Locals who died as prisoners of the Japanese during WWII

VX29172 Robert Holmes was born in North Melbourne on October 28, 1919. His family came from Mount Taylor near Bairnsdale. He enlisted in the 2nd AIF on November 29, 1940 and was assigned to the 2/29th battalion. After the fall of Singapore in February 1942, Robert along with the rest of the 8th Division was captured by the Japanese. He was sent to Borneo along with other POWs to work on airfields. Robert died on June 12, 1945 during the infamous Sandakan Death March. During the infamous death march, only six POWs survived from a total of 2400. His body was never recovered and he lies in an unknown grave. Robert Holmes was 25 years old.