the supervision of John McQuilton at the University of Wollongong. John has displayed endless patience and perseverance with a research student juggling full-time secondary teaching and the challenges of a doctorate. I am very thankful for his guidance, encouragement and dedication to the completion of the thesis. This project would not have been finished without his support. This thesis is grounded in archival research. This would not have been possible without the assistance of staff of the following libraries and archives: the Imperial War Museum, the National Archives of the United Kingdom, the National Library of Australia, the National Archives of Australia reading rooms in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, the NSW State Library, Australian National University Library, Australian Defence Force Academy Library, Canberra University Library and the Research Centre at the Australian War Memorial. I am very grateful for the time given by Oriel Hucker who read through the final versions of the chapters looking for editing mistakes. To my colleagues at St. Pius X College Chatswood in the History Department and wider school community who have supported an increasingly frazzled and stressed colleague, I offer my heartfelt thanks. In particular I wish to thank Sandy Towns for reading various versions of chapters and always finding something positive to say. Melissa Colefax, Tina DeSouza and Sarah Sumner for their patience and friendship.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • GP Text Paste Up.3
    FACING ASIA A History of the Colombo Plan FACING ASIA A History of the Colombo Plan Daniel Oakman Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/facing_asia _citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry Author: Oakman, Daniel. Title: Facing Asia : a history of the Colombo Plan / Daniel Oakman. ISBN: 9781921666926 (pbk.) 9781921666933 (eBook) Notes: Includes bibliographical references. Subjects: Economic assistance--Southeast Asia--History. Economic assistance--Political aspects--Southeast Asia. Economic assistance--Social aspects--Southeast Asia. Dewey Number: 338.910959 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design by Emily Brissenden Cover: Lionel Lindsay (1874–1961) was commissioned to produce this bookplate for pasting in the front of books donated under the Colombo Plan. Sir Lionel Lindsay, Bookplate from the Australian people under the Colombo Plan, nla.pic-an11035313, National Library of Australia Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2010 ANU E Press First edition © 2004 Pandanus Books For Robyn and Colin Acknowledgements Thank you: family, friends and colleagues. I undertook much of the work towards this book as a Visiting Fellow with the Division of Pacific and Asian History in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University. There I benefited from the support of the Division and, in particular, Hank Nelson and Donald Denoon.
    [Show full text]
  • The Changi Chapel and Museum 85
    LOCALIZING MEMORYSCAPES, BUILDING A NATION: COMMEMORATING THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN SINGAPORE HAMZAH BIN MUZAINI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2004 LOCALIZING MEMORYSCAPES, BUILDING A NATION: COMMEMORATING THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN SINGAPORE HAMZAH BIN MUZAINI B.A. (Hons), NUS A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2004 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ‘Syukor Alhamdulillah!’ With the aid of the Almighty Allah, I have managed to accomplish the writing of this thesis. Thank god for the strength that has been bestowed upon me, without which this thesis might not have been possible indeed. A depth of gratitude to A/P Brenda Yeoh and A/P Peggy Teo, without whose guidance and supervision, I might not have been able to persevere with this endeavour. Thank you for your limitless patience and constant support throughout the two years. To A/P Brenda Yeoh especially: thanks for encouraging me to do this and also for going along with my “conference-going” frenzy! It made doing my Masters all that more exciting. A special shout-out to A. Jeyathurai, Simon Goh and all the others at the Singapore History Consultants and Changi Museum who introduced me to the amazing, amazing realm of Singapore’s history and the wonderful, wonderful world of historical research. Your support and friendship through these years have made me realize just how critical all of you have been in shaping my interests and moulding my desires in life. I have learnt a lot which would definitely hold me in good stead all my life.
    [Show full text]
  • Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell
    Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell Roger Bushell is famously remembered as “Big X”, the mastermind and driving force behind what is arguably the most audacious prisoner of war escape of the Second World War. The story of the breakout later became immortalized on film in “The Great Escape”, based on the best-selling book of the same name by fellow prisoner, Paul Brickhill. This has largely overshadowed other aspects of his life, his pre-war flying experiences and his, albeit, short wartime role within the RAF. Roger Joyce Bushell was born in 1910 in South Africa to an English gold- mining engineer. At the age of 10 he was sent to boarding school at Wellington in England. Following this he spent time at Grenoble University, becoming a proficient linguist in French and German before going to Cambridge in 1929. Whilst there, he indulged in his non-academic passions including acting, rugby and skiing. It was also whilst at Cambridge that Bushell took up his other great passion: flying. In 1932 he joined 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force as a Pilot Officer. 601 Squadron was otherwise known as “The Millionaires’ Squadron” because most of its members were wealthy young men, paying their way to learn how to fly at the weekend. Many of these men were also fellow skiers, such as Max Aitken, who joined the squadron in 1934 following some encouragement from Bushell. Bushell won his wings in June 1933 and was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer 8 months later. On graduating from Cambridge with a law degree, Bushell was called to the Bar in 1934.
    [Show full text]
  • The Treatment of Prisoners of War by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Focusing on the Pacific War
    The Treatment of Prisoners of War by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Focusing on the Pacific War TACHIKAWA Kyoichi Abstract Why does the inhumane treatment of prisoners of war occur? What are the fundamental causes of this problem? In this article, the author looks at the principal examples of abuse inflicted on European and American prisoners by military and civilian personnel of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy during the Pacific War to analyze the causes of abusive treatment of prisoners of war. In doing so, the author does not stop at simply attributing the causes to the perpetrators or to the prevailing condi- tions at the time, such as Japan’s deteriorating position in the war, but delves deeper into the issue of the abuse of prisoners of war as what he sees as a pathology that can occur at any time in military organizations. With this understanding, he attempts to examine the phenomenon from organizational and systemic viewpoints as well as from psychological and leadership perspectives. Introduction With the establishment of the Law Concerning the Treatment of Prisoners in the Event of Military Attacks or Imminent Ones (Law No. 117, 2004) on June 14, 2004, somewhat stringent procedures were finally established in Japan for the humane treatment of prisoners of war in the context of a system infrastructure. Yet a look at the world today shows that abusive treatment of prisoners of war persists. Indeed, the heinous abuse which took place at the former Abu Ghraib prison during the Iraq War is still fresh in our memories.
    [Show full text]
  • Aged Care Service List - VIC - As at 30 June 2017
    Aged Care Service List - VIC - as at 30 June 2017 Physical Physical Address Address Post 2015 Aged Care Planning Residential Home Care Restorative 2016-17 Australian Service name Physical Address Line 1 Physical Address Line 2 Physical Address Suburb State Code Region (ACPR) Care Type Places Places Care Places Provider Name Organisation Type ABS Remoteness Latitude Longitude Government Funding Avonlea Hostel 68-72 Macpherson Street NHILL VIC 3418 Grampians Residential 45 Avonlea Inc Community Based Outer Regional Australia -36.335116 141.655153 $ 893,701 SCC Northcliffe Home 10-12 Northcliffe Road EDITHVALE VIC 3196 Southern Metro Residential 60 Southern Cross Care (VIC) Religious Major Cities of Australia -38.04237294 145.1130356 $ 1,793,545 SCC Corben Home 9-15 Brindisi Street MENTONE VIC 3194 Southern Metro Residential 46 Southern Cross Care (VIC) Religious Major Cities of Australia -37.98393195 145.0621723 $ 2,877,184 Margery Cole Residential Care Service Matthews Crescent TRARALGON VIC 3844 Gippsland Residential 120 "Yallambee" Traralgon Village for the Aged Inc Community Based Inner Regional Australia -38.19535682 146.5485063 $ 6,707,606 Manor Court Werribee Aged Care Ltd 5 Hogan Grove WERRIBEE VIC 3030 Western Metro Residential 100 Manor Court Werribee Aged Care Ltd Community Based Major Cities of Australia -37.89658739 144.6569542 $ 4,946,535 Woorayl Lodge Hostel 71-73 McCartin Street LEONGATHA VIC 3953 Gippsland Residential 40 Woorayl Lodge Inc Community Based Inner Regional Australia -38.47934705 145.9421297 $ 1,529,979 Dorothy
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Radio Series
    Radio Series Collection Guide1 Australian Radio Series 1930s to 1970s A guide to ScreenSound Australia’s holdings 1 Radio Series Collection Guide2 Copyright 1998 National Film and Sound Archive All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. First published 1998 ScreenSound Australia McCoy Circuit, Acton ACT 2600 GPO Box 2002, Canberra ACT 2601 Phone (02) 6248 2000 Fax (02) 6248 2165 E-mail: [email protected] World Wide Web: http://www.screensound.gov.au ISSN: Cover design by MA@D Communication 2 Radio Series Collection Guide3 Contents Foreword i Introduction iii How to use this guide iv How to access collection material vi Radio Series listing 1 - Reference sources Index 3 Radio Series Collection Guide4 Foreword By Richard Lane* Radio serials in Australia date back to the 1930s, when Fred and Maggie Everybody, Coronets of England, The March of Time and the inimitable Yes, What? featured on wireless sets across the nation. Many of Australia’s greatest radio serials were produced during the 1940s. Among those listed in this guide are the Sunday night one-hour plays - The Lux Radio Theatre and The Macquarie Radio Theatre (becoming the Caltex Theatre after 1947); the many Jack Davey Shows, and The Bob Dyer Show; the Colgate Palmolive variety extravaganzas, headed by Calling the Stars, The Youth Show and McCackie Mansion, which starred the outrageously funny Mo (Roy Rene). Fine drama programs produced in Sydney in the 1940s included The Library of the Air and Max Afford's serial Hagen's Circus. Among the comedy programs listed from this decade are the George Wallace Shows, and Mrs 'Obbs with its hilariously garbled language.
    [Show full text]
  • A. OUTLINE of the PROCEEDINGS P.31
    CASE NO. 62 TRIAL OF MAX WIELEN AND 17 OTHERS THE STALAG LUFT III CASE BRITISH MILITARY COURT, HAMBURG, GJZRMANY, 1ST JULY-3RD SEPTEMBER, 1947 A. OUTLINE OF THE PROCEEDINGS p.31 1. THE COURT The court was presided over by a Major-General and consisted of three army officers and three representatives of the Royal Air Force, in accordance with Regulations 5 (Footnote: see volume I, p. 106) of the Royal Warrant. (F.O. 81/1945.) 2. THE CHARGES All the accused were charged with : (i) Committing a war crime in that they at divers places in Germany and German occupied territory, between 25th March, 1944, and 13th April, 1944, were concerned together and with SS Gruppenführer Mueller and SS Gruppenführer Nebe and other persons known and unknown, in the killing in violation of the laws and usages of war of prisoners of war who had escaped from Stalag Luft III. (ii) Committing a war crime in that they at divers places in Germany and German occupied territory, between 25th March, 1944, and 13th April, 1944, aided and abetted SS Gruppenführer Mueller and SS Gruppenführer Nebe and each other and other persons known and unknown, in carrying out orders which were contrary to the laws and usages of war, namely, orders to kill prisoners of war who had escaped from Stalag Luft III. The other charges were as follows : (iii) (Against the accused Emil Schulz and Walter Breithaupt) : Committing a war crime in that they between Homburg and Kaiserslautern, Germany, on or about 29th March, 1944, when members of the Saarbrücken Gestapo, in violation of the laws and usages of war, were concerned in the killing of Squadron Leader R.
    [Show full text]
  • Necessary Chicanery : Operation Kingfisher's
    NECESSARY CHICANERY: OPERATION KINGFISHER’S CANCELLATION AND INTER-ALLIED RIVALRY Gary Followill Z3364691 A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters by Research University of New South Wales UNSW Canberra 17 January 2020 1 Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Australia's Global University Surname/Family Name Followill Given Name/s GaryDwain Abbreviation for degree as give in the University calendar MA Faculty AOFA School HASS Thesis Title Necessary Chicanery: Operation Kingfisher'scancellation and inter-allied rivalry Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) This thesis examines the cancellation of 'Operation Kingfisher' (the planned rescue of Allied prisoners of war from Sandakan, Borneo, in 1945) in the context of the relationship of the wartime leaders of the United States, Britain and Australia and their actions towards each other. It looks at the co-operation between Special Operations Australia, Special Operations Executive of Britain and the US Officeof Strategic Services and their actions with and against each other during the Pacific War. Based on hithertounused archival sources, it argues that the cancellation of 'Kingfisher' - and the failure to rescue the Sandakan prisoners - can be explained by the motivations, decisions and actions of particular British officers in the interplay of the wartime alliance. The politics of wartime alliances played out at both the level of grand strategy but also in interaction between officers within the planning headquarters in the Southwest Pacific Area, with severe implications for those most directly affected. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here afterknow n, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
    [Show full text]
  • Llaaddiissllaavvkkuuddr
    LvNZ-Ob.qxd 17.3.2005 11:21 StrÆnka 1 55 Vážení a milí čtenáři, kniha, kterou právě držíte, přináší 55 44 44 99 zcela nový pohled na téma Českoslovenští letci v němec - 99 11 11 –– kém zajetí 1940–1945. Většina dosavadní literatury se sou - –– 00 00 44 středila pouze na to, jak byl dotyčný letec, osádka, sestře - 44 99 99 len a jak následně upadl do zajetí. Ani autor této knihy se 11 11 ÍÍ nevyhnul popisu sestřelení a následného zajetí, které je ÍÍ TT TT EE ovšem zpracováno z širšího pohledu po důkladném vytěže - EE JJ JJ AA ní archivních materiálů. Autor této knihy začíná tím, co AA ZZ ZZ předcházelo sestřelení. Tedy, jak byli naši letci připraveni M M M M ÉÉ a vybaveni na možnost zajetí. Následuje popis sestřelení ÉÉ KK KK CC a následného zajetí. Čím je ovšem tato kniha zcela nová? CC EE EE Především tím, že kniha zajetím dotyčného letce nekončí, M M M M ĚĚ ale právě naopak, teprve zde kniha začíná. Kniha mimo jiné ĚĚ NN NN pojednává o organizaci zajateckého tábora a života v zaje - VV VV II tí samého. Jak probíhaly všední, ale i sváteční a výjimečné II CC CC TT dny v zajateckém táboře. Nebude vynechána ani otázka TT EE EE LL ú r o v n ě s t r a v o v á n í a u b y t o v á n í . V z t a h y m e z i z a j a t c i LL ÍÍ ÍÍ a německými strážnými.
    [Show full text]
  • THE GREAT ESCAPE-WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? We've All Seen the Film
    THE GREAT ESCAPE-WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? We've all seen the film "The Great Escape" which featured the breakout from the Sagan III (Luflag) POW Camp for Allied Airforce officers in Silesia, (Eastern part of Pre-1945 Germany), but how many of us were told about what the German authorities were doing aprehending the escapees on Hitler's special orders? The film simply showed a batch of POW's being shot at the side of a railway line by SS troopers, but it didn't happen like that! What really happened was explained to a British Military Court, set up in Hamburg, Germany from the 1st July until the 3rd of September 1947. It was presided over by an army Major-General and consisted of three army and three RAF officers. The case was known as "The Stalag Luft III Case- Case No.62". The Court sat to hear the evidence of eighteen accused (mainly) Gestapo operatives from six regions who had between them shot in cold blood more than half of the escaped officers. The Prosecutor addressed the Court with the story as follows: "During the night of 24/25th March 1944, eighty officers of the Allied Air Forces who were POW in the Stalag Luft III POW Camp. Sagan, Silesia, had escaped through an underground tunnel into the surrounding countryside, dressed in civilian clothes* and with forged documents which they had hoped would get them a passage to freedom. Of these eighty men, four were quickly recaptured in the vicinity of the camp, and seventy six got away.
    [Show full text]
  • Prisoners of War 1915 – 1945
    “In the Bag”: Prisoners of War 1915 – 1945 “IN THE BAG”: PRISONERS OF WAR 1915 - 1945 THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE HELD AT THE POMPEY ELLIOT MEMORIAL HALL, CAMBERWELL RSL BY MILITARY HISTORY AND HERITAGE, VICTORIA. 12 NOVEMBER 2016 Proudly supported by: “In the Bag”: Prisoners of War 1915 – 1945 One of ‘The Fifty’- Understanding the human cost of The Great Escape through the relics of Squadron Leader James Catanach DFC Neil Sharkey A lot of people know about the Great Escape and their most important source of information is this document :- And the detail of the escape they remember most, is this one. “In the Bag”: Prisoners of War 1915 – 1945 I really shouldn’t make light of one of the Second World War’s most fascinating and tragic episodes and only do so to make the point that the film was made as entertainment. Many aspects of the story were altered for commercial reasons. None of the actual escapees were American, for instance, and none of the escape attempts involved stolen motorcycles, or hijacked Messerschmitts. Most characters in the film were amalgams of many men rather than single individuals and the ‘The Fifty’ to who the film is dedicated were not machine- gunned in one place at the same time, as depicted in the film, but shot in small groups, in different locales, over many days. Much of what the film does depict, however, is correct, the way sought-after items—tools, identity papers, supplies—were fabricated or otherwise obtained, as well as, the inventive technologies employed in the planning of the escape and the construction of the tunnel.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr Charles Rowland B Richards at the Medicine Ceremony Held at 4.00Pm on 24 November 2006
    Dr Charles Rowland ("Rowley") B Richards The degree of Doctor of Medicine (honoris causa) was conferred upon Dr Charles Rowland B Richards at the Medicine ceremony held at 4.00pm on 24 November 2006. The Chancellor the Hon Justice Kim Santow conferring the honorary degree upon Dr Richards, photo, copyright Memento Photography. Citation Chancellor, I have the honour to present Charles Rowland Bromley Richards for admission to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, honoris causa. Rowley Richards, was born in Sydney in 1916 and grew up in Summer Hill. Both his parents were profoundly deaf and the way they overcame daily challenges had a strong influence on their young son. Rowley graduated MBBS from the University of Sydney in 1939. He enlisted in the AIF as a medical officer and served in the Malayan campaign of 1941-42 before being imprisoned by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in 1942. He was a prisoner of war in Changi Prison before being sent to the infamous Burma Railway. Later he was sent to a slave labour camp in the north of Japan, surviving shipwreck on the way, a harsh winter and infection with smallpox just prior to liberation. On return to Australia, when these things became known, he was Mentioned in Dispatches for his service as a regimental medical officer whilst a prisoner of war. In 1969 he was awarded an MBE for his services in war and peace. He also earned the Efficiency Decoration. Since his return he has supported other survivors of Japanese prisoner of war camps and their families through his role as President of the 2/15th Field Regiment Association, and his long service as president of the 8th Australian Division Association.
    [Show full text]