John Victor ORGILL

ORGILL, John Victor

Service Numbers: WX35378, 441469
Enlisted: 16 July 1942
Last Rank: Flight Sergeant
Last Unit: No. 21 Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Perth, Western Australia, 22 January 1923
Home Town: North Beach, Stirling, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Junior Accountant
Died: Prisoner of War - Executed, Celebes, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies, 28 July 1945, aged 22 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Ambon Memorial, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
Memorials: Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial
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Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

Flight Sergeant John Orgill was awarded the Commendation for Gallantry for actions while a Prisoner of War for attempting to escape from the Imperial Japanese Army near Tomohon in the Northern Celebes on 27 July 1945. Flight Sergeant Orgill was shot down over the Northern Celebes on 27 July 1945. He refused to seek safety until he had ascertained the fate of the other crew members, but was arrested. Whilst being escorted to a cell at the Kempeitai jail at Kakaskasen, he snatched the bayonet from the scabbard of one of his guards and attempted to escape. As a result he was severely beaten and later found deceased in his cell. - Defence Honours and Awards 

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