A farewell letter of appreciation written to members of 6th Division by Jemedar (Lieutenant) Chint Singh, one of 201 Indian prisoners of war rescued by the 6th Division.
Today the 13th Jan 1946, I find myself the luckiest man in the world, who worked here for 2 years as a POW and for 3 months as a free man in the free world – which was full of terror and darkness when my contact ceased with it.

To the best of my knowledge 201 Indian POWs were rescued from time to time in the New Guinea Campaign of the 6th Australian Div (later on 10 died in the plane crash, leaving only 191 surviviors out of 3000 who were caught by the Japanese at Wewak on 16th May 1943) are greatly indebted to the Australian forces. We were suffering from terrible diseases and there was no hope of life – at this hour of our calamity, the Division worked as Angels for us. We were fed, clothed and looked after in the hospital and in the camp by doctors, Nurses and the camp staff, to save our lives. Every member of the Div shared with our miseries and helped please us in this wilderness, where we had no hope to live. Today I feel very happy that the Almighty Father has fulfilled my ambitions to
(i) take the right retribution with those who are responsible for the death of 2800 Indians.
(ii) To tell the world about the fate of 3000 Indians who went under so many privations and lost their lives
(iii) To see Australia where I am flying today but feel sorry for the recollection of my comrades who had the same ambitions and we together used to make schemes for the visit to Australia. The bad luck did not favour and only a few got this opportunity.

The Sympathy, love and affection shown by the every individual of the Div will always be with us and we and our countrymen will be very proud of it. With all the best wishes for the many years to come and hoping that the friendship of your country and India will continue for all the time.

13/1/46 Jemedar Chint Singh

A farewell letter of appreciation written to members of 6th Division by Jemedar (Lieutenant) Chint Singh, one of 201 Indian prisoners of war rescued by the 6th Division.
Today the 13th Jan 1946, I find myself the luckiest man in the world, who worked here for 2 years as a POW and for 3 months as a free man in the free world – which was full of terror and darkness when my contact ceased with it.

To the best of my knowledge 201 Indian POWs were rescued from time to time in the New Guinea Campaign of the 6th Australian Div (later on 10 died in the plane crash, leaving only 191 surviviors out of 3000 who were caught by the Japanese at Wewak on 16th May 1943) are greatly indebted to the Australian forces. We were suffering from terrible diseases and there was no hope of life – at this hour of our calamity, the Division worked as Angels for us. We were fed, clothed and looked after in the hospital and in the camp by doctors, Nurses and the camp staff, to save our lives. Every member of the Div shared with our miseries and helped please us in this wilderness, where we had no hope to live. Today I feel very happy that the Almighty Father has fulfilled my ambitions to
(i) take the right retribution with those who are responsible for the death of 2800 Indians.
(ii) To tell the world about the fate of 3000 Indians who went under so many privations and lost their lives
(iii) To see Australia where I am flying today but feel sorry for the recollection of my comrades who had the same ambitions and we together used to make schemes for the visit to Australia. The bad luck did not favour and only a few got this opportunity.

The Sympathy, love and affection shown by the every individual of the Div will always be with us and we and our countrymen will be very proud of it. With all the best wishes for the many years to come and hoping that the friendship of your country and India will continue for all the time.

13/1/46 Jemedar Chint Singh