PRESENTATION OUTLINE
By August 1944 there were 2,223 Japanese prisoners of war in Australia. Of these 1,104 were were housed in camp B, the compound in Cowra, nSw.
On Friday the 4th of August 1944, word spread that the Japanese were planning a mass outbreak and as a result notice was given that all Japanese prisoners would be transferred.
Fun Fact: any Japanese person who was above lance Corporal was safe.
It was 2am on Saturday the 5th of August and a prisoner ran full force, shouting towards the main gates. Soon afterwards a unauthorised bugle rung throughout camp.
It was that sound that alerted prisoners to attack and they did, using knives and baseball bats they began breaking down wire fences. Sentries began to open fire.
Several hundred prisoners escaped into the open country whilst many remained to continue setting buildings on fire.
That Night three Australian soldiers were killed and another three injured. In the following nine days 334 prisoners were retaken. In all, 234 Japanese were killed and 108 wounded.
It was the largest prison escape of World War II, as well as one of the bloodiest.
