Lieutenant Harry DoncasterPrint Page 
The monument commemorates Lieutenant Harry Doncaster who was killed in the Cowra Breakout of Japanese prisoners-of-war during World War Two.
On 5 August 1944 Japanese Prisoners of War (POWs) housed in the detention camp in Cowra, New South Wales staged an outbreak. Armed with improvised weapons including baseball bats and sharpened mess knives, they stormed the perimeter fences and overcame the machine gun posts. Never likely to be successful, the outbreak resulted in the death of 231 Japanese prisoners with a further 108 wounded. All survivors were recaptured in the surrounding countryside in the days that followed.
Four Australians were killed. Privates Benjamin Gower Hardy, Ralph Jones and Charles Henry Shepherd were killed in the breakout. Lieutenant Harry Doncaster was killed when ambushed during the recapture of the prisoners. Hardy and Jones were posthumously awarded the George Cross.
Location
| Address: | Canowindra & Wynnefield Roads, Cowra, 2794 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.740528 Long: 148.691444 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Military |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 05-August-1944 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 05-August-1944 |
Dedication
This memorial was erected to honour VX 52878 Lt. H. (Harry) Doncaster E. M.
A brave soldier of the 2 / 8th Australian Infantry Battalion
He was killed near here in the line of duty on 5th August, 1944
Erected by the 2 / 8th Battalion Association and the Cowra Breakout Association
Land site donated by Mary Weingarth.
Lest We Forget
