| James Maurice Sutherland 1920-2007 |
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In August 2007, our Camp 24 Commanding Officer James Maurice
Sutherland died. He had a very successful career in the Royal
Australian Air Force after the war. In Malaya he flew Hudson Bombers in No 1 Squadron which was in the front line attacking Japanese landing barges at Kota Baru. Later the Squadron escaped to Java where he was captured. In October 1942 as part of Colonel William’s Group, he travelled to Burma where he became a member of Black Force which spent the next year on railway construction work until evacuated to Tamarkan early 1944. Flight Lieutenant James Sutherland RAAF was appointed sole Officer in charge of Japan Party Kumi 42 in Tamarkan Thailand in May 1944 with responsibility for the well being and behaviour of 114 Australians and 34 Americans. Upon reaching Camp 24, Kyushu, Japan, 150 British POWs joined the group and came under his control. Jim carried out his duties in a quiet efficient responsible and effective manner. Jim Sutherland’s post war career is quite outstanding. Posted to Sale, he flew in Lincoln Bombers, later rising to the rank of Wing Commander. He worked in London at the height of the cold war with the Air Ministry Intelligence Unit. Back in Australia, Group Captain Sutherland was appointed military adviser to the South East Asia Treaty Organisation in Thailand in 1964 during the Vietnam War. He later commanded the RAAF Academy at Point Cook. His final appointment was aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth 11 during her Australian tour in 1970. |