Visit to Cowra POW Camp and War Cemetery
On a recent holiday road trip I fulfilled a long held desire to visit this historic area. I hope you enjoy this look at a piece of Austalian wartime history.
By August 1944 there were 2,223 Japanese prisoners of war in Australia, including 544 merchant seamen. Of these 1,104 were housed in Camp B of No. 12 Prisoner of War Compound near Cowra, in the central west of New South Wales. They were guarded by the 22nd Garrison Battalion.
On Friday 4 August, in response to information that the Japanese were discussing a mass outbreak, notice was given that all Japanese prisoners below the rank of Lance Corporal would be transferred to the Hay Prisoner of War Camp. About 2 am on Saturday 5 August 1944 a prisoner ran shouting to the camp gates. Soon afterwards an unauthorised bugle was heard and prisoners, armed with knives and improvised clubs, rushed from their huts and began breaking through the wire fences. Sentries opened fire but several hundred prisoners escaped into open country, while others who remained set fire to the camp buildings.
On the night of the breakout three Australian soldiers were killed and another three were wounded. Privates B.G. Hardy and R. Jones, who were overwhelmed while manning a machine gun post, were posthumously awarded the George Cross. In the following nine days 334 prisoners were retaken. In all, 234 Japanese were killed and 108 wounded.
Source: Australian War Memorial:
Cowra Van Park - Cowra, New South Wales, Australia
Cowra Van Park - Cowra, New South Wales, Australia
Located next to Lachlan River and an easy stroll to the CBD where you will find restaurants, clubs, pubs, cafes and shops, Cowra Van Park offers powered and unpowered sites in a peaceful setting.
Take the time to appreciate Cowra’s Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, the Prisoner of War Camp and Japanese War Cemetery, as well as the World Peace Bell and surrounding national parks.
Australian Resort Of Cowra (1966)
Unissued / unused material - dates and locations may be unclear / unknown.
Australian newsreel item. Title reads: Cowra. New Tourist Centre For New South Wales.
Cowra, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Aerial view of Cowra, a tourist resort 200 miles from Sydney. Various shots, Cowra and its tourist attractions. Various shots, the Japanese and the Australian war cemetery, side by side. Various shots, Wyangala Dam, very dry from a recent drought, under reconstruction. Various shots, a tractor working in a field and Moroccan grass seed being cultivated. Aerial shots, flying over cultivated fields growing vegetable crops of beetroot, cabbage and asparagus. LS, MS and CU Two farm workers surveying a crop of beetroots. LS The Cowra cannery. Various shots, stockmen looking at their flock of Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset sheep in pens at Stoneybrook stud. Various shots, the plane providing Cowra with a daily service to Sydney taxiing and taking off. Aerial view of Cowra.
Note: Date on original record: 05/06/1966. Australian commentary.
FILM ID:3206.01
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British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website.
Japanese Garden in Cowra NSW Australia
I went to Cowra in New South Wales and shoot this video by my drone at Cowra's Japanese garden. Although it is a small town with 10,000 population, the place is famous for Japanese prisoners of war camp during WW2 and the historical event that they broke out the prison and got killed. The prisoners all rest in peace at Japanese War Cemetery in Cowra, and Japanese government supported to develop this garden as a sign of thanks for Australian's respectful treatment of Japanese war dead.
Cowra breakout POW CAMP 12 first time done by DRONE & GOPRO 5 & PHOTOS 2
The Cowra breakout occur red on 5 August 1944, when at least 1,104
Japanese prisoners of war attempted to escape from a prisoner of war
camp near Cowra , in New South Wales, Australia . It was the largest
prison escape of World War II, as well as one of the bloodiest. During
the escape and ensuing manhunt, four Australian soldiers and 231
Japanese soldiers were killed. The remaining escapees were captured and imprisoned
.AFTERMATH
During the escape and subsequent round-up of POWs, four Australian soldiers and 231 Japanese soldiers were killed and 108
prisoners were wounded. The leaders of the break out ordered the escapees not to attack Australian civilians, and none were killed or injured.
Cowra POW Camp and War Cemetery
I visit the site of the WWII POW camp in Cowra where the famous breakout occurred on 5th August 1944. I also visit the Cowra War Cemetery.
Cowra Japanese Garden
The Japanese War Cemetery holding the dead from the Cowra Breakout was tended to after WWII by members of the Cowra RSL and ceded to Japan in 1963. In 1971 the Cowra Tourism Development decided to celebrate this link to Japan, and proposed a Japanese Garden for the town. The Japanese Government agreed to support this development as a sign of thanks for the respectful treatment of their war dead; the development also received funding from the Australian Government and private entities.
The garden was designed by Ken Nakajima (1914-2000), a world renowned designer of Japanese gardens at the time. The first stage was opened in 1979, with a second stage opened in 1986.
The gardens were designed in the style of the Edo period and are a kaiyu-shiki or strolling garden. They are designed to show all of the landscape types of Japan. At five hectares (12 acres), the Cowra Japanese Garden is the largest Japanese garden in the Southern Hemisphere. An annual Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival) is held in the gardens during late September and/or early October each year. The garden also hosts several other events during the year.
Cowra - The Japanese Connections
Spent a few days in Cowra . but with the temp over 40c each day, no walks, but did the attractions instead. The Council have done a great job in promoting its connection with Japan.
There was a POW camp there during WWII, from which over 200 Japanese soldiers tried to escape. Most were killed, but the relationship with Japan has blossomed since then. This video walks us around the site of the POW Camp and the Garrison Walk, looks at the Japanese War Cemetery and finally at the beautiful Japanese Gardens. I would recommend a visit when you are in the area.
[4K] Japanese Gardens - Cowra - Australia Tourism
Taking a walk through a Japanese garden in Cowra, Australia.
The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre is located in the town of Cowra, in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The 5 ha (12 acres) garden was established to recognize and develop the historic and ongoing relationship between the people of Cowra Shire and the people of Japan.
The garden was designed by Ken Nakajima (1914–2000) in the style of the Edo period as a kaiyū-shiki or strolling garden. The rocky hillside, manicured hedges, waterfalls, streams, and lakes provide a serene environment for a variety of aquatic birds. Special features of the garden include a Bonshō (bell), a traditional Edo cottage, an authentic open air tea house, and a Bonsai house.
In 1960 the Japanese Government decided to bring all their war dead from other parts of Australia to be re-buried at Cowra, which already featured a cemetery for the remains of 231 Japanese soldiers killed during the 1944 Cowra breakout from the nearby prisoner of war camp. The Japanese War Cemetery was maintained after World War II by members of the Cowra Returned and Services League of Australia, and ceded to Japan in 1963.
In 1971 Cowra Tourism Development decided to celebrate this link to Japan, and proposed a Japanese garden for the town. The Japanese government agreed to support this development as a sign of thanks for the respectful treatment of their war dead, with the development also receiving money from the Australian government and private entities.
The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre opened in 1979, and the second stage opened in 1986.
Filmed with GoPro Hero 7 Black and SONY PXW-FS7
Destination WA - Japanese Cemetary
Broome is famous for its award winning beaches, colourful culture and also its events!
Cowra Civilian Internment Interpretive Board Unveiling & Commemorative Ceremonies
Video by David Hansen with Jack Warren
On 9 March 2014, an interpretive board detailing the internment of Japanese and nikkei civilians during WWII in Australia was unveiled at the Japanese War Cemetery in Cowra, followed by commemorative ceremonies at the Australian War Cemetery, Japanese War Cemetery and the grave site of Indonesian political prisoners at the Cowra General Cemetery. This video is a documentation of the official proceedings from the day.
This historical day was part of a series of events held in Cowra, NSW, Australia, including a symposium, Civilian Internment in Australia during WWII: history, memories and community heritage, and its related arts program, the Cowra Canowindra Civilian Internment Arts Program.
This was the first time Japanese civilian internees and their families were publicly acknowledged in Australia.
Facilitated by Nikkei Australia with Cowra Breakout Association.
2009 Cowra Festival of internation undersatnding Street Parade
The quick youtube version of the Cowra festival street Parade from Saturday 14 March 2009.
It almost rained on the parade but the it held off just to allowed the Parade to go ahead
The Quality of the this video is not the best as I had to compress it, to up load it as we have very poor broadband in rural Australia and need the Government to fix up our ADSL2.
Project Cowra v 5
B&W mock footage of Japanese WWII attack on Darwin Australia, capture of the first prisoner and the subsequent breakout of Cowra POW camp.
P.O.W. Camp Cowra, Japanese War Cemetry, Wyangala Dam
Visit Cowra Japanese P O W Camp, War Cemetry & drive to Wyangala Dam. See the dam @ 4% The lowest level in the drought impacting the area.
ABC-TV News World War One Centenary & The Cowra Breakout 5.8.2014
ABC Australia Midday News and Weather focusing on Centenary of the outbreak of World War One and the World War 2 Cowra POW Breakout Incident that occurred on 5.8.1944(70 Years Ago).
Commemorative of the first WW1 shot fired from Fort Nepean, Portsea in Victoria.
Rodney Maximus- great Australian history at cowra
This video was uploaded from an Android phone.
Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre NSW done by DRONE Christmas day 2017
The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre is located in Cowra, in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia.[1] The five hectares (12 acres) garden was established to recognize and develop the relationship between the people of Cowra Shire and the people of Japan.
The garden was designed by Ken Nakajima (1914–2000) in the style of the Edo period as a kaiyū-shiki or strolling garden.[2] The rocky hillside, manicured hedges, waterfalls and streams, and two lakes provide a serene environment for a variety of ducks. Special features of the garden include a Bonshō (bell), a traditional Edo cottage, an authentic open air tea house and a Bonsai house.
An annual Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival) is held in the gardens during September and celebrates the birth of spring.
The garden hosts Girl's Day and Boy's Day festivals, tea ceremonies, demonstrations and workshops on Japanese crafts including calligraphy, origami and Ikebana, and garden talks.
History[edit]
In 1960 the Japanese Government decided to bring all their war dead from other parts of Australia to be re-buried at Cowra, which already featured a cemetery for the remains of 231 Japanese soldiers killed during the 1944 Cowra breakout from the nearby prisoner of war camp. The Japanese War Cemetery was tended to after World War II by members of the Cowra Returned and Services League of Australia and ceded to Japan in 1963.
In 1971 the Cowra Tourism Development decided to celebrate this link to Japan, and proposed a Japanese garden for the town. The Japanese government agreed to support this development as a sign of thanks for the respectful treatment of their war dead; the development also received money from the Australian government and private entities.[3]
The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre opened in 1979, and the second stage opened in 1986.[4]
Cowra War Cemetary
The difference between the Australian cemetery and the huge Japanese (Formosan and Korean included) cemetery is stark. While the Australian portion has neatly manicured headstones with rose bushes planted between each, the Japanese portion is simply concrete bolsters with plaques inserted. Even in the current age, it's not difficult to see the line drawn between THEM and US.
The Battle of Brisbane
A TV news story featuring the Battle of Brisbane in November 1942, when Australian and US soldiers fought out a brawl in central Brisbane. Private Edward Webster was killed in the riot. Speakers in this story are Barry Ralph, local author and historian; Karen Nunan, Acting Curator of the MacArthur Museum; and Robert Macklin, journalist and historian.
Pt 2 of 5 US Sub Rescue of Australian and British POW's The Crossing
This video, The Crossing, explains the details involving the Sept 15, 1944 rescue of over 150 Australian and British POW's in the South China Sea, by US Submarines after the sinking of a couple of Japanese POW HellShips.
Unfortunately, these ships had not been properly marked with any Red Cross flags, and had been sunk by the American Submarines 3 days before. The American Submarine Sailors were totally unaware of the precious cargo that they had sunk 3 days previous.
This Video has two of the rescued POW's reuniting with some of the Sub Sailors that pulled them from the ocean that day.
The dramatic video from the rescue was shot by the Communication Officer of the USS Sealion II, Lt (jg) (ss) Joe (Shorty) Bates.
Special thanks to Joes son Bob Bates
Unfortunately, out of a total of 2,200 men on the two un-marked tansports that were sunk, 1,400 Perished.
Most of the survivors were unfortunately picked up by the Japanese and remained prisoners/slaves on the Mainland untill being rescued by the American Occupation Forces at Karasaki POW camp, in Sept 1945.
For a first hand narrative from a Pampanito Crewmember go here:
To Read a 1st hand narrative of a Survivor who was picked up by the Japanese go here:
For another account of the Sinking Go Here:
Another good Narrative of the incident that includes names and adresses of Survivors:
Pampanitos WW2 War Record, 6 battle Stars:
This Mighty US Warship is now a US Maritime Museum in San Francisco teaching future Bubbleheads the perils, dangers, excitement and satisfaction of being a US Sub Sailor.