C1 - Murder APW - Schaefer at Tantui PW Camp

Murder of Australian Prisoner of War Private Schaefer at Tantui Prisoner of War Camp

Private Schaefer, an Australian prisoner of war held at Tantui (Tantoey) Camp on Ambon, escaped from captivity on 26 March 1945 after stealing food from Japanese stores. He remained at large for approximately two weeks before being recaptured on 10 April 1945. Following his return to the camp, he was interrogated about his escape route and admitted to stealing food and escaping from custody.

The camp was administered by the Shirozu Unit, whose second-in-command was Miyazaki. Rather than convening a military court, Miyazaki reported the incident to his headquarters and received orders that Schaefer was to be executed. Under the laws and customs of war, a prisoner of war could not lawfully be executed by a local commander without trial by a properly constituted court martial.

The execution order was passed to Honji, who supervised its implementation. Schaefer was taken from the camp to an execution site, where Kurokawa beheaded him in Honji's presence and under his authority on or about 30 April 1945.

Following the war, Australian military authorities investigated the circumstances of Schaefer's death, and those responsible were prosecuted before an Australian War Crimes Court.