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D / Plans
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24 Nov 44
SRD INTELLIGENCE BRANCH
KINGFISHER - PHASE 1
INFM REPORT No 2
PRISONER of WAR CAMP
Only available figures for SANDAKAN PW Camp are:-
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Nos end Nationalities
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Date Reported
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2,000 Australians 600 British
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30 Apr 43.
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1,500 British
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5 Feb 44
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2,800 Australians
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Feb 44
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20 British
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11 Aug 44
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SANDAKAN main camp had been erected by the British as an internment camp for Japanese. It had consisted of about 20 single storied wooden substantial buildings, each with a verandah along one side. The JAPS then added about 20 native type huts, which offered much inferior accommodation. The original buildings were used for the AIF Administrative Office, Q.M. Store, Hospital and about 10 huts for the accommodation of Officer PWs; about 50 officers per building. Each building was divided into 3 cubicles. There was one dim electric light in each cubicle.
The Native huts were used for the accommodation of OR PWs. There were about 50 PW to each hut. Some of the huts were, on one side raised 5 or 6 ft off the ground. water was laid on but was in short supply.
The camp was surrounded by a single apron and a double apron fence. It was possible to crawl under the wire in some places and excursions were thus made to native villages for the purpose of buying food and making contacts.
All PWs (1500) who arrived at SANDAKAN on 17 Jul 42 were packed into small huts, 95 officers, 6 Chaplains and 13 Doctors in one area, while approximately 70 ORs shared one hut, of which ventilation was very bad. After about 2 weeks the guard Commander addressed all and told them that they were to build an airport. The men were drafted in batches of 40 and moved to aerodrome area for daily work. The C.O. of the drome labour being Lieut OKAHARA I.J.A.
Breakfest was at 0700, plain rice; parade 0745; move off 0800; walk across rough tracks 3 mls; work hard till 1200 hrs; lunch till 1300 hrs; rice and watery stew with no salt; work till 1800 hrs and back to tea. Roll check at 1900 hrs.
The camp guards at the 8 ml PW camp are a mixture of Bushida boys and line soldiers, some of years service. Many of these claimed to have fought in NEW GUINEA, but owing to ill health and wounds were withdrawn for guard duties.
Strength approximately 200. Arms-British, Dutch & Japanese rifles.
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![wh_l_arr[1]](../assets/images/wh_l_arr_1_.gif "wh_l_arr[1]")
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