[Andrew_P]

In three instances the George Cross was awarded to members of the Australian Army in WW2 which involved prison camps.
Captain Lionel Matthews was awarded a posthumous GC for his actions in the POW camp at Sandakan in Borneo.
He was a member of the local underground movement until he was betrayed to the Japanese.
He underwent horrific torture but did not tell the Japanese anything that would betray other prisoners and he was subsequently executed.
The enemy were present in this case as they were in Cowra, New South Wales, when two Australian POW camp guards bore the brunt of the Japanese breakout of that camp. For their actions in this event they were also posthumously awarded the GC.


Cheers