The Cowra Breakout — Season 1, Episode 2: Episode Two
120 min • 1 season, 4 episodes • ★ 7.0/10
Episode synopsis
At the Cowra POW camp, another 100 Japanese prisoners have arrived and pour scorn on their compatriots for having accepted their prison status without a fight to the death for the honour of their Emperor and their families. They stage a revolt and the young Lieutenant McDonald (Andrew Lloyde) is about to open fire on the prisoners when Major Hordern (Simon Chilvers) intervenes and is able to disarm the situation so that the 15 defiant Japanese soldiers are undermined and brought under control. The clip ends on the Japanese leader in the camp, Komatsu (Kazuhiri Muroyama), clearly disturbed by the rebellion.
About The Cowra Breakout
In August 1944, 1104 Japanese prisoners of war at the Australian POW camp at Cowra stage a mass breakout. Four guards are killed in the escape, and 231 prisoners die by wounds sustained or suicide, while 334 prisoners are recaptured over the subsequent nine days.