Benjamin Gower Hardy
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Gower Hardy GC
(28 August 1898 – 5 August 1944) was an Australian soldier who was posthumously awarded the George Cross
for the gallantry he showed when Japanese prisoners of war staged an escape attempt on the 5 August 1944 in Cowra, New South Wales
.
Armed with improvised knives and bats the Japanese stormed the guards with what a military court of inquiry termed "a suicidal disregard of life." Two hundred and thirty-one prisoners were killed during the ensuing fighting and 108 wounded. All of the escapees were recaptured within days. Hardy was killed in the outbreak, as was Private Ralph Jones
, who was also awarded the George Cross. Private Charles Henry Shepherd was the third Australian victim of the fighting at the camp, while Lieutenant Harry Doncaster was ambushed and killed while recapturing the escapees.
The court of inquiry found that the Australian soldiers had ceased fire as soon as they had reestablished control of the camp, and that many of the dead had either killed themselves or been killed by fellow prisoners, while many of the wounded had self-inflicted injuries.
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
(28 August 1898 – 5 August 1944) was an Australian soldier who was posthumously awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for the gallantry he showed when Japanese prisoners of war staged an escape attempt on the 5 August 1944 in Cowra, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Armed with improvised knives and bats the Japanese stormed the guards with what a military court of inquiry termed "a suicidal disregard of life." Two hundred and thirty-one prisoners were killed during the ensuing fighting and 108 wounded. All of the escapees were recaptured within days. Hardy was killed in the outbreak, as was Private Ralph Jones
Ralph Jones (GC)
Ralph Jones was an English-born Australian soldier who was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he showed when Japanese prisoners of war staged an escape attempt on the 5th of August 1944 in Cowra, New South Wales.Jones was born at Gorleston, Norfolk, England and educated there...
, who was also awarded the George Cross. Private Charles Henry Shepherd was the third Australian victim of the fighting at the camp, while Lieutenant Harry Doncaster was ambushed and killed while recapturing the escapees.
The court of inquiry found that the Australian soldiers had ceased fire as soon as they had reestablished control of the camp, and that many of the dead had either killed themselves or been killed by fellow prisoners, while many of the wounded had self-inflicted injuries.