Prisoners Of War

Law Rolling, Rol Tonkin, July 1942

Law Rolling, Rol Tonkin, Karl Koska

Photo taken in Stalag XIIIC in April 1942.

All three were members of the 2/3 Australian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment captured on Crete.

Marcel Gagnierre and Rol Tonkin, September 1942

Rol’s “Instrument of Torture” (the typewriter) – a Seidel and Naumann “Ideal”

Note Gwen’s (future wife) on the desk.

On The Promenade, January 1942

From left: John Leacy, Rol Tonkin, Karl Koska, Mick Don

Outside Rol Tonkin’s Office, July 1942

From left:

Pte. JL McConkey (2/11, WA),

Cpl. Law Rolling 2/3 ALAA, Vic),

Sgt. Murray Storrer (2/8, Vic),

Sgt. Rol Tonkin (2/3 ALAA, Vic),

Sgt. Don Rankin (2/1, Qld).

Padre John King

Padre John King was instrumental in the under cover spy network operating in Stalag XIIIC.

Richard (Dick) Beams

Stalag XIIIC, Germany, circa 1942/1943

Robert Gibrat & Rol Tonkin September 1942

Rol Tonkin and Law Rolling

Stalag XIIIC, Germany, 30 May 1943

Rol Tonkin and mates, August 1942

Rol’s comment on the back of the photo asks for a “pardon for the beaming smiles, but the photographer beat us to it”.

From left: Law Rolling, Rol Tonkin, Karl Koska, Mick Don

Rol Tonkin and Roy Hamilton, April 1943

Rol Tonkin and Sgt. Alvin Vinson (USA)

Photo dated 11 June 1944.

Rol Tonkin and unidentified friend

Taken in April 1942.

Rol’s comments on the back of the photo state:

“A very candid snap shot taken unknown to me. No doubt the expression brought about by attempting to converse in a foreign language.”

Rol Tonkin, December 1942

Rol Tonkin, Karl Koska, Mick Don, February 1942

Note the wooden clogs. Combined weight of the three men when the photo was taken on 15 February 1942 was 41 stone

Rol Tonkin, May 1943