WWII POWs honoured with Commendation for Gallantry

Winston Churchill described the fall of Singapore as the worst disaster in British Military history. On 15 February 1942, the British garrison in Singapore surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army – effectively bringing an end to the Malayan Campaign.

With the surrender some 130,000 British soldiers became prisoners of war, among which were approximately 15,000 Australians. Their harrowing experiences as POW’s under Japanese detention is remembered as one of the darkest chapters in the history of WWII.

Despite the deadly adversity faced by POW’s in the Far East, their fighting spirit endured and many were unwilling to accept captivity. Following an inquiry into Australian POW’s in the Far East, the Governor-General has approved the posthumous award of the Commendation for Gallantry to 28 servicemen. All were killed during escape or executed upon recapture. This group of awards follows the posthumous recognition of 20 Australian Far East POW’s in 2011, who were also decorated with the Commendation for Gallantry.

The Commendation for Gallantry is the contemporary Australian equivalent of the British Mention in Dispatches award. It is expected that these decorations will be the last instance of retrospective recognition issued by Australia for service during WWII, which ended more than 70 years ago.