Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Following the Japanese invasion of Ambon Island a group of RAAF personnel working in support of Gull Force were captured trying to escape to Ceram. They were executed by the Japanese at Laha between the 6th and 20th of February 1942

Post-war their bodies were located in a mass grave; four individuals were positively identified and are buried in Ambon War Cemetery with the remaining seven commemorated on the Ambon Memorial to the missing

Positively identified; buried in Ambon War Cemetery with official date of death 6 of February 1942

Wing Commander Scott 250101

Flying Officer Verey 261029

Corporal Gaskin 16645

Aircraftman Evans 37304

Group burial; commemorated on the Ambon Memorial with official date of death 20 February 1942

Squadron Leader Anderson 253

Flight Lieutenant White 260624

Leading Aircraftman Walker 27521

Sergeant Read 406222

Aircraftman Harris 24987

Flight Sergeant Baker 402700

Flying Officer Meyer 290745

Francis Norman (Frank) Meyer, Service Number 290745, was born 1921, the year the R.A.A.F. was founded.  He joined the RAAF in February 1940 at age 18 and by 30 January 1942, as Flying Officer, was in Ambon, Dutch East Indies, when the Japanese invaded.  One serviceable Hudson left Ambon with as many personnel as it could carry.  11 R.A.A.F personnel did not make that flight, including Frank, and tried to quickly repair the remaining Hudson in order to evacuate.  They were unable to make repairs, immediate evacuation was not available, so they were left to plan other options.

The group made their way across Ambon to escape by boat to the island of Ceram.  Arrangements had been made with the R.A.A.F. to rendezvous there to be evacuated to Darwin.  They were captured by a Japanese Patrol boat, taken prisoner to Laha on Ambon, and executed.  Their deaths as Prisoners of War was recorded as 20 February 1942 - the precise date was not known.  About 300 Australian Army members of Gull Force were also massacred at that time.