22 Original Internees 

POW Camp 15 Yanco 1942 -1946

Oil on board, 32 x 45 cm, 2021

Twenty-two of the original thirty Italian Prisoners of War (POW’s) who arrived at POW Camp 15 Yanco on 19 March 1942. Later numbers swelled to up to 774 Italian POW’s. 

Italian POW’s provided labour for one of the largest vegetable production units in Australia, as well as being engaged in wood cutting and boot making.

At first the POW’s were housed in tents but as numbers increased, £40,000 as spent to extend the buildings on the site with 30 huts accommodating the POW’s, a new septic system and a new compound surrounded at first by barbed wire. The perimeter fencing was later removed in 1944

Image Source: Australian War Memorial

Reference: Celebrating 100 years Yanco Agricultural Institute 2008

Pulping Tomatoes 

POW Camp 15 Yanco 1942 -1946

Oil on board, 32 x 45 cm, 2021

Italian Prisoners of War from POW Camp 15 pulping tomatoes in order to recover the seed. The crushed tomato is then treated with weak hydrochloric acid to free the seed from the pulp. Seeds are then washed and dried.

Around 344 hectares of vegetables were produced under irrigation, including silverbeet, peas, tomatoes, onions and sweet corn.

A change in direction in 1944 resulted in the farm becoming Australia’s largest producer of vegetable seeds, with nation-wide distribution for the war effort.

Image Source: Australian War Memorial

Reference: Celebrating 100 years Yanco Agricultural Institute 2008

Camp Medical Team 

POW Camp 15 Yanco 1942 -1946

Oil on board, 32 x 45 cm, 2021

Group of Italian Prisoners of War. This group comprises the Camp Medical Staff with the Medical Officer, A. Lopez (centre).

Back row, left to right: 46415 Salvatore Palmieri; 46190 Pasquale Mazzulli; 56610 Antonio Lopez; 46633 Filippo Romano; 45899 Salvatore Lorio. 

Front row: 45138 Marziano Bauducco; 46039 Giuseppe Licari. Note: The number is an assigned POW number.

Dr J O Walsh, a local general practitioner, performed all the medical examinations for the camp with good hygiene practiced. RC Chaplain Haughey conducted Mass almost every Sunday.

Image Source: Australian War Memorial

Reference: Celebrating 100 years Yanco Agricultural Institute 2008

Wood Cutters

POW Camp 15 Yanco 1942 -1946

Oil on board, 23 x 30 cm, 2021

Italian POW’s sharpening an axe at the unit’s timber cutting camp.

Large logs were shattered with charges of black powder. When broken up the wood was then cut into 18-inch lengths for delivery.

A sawmill was located at the railway siding to cut and load firewood for the Army and Air Force units in the area.

Image Source: Australian War Memorial

Reference: Celebrating 100 years Yanco Agricultural Institute 2008

15th Garrison Battalion

POW Camp 15 Yanco 1942 -1946

Oil on board, 32 x 45 cm, 2021

Original Members of the 15th Garrison Battalion at the 15th Prisoner of War Camp.

Left to Right, Back Row: Private (Pte) M. Kearne; Pte E. R. Nash; Sergeant (Sgt) A. B. Bullock; Sgt W. Ledger; Pte L. W. Goring; Pte H. P. Barton; Probably N77589 Sergeant (Sgt) George Clark. Front Row: Pte T. E. Thompson; Pte W. J. Ryan; Pte V. H. Tickle.

There were around 200 AMF personnel and security guards known as 7PW Guard Company, under the command of Major Snodgrass and later, Major Ironside. Although the Italians were given considerable freedom from control, they did not cause trouble and seemed in most cases to have no desire to escape.

Considerable movement occurred between the various camps in Hay, Cowra, Kywong, Bogan Gate, Wagga and Goulburn. Several prisoners were sent to Hay for irregular behaviour and malingering

Image Source: Australian War Memorial

Reference: Celebrating 100 years Yanco Agricultural Institute 2008

Milking Stud Jersey Cows 

POW Camp 15 Yanco 1942 -1946

Oil on board, 23 x 30 cm, 2021

Italian Prisoners of War (POWs) milking stud Jersey cows in the dairy at POW Camp 15. Their milk is supplied to garrison personnel in the camp, to the POWs and to the RAAF base at Narrandera.

The Riverina Welfare Farm Jersey stud consisted of 95 head and was one of the best in the state. The herd size was maintained during the war years to provide for the 1,000 people on the premises of POW Camp 15. By 1944 it had grown to 150 head, with 75 cows providing milk for the army.

The value of produce from the farm in both 1943 and 1944 exceeded £30,000, which included 31,000 gallons of milk each year

Image Source: Australian War Memorial

Reference: Celebrating 100 years Yanco Agricultural Institute 2008