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Prisoner of War Camp GatewayPrint Page Print this page

03-May-2015
03-May-2015

Photographs supplied by Arthur Garland

The gates pillars from the entrance to the former Prisoner of War camp are a memorial to the four Australian soldiers killed in the Cowra Breakout.

During World War Two, a prisoner of war (POW) camp near Cowra was the site of one of the largest prison escapes of the war, on 5 August 1944. At least 545 Japanese POWs were involved in the breakout. During the breakout and subsequent rounding up of POWs, four Australian soldiers and 231 Japanese soldiers died and 108 prisoners were wounded. The leaders of the breakout commanded their escapees not to attack Australian civilians, and none were killed or injured.

 

 

Location

Address:Binni Creek Road & Amaroo Avenue, Site of Japanese POW Camp, Cowra, 2794
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.818141
Long: 148.694026
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Structure
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Actual Event Start Date:05-August-1944

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:August-1992
Left Side Inscription

This Gateway Marks The Entrance To The
Prisoner-Of-War Camp Which Existed During
World War 2.  Through The Assistance And
Co-Operation Of The Cowra Shire Council,
The Efforts Of The Cowra Sub-Branch Of
The R.S.L. And The Cowra Breakout Association,
It Is Preserved And Has Been Dedicated In
Commemoration Of Those Australian
Servicemen Who Gave Their Lives In
Subduing The Outbreak At The Camp In August 1944.

             — Lest We Forget —
                   Unveiled By
A.J.Oliver M.B.E., President Cowra Shire Council
                     August, 1992

Right Side Inscription
H. Q. No. 12 P.O.W. COY
            COWRA
Source: MA,H
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au