Collection 2: Photographic evidence of war crimes committed against Australian prisoners of war and local people during the Japanese occupation of Ambon during World War II, used at the trials of Japanese officers and guards by Chief Prosecutor John Myles Williams, c.1945-1946

PXA 1237

sub-fonds

Chiefly 1945-1946

Graphic Materials, Photographs

414322

Photographs - 16 x 22 cm. and 22 x 16 cm. - 56 silver gelatin photoprints
Photographs - 21 x 26 cm. or smaller - 41 silver gelatin copy photoprints
Photographs - 25 x 20 cm. - 1 sepia-toned Kodak copy photoprint
Photographs - 25 x 21 cm. - Mounted in a cardboard folder 31 x 26 cm. - 1 Kodak photoprint (col.)
Photographs - 35 mm. - Filed in 2 plastic sheets - 8 photonegative strips

Judge John Myles Williams (1915-1994) led the prosecution of 91 Japanese officers and enlisted men charged with war crimes against Australian prisoners of war and the local population on the Indonesian island of Ambon. The trial took place from September 1945 - February 1946.

BOX 1
1-56. Disinterred human remains, especially skulls. Disinterred shoes, clothing and other personal effects recovered to assist in identification of the dead. Some bones bound with rope when recovered. Scenes of local and Australian workers at digging sites, uncovering mass graves. Exterior shots of unidentified buildings, roads and rivers.

BOX 2
57-99. Chiefly copy photoprints of an original album lent for copying, showing scenes of the courtroom and military court officials as well as local spectators and the Japanese on trial. Some of the Japanese are identified as below:
65. Irikochi Kumao. 24 1st C PO
66. Matsuda Masao. 14 CPO
67. Civilian H.F. Aoki
68. Nakamura Ryosuke. 5 Lt. Com. Surgeon
69. Dotai Kiyoshi. 23 1st C PO
70-71. Civilian Att. Army S.Tamura
Shots of unidentified Japanese, local Ambonese including children, Australian prisoners of war and military court officials/workers. Some shots of soldiers in formation. Workers at digging sites unearthing mass graves, unidentified waterfront scenes and other unidentified Ambon locations
79. [Prison camp blackboard detailing daily routine of prisoners]
101. [John Myles Williams, in military uniform]
102. [Judge John Myles Williams, in silks]

Original album order where applicable

These images were used as evidence in the trial. Related manuscript material is held at ML MSS 5426 - Papers of Judge John Myles Williams, 1927-1989 (partly restricted)
Most individuals, all remains and all location scenes are unidentified
Photos 1-49 were removed from a self adhesive album. Album discarded
Copyprints 57-100 match with the FM2 photonegatives (some duplicates occur in the photonegatives)