NAM.1994-05-45-12

Group photograph of 18 Indian officers, 2/15th Punjab Regiment, taken by the Eastern Studio on Stamford Road, Singapore, 1940-41 (c). The regiment was heavily involved in the defence of Sarawak and North Borneo, which was eventually captured by the Japanese in early 1942. Major Frederick George Milligan was taken as a Prisoner of War, as were many of the Indian Officer listed in this image. Most of the Indian soldiers were tortured for refusing to join the Indian National Army. Akram Khan, Mohamed Anwar and Lachman Singh were made to dig their own graves before being beheaded by the Japanese at Kuala Belait POW camp. Makhmad Anwar was flogged and hung by his heels until he was dead. He received the Indian Order of Merit posthumously in 1947. The names are listed on the back: Left to Right Standing - Jemadars Lachman Singh; Sivi Ram (?); Khaduan Hussain; Akram Khan; Mohamed Hasham; Akbar Shah; Omar Singh; Shir Lall; Mohamed Anwar; Nanak Singh Left to Right Sitting - Subedars Makhmad Anwar IDSM; Abdul Ghani; Bahadur Sher Khan OBI; Subedar Major & Hon. Capt Sher Dil Khan OBI; Labh Singh; Framurz Khan; Kartar Singh. From a collection of 32 photographs collected by Lt Col Frederick George Milligan, 2/15th Punjab Regiment, 1927-1960s (c).

Borneo, Battle of, 1941-42 (World War Two, Far East 1941-1945)